The 348th Fighter Group (USAAF) was based in the south-west Pacific and fought on New Guinea, in the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines before ending the war operating against the Japanese Home Islands.
The group was formed in the United States late in 1942 and moved to Port Moresby on New Guinea (via Australia) in May-June 1943. Between then and November 1944 the group slowly moved west along the island, following the advancing Allied troops. It flew a mix of bomber escort missions, fighter patrols and reconnaissance missions.
On one reconnaissance mission on 11 October 1943 Col Neel E Kearby, the group commander, won the Medal of Honor. He was leading a group of four aircraft returning from a reconnaissance mission at Wewak when he spotted a group of Japanese bombers with a heavy fighter escort. Despite being outnumbered (and not having completed his reconnaissance mission), he ordered his formation to attack the Japanese. Kearby himself claimed six victories in the battle.
The group itself was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for supporting the Allied invasion of New Britain between 16 and 31 December 1943.
During 1944 the group attacked Japanese bases in western New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies (in particular Ceram and Halmahera, off the western tip of New Guinea), in order to prevent the Japanese garrisons of those areas intervening during the upcoming invasion of the Philippines.
In February 1944 the group was allocated to the air forces supporting the invasion of the Admiralty Islands but poor weather prevented it from taking part on the first day of the attack.
In May 1944 the group was chosen to be the first fighter group to move to Wakde Island after it was captured by US forces, and the group was installed by 22 May. Space was limited on the main island, and so the group camped on the nearby Insoemanai Island and used a ferry to reach the air base. The aircraft followed on 26 May. The group was used to support the longer campaign on the mainland opposite Wakde (Lone Tree Hill).
In June 1944 the group took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of Noemfoor, before moving to the island in August. On the day of the invasion itself the group was one of three that between them flew 161 sorties over the invasion beaches. On September the group was joined by its new fourth squadron, making it the first fighter group in the South West Pacific Area to have four squadrons.
In November 1944 the group moved to Leyte, one month after the US invasion. The group was used to provide convoy and bomber escorts, attack Japanese bases and support ground troops fighting on the Philippines. In February 1945 it attacked Japanese barges attempting to ferry troops from Manila to Bataan and Corregidor.
The group was awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for defending a bomber force attacking Clark Field on 24 December 1944 from heavy Japanese fighter attacks.
During this period the group was also used to attack Japanese shipping off the coast of China, and provided escorts for bombers heading to the Asian mainland and Formosa.
Early in 1945 the group became one of the first in the South-West Pacific Area to convert to the P-51 Mustang, an aircraft that was in short supply in the Pacific.
In July 1945 the group moved to the Ryukus. From there it flew a mix of bomber escort and ground attack missions against targets on Kyushu.
The group moved to Japan in October 1945 but was inactivated there on 10 May 1946.
The following describes some of the ‘lessons learned and knowledge gained’ from the few months the 348th had been in theater. It was found out, later in the War, that a few of the Japanese pilots were not as intimidated by the "Head-On" attack as they were in late 1943, early 1944.
HEADQUARTERS 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
APO 322
2 February 1944
The following information has been taken from Individual Combat Reports.
ENEMY TACTICS - The most common tactics used by the enemy fighters are:
1. Steep climbing turns - both to the right and left with majority of the turns to the left. This is especially true of the Zeke.
2. Split “S” - this evasive action is almost invariably taken by the Tony.
3. Tight Luftberry - This is not as common as the above mentioned maneuvers, but has been used by the enemy several times - usually to the left.
4. Dives have been used occasionally, especially by the TONY, and to a lesser degree by the Val.
5. Enemy Bombers usually stay in formation and the only change they make in their formation, when attacked, is to tighten it.
OWN TACTICS
1. Get all possible altitude advantage.
2. Use tremendous diving speed of the P-47 to full advantage.
3. Attack enemy fighters from stern, if possible, and from a dive. Pilots try to attack from 4 O’clock and 8 O’clock positions, in case of enemy bombers.
