-Intelligent Strength-

The shield was approved on 12th September 1940. The colours represent the Air Force with the Clenched Fist representing Strength and the Magnolia, the Louisiana state flower representing the Groups station of origin.

Honor Roll

27th Fighter-Bomber Group

The 27th Bomb Group (L) comprised:-

15th: 1940-1941
465th: 1942

522nd (formerly 16th): 1940-45; 1946-1952
523rd (formerly 17th): 1940-1945; 1946-1952
524th (formerly 91st): 1941-1945; 1946-1952

HQ Squadron

2nd Observation Squadron

454th Ordinance

 

Stations:
Barksdale Field, Louisana, 1 Feb 1940
Hunter Field, Georgia, Oct 1940 - 21 Oct 1941
Philippine Islands, 20 Nov 1941
Batchelor, Australia, Mar to 4 May 1942
Hunter Field, Georgia, 4 May 1942
Key Field, Mississippi; Jul 1942
from here they went to Algeria, Morocco, etc.

 

  • Third Air Force (1940-41, 1942)

  • In February 1940, the 27th Bomb Group was formed from a Cadre of the 3rd Bomb Group. On 1 November 1941 they sailed for the Philippines. They were equipped with A-24s, but their planes never arrived, and were diverted to Australia after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The group was created in February, 1940 at Barksdale Field, La., and as its commanding officer was Col. (later major General} Clearance L. Tinker, who was lost in the battle of Midway. In October the group moved to Savannah for training in dive-bombing and ground strafing. Its operations officer then was Maj. John H. Davis of Oakland, Calif., who was a Colonel and Commanding Officer of the group by the time the 27th sailed for the Philippines after the manoeuvres in Louisiana. 

    Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Sailed for the Philippine Islands on 1 Nov 1941 and arrived at Manila on 20 Nov 1941. The groups planes (A-24's), which had not arrived by 7 Dec 1941, were diverted to Australia after the Japanese attack on the Philippines. The groups commander and 20 pilots who were flown from Luzon to Australia to get the aircraft did not return because of the deterioration of the situation in the Philippines; some of the pilots saw service in Java, Feb-May 1942, before they were assigned to another group. The men left on Luzon served as infantrymen in the battles of Bataan and Corregidor; The 27th group was transferred, without personnel and equipment, from Australia to the US in May 1942.

    Remanned and equipped with A-20's. Trained in the US until Nov 1942. Moved to North Africa. Converted to A-36 (P-51A) aircraft. began operations with the 12th Air Force in June 1943 served in the Mediterranean theatre till the end of the war.

  • V Bomber Command (1941-42)
    (Under operational control of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, c. Mar-4 May 1942)

  • Twelfth Air Force (1942-45)

  • United States Air Forces in Europe (1946-47)

Information: http://www.charlies-web.com/WWII_med/index.html

The 27th Bomb Group had flown across the South Atlantic and up the west coast of Africa, reaching Algeria about the same time as the 47th. Instead of going into combat, they went through a long and ill-advised program to toughen their A-20s for low-level attack: two fifty-caliber machineguns were mounted in the bombardier's compartment of each plane, and the Plexiglas panels were painted over. About the time the work was finished, the 12th Air Force decided to reequip the group with a dive-bomber version of the North American Mustang, so the A-20 gunships became replacements for those lost by Colonel Terrell's outfit (47th Bomb Group (L).

 

.

