The "Yoxford Boys" 357th F.G.

"Bud" Anderson went to England with the 357th Fighter Group in 1943. He quickly showed he was a natural fighter pilot, scoring his first victory on one of the early Berlin escort missions. After completing his first tour he came back for a second tour duty, arriving in Europe just in time for the 357th’s most successful mission on 27th of November 1944, he added three more victories to his personal score that day. By the end of the war, Capt. "Bud" Anderson was credited with 16.25 aerial victories.

CAPT. W. R. "O'Bee" O'Brien
USAAF 357TH FG/363RD FS (5.50)

Capt. Richard "BUD" Peterson
357th F.G./364th F.S. (15.50)

"Bud" Peterson scored his first victory flying P-51s with the 357th Fighter Group, when he brought down a long-nose Fw190D in March of 1944. At the tender age of 21 he became the Leiston based Group's 10th Ace. Flying his well-known Mustang "Hurry Home Honey" he finished the war as top-scorer of the 364th Fighter Squadron. "Bud" Peterson's total of 15.50 aerial victories included every Luftwaffe piston-engine type that flew in World War II.

Lt.Col. Thomas L. Hayes
357th F.G./364th F.S. (10.5)

"Tommy" Hayes saw action flying P-39s and P40s in New Guinea and Java before transferring to 357th Fighter Group in Europe. Here, flying the P-51, he commanded 364th Squadron and became Deputy C.O. of the 357th, leading the Group on many missions. In all Tommy Hayes flew 143 combat missions, survived being shot down by a Zero in Java, and was credited with 10 ½ aerial victories. He later held many commands, his last operational aircraft being the F-106.