The following is a summary of the Unit History. Details can be obtained from the Units History Book- Mogin's Maulers. The book can be purchased through the 362nd Fighter Group. Send an email for more information.
March 1, 1943- December 1943 (Follow link to related Map) United States Formation and Overseas to Wormingford, Essex
The Group was activated at Westover Field, Massachusetts by authority para. 1, General Order 7, HQ 1st Fighter Command (19 Feb. 1943). The Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. Morton D. Magoffin. Three squadrons composed the group: 377th, 378th and 379th Fighter Squadron. No squad commanders were initially assigned. The majority of the enlisted men and pilots came from the parent group, the 326th Fighter Group at Westover Field.
Initially, many key personnel were not at Westover Field but at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, Florida. This included Lt. Col. Magoffin. Only a handful of persons were there and a skeleton crew carried on at Westover. By the end of April, the men arrived and the group was up to 70% strength considering ground personnel only. The Squadron Commanders also arrived. The Group would not receive planes until later.
Personnel: 1st Lt. Theo Davis- Group Adjutant; Capt. Philip W. Goldfarb, Group S-2; 1st Lt. Eugene M. Greenberg- Group Communications Officer; M/Sgt. Knowles- Tech Inspection section and S/Sgt Phillips- personnel Sergeant major; S/Sgt Germann of the S-3 section
Squad Commanders: Major Teschenr- 378th Major Irvin- 377th Capt. Chancellor- 379th (May 1043) Major Joseph Laughlin replaced Capt. Chancellor as Co of the 379th. Capt. Chancellor became Squadron Operations Officer.
By the end of November, the group was on the Queen Elizabeth, sailing for England. The trip was uneventful except for a certain amount of flu or grippe that made the rounds. The ventilation was also noted as terrible. On November 29th, the ship landed in Scotland. The group then traveled by train to Wormingford, England where they met up with the squadrons.
By December, the first fifteen P47s arrived.
Change of Station Summary:
22 June 1943- 378th and 379th moved from Westover Field, Massachusetts to Bradley Field, Connecticut. The 377th stayed behind.
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