KITS 07/2022

P-51D-20, 44-63237, Col. William A. Daniel, CO of 31st FG, 15th AF, Mondolfo,

Italy, April 1945

Even though 31st FG did not receive much publicity

during WWII the unit scored several unique achievements. Not only it was the first American fighter

group which went to combat in ETO, in addition it was

the first American FG which landed in Algeria du-

ring the Operation Torch (invasion to North Africa).

Also, its pilots were selected to be the first American

group to land on Malta and Sicily later. William Allen

Daniel while flying with 31st FG scored five confirmed kills of the enemy aircraft, last one was a Me

262 shot down on March 24, 1945, during the escort

of bombers to Berlin. By this deed he ranked among

33 air aces who flew with this group.

P-51D-5, 44-13382, Lt. James L. Brooks, 307th FS, 31st FG, 15th AF,

San Severo, Italy, summer 1944

James Lynn Brooks, Binton, Virginia native, underwent the pilot training in 1942. After graduation he

was ordered to 307th Fighter Squadron operating in

MTO. While he was with this unit, at that time flying

the phenomenal Mustangs, he was credited with 13.5

victories which made him a pilot with the highest

kill score in this unit. He also flew in the Korean War

and after that he took a job as a test pilot. Same as

the other 31st FG Mustangs, also Brooks’ airplane,

nicknamed February, sported the red stripes on its

tail surfaces that helped the bomber crews to recognize friendly fighters.

P-51D-5, 44-13494, Lt. Walter J. Goehausen Jr., 308th FS, 31st FG, 15th AF,

San Severo, Italy, summer 1944

After the previous deployment with VIII Fighter Command in Great Britain the 308th Fighter Squadron

was sent to Africa within the 31st FG under the 12th

AF command. Here this unit took part in the support of the landings in Sicily, Salerno and at Anzio.

In Great Britain its pilots flew Spitfires Mk.V but during the Africa fighting they converted to the modern

Spitfires Mk.VIII and Mk.IX. In April 1944 the 308th FS

July 2022

(together with the other 31st FG squadrons) was re-equipped with Mustangs which they flew within the

15th AF escorting the four-engined bombers over the

targets in the occupied Europe and Germany as well.

Walter John Goehausen was born on June 20, 1921,

in St. Louis, Missouri. After his pilot training he was

ordered to the 308th FS and while flying combat with

it he scored ten kills of the enemy aircraft. Besides

the oblique red stripes, the markings of the 31st FG

aircraft, his Mustang, nicknamed Miss Mimi II, also

carried the yellow stripes on the wings and the tail

surfaces which was the marking of the American

fighters operating in the Mediterranean introduced

in March 1943.

INFO Eduard

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