70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG)

Background
The 70th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 13th Air Force (13th AF) to the 347th Fighter Group (347th FG) and 18th Fighter Group (18th FG) operating the P-39 Airacobra, P-40F Warhawk and P-38 Lightning.


70th Fighter Squadron pilots with a P-39 Airacobra at Nadi Airfield on Fiji circa 1942
Wartime History
On December 14, 1940 constituted as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). Activated January 1, 1941 equipped with the P-36 as part of the 35th Pursuit Group (35th PG). At the start of the Pacific War, equipped with early model P-39 Airacobra.

On January 1, 1942 the squadron was at Hamilton Field and eleven days later departs for Fiji. On January 29, 1942 the air echelon arrives at Nadi Airfield and provides air defense for Fiji and continues training flights. On May 15, 1942 redesignated the 70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS).

On April 22, 1942 lost is P-39D Airacobra 41-7104 pilot 1st Lt James W. Blose (MIA) on a training mission.

On October 3, 1942 assigned to the 347th Fighter Group (347th FG) when activated on New Caledonia.

On October 13, 1942 a pair of P-39 Airacobras on a training flight and made a mock interception pass against B-26B Marauder 41-17590. During the mock interception, P-39D Airacobra 41-7043 pilot 2nd Lt. Earl W. Kennamer accidentally with the bomber and went Missing In Action (MIA).

On October 15, 1942 squadron P-39s and P-400s each armed with a bomb took off from Henderson Field to strike Japanese transports off Guadalcanal. Lost returning was P-39K Airacobra 42-4287 pilot 1st Lt. Leonard R. Farron (MIA).

On December 21, 1942 the air echelon begins operating from Guadalcanal and flies their first combat mission that same day.

On December 24, 1942 took off on a mission to escort nine SBDs with P-38s, F4Fs and other P-39s on a strike against Munda Airfield on New Georgia. The formation is intercepted by fourteen Zeros. A pilot from the 70th FS claims one shot down.

On December 28, 1942 flying a reconnaissance P-39 "Diabo" pilot Lt. Rex Barber and wingman P-39 Airacobra pilot 1st Lt. William Daggitt were flying at 9,000' over the Munda and observed Zeros orbiting at 13,000' and three G3M Nells at 1,000' preparing to land at Munda Airfield. While Daggitt made a feinting attack towards the Zeros while P-39 "Diabo" pilot Lt. Rex Barber dove on the bombers and opened fire on the leader, damaging G3M Nell pilot Lt(jg) Keizo Kondo that ditched off Munda.

On January 26, 1943 patrolling P-39 pilot 1st Lt. Lawrence R. McKulla and P-39 pilot 2nd Lt. William F. Fiedler, Jr. made a single firing pass against H6K Mavis pilot Kira. Immediately, the pair were intercepted by six A6M Zeros from 252 Kokutai (252 Air Group) off Choiseul Island and P-39 pilot McCulla was shot down and bailed out over the sea then swam to nearby Rengi Island. After sixteen days he was rescued by USS Grouper (SS-214).

During March 1943, some 70th FS pilots fly P-38 Lightnings with the 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) on combat missions including Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr., Captain Robert Petit and 1st Lt. George G. Topoll.

On March 29, 1943 Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr., Captain Robert Petit and 1st Lt. George G. Topoll fly a fighter sweep with P-38 pilots from the 339th FS and F4U Corsair pilot Lt. Eben Dale from VMF-124 over Shortland Harbor.

On March 30, 1943 assigned to the 18th Fighter Group (18th FG) operating from Fighter 2 on Guadalcanal. On April 6, 1943 the ground echelon arrives. During the middle of 1943 operates the P-40F Warhawk.

On April 6, 1943 lost P-38G pilot 1st Lt. George G. Topoll (KIA) on a patrol mission but suffered an engine malfunction and while attempting to return to land, crashed into the sea and was killed in the crash.

On April 7, 1943 every available fighter on Guadalcanal was scrambled to intercept a Japanese air raid during Operation I-Go Sakusen. Lost is P-39K 42-4274 pilot Major Waldon Williams (MIA) C.O. 70th Fighter Squadron was last seen peeling off, released his drop tank, was last seen at 6,000'. Likely, Williams saw enemy aircraft and dove to engage them but was shot down. A6M2 Zeros from Junyō claimed a single P-39 as a certain aerial victory.

On June 5, 1943 lost is P-40F Warhawk 41-19838 pilot 1st Lt. Ralph J. Sooter (MIA).

On June 16, 1943 pilot William F. Fiedler, Jr. claims two aerial victories, and becomes an ace, the only only American fighter pilot credited with five aerial victories flying the Bell P-39 Airacobra.

On August 12, 1943 the squadron escorts B-24 Liberators over Kahili Airfield (Buin) on Bougainville. Returning, intercepted by roughly 30 A6M Zeros over Ballale. Cosgrove claimed a Zero shot down.

On August 25, 1943 lost is P-40F Warhawk 41-19834 pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph W. Hill (POW, executed).

On September 14, 1943 lost is P-40F Warhawk 41-14107 pilot 1st Lt. Andrew J. Borders, Jr. (POW, executed).

On October 18, 1943 the squadron moves from Guadalcanal to New Georgia.

On June 15, 1944 becomes part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF).

On August 23, 1944 moves to Sansapor Airfield. On November 9, 1944 the air echelon begins operating from Morotai.

On December 14, 1944 the squadron took off from Morotai on an escort mission off Negros. At 9:45am the squadron makes aerial victory claims for Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-44 Tojos in the vicinity of Binalbangan Airfield.

On January 16, 1945 the squadron departs Morotai and began a movement to the Philippines. On January 19, 1945 based at Lingayen Airfield on Luzon.

On February 26, 1945 moved to San Jose Airfield (McGuire) on Mindoro.

On May 4, 1945 moves to Zamboanga Airfield (Wolfe Field) at Zamboanga on Mindanao. On November 10, 1945 moves to Puerto Princesa Airfield on Palawan. On December 26, 1945 deactivated.

Awards
The 70th Fighter Squadron earned the Distinguished Unit Citation for November 10-11, 1944 and the Philippine Unit Citation.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Major Waldon Williams –April 7, 1943 (MIA).

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 259-260 [PDF pages 259-260]
Interception off Negros December 14, 1944 by Edward Rogers
Thanks to Edward Rogers and Richard Dunn for additional information