The 422nd Night Fighter Squadron
Operational History
The 422nd's insignia featured a ferocious-looking
bat wearing an aviator's helmet and goggles, and brandishing a smoking .45-caliber pistol
and a bloody dagger. The bat appears inside a golden circle inside a black-ringed
roundel, the former symbolizing the moon and the latter the night skies which
the squadron prowled. Three "sets" of stars adorn the black ring: one of four
and two of two, denoting 4-2-2, the 422nd. The smoking gun and dripping dagger
sends a message that the squadron has seen combat and is ready for more. The choice
of a bat for the insignia is obvious: the P-61 Black Widow flown by the 422nd hunted
by night and featured a radar system to locate its prey in the dark. |
The travels of the 422nd in the ETO. After arriving at Charmy Down
and relocating to Scorton in the UK, the squadron began operating out of
ALG A-15 at Cherbourg-Maupertus (France) after D-Day. Later, they moved to A-39
at Chateaudun (France); to A-78 at Florennes/Juzaine (Belgium); and to Y-59
at Strassfeld, Germany. On V-E day, they were stationed at Langensalza (Airfield
R-2). |
Follow the Black Widow
back to the Night Fighter Page
[ Main Menu | Ten Hut! |
Sign In! |
First Aid |
History |
Members |
Memories ]
[ Photos |
Credits |
Signals |
Links |
Allies ]
