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"Ready in Pairs" - Bombs Ready for Action on P-47 Thunderbolts of the 362nd Fighter Group
A pilot from the 362nd Fighter Group poses for a picture with his foot on a bomb. With the caption "Ready in Pairs" on the back, it is also noted that the air strip used to be in No Man's Land during World War I.
A Destroyed Fortress at Brest
The German army fortified many of the port cities in France, and none were attacked with such ferocity as Brest. The photo shows the leftover rubble of one of these strongholds at Brest, which was bombed by pilots of the Ninth Air Force.
A Farmer Working the Land Outside Reims
The men of the 362nd F. G. were encouraged by their commander, Colonel Joseph Laughlin, to do whatever was necessary to relax. He wanted them to take their minds away from the troubles of war to help them cope. Some of the men took that time to…
A German POW Among the 362nd Fighter Group
According to the caption on this photo, a German POW is directed to dig a latrine for the 362nd Fighter Group near their tents. Note the soldier on the far left, his guard. You can just make out a smirk on the face of the seated airman. The caption…
A Meeting of Army Air Corps Commanding Officers
From left to right: Major General Elwood Quesada of the Ninth Air Force, Brigadier General Gordon Saville of the Twelfth Air Force, and Major General Hoyt Vandenburg, Ninth Air Force Commander. This meeting took place after the invasion of Southern…
Colonel Joseph Laughlin and Officers of the 362nd Fighter Group in Front of the Chateau Outside Reims
From left, 1st Lt. Joe Lane, Colonel Laughlin, 1st Lt. John Hill, and an unknown pilot stand in front the the chateau outside of Reims. Colonel Laughlin managed to "acquire" it, and it was large enough to house all of the pilots of the 362nd Fighter…
Colonel Morton Magoffin Pins Eagles on Colonel Joe Laughlin
After the 362nd Group Commander, Colonel Magoffin, was shot down on August 10, 1944, Colonel Laughlin was named the new group commander. This move became permanent when Colonel Magoffin was not allowed to return to duty due to his POW status. After…
Colonel Morton Magoffin Pins the Eagles on the new Commanding Officer of the 362nd Fighter Group, Colonel Joseph Laughlin
Inside the briefing tent at Étain, France, Colonel Magoffin insisted on pinning the eagles onto his replacement, Colonel Laughlin.
Flight Test Certification of Colonel Joseph Laughlin, March 1945
In order to make sure pilots were combat ready and effective, the Army Air Corps required Instrument Flight Tests be completed every six months. This one was completed at the 362nd Fighter Groups' base at Station A-82 in Étain, France, a week before…
Men From the 362nd Fighter Group Play Volleyball
Pilots and grounds crew were encouraged to take their minds off of the war by their commander, Colonel Joseph Laughlin. He did not want his pilots to get battle fatigue or his grounds crew to suffer exhaustion so he made sure they had something else…