▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Forces ▁E ighth ▁Air ▁Force ▁ 3 6 1 st ▁F ighter ▁Group , ▁arriv ing ▁from ▁Richmond ▁A AF , ▁Virginia ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁The ▁group ▁was ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 5 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ▁of ▁the ▁VIII ▁F ighter ▁Command . ▁ ▁A ircraft ▁of ▁the ▁group ▁were ▁identified ▁by ▁yellow ▁around ▁their ▁cow lings ▁and ▁t ails . ▁ ▁The ▁group ▁consisted ▁of ▁the ▁following ▁squad rons : ▁▁ 3 7 4 th ▁F ighter ▁Squadron ▁( B 7 ) ▁▁ 3 7 5 th ▁F ighter ▁Squadron ▁( E 2 ) ▁▁ 3 7 6 th ▁F ighter ▁Squadron ▁( E 9 ) ▁ ▁The ▁ 3 6 1 st ▁F G ▁entered ▁combat ▁with ▁Republic ▁P - 4 7 ▁Th under bol t ▁aircraft ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁converted ▁to ▁North ▁American ▁P - 5 1 ▁Must ang ' s ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁ ▁The ▁unit ▁served ▁primarily ▁as ▁an ▁esc ort ▁organisation , ▁covering ▁the ▁pen etr ation , ▁attack , ▁and ▁withdraw al ▁of ▁Bo eing ▁B - 1 7 ▁F lying ▁Fort ress / Cons olid ated ▁B - 2 4 ▁Liber ator ▁bom ber ▁form ations ▁that ▁the ▁USA AF ▁sent ▁against ▁targets ▁on ▁the ▁Cont inent . ▁ ▁The ▁group ▁also ▁engaged ▁in ▁counter - air ▁pat rol s , ▁f ighter ▁swe eps ,