World War II The squadron was established as a
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter squadron under
I Fighter Command in the summer of 1942. It trained in the Northeastern United States until October, then deployed to serve with
Ninth Air Force in Egypt, where it took part in the
Western Desert Campaign. The unit trained for several weeks
Royal Air Force units, then began operating with other organizations against the enemy in Tunisia. The squadron engaged primarily in escort and patrol missions between Tunisia and
Sicily until July 1943. The 314th trained from July to October 1943 for operations with
Twelfth Air Force. It resumed combat on 30 October 1943 and directed most of its attacks against roads, bridges, motor transport, supply areas, rolling stock, gun positions, troop concentrations, and rail facilities in Italy until August 1944. The squadron patrolled the beach and protected convoys during the assault on
Anzio in January 1944. It aided the Allied offensive in Italy during May 1944, receiving a
Distinguished Unit Citation for action from 12 to 14 May when the squadron bombed an enemy position on Monastery Hill 9 (
Monte Cassino), attacked troops massing on the hill for counterattack, and hit a nearby stronghold to force the surrender of an enemy garrison. The squadron continued to give close support to ground forces until the fall of Rome in June 1944. It then converted to
Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in July and supported the assault on southern France in August by dive-bombing gun positions, bridges, and radar facilities, and by patrolling the combat zone. It gave tactical support to Allied forces advancing through France. The squadron aided the reduction of the Colmar bridgehead in January and February 1945, and supported
Seventh Army's drive through the
Siegfried Line defenses in March 1945. The 314th became part of the
occupation forces in Germany after war in Europe ended in May. It returned to the United States and was inactivated 7 November 1945 with its group at
Camp Shanks, New York. ==Lineage==