31st Fighter Group

   HISTORY OF THE 31st FIGHTER GROUP SYNOPSIS
(Taken from the "History of the 31st FG" by Rolland Lamensdorf)

    The 31st Fighter Group received little publicity in World War II, but it had an outstanding war record, a record of which every member of the Group can be justly proud.

    The 31st Fighter Group was the first American Fighter Group to participate in the European Theatre of Operations during World War 11. It was the first American Fighter Group to land in Algeria during the Northwest African invasion. It was the first American Fighter Group to be based on Sicily. It was the first American Fighter Group to be based on Malta. It was supposed to have been the first American Fighter Group to be based in Italy but, by the time the Allies had captured its airdrome, another American Fighter Group had already moved into Italy to occupy an improvised airdrome constructed after the invasion. The 31st Fighter Group was chosen to give umbrella protection to the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in Casablanca. It was the American Fighter Group which was selected to escort the Italian high command from German-defended Italy to Sicily during the Italian surrender negotiations, prior to the Italian invasion. The 31st Fighter Group was the group selected to go in with the assault troops at Oran, Gela, Salerno and Anzio. The 31st participated in the Dieppe Raid, the battle for Pantelleria and the invasion of Southern France.

    Although it was late in the war when the Group changed over from the defensive Spitfire to the long range aggressive P51, nevertheless, by the termination of the war, the 31st led the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations in air combat victories with a total of 571. It had 33 individual aces including Johnny Voll, the leading ace in that Theatre, with 21 air combat victories. The Group had a favorable ratio, in air combat victories, of 8 destroyed for every loss sustained. The 31st Fighter Group led in every department but publicity.

    The 31st Fighter Group was on overseas duty for thirty-seven months. During that time, it received two Presidential citations; it participated in twelve campaigns including Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Po Valey, North Appenines, Southern France, Northern France, Balkans, Rhineland and Air Offensive Europe.

Aces were:
(scores in the group only- some scored victories while flying in other groups or squadrons)

Squadron Insignia:
	39th FS ('40-42)		40th FS ('40-42)		41st FS ('40-42)		307th FS ('42-45)		308th FS ('42-45)		309th FS ('42-45)
Aircraft Codes:							MX		HL		WZ

	Mustang of 308th FS "Tempus Fugit" Pilot Col. Bill Daniel, C.O. 31st FG USAF Museum photo
	Mustang of the 308th FS Jim Sterling photo
	4 Mustangs of the 308th FS Jim Sterling photo
	31st FG C.O. (Sept '43 - July '44) Charles 'Sandy' McCorkle Sandy McCorkle photo
	308th FS leading Ace Robert Goebel Robert Goebel Photo
	309th FS P51 photo courtesy of Paul Just (Father was planes Crew Chief)
	Interesting scan of itinerary showing moves of the group photo courtesy of Paul Just (Father was planes Crew Chief)
	Posing in front of Col. Daniel's P51- Lt Col David W Wallace squatting on the right Photo courtesy of Dave Wallace's son Dave
	Another view of Col. Daniels Mustang and people posing with it Photo courtesy of Dave Wallace's son Dave
	Major Jim Thorsen, CO 308th FS 1944
	(Left to Right) Capt. Frank A. Hill – Flight CO,  Lt. Wesley T. Ballard,  Lt. Adrian Davis, Capt. E. Gillis Johnson,  Lt. Monroe P. Smith,  Lt. Derwood K. “DK” Smith,  Lt.John L. Ramer (kneeling in front)  Lt. Matthew W. Mosby, Jr. West Hampnett Airdrome, Chichester, England ~ 1942 Photo courtesy of Tom Kendle
	308th Fighter Squadron Mission Briefing, Taken at San Severo, Italy 1944 Photo courtesy of Tom Kendle
	Capt. John J. Voll, 21 Victories Leading Ace in Mediterranean Theater Captain John J. Voll of Goshen, Ohio. A member of the 308th Fighter Squadron, Captain Voll shot down 21 enemy planes, probably destroyed two and damaged two, becoming the leading Ace in the Mediterranean theater. He joined the 31st on May 4, 1944, flew his first combat mission over Northern Italy on May 14th and shot down his first enemy plane over Ploesti on June 23rd. On November 16th, Capt. Voll had his biggest day, shooting down three of the twelve enemy fighters that jumped him after he had destroyed a JU 88 in the Udine area. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with 26 Oak Leaf Clusters. San Severo, Italy Feb – Mar 1943 Photo courtesy of Tom Kendle
	308th CHOW IN THE FIELD -  (Seated Facing L to R) Sgt. Alton J. Terrio,  Herbert M. Dowling, Jr.,  Sgt. Niles Howell,  Sgt. Alfred E. Lambert (Seated Back to Camera L to R) Sgt. Herbert W. Beumer,  Sgt. Herbert Serota,  Sgt. Roy V. Strom,  Sgt. Howard L. “Hoot” Gangwish,  Sgt. Antonio A. Gutierrez,  Sgt. Edward J. “Leaky” LeClair (Walking away) SSgt. Harold J. Taylor (Transportation Section Chief) Photo courtesy of Tom Kendle
	This picture is from my Dad's archives. I think he told me that these two are his pilot and the 309th squadron commander. Maybe someone out there can identify them. Photo courtesy of Paul Just    Lt. James L. Fisk is the man on the right... working on the left one!  - Joe Vincent
	Lt. James Shea Photo courtesy of Jane Shea - Barclay
	Lt Dixon Van Ausdall's P-51B 308th FS 1944 photo courtesy of jack Cook
	Lt Van Ausdall in cockpit SSgt Cooley on wing photo courtesy of jack Cook

Official 31st Fighter Group Webpage

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    Data for this page was found and used from the following publications-

• Air Force Combat Units of WWII, by USAF Historical Div. Air University
• Stars and Bars by Frank Olynyk
• History of the 31st Fighter Group by Rolland Lamensdorf
• Special Thanks to the USAF Museum for the use of their photos

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