16th Bombardment Squadron (Light)

not confirmed as the right patch for 1940/41 period

17th Bombardment Squadron (Light)

not confirmed as the right patch for 1940/41 period

91st Bombardment Squadron (Light) 

not confirmed as the right patch for 1940/41 period
 

Present Patch

  

Present Patch

 Constituted 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) on 20 November 1940. Activated on 15 January 1941. Redesignated: 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 August 1941; 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 23 August 1943; 524th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 30 May 1944, On a Light Blue disc fimbriated White a stylized White cloud formation surmounted by a Yellow lightning flash issuing bendwise sinister from sinister chief, overall a Black silhouette of a hound rampant, all within a Blue border semi of mullets of the first. MOTTO: HOUNDS OF HEAVEN. Approved on 21 January 1955(K 11365)

522nd Fighter Squadron

(formerly 16th)

Above patch from Charles Dills website Someone designed a patch and had an artist on the Isle of Capri paint it on canvas. I had one and it is the one on the jacket in the picture on the right. It was too fragile and rapidly got ruined. So someone had it reproduced on leather with burned outlines and a "paint-by-number" kind of coloring, also done on the Isle of Capri.
   

           "Fireballs"

523rd Fighter Squadron

(formerly 17th)

Above patch from Charles Dills website 

The patch was the official 523rd patch. It was made there in Italy. The squadron had a contest when we were in Gaudo, and that was the winner. The paper work was sent to higher Hdqs. For some reason it never made it back to Washington.
         

               

               "Crusaders"

524th Fighter Squadron

(formerly 91st)

Above patch from Charles Dills website 

"Hounds of Heaven" 
The Fireballs, The squadron was activated Feb. l, 1940, at Barksdale Field, La., as the l6th Bombardment Squadron (Light). Its first aircraft were the B-18 and A-24. The unit was later redesignated the 522nd Fighter Bomber Squadron, and then the 522nd Fighter Squadron. During World War II, the 522nd saw action in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and European theatres. Aircraft used by the unit included the A-24, A-20, A-36, P-40 and P-47. The 522nd was deactivated Nov. 7, 1945 at Camp Shanks, N.Y. Crusaders, The squadron's history dates from Feb. 1, 1940, when it was activated at Barksdale Field, La., as the 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light). Its first aircraft was the B-18. During World War II, the squadron saw action in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean, and European Theatres. It was redesignated the 523rd Fighter Squadron on May 30, 1944. By the end of the war, the unit had been re-equipped successively with A-24, A-20, A-36, P- 40 and P-47 aircraft. The unit was deactivated at Camp Shanks, New York, on Nov. 7, 1945 Hounds of Heaven, The 524th was activated January l5, l94l, at Hunter Field, Ga., as the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron flying B-l8 aircraft. It was redesignated as the 9lst Bombardment Squadron in l94l, the 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in l943, and as the 524th Fighter Squadron in l944. In World War II, the unit fought in the Pacific, Mediterranean and European theatres, flying A-20, A-24, A-36, P-40, and P-47 aircraft. The squadron was deactivated Nov. 7, l945, at Camp Shank, New York. 
 
 

When the A-36s were pretty well depleted by attrition around mid-1944, all of the 27th FG A-36s were transferred to the 86th, and (the 27th was re-equipped with P-40s.(I have confirmed the P-40's))  Then when they were all used up, the 27th wound up the war with P-47s.The 86th FBG , used white ID letters on the rear fuselage. Their 527th FBS had a white diagonal stripe on the tail.
The 27th used a 2-letter code vertically on the tail; top letter identified the squadron ( A-B-C ) lower letter the aircraft.

 

 

Early (A-A), thought to be (42-83901)
John P. Crowder

The RAF was concerned enough over the Mustang's general resemblance to the Messerschmitt Bf-109 to give it special recognition markings, consisting of yellow bands around the wings. The yellow surround for the Star was also a recognition feature at this time.

