70th Fighter Wing

Constituted as 70th Fighter Wing on 11 Aug 1943 and activated on 15 Aug. Moved to England in Nov 1943 and assigned to Ninth AF. Served in the European theater from Feb 1944 to May 1945, operating with various fighter groups assigned or attached for brief periods of time. Remained in Europe after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe. Inactivated in Germany on 25 Sep 1947.

Components. (See narrative.)

Stations. Paine Field, Wash, 15 Aug-8 Nov 1943; Greenham Common, England, 29 Nov 1943; Boxted, England, 6 Dec 1943; Ibsley, England, 17 Apr-Jun 1944; Criqueville, France, 9 Jun 1944; Villedieu les Poeles, France, 4 Aug 1944; Le Teilleul, France, 16 Aug 1944; Aillieres, France, 22 Aug 1944; Versailles, France, 31 Aug 1944; Marchais, France, lO Sep 1944; Liege, Belgium, 3 Oct 1944; Verviers, Belgium, 22 Jan 1945; Bruhl, Germany, 18 Mar 1945; Bad Wildungen, Germany, 30 May 1945; Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, 28 Jul 1945; Neubiberg, Germany, 10 Nov 1945-25 Sep 1947.

Commanders. Lt Col Josiah M Towne, 23 Aug 1943; Brig Gen James W McCauley, 22 Oct 1943; Col Clinton C Wassem, c. 11 Jul 1945; Brig Gen Glenn O Barcus, 7 Dec 1945; Lt Col Earl C Hedlund, c. 9 Jan 1946; Col Glenn E Duncan, c. Apr 1946; Brig Gen James M Fitzmaurice, 3 Jun 1946; Col John B Patrick, 1 Apr 1947; Col Edward E Hildreth, 1 May 1947-unkn.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.

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