The September 2008 reunion
has been postponed...
until spring 2009

* details will be posted soon *


THE 324th FIGHTER GROUP campaigned in World War II from Tunisia and Sicily to Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome, Northern France, Southern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. The outfit was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. Its pilots flew nearly 28,000 sorties, and in their role as bomber escorts and fighter bombers helped to drive the Axis forces back into the heart of Germany. The Group had 97 confirmed and 21 probable kills of enemy aircraft in the air. Four ground echelon members and 30 pilots lost their lives.
Dive bombing and strafing by 324th pilots destroyed almost 2,000 enemy vehicles on the ground and damaged as many more. Two hundred ninety-two locomotives and 1,818 railroad cars were demolished and substantially more were damaged. Close support resulted in 231 complete road blocks and 487 cuts of railroad lines. Altogether, the 324th dropped nearly 18-million pounds of bombs. On March 19, 1945, in Germany, 324th P-47s flew 264 sorties setting a record for one day's flying for a fighter-bomber group.
The 324th Group was activated on July 6, 1942, and inactivated on November 7, 1945. Many of its veterans served throughout the entire period and those who survive still cherish vivid memories of that time.
On this site, we hope to share past experiences not only with each other but also with those who are interested in the history of air combat in World War II.

THE 324th FIGHTER GROUP WAS MADE UP OF THREE SQUADRONS:
314th-The Hawks, 315th-The Crusaders, 316th-The Hell's Belles.
For the rosters of personnel and histories please click on the
insignia of the squadron below.


 

In Memorium
Leonard C. Lydon
Stuart, Iowa
1915 - 1945

______________________

Losses of 324th
March 13, 1943 - July 10, 194
5

Many of the missing in action (MIA) returned to duty sooner or later. All of the prisoners of war(POW) survived the war.

Name
Rank/
ASN
Status
Location
Date
Simpson, John D. Jr.

