ISSUED BY AAF-RAF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Saturday

14 October 1944.

31ST FIGHTER GROUP AWARD

SECOND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION

 

      In recognition of its outstanding performance of duty while flying

from Russian bases July 25, the 31st Fighter Group was awarded its second

Distinguished Unit Citation by Maj. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Commanding General

of the 15th A A F, at a formal ceremony held at the Mustang base Thursday.

 

 At the same time, Gen. Twining presented Silver Stars for gallantry in

action to Lt. Col. Yancey S. Tarrant, Brownwood, Tex., Commanding Officer of

the 31st Fighter Group, and to three other Mustang pilots.

 

      The action for which the Mustang group was cited occurred while the P5ls

were returning to their Russian bases after successfully completing an escort

mission over Poland.  Sighting a large truck convoy, the Mustangs immediately

hit the deck and destroyed or damaged 19 vehicles and inflicted numerous

casualties among the German troops. Resuming their course, the 31st Fighter

Group encountered an enemy task force of 40 German dive bombers on their way

to attack Soviet ground troops and installations. The entire formation of

Mustangs dove to attack and in the ensuing air battle destroyed 27 of the

enemy formation without a single loss to the 31st Fighter Group.  "The virtual

annihilation of the enemy task force," reads the citation, " prevented grave

losses to our Russian allies and contributed greatly to the success of the

Russian offensive then in progress.

 

      "By the outstanding technical skill and devotion to duty shown by the

ground personnel, together with the conspicuous courage, determination and

aggressive spirit of the pilots, the 31st Fighter Group has upheld the

highest traditions of the military service, thereby reflecting great credit

upon themselves and the armed forces of the United States.

 

      Since shooting down the first enemy plane credited to an AAF fighter

group in the entire European theater on Dieppe Day, August 19, 1942, the 31st

has run its total of victories to over 500. More than 300 of these victories

have been scored since the group changed from Spitfires to Mustangs in April

1944. The Mustang group has a ratio of ten Luftwaffe planes destroyed for

every Mustang lost to enemy fighters or flak.

 

      Although most of their missions have been as escort for the heavy bombers,

the few missions which the Mustang group strafed ground targets have resulted

in the destruction of 111 locomotives, and the damaging of 25 more, 71 oil

tank cars and box cars destroyed and 23 planes destroyed on the ground as

well as damaging 20 more.

 

      Individual awards to members of the group include 3 Distinguished Service

crosses, 6 Legion of Merits, 40 Silver Stars with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 170

Distinguished Flying Crosses with 27 Oak Leaf Clusters, 341 Air Medals, 35

Purple Hearts, and 7 Bronze Stars.

 

      The three Silver Stars were awarded to: lst Lt. John J. Voll, Goshen, Ohio;

Capt. Thomas R. Hardeman, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Capt. Robert E. Riddle, Chicago, I11.