353rd Fighter Group
| 353rd Fighter Group | |
|---|---|
P-51 Mustang of the 353rd Fighter Group | |
| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | VIII Fighter Command |
| Garrison/HQ | European Theatre of World War II |
| Nickname(s) | Slybird Group |
| Colors | Yellow/black checkered cowl |
| Insignia | |
| 4th Fighter Group Emblem | |
| 350th Fighter Squadron | LH |
| 351st Fighter Squadron | YJ |
| 352nd Fighter Squadron | SX |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943 P-47 Thunderbolt 1943–1944 P-51 Mustang 1944–1945 |
The 353rd Fighter Group, nicknamed the Slybird Group, was a fighter group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The group was stationed in England and comprised the 350th, 351st, and 352nd Fighter Squadrons. It pioneered the P-47 dive-bombing and ground attack technique adopted by both Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. The group flew 447 combat missions and claimed 330 air and 414 ground aircraft destroyed. Group markings were black, yellow, black, yellow spinners, with a 48-inch black and yellow checker band around the cowling to the end of the exhaust stubs.