Reference

The history of the 8th Air Force's 357th Fighter Group. A group consisting of the 362nd, 363rd, and 364th Fighter Squadrons serving during World War II. ... The groups main role in the air war was to escort of heavy bombers, mainly B-17's and B-24's. ... 357th Fighter Group Aircraft American Fighter Groups P-51 Mustang United States Army ...

The 357th Fighter Group flew only two types of aircraft as basic equipment. Bell P-39D's were the first, issued while the Group was at Tonopah, and all were "training weary." Later, P-39L, N and Q models were issued. Paint schemes on P-39s were standard, Olive Drab upper surfaces and Neutral Gray Drab upper surfaces and Neutral Gray lower.

The 357th Fighter Group was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. The 357th operated P-51 Mustang aircraft as part of the U.S. Eighth Air Force and its members were known unofficially as "The Yoxford Boys" after a village near their base. (Group tradition holds that the name was the invention ...