355th Fighter Group
RAF Steeple Morden

Formation of the 355th Fighter Group

The 355th Fighter Group (USAAF) was both constituted and activated in the United States on 12 November 1942. It was equipped initially with the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and later the North American P-51 Mustang. Following an intensive period of fighter training in the United States, the group prepared for overseas deployment as part of the rapidly expanding Eighth Air Force. During the spring and early summer of 1943, pilots and ground crews received advanced instruction in formation flying, aerial gunnery, navigation, instrument flying, bomber escort tactics, and air-to-ground attack techniques that would soon be employed over occupied Europe.

The group departed for England during the summer of 1943, arriving between July and August, where it became part of VIII Fighter Command. It established its wartime home at RAF Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire (USAAF Station 122), from which it would conduct nearly all of its combat operations throughout the remainder of the war. After completing final operational training and familiarization with the European combat environment, the group flew its first combat mission on 14 September 1943 with a fighter sweep over Belgium. The unit later earned the famous nickname "Steeple Morden Strafers," derived both from its wartime base and its unmatched reputation for aggressive low-level attacks against German airfields, transportation networks, and military targets.

Early Combat Operations

Early operations consisted primarily of offensive fighter sweeps over occupied France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. These missions sought to engage German fighters whenever possible while protecting Allied bomber formations and disrupting enemy air operations. As the strategic bombing campaign expanded, the group's responsibilities quickly evolved into long-range escort missions for the heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force.

The 355th escorted both B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators on increasingly deep penetrations into Germany. Major escorted targets included Berlin, Karlsruhe, the synthetic oil refineries at Misburg and Gelsenkirchen, aircraft factories, rail marshalling yards, military airfields, chemical plants, ball-bearing factories, and transportation centers throughout Germany and occupied Europe. Escorting bomber formations became one of the group's principal responsibilities, helping reduce heavy bomber losses while challenging the Luftwaffe in some of the largest air battles of the war.

Conversion to the P-51 Mustang

In early 1944 the 355th Fighter Group converted from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt to the North American P-51 Mustang. The transition represented a major improvement in the group's operational capabilities, as the Mustang combined outstanding speed and maneuverability with the endurance necessary to escort heavy bombers from England to targets deep inside Germany and back without interruption.

The 355th became one of the first Eighth Air Force fighter groups equipped with the new P-51B Mustang. The arrival of the Mustang transformed Allied fighter operations by allowing escort fighters to remain with bomber formations throughout the entire mission, denying German fighters the opportunity to attack bombers after previous escorts had exhausted their fuel. As a result, bomber losses steadily declined while Luftwaffe losses increased dramatically during 1944.

Distinguished Unit Citation

One of the group's most celebrated actions occurred on 5 April 1944 when it launched a daring low-level attack against German airfields during extremely poor weather conditions, including snow squalls and low visibility. Flying at very low altitude, the pilots surprised enemy defenses and destroyed numerous aircraft on the ground while inflicting heavy damage on German airfield facilities.

Despite hazardous flying conditions and intense anti-aircraft fire, the attack achieved remarkable success. For the extraordinary courage, determination, and combat effectiveness displayed during this operation, the 355th Fighter Group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC), one of the highest honors that could be bestowed upon a military unit.

Supporting the Liberation of Europe

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the 355th Fighter Group provided continuous fighter cover for the Normandy invasion beaches while conducting armed reconnaissance and close air support missions against German troop concentrations, artillery positions, transportation routes, and communication centers. The group's aircraft helped ensure Allied air superiority over the invasion area, preventing effective Luftwaffe interference with the largest amphibious invasion in history.

During the Allied breakout from Saint-Lô in July 1944, the group attacked bridges, railroads, supply depots, military convoys, armored vehicles, and troop concentrations in support of advancing Allied ground forces. Throughout the liberation of France and Belgium, the 355th continued escorting heavy bombers while expanding its role as an exceptionally effective tactical fighter unit.

The Steeple Morden Strafers

During the latter half of 1944 and into 1945, the group's emphasis increasingly shifted toward aggressive low-level strafing operations. Pilots routinely attacked German airfields, locomotives, railway marshalling yards, bridges, trucks, armored vehicles, fuel depots, communication centers, and military columns throughout occupied Europe and Germany. These missions severely disrupted German transportation and logistics during the final months of the war.

The extraordinary success of these operations earned the unit its enduring nickname, "Steeple Morden Strafers." Few fighter groups of the Eighth Air Force developed a reputation for low-level attack missions equal to that of the 355th. Its pilots became recognized for their willingness to attack heavily defended targets at extremely low altitude despite intense anti-aircraft fire and the constant threat of enemy fighters.

The group also supported Allied operations during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945 by attacking German armored columns, transportation routes, fuel supplies, and troop concentrations. During the final Allied advance into Germany, the group continued escorting bomber formations while simultaneously carrying out armed reconnaissance and interdiction missions that hampered German attempts to reinforce or resupply their remaining forces.

Long-Range Escort Operations

The 355th Fighter Group was among the earliest Eighth Air Force organizations to employ the P-51 Mustang on long-range escort missions deep into Germany. Flying alongside B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators, the group's pilots engaged German interceptors before they could attack the bomber formations. These escort missions played a vital role in achieving Allied air superiority during the final year of the European air war.

The group's fighter pilots combined aggressive offensive tactics with disciplined escort procedures, frequently seeking combat while remaining committed to protecting the heavy bombers. Their success contributed directly to the effectiveness of the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany's aircraft industry, oil production, transportation network, and military infrastructure.

Aces and Leadership

The 355th Fighter Group produced numerous outstanding fighter pilots and several distinguished aces during the war. Among its best-known aviators were Captain Henry W. Brown, Major William J. Hovde, and many other experienced combat veterans who became recognized for both aerial victories and exceptionally successful ground attack operations. Their leadership, flying skill, and aggressive combat philosophy helped establish the group's reputation as one of the premier fighter organizations of the Eighth Air Force.

Final Operations and Legacy

As Allied armies crossed the Rhine and advanced into the heart of Germany during the spring of 1945, the 355th Fighter Group intensified its attacks against rail transportation, military vehicles, airfields, bridges, and enemy troop movements. These operations further isolated German forces and accelerated the collapse of Germany's military transportation system.

The final combat mission flown by the 355th Fighter Group took place on 25 April 1945. During this mission the group's P-51 Mustangs carried out armed reconnaissance and ground attack operations against transportation targets and military objectives of opportunity in southern Germany. Only days later, organized German resistance came to an end with the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Combat Record and Legacy

By the end of World War II, the 355th Fighter Group had flown approximately 342 combat missions over occupied Europe and Germany. During this period the group destroyed approximately 1,500 enemy aircraft both in aerial combat and on the ground, making it one of the highest-scoring fighter organizations of the Eighth Air Force. In addition to its aircraft victories, the group destroyed hundreds of locomotives, railcars, bridges, military vehicles, fuel depots, communication facilities, and other strategic targets during countless strafing and interdiction missions.

The cost of these achievements was considerable. The group lost approximately 150-200 aircraft in combat and operational accidents, while many pilots were killed, wounded, or became prisoners of war. Nevertheless, the 355th Fighter Group earned a lasting reputation as one of the finest escort and ground attack fighter units of the European Theater. Through its pioneering long-range Mustang operations, aggressive strafing tactics, and unwavering support of both the strategic bombing campaign and Allied ground forces, the "Steeple Morden Strafers" made a significant contribution to Allied victory in Europe.

Campaigns
The 355th Fighter Group participated in the following campaigns: Air Offensive - Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.

Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC): mission against German airfields 5 April 1944.

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