4. No attempt is made to dog fight. Usually make one pass and keep going. This has been especially true of the 4 ship flights to WEWAK.
5. Head-On attacks are occasionally necessary and it has always been noticed that the Japanese has no stomach for such attacks, and is always the first to break away.
Our pilots regard the TONY as by far the best enemy fighter plane, and the BETTY as the best enemy bomber, of those that we have encountered.
Another interesting fact is that we have never had a report from our pilots of having ever been fired at by the rear gunners of the VAL. In one case a pilot reported that he was able to see in the VAL, and that there was no rear gunner in the plane, and that the guns were sticking straight up into the air. We are of the opinion that the VAL’s we have encountered have had no rear gunners.
JOHN M. MILLER
Capt. Air Corps,
Group Intelligence Officer
COMBAT OPERATIONS
Operations of the P-47 type airplane with 305 gal. fuel internal tanks;
200 gal. fuel external belly tanks
Patrol Missions (4-4 ½ hrs) 16 or more airplanes.
1. Climb 18,000’ 33” Hq - 2300 RPM - 170 mph - 500’/min
2. Climb 18,000 - 25,000’ 36” Hq - 2450 RPM - 170 mph - 500’/min
3. Climb above 25,000’ 38”Hq - 2500 RPM - 165 mph - 500’/min
4. Level cruise to 25,000’ 30”Hq - 2000 RPM 200 mph 1 AS
5. Level cruise above 25,000’ 31 Hq - 2000 RPM - 190 mph 1 AS
6. Climb to 20,000’ on straight line at above setting will take formation approximately 150 miles from base in 45 minutes.
7. Average gasoline consumption (auto-lean above 8,000’)
a. Climb to 25,000 125 - 150 gal/hr
b. Level cruise 80 - 100 gal/hr
c. Average for mission 100 - 110 gal/hr
8. Radius of 300 miles maximum, allowing for 20 min combat and reserve of 50 gals.
ESCORT MISSIONS (3 -3 ½ hrs) 16 or more planes.
1. Same settings as above only formation has to weave constantly after leveling off to stay with bomber formation.
2. Over target, air speed is increased to 250 mph -35” and 2450 RPM, continually weaving and changing altitude within 1000 - 1500’ to off set enemy anti-aircraft fire.
3. Gasoline consumption is increased slightly, averaging 110 - 120 gal/hr.
4. Radius of 300 miles maximum, allowing for 20 min combat and reserve of 50 gals.
PATROL MISSIONS (4 - 4 ½ hrs.) 4 ship flight.
1. Same settings as I
2. Gasoline consumption averages 95 - 105 gal/hr.
3. Radius of action of 300 miles gives 45 - 60 min. over target.
Commanders (with date of appointment)
Col Neel E Kearby: Oct 1942
Col Robert R Rowland: 17 Nov 1943
Lt Col William M Banks: 8 Jun 1945
Maj Walter G Benz: 26 Nov 1945-unkn
Main Bases
Mitchel Field, NY: 30 Sep 1942
Bradley Field, Conn: 4 Oct 1942
Westover Field, Mass: 29 Oct 1942
Providence, RI: c. 3 Jan 1943
Westover Field, Mass: 28 Apr-9 May 1943
Port Moresby, New Guinea: 23 Jun 1943
Finschhafen, New Guinea: 16 Dec 1943
Saidor, New Guinea: 29 Mar 1944
Wakde: 22 May 1944
Noemfor: 26 Aug 1944
Leyte: 16 Nov 1944
San Marcelino, Luzon: 4 Feb 1945
Floridablanca, Luzon: 15 May 1945
Ie Shima: 9 Jul 1945
Itami, Japan: Oct 1945-10 May 1946
Component Units
340th: 1942-1946
341st: 1942-1946
342nd: 1942-1946
460th: 1944-1946
Assigned To
September 1942-May 1943: New York Fighter Wing; I Fighter Command; First Air Force
1943-1945: V Fighter Command; Fifth Air Force
1944-1945: 85th Fighter Wing; Fifth Air Force
Flights of P-47's from the 348th FG with Col. Neel Kearby in the lead. New Guinea 1943
Flights of P-47's from the 348th FG with Col. Neel Kearby in the lead. New Guinea 1943
1944 341st FS, NG airplane P-47 MISS MUTT photo Col RR Rowland
