354th Fighter Group
| 354th Fighter Group | |
|---|---|
P-51B Mustang of the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group | |
| Active | 15 November 1942 – 31 March 1946 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Type | Fighter group |
| Part of | 100th Fighter Wing Ninth Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | Pioneer Mustang Group |
| Motto(s) | Valor in Combat |
| Engagements | Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Invasion of Germany |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation (2) Croix de Guerre with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 354th Fighter Group Emblem | |
| 353rd Fighter Squadron | FT |
| 355th Fighter Squadron | GQ |
| 356th Fighter Squadron | AJ |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 1944–1945 North American P-51 Mustang 1943–1945 |
The 354th Fighter Group was an element of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Ninth Air Force during World War II. The unit was known as the Pioneer Mustang Group and was the first to fly the P-51B Mustang in combat. The group served as bomber escort in the European theater of operations until D-Day, then moved to France to support the drive to Germany.