479Th Fighter Group: Riddle's Raiders

Formed in October 1943 as part of the last group of fighter units to be sent into combat in northern Europe and the Pacific, the 479th FG wrote for itself an impressive history whilst flying against the Luftwaffe from RAF Wattisham in rural Suffolk. Despite the group's P-38s not being highly regarded in the Eighth Air Force due to their unsuitability for high-altitude combat, the 479th's pilots had a fierce pride of arms. Their fighting spirit, which saw the group destroy hundreds of German aircraft, earned the 479th a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation in the late summer of 1944. The 479th transitioned to the P-51 Mustang in the autumn of 1944, and by VE-Day, some 29 aces had been created by the group, which had claimed more than 430 kills.

Formed in October 1943 as part of the last group of fighter units to be sent into combat in northern Europe and the Pacific, the 479th FG wrote for itself an impressive history whilst flying against the Luftwaffe from RAF Wattisham in rural Suffolk. Despite the group's P-38s not being highly regarded in the Eighth Air Force due to their unsuitability for high-altitude combat, the 479th's pilots had a fierce pride of arms. Their fighting spirit, which saw the group destroy hundreds of German aircraft, earned the 479th a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation in the late summer of 1944. The 479th transitioned to the P-51 Mustang in the autumn of 1944, and by VE-Day, some 29 aces had been created by the group, which had claimed more than 430 kills.

John Stanaway has written two best-selling volumes in the Aces series both covering the exploits of the greatest Pacific fighter of them all, the P-38 Lightning. He is also an official historian of the National P-38 Pilots' Association.