page_title: 359th Fighter Group
section_title: Invasion of Holland
hierarchical_section_title: 359th Fighter Group / Invasion of Holland
caption_attribution_description: English: P-51D-5-NA Mustang Serial 44-13404 of the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, painted in D-Day Invasion markings, at East Wretham Airfield, England.
context_page_description: The 359th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Force fighter unit that was active during World War II at RAF East Wretham. The group had three fighter squadrons: the 368th, 369th, and 370th. The fighter group flew 346 combat missions over continental Europe and claimed 373 enemy aircraft in aerial duels and strafing attacks; probable destruction of 23; and damage to 185. It flew its last mission on 20 April 1945.
context_section_description: The 359th Fighter Group supported campaigns in France during July and August 1944, bombed enemy positions to support the airborne invasion of Holland in September.
  They were attached to the 1st Bombardment Division in September 1944.
  During the period July 1944 – February 1945, the group engaged chiefly in escorting bombers to oil refineries, marshalling yards, and other targets in such cities as Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Merseburg, and Brux. The 359th Fighter Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Germany on 11 September 1944 when the group protected a formation of heavy bombers against large numbers of enemy fighters.
caption: North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang Serial 44-13404 (CV-Z) of the 368th Fighter Squadron painted in D-Day Invasion markings, June 1944. The pilot of this aircraft, Lt. Louis E. Barnett was killed on 12 September 1944.
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