Capt 0431900

POW
Tunisia 13 Mar 43
Colletti, Nicholas R. F/O T186090
AK
A-E Sudan 14 Mar 43
Washer, Wayne D. 2nd Lt 0728783
AK
A-E Sudan 14 Mar 43
Kristufek, Donald 2nd Lt 0661225
AK
Egypt 22 Mar 43
Musgrove, Lee E. Jr. 2nd Lt 066976
AK
Egypt 26 Mar 43
Gilpin, George W. 1st Lt 0790651
KIA
Tunisia 6 April 43
Youngblood, Douglas R. 2nd Lt 0661422
KIA
Tunisia 8 April 43
Bicksler, Edwin H. 1st Lt 0684145
MIA
Tunisia 18 April 43
Phillips, James P. Capt 0431505
MIA
Tunisia 18 April 43
Werner, George R. 1st Lt 0437055
MIA
Tunisia 18 April 43
Cahill, John C. 2nd Lt 0728575
POW
Tunisia 6 May 43
Woodbury, Roscoe E. Jr. 2nd Lt 0728797
KIA
Tunisia 10 May 43
Roepenack, Harry J. 2nd Lt 0665866
AK
Tunisia 14 June 43
Wilson, Stanford E. 2nd Lt 0661418
AK
Tunisia 23 June 43
Huser, Roy L. 2nd Lt 0661321
MIA
Sicily 4 July 43
Smith, Lloyd B. Jr. 1st Lt 0414422
MIA
Sicily 6 July 43
McHenry, Warren 2nd Lt 0728698
MIA
Sicily 8 July 43
Wood, Don B. M. Capt 0397261
MIA
Sicily 8 July 43
Carpenter, David E. Capt 0431852
POW
Sicily 9 July 43
Chalker, Charles L. 1st Lt 0681191
KIA
Sicily 9 July 43
Dempsey, Robert G. Major 0387963
KIA
Sicily 9 July 43
Selig, Emile Jr 1st Lt 0728747
MIA
Sicily 9 July 43
Bratton, Philmore 2nd Lt 0736966
KIA
Sicily 12 July 43
Chadwick, Arthur J. 2nd Lt 0660243
AK
Tunisia 21 July 43
Ellis, Donald J. 2nd Lt 0802276
AK
Tunisia 27 Aug 43
Crawford, Ivan L. 2nd Lt 0736129
KIA
Italy 10 Nov 43
Brooks, Jack 2nd Lt 0798087
KIA
Italy 11 Nov 43
Landtroop, Dorman W. 2nd Lt 0664201
POW
Italy 13 Dec 43
Mullen, James E. 2nd Lt 0668614
KIA
Italy 18 Feb 44
Brown, William S. 1st Lt 0799121
MIA
Italy 22 Feb 44
DeFehr, Albert R. Major 0417010
KIA
Italy 15 Mar 44
Hanneman, Sheldon W. 2nd Lt 0754109
POW
Italy 1 April 44
Dealy, John F. 2nd Lt 0812067
POW
Italy 10 April 44
Coble, Robert P. 2nd Lt 0748575
CAP
Italy 15 April 44
Leggett, John I. 2nd Lt 0799196
KIA
Italy 16 April 44
Chadwick, Quentin 2nd Lt 1291949
POW
Italy 17 April 44
Jones, Lester H. Capt 0661219
KIA
Italy 22 April 44
Hendrick, Robert L. 2nd Lt 0695062
AK
Italy 30 April 44
Nelson, Neal V. 2nd Lt 0814200
MIA
Italy 12 May 44
Kusch, Arthur F. Jr. 2nd Lt 0754143
KIA
Italy 13 May 44
Hansen, Arthur H. 2nd Lt 0697275
KIA
Italy(M-7697) 14 May 44
Duncan, Paul E. 2nd Lt 0812063
POW
Water off Gaeta,It 16 May 44
Forkapa, Milan R. Jr. 2nd Lt 0697263
POW
Italy(M-5196) 16 May 44
Harnest, Allen J. 2nd Lt 0695060
MIA
Italy(M-507950) 19 May 44
Fischer, Richard H. 1st Lt 0438809
KIA
Italy(G-507186) 20 May 44
Higgins, John P. 2nd Lt 0754624
KIA
Italy(G-510393) 26 May 44
Morgan, Woodrow F. 2nd Lt 0814199
MIA
Italy(G-4139) 26 May 44
Brown, James B. 2nd Lt 0814825
MIA
Italy(G-4741) 27 May 44
Murray, John J. 2nd Lt 0697292
KIA
Italy (F-791584)
(Buried at Nettuno)
1 June 44
Garlington, Henry F. 2nd Lt 0812076
KIA
Italy(A-5807) 5 June 44
Crawford, Harris F.