 

 

 

Later (A-A) (42-83901, condemned salvage crash Apr 9, 1945)
John P. Crowder

 

 

A-36A Apache, A-V thought to have been used by 522FS, 27FG

 

 

A-36A Apache, Judy, 42-83970 (last four digits easily seen on the fuselage), flown earlier in Jan 1944 by Robert Fromm, from Oklahoma. (Service # O-682627, 522nd Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Group, Entered the

Service from: Kansas, Died: 20-Oct-44, Buried at: Plot A Row 11 Grave 38, Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters) when it was badly damaged and crash landed,  it is listed as condemned,  9 Jan 1944.Tiny Hunter,  crew chief and staff,  repaired the plane and Charles Dills relates  this was the plane he was flying 19th or 22nd Feb. 1944 when the top section of a three piece canopy detached and struck him on the head causing the above forced landing accident. His crew chief, Tiny Hunter from Albuquerque, is leaning into the cockpit to take out the clock and remove the prized rear view mirror. Because I have "lightened' the first  picture  unfortunately you cannot make out Mount Vesuvius rising over the cowl.  The 27th FG was based at Pomigliano, Italy, at the time.

The plane was a 522nd Squadron airplane (as seen by the top letter "A") coded either B or D

 

 

The red surround to the Star and Bar was eventually changed to a deep blue colour this would more commonly be seen with the 86th FG as they "won" (see below) the A-36A for their Group.

 

   

 

Chas Dills with his P-40 Warhawk, Patty B II., Coded Q, ( P-40, 41-19873, lost 24 April 1944 522 FS, (27th FG), Curtiss P-40F-15-CU Warhawk. Next picture is a close up, of his 522nd Squadron patch as seen on the A-2 Jacket. There is an entry in Hi Sherman's diary that reads "4-23-44 Charlie Dills cracked up on take-off today. What a mess. One of the wings went under the taxi strip steel mat, which damn near cut the plane in two. Dills walked away - uninjured - another miracle."

 

It takes about 120 airplanes to keep a group going and we couldn't get any replacements. Only 500 were made in the beginning. There was a training group in Baton Rouge LA, a group in Burma (The only other A-36 user was the 311th Fighter Bomber Group, based in India.) and two groups in Italy. We were losing planes for one reason or another and we and our sister group, the 86th were down to around 60 planes each. It was getting increasingly difficult to operate. So someone came up with a great idea. The two group commanders would flip a coin and the winner would get all the airplanes. We lost.
      Having flown P-40's in the States, I was one of the pilots that were taken to various dumps around Italy picking up war-weary P-40's and bringing them back home!
My P-40 had a scorpion painted on it, left over we believe from one of the squadrons of the 33rd Fighter Group  ( actually was 57th FG USAAF,  64th (Black Scorpions) FS, ). We didn't paint any of our planes because they were temporary. An exception of course was mine with the name Patty B II painted on it. She was the girl I was stuck on in high school, and I believe was the only one that wrote me a couple letters while I was overseas. It was our way of hanging on to things back home.

 

Began operations with Twelfth AF in Jun 1943 and served in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war.

Redesignated 27th Fighter-Bomber Group in Aug 1943, and 17th Fighter Group in May 1944.

Maintenance and support personnel went by sea to North Africa while aircrews and the A-20s flew to South America then across to North Africa, In North Africa, the A-20s were sent to other groups and the 27th Bomb Group was redesignated as the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group and reequipped with the North American A-36 Invader dive bomber. Assigned to Korba, Tunisia, the 27th FBG flew its first combat missions of the war on June 6, 1943.

The 27th served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) until the end of the war. It was redesignated the 27th Fighter Group in May 1944 when the group converted first to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, then to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.

Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. Supported ground forces during the conquest of Sicily.
Covered the landings at Salerno and received a DUC for preventing three German armored divisions from reaching the Salerno beachhead, 10 Sep 1943.
Supported Fifth Army during the Allied drive toward Rome.
Took part in the invasion Southern France and assisted Seventh Army's advance up the Rhone Valley, receiving a DUC for helping to disrupt the German retreat, 4 Sep 1944.
Took part in the interdiction of the enemy's communications in northern Italy, and assisted in the Allied drive from France into Germany during the last months of the war.

