The Yoxford Boys: The 357th Fighter Group on Escort over Europe and Russia

About this book

Many of the top ranking aces of World War II are unknown and the average fighter pilot of that era has passed almost completely into oblivion. A great many of them trained hard went into combat ew a few missions or many possibly shot down three or four enemy aircraft and then died in action joining the now appalling number of forgotten men who gave their lives for their country. Many never got that far but died in training accidents. Those who survived their initial training were eventually assigned to a fighter group and thence to one of its squadrons which would be their home for their combat career. This book attempts to record this period in history through one fighter group which came into being early in the war went to Europe fought well and then passed into limbo as a re-numbered Air National Guard Group. Its numerical designation was 357 and it finished the war in Europe near the top of the air victory list and was actually credited with more of these than the fabled 4th Fighter Group. Many people helped to write this story of the 357th Group. Colonel Paul Henslee ex-adjutant of my own squadron the 362nd helped me dig through dusty foot lockers in an Anson Texas garage to unearth many valuable photo albums. Joe DeShay ex-MSgt. and former hangar chief of the 364th was a valuable assistant with his knowledge of former 364th personnel. Lt. Cols. Robert Becker and Jim Gasser (Ret) Major Myron Moose Becraft and Henry Hank Beal all pilots of the 362nd Squadron made their historical material available to me. Col. Clarence Anderson although busy at his new job in the Pentagon loaned me his photo albums and gave of his knowledge of the 363rd Squadron. Robert Lynch ex-commander of the 469th Service Squadron was an early assistant on the project and others who helped were Colonels Frank Gailer Donald Bochkay and Gilbert OBrien all former 357th pilots. . .