397th Fighter Squadron

The 397th Fighter Squadron was first organized at Westover Field, Massachusetts in June 1943 as one of the original squadrons of the 368th Fighter Group. In August, it moved to Mitchel Field, New York, where it trained with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters until joining its parent group at Farmingdale Army Air Field, New York in November. The group and its squadrons left for Europe in late December 1943.[1][2]

The squadron arrived in England in January 1944. It began operations on 14 March, when it flew a fighter sweep over the English Channel coast of France.[2] The squadron received its first credit for destroying an enemy aircraft on this mission.[3] The squadron made strafing and bombing attacks on airfields, rail and highway bridges, trains, vehicles, and flak positions to help prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of France. The squadron also participated in Operation Crossbow, attacking V-weapons launch sites near the coast.[2]

The squadron supported the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. Ten days after the landings, it moved to Cardonville Airfield, an advanced landing ground in northern France and began operations from the Continent as an element of IX Tactical Air Command.[1][4] Shortly after the move, Major Randall Hendricks became the squadron's first ace.[3] The squadron provided close air support for forces in the Battle of Cherbourg, which secured a vital port for further operations in France. It participated in the air operations that prepared the way for Operation Cobra, the Allied breakthrough at St Lo on 25 July, and supported ground forces during their drive across France. The squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation[1] for operations near Mons (Bergen), Belgium on 3 September 1944, when it organized seven separate missions attacking enemy forces blocking the Allied advance, destroying transport and troop positions.[2] In the face of heavy antiaircraft fire, the 368th Group had destroyed over 262 motorized vehicles and an additional 230 horse-drawn vehicles.[5] It was cited in the order of the day by the Belgian Army for the period from D-Day through the end of September.[1]

The squadron continued its support of allied ground forces, participated in the assault against the Siegfried Line, and took part in the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 through January 1945 by attacking rail lines and trains, marshalling yards, roads and vehicles, armored columns, and gun positions. During these operations, on 17 December, Lt William Kerr destroyed three enemy aircraft in a single engagement.[3][note 3] It was cited in the order of the day for a second time by the Belgian Army for this support and awarded the Belgian Fourragère.[1] The squadron continued operations with the Allied forces that pushed across the Rhine and into Germany until the end of the war.[2] The last combat mission flown by the 368th Group was a fighter sweep near Prague on 5 May 1945.[6] The squadron ended the war credited with the destruction of 44 enemy aircraft.[3][note 4]

After V-E Day, the unit served with the army of occupation, at AAF Station Straubing. On 20 August 1946, the 368th Group and its elements were inactivated and replaced at Straubing by the 78th Fighter Group. The squadron transferred it personnel and equipment to the 84th Fighter Squadron, which was simultaneously activated. Although 368th Group headquarters and the other two operational squadron of the group were transferred to the National Guard the following day, the 397th has remained inactive.[1][2][7][8]

• Constituted as the 397th Fighter Squadron on 24 May 1943

Activated on 1 June 1943

Inactivated on 20 Auguast 1946[1]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation Mons, Belgium	3 September 1944[1]	[1]
	Belgian Fourragère	6 June 1944-30 September 1944, 16 December 1944-25 January 1945[note 5]	[1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	13 January 1944 – 5 June 1944	[1]
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	13 January 1944 – 11 May 1945	[1]
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	[1]
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	[1]
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945	[1]
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	[1]
	World War II Army of Occupation (Germany)	9 May 1945 – 20 August 1946	[1]

Explanatory notes

Citations