Most Successful P-51 Mustang Squadron?

DarrenW · Aug 12, 2018

Anyone know which P-51 Mustang squadron had the highest number of aerial victory credits? I am not interested in the destruction of aircraft on the ground so that would eliminate units assigned to the 4th Fighter Group.

From what I can tell, it would most likely be from the 354th or 357th Fighter Group as they seem to have had the most victory credits while flying the P-51. The 354th has more credits overall but it received P-47s in November 1944 and the numbers I have for them aren't broken down between the two types. There's also the chance that a lesser scoring fighter group had an outstanding squadron assigned which was able to achieve a greater success than one would expect.

My money is on the 364th FS of the 357 FG but I don't have enough hard evidence to support this assertion. Anyone know for sure?

bobbysocks · Aug 13, 2018

the 354th and 357th were the first mustang groups of the eto...dec 43/jan44. the 354th had more total air kills the 357th had the highest kills on a single mission of 55 and had more aces. the 354 was operational for a month or so before the 357th. when the 357th started to get planes they flew with the 354th to get their feet wet. the 357th went to the 8th AF while the 354th was with the 9th AF. the 9th did more ground work than the 8th so in some ways comparing the 2 is apples and oranges but both were very successful. I do not have the number of kills by squadron of the 357 but could dig it up if I get a chance.

DarrenW · Aug 13, 2018

bobbysocks said:
I do not have the number of kills by squadron of the 357 but could dig it up if I get a chance.

Thank you Sir, you're most kind.....

bobbysocks · Aug 14, 2018

I will tell you who has all this info already documented is drgondog. His dad was in the 354th. He has written a couple books on them and the mustang. My research is by far limited and not organized. You can probably PM him.

DarrenW · Aug 14, 2018

bobbysocks said:
I will tell you who has all this info already documented is drgondog. His dad was in the 354th. He has written a couple books on them and the mustang. My research is by far limited and not organized. You can probably PM him.

Thanks for the advice. I thought about asking him directly but felt compelled to open the question up to everyone first. Do you happen to know the name of the book? I knew that he was in the process of finishing one about the P-51 but wasn't aware that his work's been published before. I would like to buy a copy if at all possible...

bobbysocks · Aug 19, 2018

sorry for the delay AND for the bad info his dad was with the 355th. had a brain fart...the older I get the more I have. below are 2 of his books. the last one is the newest and only out in hard cover...but should be a very good read.

Amazon product ASIN 0912173025View: https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bulldogs-Dragons-355th-Fighter/dp/0912173025/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1534719435&sr=8-22&keywords=bill+marshall+book

Amazon product ASIN 0764343807View: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Might-Always-355th-Fighter/dp/0764343807/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0764343807&pd_rd_r=3f503ba8-a403-11e8-8a11-3342f9a62d4f&pd_rd_w=wIEVE&pd_rd_wg=viGmm&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=a180fdfb-b54e-4904-85ba-d852197d6c09&pf_rd_r=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR

Stig1207 · Aug 20, 2018

IIRC, it was the 354th FS, 355th FG...so you weren't that far off

DarrenW · Aug 20, 2018

bobbysocks said:
sorry for the delay AND for the bad info his dad was with the 355th. had a brain fart...the older I get the more I have. below are 2 of his books. the last one is the newest and only out in hard cover...but should be a very good read.

Amazon product ASIN 0912173025View: https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bulldogs-Dragons-355th-Fighter/dp/0912173025/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1534719435&sr=8-22&keywords=bill+marshall+book

Amazon product ASIN 0764343807View: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Might-Always-355th-Fighter/dp/0764343807/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0764343807&pd_rd_r=3f503ba8-a403-11e8-8a11-3342f9a62d4f&pd_rd_w=wIEVE&pd_rd_wg=viGmm&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=a180fdfb-b54e-4904-85ba-d852197d6c09&pf_rd_r=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR

Stig1207 said:
IIRC, it was the 354th FS, 355th FG...so you weren't that far off

Thanks gentleman, you've been most helpful.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Aug 20, 2018

bobbysocks said:
sorry for the delay AND for the bad info his dad was with the 355th. had a brain fart...the older I get the more I have. below are 2 of his books. the last one is the newest and only out in hard cover...but should be a very good read.

