[bjs1779]

I don't know what this means. The 354th GROUP was the pioneer Mustang group -- the first in Europe to convert to the P-51. They had a distinguised record. Major James Howard, the only Mustang pilot in Europe to win the Medal of Honor flew with the 354th.

You don't know what that means? I can only surmise that you think the blacks were treated to equal footing with everybody else as far as operational duties. You seem to ignore the realities of the time and chastise me for suggesting otherwise.

I know Howard pretty well, my dad was in the 354th.

[WhiskeyPapa]

I know Howard pretty well, my dad was in the 354th.

Howard has been dead several years.

Walt

[WhiskeyPapa]

I can only surmise that you think the blacks were treated to equal footing with everybody else as far as operational duties. You seem to ignore the realities of the time and chastise me for suggesting otherwise.

You've yet to show that they -were- treated any differently as regards operations. The excerpt I found in "Winged Victory" suggests there was no difference in the way they were treated.

Walt

[WhiskeyPapa]

I don't know what this means. The 354th GROUP was the pioneer Mustang group -- the first in Europe to convert to the P-51. They had a distinguised record. Major James Howard, the only Mustang pilot in Europe to win the Medal of Honor flew with the 354th.

You don't know what that means?

I think it means you don't know the difference between a group and a squadron. The 354th GROUP and the 332ND GROUP were made up of four SQUARDONS. Typical table of organization for a USAAF SQUADRON was 12 aircraft. A GROUP would therefore have 48 aircraft.

You said "354th fighter squadron", which is not the same thing as the 354th fighter GROUP.

Walt