Home | History of the 354th Pioneer Mustang Fighter Group during World War II - Valor in Combat
Jack Cook Collection
Images of the 354th Fighter Group
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are a total of eleven images in this gallery.
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Easy Rockin' Mama - 1 of 11 images
Lt. James Burke, 353rd FS poses with his P-51B-15 Mustang, coded FT-H, Serial No. 42-106758. This aircraft would be stripped of its camouflage paint to its natural metal finish in the spring of 1944. Lt. Burke would claim three aircraft damaged during his tour. -
Landing Mustang - 2 of 11 images
Maj. Gilbert F. Talbot, 355th C.O., seen landing his P-51D Mustang on a steel matting strip at Ober Olm, Germany (Y-64). The 354th Fighter Group would be stationed at Ober Olm from April 4-30, 1945, before moving to Ansbach, Germany (R-45). -
Capt. Glendon J. Buer - 3 of 11 images
Col. George R. Bickell congratulates Capt. Glendon J. Buer , 355th Fighter Squadron, after receiving the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. Capt. Buer flew 76 combat missions for a total of 211 combat hours and credited with two aerial victories. Born in Belle Fourche, SD, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942. -
Maj. Glenn T. Eagleston - 4 of 11 images
Having returned from a mission Maj. Eagleston is seen taxiing his P-47D-30 Thunderbolt along on a steel matting surface a ground crewman lying on the wing is directing Eagleston to his revetment at Rosieres-en-Haye, France. Although the Ninth Air Force highest ace he would not achieve any aerial victories while flying the P-47. -
1st Lt. Bill Davis - 5 of 11 images
On August 24, 1944, mission 6 for the day, 12 P-51s from the 355th Fighter Squadron led by Maj. Robert Stephens proceeded to Beauvais north of Reims on a fighter sweep. They sighted and attacked 15 plus Fw-190s and Me 109s, two more gaggles of 15 plus enemy aircraft entered the dogfight. In the process Mustangs destroyed 13 and damaged 3 with a loss of 4 Mustangs. 1st Lt. Bill Davis destroyed one FW 190 and a ½ kill for a Me 109. -
1st Lt. Gordon Reeves - 6 of 11 images
Posing for the camera just before a mission in his P-51B Mustang seen here fitted with a Malcolm-hood. This Mustang shows Lt. Reeves’s home state of Oregon painted on its side and displays one victory and the names of Crew Chief – Sgt. J.R. Burks, Assistant Crew Chief – Sgt. J. Petrusick, and Armorer – Cpl. L.H. Phinney, men who maintained this aircraft. Note the impressive tally of dive-bombing missions this Mustang has participated in. -
1st Lts. Phil Cohen and Willie Anderson - 7 of 11 images
353rd Fighter Squadron pilots 1st Lt. Cohen (left) and 1st Lt. Anderson both finished the war with an impressive record. 1st Lt. Cohen destroyed four enemy aircraft in the air and flew over 60 combat missions and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. 1st Lt. Anderson destroyed two on August 7, 1944 during a fighter sweep near Laval-Anencon, France bringing his final total score to seven. Anderson shot down a V-1 Buzz bomb on June 17, 1944. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and French Croix de Gurre. -
1st Lt. John G. Montijo, Jr. - 8 of 11 images
One of many new flight officer pilots assigned to 354th Fighter Group in January 1942, John Montijo from Long Beach, California was assigned to 353rd Fighter Squadron. Lt. Montijo pictured with this P-51 Mustang was purchased by California Julienne High School students who raised enough war bonds to purchase this aircraft for the war effort and aptly named “Julienne Hi”, S/N 42-103796. -
1st Lts. Ivan S. Hasek and Willie K. Johnson - 9 of 11 images
Both pilots from the 353rd Fighter Squadron, Lt. Willie K. Johnson (right) of Guntersville, Alabama shows Lt. Ivan S. Hasek, Jr. of Sioux City, Iowa, how he got that enemy plane. Lt. Johnson would finish the war with one destroyed in the air. Lt. Hasek would finish as an ace with five enemy aircraft destroyed in the air. -
Capt. Felix Kozacka - 10 of 11 images
Capt. Felix Kozaczka from New Bedford, Massachusetts, in his P-51D Mustang “Marie Rose”, assigned to 356th Fighter Squadron. Capt. Kozaczka flew 70 combat missions and was then assigned as General Patton’s third Forward Air Controller, he was wounded by artillery fire. He returned to flying combat sorties in support of Patton’s Third Army accumulating a total of 106 combat hours. He finished the war with three enemy aircraft destroyed in the air. He commanded a jet fighter squadron in France during the 50’s. Before retiring from the Air Force he served on the Pentagon’s Air Staff, as Chief of Fighter Analysis Division. -
1st Lt. Charles W. Whalen, Jr. - 11 of 11 images
Assigned to the 356th Fighter Squadron, Lt. Whalen in the cockpit before a mission hands a form to S/Sgt William Miller. This P-51B Mustang “Mackie the 2nd” was assigned to Robert D. Weldon. After the war Charles W. Whalen, Jr. would be elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1955 where he served for three terms until his election to the Ohio State Senate in 1960.
Credits
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