"Bills Buzz Boys" 353rd fighter Group strafing group.
 

Hey all,

First post on this site so I hope it is of interest.

After reading "Bud" Fortiers book, an Ace in the Eighth I have wanted to find some more information on the 16 pilots who made up a specialist strafing unit within the 353rd Fighter group, in the March/April of 1944.

I have the general outline of the unit, including the score from there time active. This figures are from the History of the VIII United States Army Air Forces Fighter Command document. I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of any encounter reports on the missions between the 26 March 44 and the 12th April, and any record of Kepners authorization of the group.

I have the intention to write an article on this subject, and perhaps the wider strafing activities of the Eighth. I am aware that outside this unit other Fighter Groups were starting to attack the Luftwaffe on the ground as a result of the February field order, but I thought it would be interesting to focus on this specialist unit, and then fit that into the wider tactic of attacking Luftwaffe airfields and infrastructure.

Re: "Bills Buzz Boys" 353rd fighter Group strafing group.
 

Ben - Although the primary purpose of the 353rd unit, comprised of volunteers from other groups (355th had a couple), the other FG's, particularly the 355th and 4th FG were developing tactics in parallel, and achieving great success in the process (3/27 and 4/5 as notable examples.

The doctrines of 'one pass' and attack airfield defenses on perimeter with leading flight were associated with the 355th and Clay Kinnard in particular - but that is an unprovable assertion. Also introduced was one squadron flying CAP as well as performing a camera 'pan' of the damage below to help IO's to more accurately parse claims for VC's. The net was that an a/c should be burning to award a VC.

Re: "Bills Buzz Boys" 353rd fighter Group strafing group.
 

Those are some interesting details. I was aware of Kinnard, and his tactics, it would be nice to get hold of some of the 355 FG's encounter reports from that time.

I am trying to piece together when the tactic of strafing became an adopted norm of operations. I know there was a field order in February that highlighted the importance of hitting the Luftwaffe on the ground as much as in the air, and that victories on the ground would count towards a pilots total score. I would imagine this was why Kepner allowed a formation of a unit within the 353rds structure. I am trying to ascertain whether Kepner ordered the formation or Col. Duncan requested it.

Around the same time "Bills Buzz Boys" were operating the 4th FG strafed an airfield after noticing targets undamaged by the bombers they had been escorting. There also seems to have been a FO issued on the 11th April for a mass fighter sweep strafing German airfields and infrastructure.

Re: "Bills Buzz Boys" 353rd fighter Group strafing group.
 

Ben, Gen. Kepner authorised Duncan's formation of the unit from 353 / 355/ 359 and 361FGS on 15/3/44 after discussion with Gen. Spaatz ; after training beginning 18th the first mission was on the 26th.
This followed the ( unofficial ) 353FG strafing led by Duncan on 22/2/44 when Beckham was POW.
Nick