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316th Fighter Squadron
The 316th Fighter Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 495th Fighter Group, and stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. The unit was most recently activated in 2015 as an active associate of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing.
Previously, the squadron served from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, where it took part in the North African campaign and fought in the European theater of World War II.
The 316th Fighter Squadron was activated in mid-1942 under I Fighter Command at Mitchel Field, New York as one of the original squadrons of the 324th Fighter Group. The squadron trained at Byrd Field, Virginia. The first three and a half months were spent in training, and the men of the 316th absorbed the various techniques of aerial combat.
On 9 October overseas shipment orders arrived, and on the 27th the men boarded a train in Norfolk and arrived at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey the next day. The air echelon had left earlier for Miami Army Air Field, Florida, and were later flown by easy stages along the South Atlantic Air Transport Route via the Caribbean and Brazil to the squadron's destination – North Africa and the Ninth Air Force.
On Halloween day 1942 the ground echelon boarded the USS West Point, formerly the luxury liner America, which left New York early on 1 November. The squadron was berthed on the lowest deck, promptly tagged "Torpedo Junction" by some wag, and the men settled down to days of sickness and boredom. The monotony was somewhat relieved by the sight of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but no one was allowed ashore. On 12 November the West Point left Rio for the long haul to India, arriving at Bombay on 2 December. The squadron's equipment was unloaded, and the men were put on a train and sent to British Army rest camp at Deolali, India. They spent several days there stretching their "sea legs" in preparation for the next phase of the trip. The cleanliness and luxury of Deolali was a welcome respite from the crowded conditions common to troopships. On 13 December the 316th boarded HMS Denera, and three days later the men disembarked in Egypt. By 23 December the squadron was at RAF El Amiriya (Landing Ground LG-174), Egypt, and a period of training under combat-wise Royal Air Force supervisors followed.
The great offensive to oust the Nazis from Africa had begun with the English assault on Rommel's Afrika Korps at El Alamein on 23 October. The 316th was assigned to help the British advance, but it was not until 15 March that its pilots were deemed ready for combat. The day before the squadron went into action it was transferred to Causeway Landing Ground, Tunisia and attached to the 79th Fighter Group, and they flew several missions under their tutelage before being allowed to operate as an independent organization.
The British Eighth Army began its final assault on the German Mareth Line (on the border of Tunisia and Tripoli) on 20 March, and six days later the 316th received its baptism of fire while supporting the offensive. The squadron's Curtiss P-40 Warhawks attacked an intersection near El Hamma, leaving six enemy vehicles burning on the road. Despite heavy ack-ack all aircraft returned safely with the exception of Major Frederick G. Delaney Jr's (the squadron commander). Because of leg wounds, he was forced to land at an English field near the front; and unfortunately, he never returned to the squadron. The unit flew mainly ground support missions during the remainder of the Tunisian campaign, but it also mounted armed reconnaissance, counter-air, bomber escort, and destroyer cover operations in that period. On 8 May the squadron bagged its first kill in aerial combat. A flight was returning from a dive bombing mission over the rapidly shrinking enemy bridgehead in Africa when the pilots saw three Messerschmitt Bf 109s dive from out of the sun on the flight Leader, Captain Robert C. Dempsey. The Germans had the bad luck not to spot the rest of the flight, and when they turned to get Captain Dempsey they were pounced on by fourteen fighters. Two of the enemy planes turned tail and escaped, but one went down in flames. On 11 May the Tunisian campaign ended.
On 2 June the squadron was transferred to El Haouaria Airfield, Tunisia in order to rejoin its parent, the 324th Fighter Group, and for several weeks rested from the rigors of campaigning. The 316th resumed bombing escort operations during July. Preparations for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily were underway, and 10 July was designated as D-Day. The squadron was assigned the task of helping provide air cover for the invasion.
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316th Fighter Squadron
The 316th Fighter Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 495th Fighter Group, and stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. The unit was most recently activated in 2015 as an active associate of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing.
Previously, the squadron served from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, where it took part in the North African campaign and fought in the European theater of World War II.
The 316th Fighter Squadron was activated in mid-1942 under I Fighter Command at Mitchel Field, New York as one of the original squadrons of the 324th Fighter Group. The squadron trained at Byrd Field, Virginia. The first three and a half months were spent in training, and the men of the 316th absorbed the various techniques of aerial combat.
On 9 October overseas shipment orders arrived, and on the 27th the men boarded a train in Norfolk and arrived at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey the next day. The air echelon had left earlier for Miami Army Air Field, Florida, and were later flown by easy stages along the South Atlantic Air Transport Route via the Caribbean and Brazil to the squadron's destination – North Africa and the Ninth Air Force.
On Halloween day 1942 the ground echelon boarded the USS West Point, formerly the luxury liner America, which left New York early on 1 November. The squadron was berthed on the lowest deck, promptly tagged "Torpedo Junction" by some wag, and the men settled down to days of sickness and boredom. The monotony was somewhat relieved by the sight of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but no one was allowed ashore. On 12 November the West Point left Rio for the long haul to India, arriving at Bombay on 2 December. The squadron's equipment was unloaded, and the men were put on a train and sent to British Army rest camp at Deolali, India. They spent several days there stretching their "sea legs" in preparation for the next phase of the trip. The cleanliness and luxury of Deolali was a welcome respite from the crowded conditions common to troopships. On 13 December the 316th boarded HMS Denera, and three days later the men disembarked in Egypt. By 23 December the squadron was at RAF El Amiriya (Landing Ground LG-174), Egypt, and a period of training under combat-wise Royal Air Force supervisors followed.
The great offensive to oust the Nazis from Africa had begun with the English assault on Rommel's Afrika Korps at El Alamein on 23 October. The 316th was assigned to help the British advance, but it was not until 15 March that its pilots were deemed ready for combat. The day before the squadron went into action it was transferred to Causeway Landing Ground, Tunisia and attached to the 79th Fighter Group, and they flew several missions under their tutelage before being allowed to operate as an independent organization.
The British Eighth Army began its final assault on the German Mareth Line (on the border of Tunisia and Tripoli) on 20 March, and six days later the 316th received its baptism of fire while supporting the offensive. The squadron's Curtiss P-40 Warhawks attacked an intersection near El Hamma, leaving six enemy vehicles burning on the road. Despite heavy ack-ack all aircraft returned safely with the exception of Major Frederick G. Delaney Jr's (the squadron commander). Because of leg wounds, he was forced to land at an English field near the front; and unfortunately, he never returned to the squadron. The unit flew mainly ground support missions during the remainder of the Tunisian campaign, but it also mounted armed reconnaissance, counter-air, bomber escort, and destroyer cover operations in that period. On 8 May the squadron bagged its first kill in aerial combat. A flight was returning from a dive bombing mission over the rapidly shrinking enemy bridgehead in Africa when the pilots saw three Messerschmitt Bf 109s dive from out of the sun on the flight Leader, Captain Robert C. Dempsey. The Germans had the bad luck not to spot the rest of the flight, and when they turned to get Captain Dempsey they were pounced on by fourteen fighters. Two of the enemy planes turned tail and escaped, but one went down in flames. On 11 May the Tunisian campaign ended.
On 2 June the squadron was transferred to El Haouaria Airfield, Tunisia in order to rejoin its parent, the 324th Fighter Group, and for several weeks rested from the rigors of campaigning. The 316th resumed bombing escort operations during July. Preparations for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily were underway, and 10 July was designated as D-Day. The squadron was assigned the task of helping provide air cover for the invasion.