History of the 509th Fighter Squadron
The 509th Fighter Bomber Squadron was officially activated at Army Air Base Drew Field in Tampa, Florida on 1 March 1943. Upon its creation, the squadron was initially designated as the 624th Bombardment Squadron (D) of the 405th Bombardment Group (D). On August 15, 1943, the squadron was renamed the 509th Fighter Bomber Squadron (D), 405th Bombardment Group (D). The squadron’s final name change occurred 3 months after entering combat and dropped “bomber” from their title, becoming simply the 509th Fighter Squadron of the 405th Fighter Group. The 405th Fighter group contained a total of three fighter squadrons: the 509th, the 510th, and the 511th.
Pilots of the 509th Fighter Squadron initially trained in A-26 type aircraft— the U.S. Army’s land based version of the Navy’s SBD Dauntless. The squadron’s time with the A-26 proved to be short lived. Unimpressed with the performance of the A-26, the Army Air Corps transitioned the 509th to P-39 Aircobra aircraft 6 months later, in August 1943. On 10 November 1943, the 509th was assigned their first P-47 Thunderbolt– a Razorback B-15 model. By December 1943 the 509th had fully transitioned from flying the P-39 to the P-47 Thunderbolt. The P-47 proved to be a rugged aircraft well suited to the squadron’s needs. It would be the aircraft that the 509th Fighter Squadron would take to Hitler’ doorstep in Europe. Despite the changes in aircraft, pilot training in the United States consisted of high/ low level formation flying, escort/ intercept flying, simulated strafing attacks, smoke/ chemical attacks, and bombing of prepared targets.
The 509th Fighter Squadron left for Europe on 27 February 27 1944, sailing out of New York Harbor on the RMS Mauretania. They arrived in Liverpool, England on 6 March and were immediately transported to their first duty station: Air Station 416 in Christchurch, Hants, England. Upon arrival in Europe, the 509th, 510th, and 511th Fighter Squadrons that constituted the 405th Fighter Group were assigned under the 9th Air Force. In total, there were 18 Fighter Bomber Groups within the 9th Air Force. Whereas the fighter groups of the 8th Air Force had a primary role of protecting heavy bombers at an altitude of 30,000 feet, the fighter groups of the 9th Air Force were assigned the role of interdicting the battlefield— operating from 6,000 feet down to tree-top level. The rugged P-47 Thunderbolt proved to be well suited for this mission— 94% of 9th Air Force ground attack missions were flown by P-47 Thunderbolts.
Initially led by Squadron Commander Major Thornton J. Mostyn, the 509th Fighter Squadron began combat operations against the enemy on 11 April 1944. It was not until 26 April that the 509th inflicted its first damage to the enemy, bombing a railway marshalling yard near Nantes, France. At this time, the 509th was conducting “familiarization rides” on a group-level— in conjunction with the 510th and 511th Squadrons. By 30 April, the 509th had completed 15 separate combat missions and their introductory period was over. The squadron was fully unleashed for combat operations and began its, “share of the burden in dissolving Hitler’s so-called new order.”
What followed was 13 months of near nonstop pursuit and anction against the enemy. The 509th was typical of other 9th Air Force Fighter Bomber Groups of the day, in that they followed, followed the Allied Armies advance into Europe after D-Day. Air Station 416 in Christchurch was not their permanent home. As World War II progressed and the German Army was pushed further back, the 509th followed closely behind, operating from France, Belgium, and eventually within Germany itself. In total, the 509th operated from 7 different air stations during the war, ensuring they were never too far from the front lines. The 509th flew missions in support of D-Day on June 6 and played a vital role in the development of close air support. The unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its work in support of ground troops during the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944.
“I completed 58 dive bombing missions. Got shot at on all them, but I only got clobbered once.”
- Major Michael A. Titre, 509 FS, Pilot of “The Mole”
Victory in Europe came on 8 May 1945. The pilots of the 509th Fighter Squadron dropped over 1,596 tons ordinance on the enemy and expended 1,471,498 rounds of 50 caliber ammunition from their Thunderbolts. Squadron claims included 38 aircraft destroyed on the ground, and another 15 aircraft in the air. Some additional claims for the 509th were: 1,232 trucks, 45 tanks, 105 locomotives, 1,489 boxcars, 87 gun positions, and 144 horse drawn vehicles destroyed. Victory in Europe did not come without a cost, in total, 26 pilots of the 509th Fighter Squadron lost their lives in combat operations— their average age was just 22 years-old. Thunderbolts of the 9th Air Force flew 546,00 sorties at a cost of 872 planes during World War II.
“Good show, Schooner Squadron!”
- Major Robert M. Blackburn, 509 FS, Pilot of Chowhound, II, III
509th Fighter Squadron Commanders
Name
Rank
Date
Paul R. Wingall
Captain
1 March 1943 – 4 November 1943
Thornton J. Mostyn
Major
5 November 1944 – 25 April 1944
Paul E. Gardiner
Major
26 April 1944 – 17 June 1944
Frederick B. Kinne
Major
18 June 1944 - 23 October 1944
Robert M. Blackburn
Captain
24 October 1944 – November (temp leave to US)
Wayne A. Stout
Major
November 1944 - 24 January 1945
Robert M. Blackburn
Major
25 January 1945 - 25 March 1945
Chester Van Etten
Major
26 March 1945 - End of wartime operations
Pilots Killed in Action
Name
Rank
Date
Lloyd G. Zahn
Vincent R. James
2nd Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant
22 June 1944
John H. Weir
Joseph E. Piche
2nd Lieutenant
29 June 1944
1st Lieutenant
1st Lieutenant
5 July 1944
Hugh H. McDonald
17 July 1944
Jesse T. Mountjoy
2nd Lieutenant
24 July 1944
Sheldon Anderson
Louis Bowman
2nd Lieutenant
31 July 1944
Eugene F. Gray
Major
22 September 1944
2nd Lieutenant
22 September 1944
Carl J. Hooper
2nd Lieutenant
24 September 1944
Samuel D. Arey
1st Lieutenant
12 October 1944
Griffin Van Name
2nd Lieutenant
31 October 1944
Edwin G. Goss
2nd Lieutenant
9 November 1944
William B. Doyle
1st Lieutenant
18 November 1944
Thomas J. Ellwanger
Warren E. Huber
2nd Lieutenant
12 December 1944
Lawrence F. Ryan
2nd Lieutenant
12 December 1944
John W. Bailey, Jr.
1st Lieutenant
12 December 1944
John D. Dyer
Flight Officer
12 December 1944
Daniel A. McKinnon
2nd Lieutenant
29 December 1944
Warren G. Myers
1st. Lieutenant
29 December 1944
10 January 1945
Malcolm J. Erikson
Flight Officer
Robert M. Blackburn
1st Lieutenant
19 March 1945
Major
23 March 1945
Arthur W. Bachman
Charles J. Hakes
1st Lieutenant
25 March 1945
1st Lieutenant
31 March 1945
Robert M. Hartmann
1st Lieutenant
8 April 1945
11 April 1945