 

Source: http://www.armyairforces.com/dbgroups.asp?Group=50

 

Aircraft    
Type Name Manufacturer
A-20 Havoc Douglas
A-24 Dauntless Douglas, In 1940, after the amazing success of the German Stuka dive bombers in Poland, the U.S. Army Air Corps ordered 78 of the U.S. Navy's Douglas SBD "Dauntless" dive bomber, designating it as the A-24. Fifty-four went to Australia, where in 1942 they had a less-than-glorious combat record flying against Japanese targets in Java and New Guinea. The A-24s were regarded as "too slow, too short ranged, and too poorly armed." They were relegated to non-combat missions after five of seven airplanes were lost and one was badly damaged on a mission over Buna, New Guinea.
P-40 Warhawk Curtis
A-36 Apache North American
P-47 Thunderbolt Republic
History    
Constituted as 27th Bombardment Group (Light) on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Sailed for the Philippine Islands on 1 Nov 1941 and arrived at Manila on 20 Nov. The group's planes (A-24's), which had not arrived by 7 Dec, were diverted to Australia after the Japanese attack on the Philippines. The group's commander and 20 pilots who were flown from Luzon to Australia to get the aircraft did not return because of the deterioration of the situation in the Philippines; some of these pilots saw service in Java, Feb-May 1942, before they were assigned to another group. The men left on Luzon served as infantrymen in the battles of Bataan and Corregidor; though a few managed to escape, most were either killed or taken prisoners of war by the Japanese. The 27th group was transferred, without personnel and equipment, from Australia to the US in May 1942.

Remanned and equipped with A-20's. Trained in the US until Nov 1942. Moved to North Africa. Converted to A-36 aircraft. Began operations with Twelfth AF in Jun 1943 and served in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war. Converted to P-40's in Jan 1944 and to P-47's in Jun 1944. Redesignated 27th Fighter-Bomber Group in Aug 1943, and 27th Fighter Group in May 1944. Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. Supported ground forces during the conquest of Sicily. Covered the landings at Salerno and received a DUC for preventing three German armored divisions from reaching the Salerno beachhead, 10 Sep 1943. Supported Fifth Army during the Allied drive toward Rome. Took part in the invasion Southern France and assisted Seventh Army's advance up the Rhone Valley, receiving a DUC for helping to disrupt the German retreat, 4 Sep 1944. Took part in the interdiction of the enemy's communications in northern Italy, and assisted in the Allied drive from France into Germany during the last months of the war. Returned to the US, Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Activated in Germany on 20 Aug 1946. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe and equipped with P-47's. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Jun 1947. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Equipped with P-51's in 1947, F-81's in 1948, and F-84's in 1950. Redesignated 27th Fighter-Escort Group in Feb 1950. Moved to the Far East late in 1950 for temporary duty with Far East Air Forces during the Korean War. Operated first from a base in Korea and later from Japan, supporting ground forces, escorting bombers, and flying armed reconnaissance missions and counter-air patrols. Returned to the US in Jul 1951. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns    
Air Combat, EAME Theater, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Northern France, Southern France, North Apennines, Rhineland, Central Europe, Philippine Islands,
Decorations    
Stations    
Name Dates
Hunter Field, GA 7 Oct 1940-21 Oct 1941
Philippine Islands

20 Nov 1941

SATURDAY, 6 DECEMBER 1941, US ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 27th Bombardment Gp (Light), Ft William McKinley, Luzon,  16th Bombardment Sqd (Light) (planes none) 17th Bombardment Sqd (Light) (planes none) 91st Bombardment Sqd (Light) (planes none)

(As war with Japan seemed imminent in the fall of 1941, the Army rushed the personnel of the 27th to the Philippine Islands to bolster American defenses, and 52 of their crated A-24s followed on another ship. However, the Japanese attacked before the airplanes arrived, and the A-24s were diverted to Australia for assembly. Most of the 27th's pilots were flown back to Australia to fly the A-24s back to the Philippines, where the enlisted mechanics waited to service them)

MONDAY, 22 DECEMBER 1941, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force): The 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) transfer from Ft William McKinley to Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno, Luzon respectively without aircraft.