Amazon product ASIN 0912173025View: https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bulldogs-Dragons-355th-Fighter/dp/0912173025/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1534719435&sr=8-22&keywords=bill+marshall+book

Amazon product ASIN 0764343807View: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Might-Always-355th-Fighter/dp/0764343807/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0764343807&pd_rd_r=3f503ba8-a403-11e8-8a11-3342f9a62d4f&pd_rd_w=wIEVE&pd_rd_wg=viGmm&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=a180fdfb-b54e-4904-85ba-d852197d6c09&pf_rd_r=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=8JZ70QFF742Q3EDK70TR

I really need to pick up Bill's books. I think Amazon order is in the works.

He really is the forums go to guy in P-51 matters.

Unfortunately we seem to have had a falling out because of political reasons, not related to the forum. Hence why I strive to keep politics off of our forum. Such a shame.

Maybe it is time for me to ride off into the sunset for the sake of the forum...

Peter Gunn · Aug 20, 2018

DarrenW said:
Anyone know which P-51 Mustang squadron had the highest number of aerial victory credits? I am not interested in the destruction of aircraft on the ground so that would eliminate units assigned to the 4th Fighter Group.

From what I can tell, it would most likely be from the 354th or 357th Fighter Group as they seem to have had the most victory credits while flying the P-51. The 354th has more credits overall but it received P-47s in November 1944 and the numbers I have for them aren't broken down between the two types. There's also the chance that a lesser scoring fighter group had an outstanding squadron assigned which was able to achieve a greater success than one would expect.

My money is on the 364th FS of the 357 FG but I don't have enough hard evidence to support this assertion. Anyone know for sure?

I got this from a very reliable source:

The 353rd FS/354 FG had 277.5 Mustang plus 12 P-47D VC per USAF 85.

Next was 364th FS/357 FG with 212 VC.

The 487th FS/352 FG had ~ 203 P-51/32 P-47'

By contrast the top 61FS/56th FG squadron (P-47) had 232 VC.

bobbysocks · Aug 20, 2018

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:
I really need to pick up Bill's books. I think Amazon order is in the works.

He really is the forums go to guy in P-51 matters.

Unfortunately we seem to have had a falling out because of political reasons, not related to the forum. Hence why I strive to keep politics off of our forum. Such a shame.

Maybe it is time for me to ride off into the sunset for the sake of the forum...

nah don't do that. the levity of the mods here is the reason this forum doesn't go into utter stupidity or the kingdom of Spamalot. I have a LOT of respect for you mods. it is very difficult to gauge when to step in and when to let things ride to see if it will self correct. I could not do the job myself. so tie up that pony and hang around for a bit longer..

DarrenW · Aug 21, 2018

Peter Gunn said:
I got this from a very reliable source:

The 353rd FS/354 FG had 277.5 Mustang plus 12 P-47D VC per USAF 85.

Next was 364th FS/357 FG with 212 VC.

The 487th FS/352 FG had ~ 203 P-51/32 P-47'

By contrast the top 61FS/56th FG squadron (P-47) had 232 VC.

Wow Peter that's terrific, thanks!

DarrenW · Aug 28, 2018

Peter Gunn said:
By contrast the top 61FS/56th FG squadron (P-47) had 232 VC.

bobbysocks said:
the 357th had the highest kills on a single mission of 55...

After discovering the Mustang's "best day" (14 January 1945), I'm now trying to determine which information is more correct concerning the same for the Thunderbolt. I've seen both 32 and 37 victories scored by the 56th FG on either 17 or 23 December 1944. Can anyone tell me with some degree of certainty what are the correct figures?

davparlr · Sep 5, 2018

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:
I really need to pick up Bill's books. I think Amazon order is in the works.

He really is the forums go to guy in P-51 matters.

Unfortunately we seem to have had a falling out because of political reasons, not related to the forum. Hence why I strive to keep politics off of our forum. Such a shame.

Maybe it is time for me to ride off into the sunset for the sake of the forum...

No! don't do that! You guys have been the soul of the site. It wouldn't be the same without either one of you.

Did you ever make it to Alaska?

BiffF15 · Sep 5, 2018

DerAlder / Bill,

What happened is not my business and I'm not asking. However, having made errors of omission and commission of tremendous size and scope, I can honestly say if an apology is warranted proceed with all haste and humbleness in its delivery.

Cheers,
Dear Biff Abby

DerAdlerIstGelandet · Sep 5, 2018

Guys, I wish I had never brought it up.

Most Successful P-51 Mustang Squadron?

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