F/O

KIA
Italy(A-0518) 6 June 44
Bull, Paul M. 1st Lt 0736977
POW
Italy(A-2553) 9 June 44
Pompay, Alfred F. F/O T123203
KIA
Italy(Q-1823) 17 June 44
Hunt, Wesley H. 2nd Lt 0754118
MIA
Italy(Q-3021) 18 June 44
Burk, Marion P. 2nd Lt 0705535
AK
Italy(1/2 mile NW Montaldo A/D) 13 July 44
Fischer, Roland J. 2nd Lt 0695044
AK
Italy(Lake Bolsena) 14 July 44
Aynes, William 2nd Lt 0706335
AK
Italy(in sea near
Formia di Burano)
16 July 44
Milton, Lewis J. 2nd Lt 0812115
KIA
Corsica (Gisonaccia) 7 Aug 44
Krasulak, Michael 1st Lt 0754139
AK
50 miles off Corsica 25 Aug 44
Clark, William A. Jr.
2nd Lt 0763495
KIA
France((N-9685) Grave found 28 Aug 44
Mapes, Douglas W. 2nd Lt 0704702
KIA
France(N-2804) Grave found 3 Sept 44
Saunders, Leroy W. F/O
KIA
France(H2819) Grave at Perreuil, France(N7005) 4 Sept 44
Neely, Charles W. 2nd Lt 0824542
POW
France (A-3775) 8 Sept 44
Johnson, Odell 1st Lt 0754631
POW
France(V-7517) 9 Sept 44
Andrews, John A.C. 1st Lt 0353575
POW
Germany(V-9818) 9 Sept 44
Grey, Merril C. 2nd Lt 0711995
KIA
France(A-4389) 9 Sept 44
McKenzie, Wilford P. 2nd Lt 0705608
POW
France(A-1077) 11 Sept 44
Morgan, Bruce 2nd Lt 0824694
POW
Germany(-R8713) 8 Oct 44
Walker, Raymond 1st Lt 0812908
MIA
Germany (S-0708) 8 Oct 44
Ricks, Gerald G. 2nd Lt 0820578
POW
Germany(W-4525) 11 Oct 44
Pendelton, Fields S. III 2nd Lt 0821768
KIA
France(V-7465) 12 Oct 44
Dudek, Robert J. 1st Lt 0697259
KIA
France(Tavaux A/D) 22 Oct 44
Leslie, Robert W. 1st Lt 0695070
AK
Coligny, France in B-25 crash(0-5809) 30 Oct 44
Macchi, John Capt 0803410
AK
Coligny, France in B-25 crash(0-5809) 30 Oct 44
Robida, Normand H. 2nd Lt 0716257
KIA
France(0-5758) Body recovered 6 Nov 44
Bolen, Edward J. Jr. 1st Lt 0820450
KIA
France(V-3735) near Hure River, body rec. 17 Nov 44
Decker, Jerome H. 1st Lt 0763520
KIA
France (V-7717) 21 Nov 44
Willits, Richard A. 2nd Lt 0129933
KIA
France (Tavaux A/D) 1 Dec 44
Trenary, Russell E. 1st Lt 0441223
KIA
France (P-8585) 5 Dec 44
Rake, Oran O. 2nd Lt 0715592
KIA
France (P-7653) 8 Dec 44
Smith, Carroll N. 2nd Lt 0824756
KIA
France (last seen 10 miles NE of Besancon) 8 Dec 44
Schaloske, Robert A. 1st Lt 0705624
MIA
France (bailed out at V-772352) 16 Dec 44
Pierce, Byron B. 2nd Lt 0710165
MIA
Vicinity of (R-2260) 17 Dec 44
Wright, Edmund II 2nd Lt 0836823
MIA
Germany (W-4843) 22 Dec 44
Seeds, George L. 1st Lt 0705629
KIA
France (Tavaux A/D) 25 Dec 44
Sparks, Oscar 2nd Lt 0756420
MIA
Plane at (R-2390) chute at R-1897 25 Dec 44
Rone, Luther R. 2nd Lt 0825497
MIA
Chute at R-8417 26 Dec 44
Paragone, Joseph R. 2nd Lt 0824710
MIA
Germany (R-6506) 26 Dec 44
Kantz, Aymer E. Capt 0433534
KIA
France (Luneville A/D) 5 Jan 45
Nunnally, Robert Q. 2nd Lt 0824550
KIA
Shot down by e/a last seen (R-3243) grave found 10 Jan 45
Munro, Alford R. 1st Lt 0695078
AK
France (N-0881) - while
ferrying a plane
15 Jan 45
Sams, George F/O T-187618
KIA
10 miles SE Luneville 22 Jan 45
Pines, Albert W. 1st Lt. 0-95083
KIA
Germany (W0245715) 2 Feb 45
Putt, Glenn R. 2nd Lt 0715590
KIA
Last seen at V-7496, France. Reported at V-482875 3 Feb 45
