35th Pursuit Squadron (35th PS) / 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS)
"The Black Panthers"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group (8th FG)
Background
On June 12, 1917 organized as the 35th Aero Squadron in the U.S. Army assigned to the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center at Camp Kelly in Texas. During World War I, sent overseas to France and was tasked with assembly and maintenance of aircraft based at Etampes, Paris, Issoudun, Clisson and St. Nazaire. Afterwards, returned to the United States to Garden City, NY. On March 19, 1919 demobilized at Langley Field, VA.
Interwar Period
On March 24, 1923 reconstituted as the 35th Pursuit Squadron. On June 25, 1923 activated as part of the 8th Pursuit Group (8th PG) at Langley Field in Virginia. On July 2, 1926 became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On November 7, 1932 nicknamed "The Black Panthers" and the squadron emblem was approved a panther with the mouth open inside a silver oval with a blue border. The squadron was equipped with aircraft including the Boeing P-12, Curtiss P-6 Hawk and Consolidated PB-2.

35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS) pilots in flight gear at 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby (Robinson, June 1, 1942)
World War II
On December 6, 1939 redesignated 35th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) equipped with the P-36, YP-37 and A-17 then converts to the P-40. On November 14, 1940 moves to Mitchel Field in New York. On March 12, 1941 redesignated 35th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) equipped with the P-39 Airacobra. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On January 26, 1942 departs overseas bound for Australia. On March 6, 1942 arrives Brisbane.
First Tour of Duty
On April 26, 1942 moves to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea. During a ferry flight, lost is P-39F 41-7210 pilot Lt. William McGovern (survived) force landed south of Murdoch Point near Cooktown, pilot survived unhurt and was rescued the next day.
On April 30, 1942 eleven P-39 Airacobras from the 35th FS and 36th FS led by Lt. Col Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner took off on a mission to strike Lae Airfield. This was the first combat mission of the 8th Pursuit Group (8th PG) in New Guinea. At 2:37pm, the Airacobras strafed Lae Airfield targeting parked aircraft and seaplanes in Huon Gulf, then depart the target area. Near Salamaua, A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) attack the formation. Lost are P-39F 41-7128 pilot 1st Lt. Edward D. Durand (MIA), P-39D 41-6930 pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur "Art" Andres (survived) force landed and later rescued.
On May 4, 1942 in the early morning ten Airacobras from 35th FS and 36th FS took off from 7 Mile Drome on a strafing mission against Lae Airfield at dawn. Inbound there was poor weather and clouds over the Owen Stanley Range that caused five to aborted the mission. The Airacobras that managed to reach Lae approached from Huon Gulf and strafed four G4M1 Bettys parked at Lae Airfield. Four Airacobras (two from 35th FS and two from 36th FS) failed to return from the mission and were presumed lost due to bad weather. Lost from 36th FS are P-39D 41-6956 pilot 2nd Lt.
Charles L. Schwimmer (MIA) and P-39D 41-6971 pilot 1st Patrick M. Armstrong, Jr. (MIA). Lost from 35th FS are P-39D 41-6825 pilot 1st Lt. Jeff D. Hooker, Jr. (MIA), and P-39F 41-7145 pilot 1st Lt. Victor R. Talbot (MIA). Meanwhile, at 9:25am the squadron scrambles to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid by Bettys escorted by Zeros. Lost is P-39F 41-7207 pilot 1st Lt. Harold J. Chivers (MIA).
On May 8, 1942 ditched is
P-39F 41-7188 pilot 2nd Lt Alva Guy Hawkins damaged by Zeros and returns to duty.
On May 12, 1942 shot down is P-39D 41-6802 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert M. Wilde (KIA) shot down while attempting to intercept A6M2 Zeros over Port Moresby.
On May 13, 1942 lost is P-39D 41-6945 pilot 2nd Lt. Hervey Carpenter damaged intercepting A6M2 Zeros, bailed out and returned to duty.
On May 15, 1942 redesigned as 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS) in the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG).
On May 27, 1942 lost is P-39F 41-7153 pilot 2nd Lt. Alva Guy Hawkins (MIA) during air combat with A6M2 Zeros, last seen 5-10 miles south of Rigo.
On May 28, 1942 the squadron scrambled to intercept A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) over Port Moresby. During the combat, three Airacobras were shot down. Force landed is P-39D 41-6970 pilot Lt. J. F. Ward, Jr. (survived) and later returns to duty. Lost is P-39F 41-7126 piloted by Paul S. Miller. Lost is P-39F Airacobra pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur "Art" Andres (survived).
On June 1, 1942 lost is P-39F 41-7200 pilot 2nd William G. Hosford (KIA) shot down over Fairfax Harbor. Lost is P-39F 41-7194 pilot 2nd Lt Gentry R. Plunkett, Jr. (survived) shot down by A6M2 Zeros bails out and returns to duty.
On June 29, 1942 the squadron concludes their first tour of duty and moves to Woodstock Airfield in Queensland in Australia.
On July 27, 1942 moves to Garbutt Field in Townsville.
Second Tour of Duty
On September 18, 1942 moves to Milne Bay in New Guinea.
On February 24, 1943 the squadron concludes their first tour of duty and moves to Mareeba Airfield in Queensland in Australia.
Third Tour of Duty
On May 10, 1943 moves to 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby.
On July 28, 1943 lost on a test flight is P-39 Airacobra piloted by
2nd Lt. William S. Gillen (MIA) and was observed to crash into the sea off Paga Point.