WEDNESDAY, 24 DECEMBER 1941 (Christmas Eve), SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force): The air echelons of the 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) begin operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with A-24's. The ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon.

(The 27th Bombardment Group's A-24s arrived in Brisbane, Australia, in poor condition. Used heavily during the Louisiana maneuvers, many had been crated for shipment with worn out tires on and mud still caked on their wheels. In addition, they lacked the trigger motors and solenoids needed to fire the forward guns, and the rear gun mounts broke easily. Australian mechanics machined the necessary solenoids or fixed firing handles for the forward guns, strengthened the rear gun mounts, and replaced worn out tires with truck tires. However, by this time the Japanese had almost conquered the Philippines, where the 27th's enlisted men remained trapped. Put into the 1st Provisional Air Corps Regiment, these men fought the Japanese on the ground, and the survivors were subjected to the Bataan Death March.)

THURSDAY, 25 DECEMBER 1941 (Christmas Day), SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force):HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and the ground echelon of it's 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer from Lipa Airfield, San Fernando and San Marceleno respectively to Cabcaben, Luzon. The air echelons are operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; the ground echelons will fight as infantry on Luzon.

MONDAY, 29 DECEMBER 1941, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force):The ground echelon of the 16th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Cabcaben to Bataan, Luzon. The air echelon is operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

MONDAY, 5 JANUARY 1942, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Far East Air Force):The ground echelons of the 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), transfer from Limay to Bataan Peninsula, Luzon, Philippine Islands. The air echelons are operating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with A-24's.
Batchelor, Australia

Mar-4 May 1942

Source: http://www.kensmen.com/feb42.html

Thursday 5 February 1942
Far East Air Force is redesignated 5th Air Force. Air echelon of 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), ceases operating from Brisbane, Australia with A-24's and begins a movement to Malang, Java. The ground echelon is based on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Monday 16 February 1942
HQ 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) and 7th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) transfer from Melbourne to Bankstown, Australia with P-40's; the 8th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) transfers from Melbourne to Canberra with P-40's. Air echelon of the 16th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), transfers from Brisbane to Batchelor, Australia with A-24's. The ground echelon is on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.(The pilots in Australia separated into the 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons and prepared to defend Java, but only the 91st had aircraft ready to fly there. Departing for Java with just 15 repaired A-24s, they arrived on Feb. 17, 1942, but accidents and need of repairs left only seven aircraft ready for combat. Without fighter protection, the 91st flew heroically against Japan's best aircraft, but their A-24s had worn-out engines, no armor plating, and no self sealing fuel tanks. Referring to themselves as "Blue Rock Clay Pigeons," the 91st attacked the enemy harbor and airbase at Bali and damaged or sunk numerous ships around Java. After the Japanese shot down two A-24s and damaged three so badly they could no longer fly, the 91st received orders to evacuate Java in early March, ending a brief but valiant effort.)

Friday 20 February 1942
Air echelon of 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), begins a movement from Brisbane to Batchelor, Australia with A-24's. Ground echelon is on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Detachment of the 22d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) and air echelon of 88th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Townsville, Australia from Fiji Island with B-17's. The detachment of the 22d is under control of the USN. Ground echelon of the 22d is at Jogjakarta, Java; ground echelon of 88th is enroute from Australia to India.

