24.05.2010, 11:05
Think I can be of some help, here.
First USAAF fighter group to operate the Merlin powered Mustangs was not an 8th Air Force group, oddly, enough. It was the 354th Fighter Group, of the 9th Air Force. Seems that, through a screwup back in the States, the 8th's long awaited Mustangs went to General Pete Quesada' fighter command. Quesada wouldn't relinquish his Mustangs to the 8th Air Force. However, a deal was struck. The 354th would be under the command of 8th Air Force until the 8th got it's own P-51s. They reached England with thier P-51B's in November of 1943, and flew their first mission out of Boxted a month later.
First Mustang outfit assigned to the 8th was the 357th. Feb 11th 1944. P-51B'S. Got their D models in May.
Right behind them was the 4th, at Debden. P-51B's in February.
20th Converted from p-38'S TO P-51s in July.
55TH was another Lightning unit. Mustangs, also in July of 1944.
78th didn't trade their Thunderbolts for Mustangs until December. The B model had already been replaced on the assembly lines by the D at that time, so the 78TH at Duxford went right to the P-51D.
339TH Reached England with their P-51B's in April, and and the D models started to trickle in soon after.
The Blue Nosed Bastards at Bodney ,the 352nd, traded their P-47'S for P-51B's in April.
353rd, P-47s for P-51s in October.
355TH, Mustangs in March.
356th, traded their olive drab Thunderbolts for beautifully painted , blue and red nosed Mustangs in November.
359th, Geen nosed Jugs to green nosed Mustangs in May.
361st, Yellow nosed P-47s to yellow nosed Mustangs in May.
364th, Got theirs in July.
And the 479th traded their Lightning in for P-51 Mustangs in September. Only 8th unit not to have their Mustang noses, painted. Just a polised spinner as a Group marking.
By the end of the war, only the 56th was still flying P-47s the 8th Air Force. They petitioned 8th Fighter Command to allow them to keep their Jugs, and their with was granted.
Hope that helps.
First USAAF fighter group to operate the Merlin powered Mustangs was not an 8th Air Force group, oddly, enough. It was the 354th Fighter Group, of the 9th Air Force. Seems that, through a screwup back in the States, the 8th's long awaited Mustangs went to General Pete Quesada' fighter command. Quesada wouldn't relinquish his Mustangs to the 8th Air Force. However, a deal was struck. The 354th would be under the command of 8th Air Force until the 8th got it's own P-51s. They reached England with thier P-51B's in November of 1943, and flew their first mission out of Boxted a month later.
First Mustang outfit assigned to the 8th was the 357th. Feb 11th 1944. P-51B'S. Got their D models in May.
Right behind them was the 4th, at Debden. P-51B's in February.
20th Converted from p-38'S TO P-51s in July.
55TH was another Lightning unit. Mustangs, also in July of 1944.
78th didn't trade their Thunderbolts for Mustangs until December. The B model had already been replaced on the assembly lines by the D at that time, so the 78TH at Duxford went right to the P-51D.
339TH Reached England with their P-51B's in April, and and the D models started to trickle in soon after.
The Blue Nosed Bastards at Bodney ,the 352nd, traded their P-47'S for P-51B's in April.
353rd, P-47s for P-51s in October.
355TH, Mustangs in March.
356th, traded their olive drab Thunderbolts for beautifully painted , blue and red nosed Mustangs in November.
359th, Geen nosed Jugs to green nosed Mustangs in May.
361st, Yellow nosed P-47s to yellow nosed Mustangs in May.
364th, Got theirs in July.
And the 479th traded their Lightning in for P-51 Mustangs in September. Only 8th unit not to have their Mustang noses, painted. Just a polised spinner as a Group marking.
By the end of the war, only the 56th was still flying P-47s the 8th Air Force. They petitioned 8th Fighter Command to allow them to keep their Jugs, and their with was granted.
Hope that helps.