Constituted as 367th Fighter Group on 26 May 1943. Activated on 15 Jul 1943. Trained with P-39's. Moved to England, Mar-Apr 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF. Equipped with P-38's in Apr 1944 and converted to P-47's in Feb 1945. Entered combat in May 1944, attacking railroads, bridges, hangars, and other targets in western France, and escorting bombers that struck airfields, marshalling yards, and other facilities in the same area. From D-Day to 8 Jun 1944, provided cover for Allied forces crossing the Channel; during the remainder of Jun, bombed and strafed convoys, troops, flak towers, power stations, and other objectives behind the invasion beaches. Moved to the Continent in Jul 1944 and operated chiefly in support of ground forces until V-E Day. Struck railroads, marshalling yards, and trains to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the front during the Allied breakthrough at St Lo in Jul 1944. Received a DUC for a mission in France on 25 Aug: after attacking landing grounds at Clastres, Peronne, and Rosieries through an intense antiaircraft barrage, the group engaged a number of enemy planes and then, despite a low fuel supply, strafed a train and convoy after leaving the scene of battle; later the same day the 367th flew a fighter sweep of more than 800 miles, hitting landing grounds at Cognac, Bourges, and Dijon. Attacked German strong points to aid the Allied push against the Siegfried Line in the fall of 1944. On 26 Dec, during the Battle of the Bulge, escorted C-47's that dropped supplies to Allied troops encircled at Bastogne. Received another DUC for action on 19 Mar 1945: although its target was located in mountainous terrain, concealed by ground haze, and welldefended by antiaircraft artillery, the group descended to low altitude to bomb and strafe the headquarters of the German Commander-in-Chief, West, at Ziegenburg. Struck tanks, trucks, flak positions, and other objectives in support of the assault across the Rhine late in Mar and the final Allied operations in Germany. Flew last mission on V-E Day. Returned to the US, Jul-Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.
Redesignated 133d Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Minn) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 28 Aug 1947. Ordered into active service on 1 Mar 1951. Assigned to Air Defense Command. Redesignated 133d Fighter-Interceptor Group. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Relieved from active duty, returned to ANG (Minn), and activated, on 1 Dec 1952.
Squadrons. 109th: 1951-1952. 175th: 1951-1952. 392d: 1943-1945. 393d (later 179th): 1943-1945; 1951-1952. 394th: 1943-1945.
Stations. Hamilton Field, Calif, 15 Jul 1943; Santa Rosa AAFld, Calif, 11 Oct 1943; Oakland Mun Aprt, Calif, 10 Dec 1943-8 Mar 1944; Stony Cross, England; 5 Apr 1944; Ibsley, England, 6 Jul 1944; Beuzeville, France, 22 Jul 1944; Criqueville, France, 14 Aug 1944; Peray, France, 4 Sep 1944; Clastres, France, 8 Sep 1944; Juvincourt, France, 28 Oct 1944; St-Dizier, France, 1 Feb 1945; Conflans, France, 14 Mar 1945; Frankfurt/Eschborn, Germany, 10 Apr-Jul 1945; Seymour Johnson Field, NC, Sep-7 Nov 1945. Holman Field, Minn, 1 Mar 1951; Ft Snelling, Minn, 21 Jan-6 Feb 1952.
Commanders. Maj Tuevo A Ahola, 17 Jul 1943; Lt Col John R Alison, 11 Aug 1943; Maj Tuevo A Ahola, 22 Oct 1943; Maj Morris C Crossen, 25 Nov 1943; Col Charles M Young, 22 Jan 1944; Col Edwin S Chickering, 9 Nov 1944-unkn. Col John R Dohny, 1951-Feb 1952.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: France, 25 Aug 1944; Germany, 19 Mar 1945. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.
Insigne. Shield: Per bend azure and gules, throughout in bend between in chief the dominant constellation of the northern sky argent (the Big Dipper, Ursa Major, with the North Star in sinister chief) and in base a griffin sejant with left foreleg slightly raised or, wings, head and neck feathers of the first all highlighted white and outlined sable, a vol argent outlined gray. Motto: Splendentes In Defensione - Shining in Defense. (Approved 9 Jul 1954.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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