31st Fighter Group

Constituted as 31st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Trained with P-39s and participated in maneuvers. Redesignated 31st Fighter Group in May 1942. Moved to England, May-Jun 1942. Assigned to Eighth AF and equipped with Spitfires. Entered combat in Aug 1942. Supported a raid made by Canadian, British, American, and French forces at Dieppe on 19 Aug. Escorted bombers and flew patrol and diversionary missions until Oct. Assigned to Twelfth AF for the invasion of North Africa, the pilots of the group flying Spitfires from Gibraltar to Algeria on 8 Nov 1942 and the ground echelon landing at Arzeu beach the same day.

Attacked motor transports, gun positions, and troop concentrations during the three-day campaign for Algeria and French Morocco. Helped to defeat Axis forces in Tunisia by supporting ground troops and providing cover for bomber and fighter aircraft. During May and Jun 1943, provided escort for bombers on raids to Pantelleria and cover for naval convoys in the Mediterranean. Supported the landings on Sicily in July and took part in the conquest of that island. Covered the landings at Salerno early in Sep 1943 and at Anzio in Jan 1944. Also operated in close support of Allied ground forces in Italy and flew patrol and escort missions.

Assigned to Fifteenth AF in Apr 1944, converted to P-51s, and thereafter engaged primarily in escort work. Received a DUC for a mission on 21 Apr 1944 when the group, despite the severe weather that was encountered, provided cover for a force of heavy bombers during a raid on production centers in Rumania. On numerous other occasions escorted bombers that attacked objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. In addition provided escort for reconnaissance aircraft and for C-47s engaged in the airborne operation connected with the invasion of Southern France. Also flew strafing missions against airdromes and communications targets. Took part in an operation in which a task force from Fifteenth AF attacked targets in Rumania while flying to Russia on 22 Jul 1944 and while returning to Italy on 26 Jul; on 25 Jul, after escorting P-38's from a base in Russia for a raid on an airdrome in Poland, the 31st group made attacks on a convoy of German trucks and on a force of German fighter-bombers, being awarded a DUC for its performance. Strafed rail and highway traffic in northern Italy in Apr 1945 when Allied forces were engaged in their final offensive in that area. Returned to the US in Aug. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Squadrons

39th: 1940-1942
40th: 1940-1942
41st: 1940-1942
307th: 1942-1945
308th: 1942-1945
309th: 1942-1945

Stations

Selfridge Field, Mich, 1 Feb 1940
Baer Field, Ind, 6 Dec 1941
New Orleans AB, La, Feb-19 May 1942
Atcham, England, 11 Jun 1942
Westhampnett, England, 1 Aug 1942
Tafaraoui, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942
La Senia, Algeria, c. 12 Nov 1942
Thelepte, Tunisia, c. 7 Feb 1943
Tebessa, Algeria, 17 Feb 1943
Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 21 Feb 1943
Kalaa Djerda, Tunisia, c. 25 Feb 1943
Thelepte, Tunisia, 11 Mar 1943
Djilma, Tunisia, 7 Apr 1943
Le Sers, Tunisia, 12 Apr 1943
Korba, Tunisia, 15 May 1943
Gozo, c. 30 Jun 1943
Ponte Olivo, Sicily, c. 13 Jul 1943
Agrigento, Sicily, 21 Jul 1943
Termini, Sicily, 2 Aug 1943
Milazzo, Sicily, 2 Sep 1943
Montecorvino, Italy, 20 Sep 1943
Pomigliano, Italy, 14 Oct 1943
Castel Volturno, Italy, 19 Jan 1944
San Severo, Italy, 2 Apr 1944
Mondolfo, Italy, 3 Mar 1945
Triolo Airfield, Italy, 15 Jul-Aug 1945
Drew Field, Fla, Aug-7 Nov 1945

Commanders

Lt Col Harold H George, Feb 1940
Col John R Hawkins, 1 Jul 1941
Col Fred M Dean, 5 Dec 1942
Lt Col Frank A Hill, c. Jul 1943
Col Charles M McCorkle, c. Sep 1943
Col Yancey S Tarrant, 4 Jul 1944
Col William A Daniel, Dec 1944-unkn

Campaigns

Air Combat, EAME Theater
Air Offensive, Europe
Algeria-French Morocco
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Normandy
Northern France
Southern France
North Apennines
Rhineland
Central Europe
Po Valley

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citations:
Rumania, 21 Apr 1944
Poland, 25 Jul 1944

Insigne. Shield: Per bend nebule or and azure, in chief a wyvern, sans legs, wings endorsed of the second. Motto: Return With Honor. (Approved 28 Jun 1941.)

Missing Air Crew Reports

Missing Air Crew Reports also known as MACRs are reports of US aircraft that went down, via enemy action or mechanical issues, behind enemy lines. These reports detailed the aircraft and crew along with their disposition; there were statements and eyewitness reports if available describing what they saw. The majority of these reports were completed in the years following the conclusion of World War II. This was so that the survivors who had become prisoners of war could provide statements of the events of that day. These reports differ from accident reports in that those documented aircraft that crashed on take off or landing; these events happened on allied lines.

DONATE

Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment. We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans. This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.

Monetary Donation

Read about how we need your support and use donations

Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms and gear of the 15th Air Force in World War II as well as other units and commands. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material.