14th Fighter Group

Constituted as 14th Pursuit Group (Fighter) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on
15 Jan 1941. Trained with P-40's and P-43's. Converted to P-38's, which were
used in flying patrols on the west coast of the US after the Japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor. Redesignated 14th Fighter Group in May 1942. Moved to
England, Jul-Aug 1942. Began operations with Eighth AF in Oct 1942, escorting
bombers to targets in France. Arrived in North Africa shortly after the
campaign for Algeria and French Morocco (8-11 Nov 1942) had ended, and
remained in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, being assigned
first to Twelfth AF and later (Nov 1943) to Fifteenth. Flew escort, strafing,
and reconnaissance missions from the middle of Nov 1942 to late in Jan 1943
and then withdrew from combat, some of the men and planes being reassigned.
Resumed operations in May. Flew dive-bombing missions during the Allied
assault on Pantelleria. Helped prepare for and support the invasions of
Sicily and Italy. Engaged primarily in escort work after Nov 1943, flying
many missions to cover bombers engaged in long-range operations against
strategic objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria,
Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, and Bulgaria. Received a DUC for a mission on 2
Apr 1944 when the group, by beating off attacks by enemy fighters, enabled
bombers to strike important ball-bearing works in Austria. Also provided
escort for reconnaissance operations, supported the invasion of Southern
France in Aug 1944, and on numerous occasions flew long-range missions to
strafe and dive-bomb motor vehicles, trains, bridges, supply areas, airdromes,
and troop concentrations in an area extending from France to the Balkans.
Inactivated in Italy on 9 Sep 1945.

Activated in the US on 20 Nov 1946. Equipped first with P-47's and later
with F-84's. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949.

Redesignated 14th Fighter Group (Air Defense). Activated on 18 Aug 1955.
Assigned to Air Defense Command and equipped with F-86 aircraft.

Squadrons. 37th: 1943-1945; 1946-1949; 1955-. 48th: 1941-1945;
1946-1949. 49th: 1941-1945; 1946-1949. 50th: 1941-1942.

Stations. Hamilton Field, Calif, 15 Jan 1941; March Field, Calif, c. 10
Jun 1941; Hamilton Field, Calif, 7 Feb-16 Jul 1942; Atcham, England, 18
Aug-Nov 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 15 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, 18 Nov
1942; Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 22 Nov 1942; Berteaux, Algeria, 9 Jan 1943;
Mediouna, French Morocco, 5 Mar 1943; Telergma, Algeria, 5 May 1943; El
Bathan, Tunisia, 3 Jun 1943; Ste-Marie-du-Zit, Tunisia, 25 Jul 1943; Triolo
Airfield, Italy, 12 Dec 1943; Lesina, Italy, Sep-9 Sep 1945. Dow Field,
Maine, 20 Nov 19462 Oct 1949. Ethan Allen AFB, Vt, 18 Aug 1955-.

Commanders. 1st Lt Troy Keith, 15 Jan 1941; Col Thayer S Olds, 18 Apr
1941; Lt Col Troy Keith, 28 Jan 1943; Col Oliver B Taylor, 26 Sep 1943; Col
Daniel S Campbell, 18 Jul 1944; Col Thomas B Whitehouse, Mar 1945-unkn. Lt
Col Lewis W Chick Jr, 24 Dec 1946; Col Loring F Stetson Jr, 7 Jan 1948; Col
George A McHenry, Jul 1949; Lt Col Arvie E Olson Jr, Aug 1949-unkn. Col Harry
L Downing, 1955-.

Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia;
Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France;
North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Austria, 2 Apr 1944.

Insigne. Shield: Per bend argent and sable. Motto: To Fight To Death.
(Approved 17 Jun 1942.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986