361st Fighter Group - RAF Bottisham / Little Walden (P-51 Mustang)

The 361st Fighter Group (USAAF) was activated in the United States on 1 December 1942. It was equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and later North American P-51 Mustangs (B/C/D models). They moved to England in November 1943 and conducted their first combat mission on 21 January 1944 with a bomber escort to German aircraft factories at Oschersleben, Germany. The group obtained the nickname of "Yellowjackets" which was derived from their distinctive yellow nose markings.

The 361st Fighter Group initially began operations escorting bombers deep into Germany with targets such as aircraft production centers, ball bearing plants, and oil refineries. They quickly gained a reputation for their aggressive fighter tactics and high success in air-to-air combat. The group played a major role in gaining air superiority over the Luftwaffe and made notable contributions including defense of bomber streams during "Big Week" (February 1944) and repeated long-range escort missions to Berlin. Multiple aces were produced such as Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson (one of the most famous Mustang aces) and Raymond H. Littge.

During D-Day and the Normandy landings (June 1944), the group provided fighter cover for the Normandy invasion and flew escort and strafing and interdiction missions against German ground forces. Later in 1944, there was a transition to ground attack with increasing emphasis on armed reconnaissance, and low-level strafing with attacks on rail networks, airfields and transport columns. The group moved to RAF Little Walden (September 1944) to support the advancing Allied forces. In 1945, the 361st Fighter Group supported the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied advance into Germany with missions focused on destroying transportation and supply systems for the German army. The last combat mission flown by the 361st Fighter Group was on 20 April 1945 in which they conducted a ground-attack (strafing/interdiction) operation on German transportation and military targets of opportunity in southern Germany.

By the end of the war, the group had flown approximately 441 combat missions. During this period, the group destroyed 570 - 600 enemy aircraft (air and ground) and lost approximately 80 - 100 aircraft.

Campaigns
The 361st Fighter Group participated in the following campaigns: Air Offensive - Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.

Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC): escort mission to Berlin under intense opposition 11 September 1944.

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