| Headquarters 368th Fighter Group |
| Straubing Air Base main gate early 1946 Note sign on top "Home of the Thunder Bums" Thank you Walter Elkins for this great photo! http://www.usfava.com |
Official U.S. Air Force Lineage, 368th Fighter Group.
Constituted as 368th Fighter Group on 24 May 1943.
Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Trained with P-47's. Moved to England, arriving in Jan 1944. Began
operations with Ninth AF on 14 Mar when the group flew a fighter sweep over the coast of
France. Made strafing and bombing attacks on airfields, rail and highway bridges, trains,
vehicles, flak positions, and V-weapon sites to help prepare for the invasion of France.
Supported the landings in Normandy early in Jun 1944 and began operations from the continent
later the same month. Aided in taking of Cherbourg, participated in the air operations that
prepared the way for the Allied breakthrough at St Lo on 25 Jul, and supported ground forces
during their drive across France. Received the DUC for support operations in the vicinity of
Mons on 3 Sep 1944 when the group, dispatching seven missions against the enemy on that day,
not only destroyed large numbers of motor transports, horse-drawn vehicles, and troops, but
also attacked enemy positions that obstructed the progress of ground forces. Continued to
support ground forces, participated in the assault against the Siegfried Line, and took part in the
Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944--Jan 1945) by attacking rail lines and trains, marshalling yards,
roads and vehicles, armored columns, and gun positions. Operated with the Allied forces that
pushed across the Rhine and into Germany. After V-E Day, served with the army of occupation,
being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.
Inactivated in Germany on 20 Aug 1946.
Redesignated 136th Fighter Group. (Information omitted on 136th Fighter Group, Click here for
complete lineage) - *Currently the 136th Airlift Wing of the Texas Air National Guard.
Squadrons. 395th: 1943-1946. 396th: 1943-1946. 397th: 1943-1946.
Stations. Westover Field, Mass, 1 Jun 1943; Farmingdale, NY, 23 Aug-20 Dec 1943;
Greenham Common, England, 15 Mar 1944; Cardonville, France, 20 Jun 1944; Chartres,
France, 23 Aug 1944; Laon, France, 11 Sep 1944; Chieves, Belguim, 2 Oct 1944; Juvincourt,
France, 27 Dec 1944; Metz, France, 5 Jan 1945; Frankfort-am-Main, Germany, 15 Apr 1945;
Buchschwabach, Germany, 13 May 1945; Straubing, Germany, 13 May 1945-20 Aug 1946.
Commanders. Col Gilbert L Meyers, c. 3 Jun 1943; Col Frank S Perego, 1 Nov 1944;
Maj Dennis Crisp, 18 Oct 1945; Lt Col John L Locke, 2 Nov 1945; Col Robert P
Montgomery, 22 Apr-20 Aug 1946.
Campaigns. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Mons, Belgium, 3 Sep 1944.
Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgium Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945.
Belgian Fourragere.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a lightning bolt bendwise in front of a winged star or, on a chief argent a
cluster of grapes and a Korean bell proper.
Motto: NULLI SECONDUS--Second to None. (Approved 22 Dec 1953.)
Constituted as 368th Fighter Group on 24 May 1943.
Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Trained with P-47's. Moved to England, arriving in Jan 1944. Began
operations with Ninth AF on 14 Mar when the group flew a fighter sweep over the coast of
France. Made strafing and bombing attacks on airfields, rail and highway bridges, trains,
vehicles, flak positions, and V-weapon sites to help prepare for the invasion of France.
Supported the landings in Normandy early in Jun 1944 and began operations from the continent
later the same month. Aided in taking of Cherbourg, participated in the air operations that
prepared the way for the Allied breakthrough at St Lo on 25 Jul, and supported ground forces
during their drive across France. Received the DUC for support operations in the vicinity of
Mons on 3 Sep 1944 when the group, dispatching seven missions against the enemy on that day,
not only destroyed large numbers of motor transports, horse-drawn vehicles, and troops, but
also attacked enemy positions that obstructed the progress of ground forces. Continued to
support ground forces, participated in the assault against the Siegfried Line, and took part in the
Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944--Jan 1945) by attacking rail lines and trains, marshalling yards,
roads and vehicles, armored columns, and gun positions. Operated with the Allied forces that
pushed across the Rhine and into Germany. After V-E Day, served with the army of occupation,
being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.
Inactivated in Germany on 20 Aug 1946.
Redesignated 136th Fighter Group. (Information omitted on 136th Fighter Group, Click here for
complete lineage) - *Currently the 136th Airlift Wing of the Texas Air National Guard.
Squadrons. 395th: 1943-1946. 396th: 1943-1946. 397th: 1943-1946.
Stations. Westover Field, Mass, 1 Jun 1943; Farmingdale, NY, 23 Aug-20 Dec 1943;
Greenham Common, England, 15 Mar 1944; Cardonville, France, 20 Jun 1944; Chartres,
France, 23 Aug 1944; Laon, France, 11 Sep 1944; Chieves, Belguim, 2 Oct 1944; Juvincourt,
France, 27 Dec 1944; Metz, France, 5 Jan 1945; Frankfort-am-Main, Germany, 15 Apr 1945;
Buchschwabach, Germany, 13 May 1945; Straubing, Germany, 13 May 1945-20 Aug 1946.
Commanders. Col Gilbert L Meyers, c. 3 Jun 1943; Col Frank S Perego, 1 Nov 1944;
Maj Dennis Crisp, 18 Oct 1945; Lt Col John L Locke, 2 Nov 1945; Col Robert P
Montgomery, 22 Apr-20 Aug 1946.
Campaigns. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland;
Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Mons, Belgium, 3 Sep 1944.
Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgium Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945.
Belgian Fourragere.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a lightning bolt bendwise in front of a winged star or, on a chief argent a
cluster of grapes and a Korean bell proper.
Motto: NULLI SECONDUS--Second to None. (Approved 22 Dec 1953.)
| 136th Airlift Wing Unit Patch The 368th Fighter Group lives on today as the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard |
| 136th AW C-130H Hercules Click to see full size |
| Group HQ Photo Album |
| HQ Photo Album Completed 8-22-07 |
Grapes represent service in Europe, WW2.
Bell represents service in the Korean War.
Inverted V represents service in Desert Storm.
Bell represents service in the Korean War.
Inverted V represents service in Desert Storm.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tail Number 368 |