Sunday 22 February 1942
Air echelon of 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), arrives at Batchelor from Brisbane, Australia with A-24's. Ground echelon is on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Friday 27 February 1942
The Battle of Java Sea. Allied air and naval units try to stop a convoy of some 80 ships approaching Java from the Northeast. All available B-17's, A-24's, P-40's and LB-30's are put into the air but achieve only insignificant results. An Allied naval force, 5 cruisers and 11 destroyers, under Rear Admiral Karel W Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy, meets the enemy near Surabaya, Java and is decisively defeated, losing 5 ships. Most of the 5th Air Force ground echelon in Java is evacusted by sea. The SS Sea Witch delivers 27 crated P-40's to Tjilatjap, Java, but these will be destroyed to prevent their falling into Japanese hands. 32 P-40's aboard the Seaplane Tender USS Langley (AV-3), which sailed from Australia for India on 23 February, are lost when the USS Langley is sunk by aircraft 100 mi (160 km) South of Tjilatjsp. The pilots are rescued by other vessels in the convoy, but the enemy sinks these ships with the exception of a destroyer, which delivers 2 of the pilots to Perth, Australia. 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Melbourne, Australia from the US with B-17's; first mission is October 1942.

Tuesday, 24 March, 1942
Air echelon of 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), ceases operating from Brisbane, Australia and begins moving to Charters Towers, Australia with A-24's. Ground echelon is on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Wednesday, 25 March, 1942
16th and 17th Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), cease operating from Brisbane, Australia with A-24's and begin moving to Charters Towers, Australia

Wednesday, 1 April, 1942
During Apr, HQ 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light), are established at Charters Towers, Australia; ground echelon remains on Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Hunter Field, GA

4 May 1942

MONDAY, 4 MAY 1942, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer without personnel and equipment from Batchelor Field and Charters Towers, Australia to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia. The units will be remanned and equipped and fight in the Mediterranean.

WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 1942, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA (SWPA, 5th Air Force): B-17's unsuccessfully attack shipping in the Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands area. Corregidor Island in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands surrenders. All US organized resistance to the Japanese in the Philippines ends. The air and ground echelons of the following AAF units are killed or captured; the units are carried as active units without personnel until 2 Apr 46: 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) 2d Observation Squadron (Medium) 3d, 17th, 20th, 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons (Interceptor) 14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) Most of the ground echelon of the following units were killed or captured: V Bomber Command 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 27th Bombardment Group (Light) 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) 28th, 30th and 93d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy)

(The A-24s left in Australia were assigned to the 8th Bombardment Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Group, to defend New Guinea against a Japanese attack. On July 26, 1942, seven A-24s attacked a convoy off Buna, but only one survived: the Japanese shot down five of them and damaged the sixth so badly that it did not make it back to base. Regarded by many pilots as too slow, too short-ranged and too poorly armed, the remaining A-24s were relegated to non-combat missions.)
Key Field, MS Jul 1942
Hattiesburg, MS 15 Aug 1942
Esler Field, Alexandria, Louisiana 10 Sep 42 to 18 Sep 42
Hattieburg, Mississippi 18 Sep 42 to 8 Oct 42
Esler Field, Alexandria, Louisiana 8 Oct 42 to 25 Oct 42
Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 25 Oct 42 to 21 Nov 42
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey 21 Nov 42 to 12 Dec 42
Staten Island, New York 12 Dec 42 to 26 Dec 42
Mers-El-Kebir, Oran, North Africa 26 Dec moved that day to
" Mud Hill" Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat, Algeria

26 Dec 1942

SATURDAY, 26 DECEMBER 1942, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force): HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and its 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) with A-20s is established at Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat, Algeria upon arrival from the US. The group will enter combat on 6 Jun 43.
Nouvoin, Algeria, 9 Jan 43

Jan 1943

WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force): In Tunisia, A-20s, in two forces, hit a military camp south of Kairouan while B-25s hit the Kairouan railroad yards. Fighters escort bombers, carry out patrols and reconnaissance flights, and accompany C-47s on transport missions.

THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force): The 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) moves with its A-20s from Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat to Nouvion, Algeria.

SATURDAY, 9 JANUARY 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Twelfth Air Force): HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light) with A-20s moves from Ste-Barbe-du-Tlelat to Nouvion, Algeria.

