From 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II':

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Constituted as 57th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940. Activated on 15 January 1941.
Trained with P-40s. Served as part of the defense force on the east coast after the Japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor. Redesignated 57th Fighter Group in May 1942.

Moved to the Middle East, July-August 1942. Trained with RAF. Began operations in October 1942. Took
part in the Battle of El Alamein and, as part of Ninth AF, supported British Eighth Army's drive across
Egypt and Libya, escorting bombers and flying strafing and dive-bombing missions against airfields,
communications, and troop concentrations until the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943. Re-
ceived a DUC for performance on 18 April 1943 when the group destroyed more than 70 of the enemy's
transport and fighter planes in an aerial battle over the Gulf of Tunis. Participated in the reduction
of Pantelleria (May-June 1943) and the conquest of Sicily (July-August 1943). Received another DUC for
front-line operations in direct support of British Eighth Army from the Battle of El Alamein to the
capitulation of enemy forces in Sicily.

Assigned to Twelfth AF in August 1943 and continued operations in the Mediterranean theater until
the end of the war. Supported British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli and subsequent operations in
Italy (October 1943-February 1944) by flying dive-bombing, strafing, patrol, and escort missions.
Converted to P-47s early in 1944 and used the new aircraft for interdictory operations in Italy,
receiving a DUC for a series of devastating attacks on rail lines, trains, motor vehicles, bridges,
and other targets in the Florence-Arezzo area on 14 April 1944. Participated in the French campaign
against Elba in June 1944 and in the invasion of Southern France in August. Engaged in interdictory
and support operations in Northern Italy from September 1944 to May 1945.

Returned to the US in August 1945. Inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Squadrons

64th: 1941-1945
65th: 1941-1945
66th: 1941-1945

Stations

Mitchel Field, New York, 15 January 1941
Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 19 August 1941
Boston, Massachusetts, 8 December 1941-circa 1 July 1942
Muqeibile, Palestine, circa 20 July 1942
Egypt, 16 September 1942
Libya, 12 November 1942
Tunisia, March 1943
Malta, June 1943
Sicily, July 1943
Southern Italy, September 1943
Gioia Airfield, Italy, circa 25 September 1943
Foggia, Italy, October 1943
Amendola, Italy, circa 27 October 1943
Cercola, Italy, March 1944
Corsica, March 1944
Ombrone Airfield, Italy, September 1944
Grosseto, Italy, September 1944
Villafranca di Verona, Italy, 29 April 1945
Grosseto, Italy, 7 May 1945
Bagnoli, Italy, 15 July-5 August 1945
Drew Field, Florida, 21 August-7 November 1945

Commanders

Major Reuben C. Moffat, circa 15 Janury 1941
Major Clayton B. Hughes, unknown
Major Minthorne W. Reed, 12 December 1941
Lt.Col. Frank H. Mears, 1942
Colonel Arthur G. Salisbury, 20 December 1942
Colonel Archibald J. Knight, 23 April 1944
Lt.Col. William J. Yates, 23 May 1945-unknown

Campaigns

Air Combat, EAME Theater
Egypt-Libya
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Rome-Arno
Southern France
North Apennines
Po Valley

Decorations

DUC - North Africa and Sicily, 24 October 1942 - 17 August 1943
DUC - Tunis and Cape Bon Area, 18 April 1943
DUC - Italy, 14 April 1944

Note: All above information pertains to this unit's activities up to 1945.
Any subsequent activity from 1946 onward is not included.