Tag Archives: 51st Fighter Group

Yuletide CBI Warhawks, Complete with Cranberry

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Official wartime caption: “While still on alert duty, S/Sgt. J.A. Muller, Cpl. John W. Coleman, and Cpl. L.B. Thomas of the 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, consume their Christmas Dinner on the field at a base ‘Somewhere In China,’ 25 December 1942.”

At the time of this image, the 16th was flying out of Zhanyi, China, and had a detachment in Yunnanyi.

U.S. Air Force Number 74184AC, NARA 342-FH-3A02359-74184AC

Constituted as 16th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940, the “Flying Wall” flew Curtiss P-40 Warhawks from the beginning. Deployed to the CBI in March 1942 as part of the Tenth Air Force, the squadron operated from India’s Assam Valley before moving into KMT-controlled China in October 1943 as part of the Fourteenth Air Force.

The squadron defended the Chinese end of the “Hump” route and harassed Japanese shipping in the Red River delta of Indochina, then later supported KMT ground forces in the 1944 drive along the Salween River.

Reequipped with P-51D Mustangs in 1945, they eventually returned to India and was inactivated on 13 December 1945. They earned four campaign streamers for WWII: New Guinea; India-Burma; China Defensive; and China Offensive.

Post-war, they were reactivated for Korea where they flew first P-80s then F-86s. They then served as an interceptor squadron with F-102s before switching to the F-4 Phantom in 1965. Since 1979, they have been operating F-16s and have been based at Nellis AFB, Nevada as the 16th Weapons Squadron (“Tomahawks”) since 2003.

Assam Draggin Getting Ready for a ‘Thousand Pounder’ Raid

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“White 4” P-40K Warhawk “Konkubine” of the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, getting prepped for a mission with a 1,000-pound centerline bomb, ca 1943. From left to right; Private Anthony Zinkevich, Private Frank Bussell, Tech Sergeant Thomas Collins, Staff Sergeant Lynn Hansen, and Lieutenant Robert McClurg– who carries a Gurkha kukri at the ready and wears a CBI “blood chit” on his back.

This picture, taken 14th April 1943, appeared in the November 1943 edition of “Impact” magazine, but, noticeably, the 25th continued to fly Warhawks into 1945. Photo via NARA

Formed as the 25th Pursuit Squadron at Hamilton Field, Calif., on Jan. 15, 1941, by July the squadron received its first P-40s and by March 1942 had sailed around the globe to set up wartime operations in British India. Setting up shop in Assam, India the 25th picked up the name “Assam Draggins.” 

As noted by the USAF:

The 25th Fighter Squadron’s first real moment of glory began in February 1943 when the unit was tasked to defend Fort Hertz near Myikina. Fort Hertz was a vital cog in air operations near “the Hump.” The 25th bombed and strafed enemy troops, concentrations, supply dumps, bridges, and enemy communication lines for twelve consecutive days, but failed to slow the Japanese advance on Fort Hertz. B-25 heavy bombers were needed to halt the enemy’s drive, but none were available. Lt. Col. John E. Barr, the executive officer for the 51st Fighter Group, modified a P-40 to carry 1,000-pound bombs, and by May 1943, had halted the Japanese offensive. 

The 25th Fighter Squadron encountered more combat activity than any other unit within the 51st Fighter Group during the war. The squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated on Dec. 12, 1945.

Post-war, they flew F-80s, F-86s, and F-4s, switching to the A-10 in 1982, which they currently operate out of Osan Air Base, South Korea.