1944 341st FS NG airplane photo Tom Hasser on The BATTLIN BEAUT
1944 341st FS airmans photo of crashed B-26 tail No 01432 Silver Fleet
348th FG - 340th Fighter Squadron
1943 341st Fighter Sqdn New Guinea photo Sqdn Sign & Jeep, 17 Mile strip
1943 341st Fighter Sq New Guinea photo airstrip, Marston mats
1943 341st Fighter Sq New Guinea airplane photo row P-47 Thunderbolts
1943 341st Fighter Sq New Guinea airplane photo P-47 Thunderbolt
1943 341st Fighter Sq New Guinea airplane photo B-25 tail No 112797
1943 341st Fighter Sq New Guinea airplane photo MISS JACQUELINE P-47
Col. Neel Kearby's P-47
John Wayne and Col. Neel Kearby with P-47 at Saidor, New Guinea
Col. Neel E. Kearby, a Medal of Honor recipient, developed aggressive tactics that exploited the strengths of the P-47 Thunderbolt. With 22 victories, he became the highest-scoring Thunderbolt pilot in the Pacific Theater. Moreover, Kearby's tactics as commander of the first P-47 unit in the Pacific Theater led to considerable success for his 348th Fighter Group.
Before it became a proven weapon, many considered the heavy Thunderbolt unsuitable for use against nimble Japanese aircraft. Since the P-47 could not maneuver with the enemy at low altitude, Kearby would lead his group into hostile territory at high altitude where the Thunderbolt's turbosupercharged engine gave it an advantage. Upon sighting the enemy below, Kearby and his pilots made high-speed attacks exploiting the P-47s remarkable diving ability. The energy built up in the dive allowed them to quickly climb back up to altitude for another diving pass. Japanese pilots came to fear attacks from the 348th Fighter Group because they came with little warning, and the Thunderbolt's eight .50-cal. machine guns literally blew their lightly built aircraft out of the sky.
In November 1943, with 12 victories to his credit, Kearby was transferred to the headquarters of the 5th Air Force Fighter Command. Despite his assignment to administrative duties, Kearby still wanted to be in combat. He flew missions whenever he could, and his victory tally continued to rise.
A mission near Wewak on March 5, 1944, was Kearby's last. While attacking a Japanese formation, a Ki-43 "Oscar" fighter pilot momentarily gained position on him. Hit by heavy machine gun fire, his Thunderbolt named Fiery Ginger IV crashed, and Kearby was killed.
Col. Neel E. Kearby Medal of Honor
Col. Neel E. Kearby, a particularly aggressive fighter pilot and motivating leader, often initiated successful flights against superior numbers. On Oct. 11, 1943, Kearby led three of his pilots against nearly 50 Japanese aircraft near Wewak. Tearing through the enemy formation, Kearby shot down six Japanese aircraft during the engagement. For his skill and daring, Kearby received the Medal of Honor.
Fiery Ginger IV Vertical Fin
On display in Fiery Ginger IV's vertical fin. Some of the red, yellow and blue stripes remain on the top of the tail, even after decades in tropical weather. Each stripe represented one of the colors of the 348th Fighter Group's three squadrons. Though not visible today, the unpainted metal areas were once covered in white paint, a common USAAF recognition marking used in the Southwest Pacific.
The holes in the tail were made by the Japanese fighter that shot Kearby down. After the war, the wreckage of the aircraft lay undisturbed and forgotten until the 1990s. This artifact came to the museum in 2004.
Wiki link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neel_E._Kearby
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