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- The 359th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Force fighter unit that was active during World War II. Following organization and training in the United States, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations, operating from RAF East Wretham. The fighter group flew 346 combat missions over continental Europe and claimed 373 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and strafing attacks; probable destruction of 23; and damage to 185. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions. The group flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, then returned to the United States for inactivation. The group was redesignated the 123d Fighter Group and allotted to the National Guard in 1946. It was again activated in the fall of 1947 in the Kentucky Air National Guard. In the fall of 1950, the group was called to active duty and moved to Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, where it became part of the 123d Fighter-Bomber Wing under the wing-base organization system. It returned to England in December 1951 and, as the 123d Fighter-Bomber Group, served until July 1952, when it transferred its mission, personnel and equipment to an active duty group, then moved without personnel or equipment back to the Kentucky Air National Guard, activating the same day. It served as a fighter unit in the 1950s, then became a tactical reconnaissance group, being called to active duty twice. It was inactivated in 1974, when the Air National Guard eliminated flying groups located on the same station as their parent wings, and its flying squadron was assigned directly to the 123d Wing. With the implementation of the Objective Wing organization in 1990s, the group was activated under its current name, the 123d Operations Group. (en)
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