ISSUED BY AAF-RAF PUBLIC RELATIONS:

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Saturday 14 October 1944

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31ST FIGHTER GROUP AWARD
SECOND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION

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In recognition of its outstanding performance of duty while flying from Russian bases July 25, the 31st Fighter Group was awarded its second Distinguished Unit Citation by Maj. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Commanding General of the 15th A A F, at a formal ceremony held at the Mustang base Thursday.

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At the same time, Gen. Twining presented Silver Stars for gallantry in action to Lt. Col. Yancey S. Tarrant, Brownwood, Tex., Commanding Officer of the 31st Fighter Group, and to three other Mustang pilots.

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The action for which the Mustang group was cited occurred while the P5ls were returning to their Russian bases after successfully completing an escort mission over Poland.  Sighting a large truck convoy, the Mustangs immediately hit the deck and destroyed or damaged 19 vehicles and inflicted numerous casualties among the German troops. Resuming their course, the 31st Fighter Group encountered an enemy task force of 40 German dive bombers on their way to attack Soviet ground troops and installations. The entire formation of Mustangs dove to attack and in the ensuing air battle destroyed 27 of the enemy formation without a single loss to the 31st Fighter Group. "The virtual annihilation of the enemy task force," reads the citation, " prevented grave losses to our Russian allies and contributed greatly to the success of the Russian offensive then in progress.

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 "By the outstanding technical skill and devotion to duty shown by the ground personnel, together with the conspicuous courage, determination and aggressive spirit of the pilots, the 31st Fighter Group has upheld the highest traditions of the military service, thereby reflecting great credit upon themselves and the armed forces of the United States.

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Since shooting down the first enemy plane credited to an AAF fighter group in the entire European theater on Dieppe Day, August 19, 1942, the 31st has run its total of victories to over 500. More than 300 of these victories have been scored since the group changed from Spitfires to Mustangs in April 1944. The Mustang group has a ratio of ten Luftwaffe planes destroyed for every Mustang lost to enemy fighters or flak.

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Although most of their missions have been as escort for the heavy bombers, the few missions which the Mustang group strafed ground targets have resulted in the destruction of 111 locomotives, and the damaging of 25 more, 71 oil tank cars and box cars destroyed and 23 planes destroyed on the ground as well as damaging 20 more.

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Individual awards to members of the group include 3 Distinguished Service crosses, 6 Legion of Merits, 40 Silver Stars with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 170 Distinguished Flying Crosses with 27 Oak Leaf Clusters, 341 Air Medals, 35 Purple Hearts, and 7 Bronze Stars.

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The three Silver Stars were awarded to: lst Lt. John J. Voll, Goshen, Ohio; Capt. Thomas R. Hardeman, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Capt. Robert E. Riddle, Chicago, I11.