402d Fighter Group

Constituted as 402d Bombardment Group (Medium) on 20 Apr 1943. Activated in China on 19 May 1943. Assigned to Fourteenth AF. No squadrons were assigned and headquarters apparently was never fully manned. Disbanded in China on 31 Jul 1943. Reconstituted (in Oct 1956) and consolidated with 402d Fighter Group.

402d Fighter Group was constituted on 24 Sep 1943. Activated in the US on 1 Oct 1943. Assigned to First AF. Trained replacement pilots for combat with P-47's. Disbanded on 10 Apr 1944.

Reconstituted and redesignated 402d Fighter-Day Group, on 4 Oct 1956. Activated on 15 Oct 1956. Assigned to Tactical Air Command.

Squadrons. 320th: 1943-1944; 1956-. 442d: 1943-1944; 1956-. 452d: 1943-1944. 538th: 1943. 539th: 1943. 540th: 1943-1944; 1956-.

Stations. Kunming, China, 19 May-31 Jul 1943. Westover Field, Mass, 1 Oct 1943; Seymour Johnson Field, NC, c. 13 Oct 1943; Bluethenthal Field, NC, c. 9 Dec 1943; Bradley Field, Conn, c. 11 Feb-10 Apr 1944. Greenville AFB, Miss, 15 Oct 1956-.

Commanders. Unkn, 19 May-31 Jul 1943. Lt Col Joseph L Dickman, unkn-Apr 1944. Capt Charles E Burtner, 15 Oct 1956-.

Campaigns. Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Decorations. None.

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986