On November 15, 1943 the squadron took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby on a mission to patrol over the Ramu Valley and intercepts an incoming Japanese air raid of Ki-48 Lilys bombing Gusap Airfield escorted by Ki-43 Oscars from 248 Sentai. During the air combat, the squadron claims 20
enemy shot down. Lost is P-40N Warhawk
42-105509 pilot 1st Lt Robert Parker (MIA) due to an aerial collision with a Ki-43 Oscar in the vicinity of Kaiapit. One of the P-40s accidentally attacks B-25G Mitchell 42-64848 pilot 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens damaging the plane and injuring the navigator and causes it to abort the mission and force land at Nadzab Airfield.
On December 25, 1943 moves to Finschafen Airfield.
On January 16, 1944 the squadron flying P-40N Warhawks took off from Finschafen Airfield on a mission over Saidor and intercept a formation of Japanese fighters including Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-61 Tony (incorrectly identified as Hamps, Oscars and Tonys). They claim 19 confirmed kills and 3 probables including three victory claims by 1st Lt. Lynn Elwood Witt, Jr. This combat set the wartime record for 5th Fighter Command for victories claimed by a single squadron during a single engagement.
On February 19, 1944 moves to Cape Gloucester Airfield on western New Britain.
On March 14, 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield on New Guinea.
On March 30, 1944 lost is P-38H 42-66746 pilot 1st Lt. Dean E. Jacobson (MIA) on a flight bound for Milne Bay.
On April 30, 1944 lost is P-38H 42-66846 pilot 1st Lt. Charles A. Cours on a training flight to practice strafing runs, hit a tree and was damaged but the pilot survived the crash and returned to duty.
On
June 18, 1944 lost is P-38J 42-67802 pilot 1st Lt. Delmar E. King (MIA) on a flight bound for Nadzab Airfield.
On July 1, 1944
moves to Owi Airfield on Owi Island.
On October 4, 1944 moves to Wama Airfield (Guama) on Morotai.
On
October 12, 1944 lost is P-38L Lightning pilot Captain Lee R. Everhart (MIA) on a dive bombing and strafing mission against Mapanget Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi) and hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed.
On November 5, 1944 the ground echelon moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the flight echelon continues to operate from Morotai then on November 28, 1944 moves to Dulag Airfield.
On December 20, 1944 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro Island in the Philippines.
On December 26, 1944 the squadron flew a strike mission against the Japanese task force in the Mindoro Strait off western Mindoro. Lost is P-38L 44-25352 pilot 1st Lt. John J. Grillet (MIA).
On August 9, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield on Ie Shima off Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.
Postwar
On November 21, 1945 moves to Mushiroda Airfield at Fukuoka in Japan. In 1946 equipped with the P-51 Mustang.
On May 20, 1946 moves to Ashiya.
On September 5, 1945 moves to Itazuke Airfield.
On April 15, 1947 moves to Ashiya.
On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
On August 10, 1948 moves to Miho. In 1949 equipped with the F-80 Shooting Star.
On June 16, 1949 returns to
Itazuke Airfield.
On January 20, 1950 redesignated 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (35th FBS).
On August 11, 1950 moves to Tsuiki.
Korean War
On October 7, 1950 moves to Suwon Airfield (K-13) in South Korea.
On October 26, 1950 moves to Gimpo Airfield (Kimpo, K-14).
On November 25, 1950 moves to Pyongyang Airfield in North Korea.
On December 4, 1950 moves to Seoul in South Korea.
On December 10, 1950 returns to Itazuke Airfield.
On June 25, 1951 moves to Gimpo Airfield (Kimpo, K-14).
On August 24, 1951 moves to Suwon Airfield (K-13) in South Korea. In 1953 equipped with F-86 Sabre.
On October 20, 1954 returns to Itazuke Airfield. In 1956 equipped with the F-100 Super Sabre.
On July 1, 1958 redesignated 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1962 equipped with the F-105.
Awards
World War II Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua (July 23, 1942–Januart 23, 1943), New Britain (December 26, 1943), New Guinea (January 16, 1944), Mindoro (Decemer 26, 1944.
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Korean War Distinguished Unit Citation: September 16, 1950–November 2, 1950.
Republic of Korean
Presidential Unit Citations: June 27, 1950–January 31, 1951 and February 1, 1951–March 31, 1953
Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Captain A. E. Waller (June 25, 1932–1936)
Captain Glenn O. Barcus (1937–1938)
Major Edward M. Morris (1939–January 31, 1940)
Captain Francis E. Griswold (February 1, 1940–December 31, 1940)
Captain Charles W. Stark, Jr.
(January 1941–April 22, 1941)
Captain William H. Wise (April 23, 1941–December 31, 1941)
1st Lt. George B. Green, Jr. (January 1942–October 1, 1942)
Captain Norman G. Morris (October 2, 1942–
Captain Emmett S. Davis (March 7, 1943–January 18, 1944)
Major Harold M. McClelland (January 19, 1944–October 2, 1944
Captain Lee R. Everhart (October 3, 1944–October 12, 1944)
Captain Lynn E. Witt, Jr. (October 13, 1944–May 29, 1945)
Captain Donald Leighton (May 30, 1945–December 31, 1945
Captain Ralph Neatly (1946)
References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 167-169 (35th Fighter)
[PDF pages 179-181]
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 25 (8th PG / 8th FG)
Attack & Conquer The 8th Fighter Group in World War II (1999) unit history of the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 259 (35th FS commanders)
P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2 (2001) page 9
"P-39s of the USAAF's 8th PG (all pursuit groups were redesignated fighter groups in May 1942)"
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