Grafton, Eugene C. Jr 2nd Lt 0831382
MIA
2 miles south of Zweibrucken 13 Feb 45
Luthy, Walter F. 1st Lt 0704691
POW
Bellied in 3 miles W of
Kaiserlauten (Q-9539)
15 Feb 45
Slack, Clarence B. 1st Lt. 0820593
POW
Bellied in OK at (R0549751) 16 Feb 45
Gross, L.E. Capt. 0812082
MIA
at R-6434 19 Feb 45
Plischka, N. 1st Lt 0790710
KIA
4 miles SE of Barleduc (U-079199) 22 Feb 45
Berlin, A.F. 1st Lt. 0673978
KIA
Last seen at R-584530 Grave found 20 Feb 45
Rhodes, J. M. 2nd Lt 0831472
MIA
Last seen at R-6045 23 Feb 45
Manning, M. R. 2nd Lt 0714951
KIA
Hit by flak, went in
Q-745723, exploded
28 Feb 45
Forman, Percy 2nd Lt 0832601
KIA
Crashed into hill Q653678, exploded, burned 11 Mar 45
Webb, Willard L. 1st Lt 0802087
KIA
Crashed E. End of field Q-1101 13 Mar 45
Brewer, Robert A. 1st Lt 0821837
MIA
Hit LAA, bailed out, landed
R-135693
13 Mar 45
Nicholson, John K. 1st Lt 0822236
MIA
Hit by AA, bailed out Landed R-2049 17 Mar 45
Gidley, E. F. 2nd Lt 0832379
MIA
Bailed out at R-6232 18 Mar 45
Yowell, J. J. 1st Lt 0715085
MIA
Bailed out R-740355 19 Mar 45
Edwards, J.C. 1st Lt 0689215
KIA
Luneville 20 Mar 45
May, Harry C. 1st Lt 0740706
KIA
Crashed at R-483655 Plane and grave found 23 Mar 45
Pardue, F. E. 2nd Lt 0824711
KIA
Luneville 27 Mar 45
Schroeder, A.L. 2nd Lt 0825500
KIA
Reported by Lt. Gidley Plane and grave found 31 Mar 45
Page, R. L. 1st Lt 0822245
MIA
Bailed out S-1676 1 Apr 45
Ashley, G. B. 1st Lt. 0694112
MIA
Crashed in flames S 025707 1 Apr 45
Brown, D. W. 2nd Lt. 325407
KIA
Just N. Of Ansbach T-0583 9 Apr 45
Pacheco, F. E. 2nd Lt 0831458
MIA
Bellied in at R-6417 10 Apr 45
Shaffer, H. B. 2nd Lt 0797918
KIA
Just N of Ansbach T-5083 9 Apr 45
Gooding, E. D. 2nd Lt 0832384
KIA
Crashed at S-974823 9 Apr 45
Warren, L.V. F/O T-1290097
KIA
Hit by flak; crashed on hill at W-32506 no chute seen. (Plane at W-25485. Body in cemetery of St. Georgen W-450472 16 Apr 45
Duncan, J. R. 2nd Lt 0834150
KIA

Crashed at V-083937 Body recovered
23 Apr 45
McIntyre, K. C. 2nd Lt 0826473
POW
Bellied in Y-9377 last seen running NW from crashed plane. (Returned May 3, 45) 24 Apr 45
Seekamp, V. H. 1st Lt. 0704526
AK
Near Pforzheiim 10 July 45

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


These four Curtiss-Wright P-40Fs are aircraft from the 324th Fighter Group seen aloft over Italy near Mt. Vesuvius. The plane in the foreground bears the group shield on the engine cowling and is piloted by Captain Bruce Biddlecome, group operations officer. Number 02 flown by Lester Krause of the 314th; number 40 by Ed Sanders, newly appointed c/o of the 315th squadron; and number 32 by Joe Goldberger, assistant group operations officer.


In October, 1943, the 324th Fighter Group moved to Cercola, Italy, outside Naples and for the first time the three squadrons began to coordinate operations. In June of 1943, members of the 314th flew the last U.S. P-40 mission in Italy and the aircraft were replaced by P-47 Thunderbolts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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