Description

317th Fighter Squadron Patch

Fly with the 317th Fighter Squadron during World War II.  You’ll treasure the quality of this patch as it honors the men who flew the unit.

• 3.5 inch patch
• Embroidered
• US Veteran Owned Business
• Reproduction

The squadron was first activated as the 317th Fighter Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to North Africa. In combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It was withdrawn from combat from September to December 1943 while it equipped with different aircraft and moved from Africa to Italy. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations before returning to the United States for inactivation.

The 317th Fighter Squadron was one of the original three squadrons of the 325th Fighter Group, established at Mitchel Field, New York on 3 August 1942, but moved to Hillsgrove Army Air Field, Rhode Island on the same day. Equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, the squadron trained for combat until January 1943 when it began its deployment overseas. After arriving in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, the squadron established its first combat station at Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria by the end of February 1943, flying its first combat mission on 17 April. From there, it participated in escort missions, strafing runs, and other operations in the Mediterranean region, ultimately playing a key role in the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia, the reduction of Pantelleria, and the invasion and conquest of Sicily. Later on, the squadron converted to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, and then to North American P-51 Mustangs in March 1944. It provided escort for heavy bombers, attacked strategic targets, and engaged in air-to-air combat, being credited with destroying 209 enemy aircraft. The squadron continued its operations until May 1945, after which it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on 28 October. The squadron was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for its heroic actions during the war.

The squadron returned to service as an air defense unit in 1947, serving in that role until inactivated in 1969.