(Foz) Ras el Ma, French Morocco

1 Apr 43

Apr 1943

THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force), The 17th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 27th Bombardment Group (Light) with A-20's transfers from Nouvion, Algeria to Ras El Ma, French Morocco.

TUESDAY, 6 APRIL 1943, HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 91st Bombardment Squadron (Light) with A-20's transfer from Nouvion, Algeria to Ras el Ma, French Morocco.

Korba, Tunisia

1 Jun 43

Jun 1943

FRIDAY, 4 JUNE 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force), HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer with A-36's from Ras el Ma, French Morocco to Korba, Tunisia.
Gela, Sicily, 18 July 43

Jul 1943

SUNDAY, 18 JULY 1943, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force), HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) transfer with A-36's from Korba, Tunisia to Sicily. The 27th will be redesignated the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group on 23 Aug 43; the 16, 17th and 91st will be redesignated the 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons respectively.
San Antonio, Sicily 31 Aug 43
Capaccio (Salerno), Italy 13 Sept 43
Guado, Italy 4 Nov 43
Pomigliano, (Naples), Italy 19 Jan 1944
Castel Volturno, Italy 10 Apr 44, Castel Volturno, Italy, Castel Volturno was a dirt strip fairly close to the Mediterranean. It had a metal mat runway which was parallel to the coast so we always had a strong crosswind.
Santa Maria, Italy 9 May 44
La Banca, (Anzio), Italy 5 Jun 44
Ciampino (Rome), Italy 7 Jun 44
Voltone, Italy 4 Jul 44, TUESDAY, 4 JULY 1944, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO), TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): the 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter Squadrons, 27th Fighter Group, move from Ciampino to Voltone with P-47s.
Serragia, Italy

MONDAY, 10 JULY 1944, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO), TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force): HQ 27th Fighter Group and 522d and 523d Fighter Squadrons move from Voltone to Serragia.

THURSDAY, 13 JULY 1944, the 524th Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Group, moves from Voltone, Italy to Serragia with P-47s.

Le Luc (thru San Raphael) Southern France, 

 

18 Aug 44, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO), TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):, HQ 27th Fighter Group and the 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter Squadrons move from Serragia, Corsica to Le Luc, Provence, France with P-47s

 
Salon, Provence, France  WEDNESDAY, 26 AUGUST 1944, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO), TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):,HQ 27th Fighter Group and 522d, 523d and 524th Fighter Squadrons move from Le Luc to Salon, Provence, France with P-47s.It was tough flying from this dirt field. The dust was incredible. The first plane had no problem. The rest of the takeoffs were in the blind! We even had to have crew chiefs with goggles sit on the wing to direct the pilot when taxiing to the runway. When we asked why we didn't oil the runway or something we were told that we couldn't because the people wouldn't let us. "It would ruin the land for five years!" I think we were very lucky not to lose someone here.
Bron (lyon), France 7 Sep 44
Loyettes, France 12 Sep 44
Tanquinia, Italy 3 Oct 44
Pontedera, Italy 1 Dec 44
St-Dizier, France 19 Feb 1945
Toul/Ochey, France 19 Mar 1945
Biblis, Germany 3 Apr 1945
Sandhofen, Germany 23 Jun 1945
Echterdingen, (Stuttgart) Germany 15 Sep-20 Oct 1945
USA Dates unknown
Commanders    
Name Dates
Col Clarence L Tinker 1 Feb 1940
Lt Col W Wright Unknown
Col Guy L McNeil Jul 1941
Col John H Davies unkn-c. Apr 1942
Lt Col Harry F Van Leuven 14 Jul 1942
Lt Col John D Stevenson 11 Apr 1943
Col Dorr E Newton Jr 6 Aug 1943
Col Stephen B Mack 22 Apr 1944
Lt Col William R Nevitt 10 Sep 1944-Nov 1945

 

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