9FS Unit History
during the war

 

In WW III the United States mounted a two- pronged attack against Japanese forces in the Pacific. Admiral Nimitz commanded the thrust across the central and south Pacific island bases, while General MacArthur was charged with regaining New Guinea and the Philippines enroute to Okinawa to close the pincer on Japan proper. MacArthur's Air commander was General George Kenny, who oversaw the operations of two numbered air forces, the 5th and the 13th. Fifth Air Force was comprised of heavy and medium bombers, fighters, troop carriers and the host of supporting units needed to make the sharp-end effective. At one time or another there were five or six fighter groups assigned to 5th Air Force, each with three fighter squadrons equipped with 25 airplanes and enough maintenance and logistic capability to make them largely self-sufficient. The Flying Knights (9th Squadron) of the 49th Fighter Group was one of those squadrons. This is their story. Ken Clark, 9FS Unit Historian, 49FG WWII

The following WW II narrative history is based on original typed pages of notes provided by Ken Clark, 9th Fighter Squadron fighter pilot/flight leader, who had the additional duty of Asst. Squadron Intelligence Officer/Historian the last year of the war with Japan. It is with his permission that I have copied the WWII 9FS Unit History. Much of the original typing was done by D. Tarquinio, Squadron Intelligence  NCO. [The best source of information about the early war years of the 49th Fighter Group can be found in the book Protect & Avenge.]