On 1 December 1942, nearly a year after the United States entered World War 2, the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) ordered the 357th Fighter Group (FG) into existence at Hamilton Field, California. No one could know at the time that this order had created the Eighth Air Force's greatest ace-making unit. In just over a year of combat 42 pilots would achieve 'acedom' flying with the 357th FG - more than any other unit in Europe. Three squadrons - the 362nd, 363rd and 364th FSs - were established under the command of Col Loring Stetson, and during the first two months of the group's existence it was outfitted with everything it would need for operations except for one crucial item - aircraft. In February 1943 the group travelled to Tonopah, Nevada, which was home to a three-million acre bombing and gunnery range. Training began immediately with Bell P-39D/Q Airacobras that had been left behind by the 354th FG. Flight leaders in each squadron did much of the training, and among their number were a handful of future aces including the 362nd's Joseph Broadhead, the 363rd's Clarence 'Bud' Anderson, Edwin Hiro and William O'Brien and the 364th's John Storch, Jack Warren and Glendon Davis.
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