354th Fighter Group

[354th_Rails]

Squadron Name: 354th FG

 

Info: 

We are a casual group, looking to get together and fly 2-3 times a week. We have people in different time zones from +1,0,-5,-6,-8 GMT. We primarily fly Fighter-Bomber missions in our P-47's & P-51’s. When we fly we try to work together as a group with good communication and tactics to try and survive and get the job done. 

Recruiting: 

Recruiting is always open. My goal is to get 16 guys in the group to fill out a full squadron. Typically how it works, if someone is interested they’ll hop on our discord and fly with us for a bit. Hopefully with more than just a couple of us. If everyone likes you or I would like to recruit you I’ll send a PM and ask. But we are always open to have randoms hop on and fly with us when we’re on. There’s not to many Fighter-Bomber pilots and even less are enthused to fly the P-47. 

 

Requirements to join: 

There are no age requirements or skill level to join. We are an older bunch of people and we don’t have any really young people in the group. My only requirement really is just a good attitude, willing to learn (we have a lot of experienced guys in the 47 now), and comms discipline is good (this can be learned though). We do have light banter when we fly at times but we try to keep the chatter down when we need to get down to business. 

 

Leader: 

@354thFG_Rails

 

Contact for recruitment:
NA

@354thFG_Rails

EU
@356thFS_Leifr

https://discord.gg/ba6rCgX99B

 

 

 

Edited May 20 by 354thFG_Rails

[354thFG_Leifr]

I've been flying with Rails and the 86th for almost a month now, and I'm having incredible fun doing so.

The P-47 really isn't as handicapped as some would have you believe, and it is a joy to fly the Jug as a group. If you're in the North American timezone (or happy to fly late-EU!), please give Rails a wave and see about joining us in the air.

[GenMarkof007]

S! Congrats on your new virtual squadron!
Feel free to register on this list... might help getting new pilots and spread the news!

 

Cheers,
GenMarkof

[354thFG_Leifr]

It's nearly Thunderbolt Thursday, what's your excuse? ?

(Images from Combat Box, 86th Fighter Group).

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2023 by 86th_Leifr

[354thFG_Leifr]

Another Thunderbolt Thursday rolls by, and the 86thFG took to Combat Box.

 

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[Cybermat47]

56 minutes ago, 86th_Leifr said:

Another Thunderbolt Thursday rolls by, and the 86thFG took to Combat Box.

 

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Loving those tail stripes ? 

[354thFG_Leifr]

Another Thunderbolt Thursday, another round of images.

 

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[354th_Rails]

Big Thunderbolt Thursday a few weeks back(05/04). Come on folks! Bring the thunder with us!

 

Edited May 13, 2023 by 86th_Rails

[354th_Rails]

Another Thunderbolt Thursday in the books. 5 planes shot down, 15 ground targets smashed, no losses. C’mon folks, come bring the thunder!

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

If I can get in the habit of playing again and dust off my stick, I'll come join the 86th on Discord at some point Rails and Creep!

[354thFG_Leifr]

On 5/20/2023 at 7:46 AM, drewm3i-VR said:

If I can get in the habit of playing again and dust off my stick, I'll come join the 86th on Discord at some point Rails and Creep!

 

Creep isn't in the 86th, but there's quite a few others now!

You only have to dust the stick off once, and come fly with us, it'll be enough to want to stick around. ?

Edited June 1, 2023 by 86th_Leifr

[354thFG_Leifr]

Asch to Nijmegen, dropping on the trainyard there with support. Left the area to find the resupply train towards Venlo but no dice, continued onwards towards Aachen and provided cover for the remaining twenty minutes. Ran in to a group of four K4s coming towards Julich; they saw us late, broke and turned towards as a group, three of them were in the dirt within a few seconds, leaving one to be tailed by Brundle and eventually a Tempest. No losses.

 

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[354th_Rails]

We’re back at it for 2024. Come join us for Thunderbolt Thursdays and the upcoming Apollo campaign!

Edited January 15, 2024 by 86th_Rails

[354thFG_Leifr]

 Always happy to welcome in pilots who desire to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt! We take great pride in flying the Jug on Combat Box, come on and have some fun. ?

 

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Edited January 19, 2024 by 86th_Leifr

[354thFG_Leifr]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 21, 2024 by 86th_Leifr

[354thFG_Leifr]

We're always happy to fly with other Thunderbolt enthusiasts in the 86thFG. We can happily cover GMT through to PST timezones, usually fly two or three times a week (no schedule, just relaxed times).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lusekofte]

Do you actually get to land the Jug in servers? I never done that in a server , I always get blasted to smithereens 

Good taste in aircraft. Love it, but never really liked GB one. DCs one is a jewel

[354thFG_Leifr]

1 hour ago, Lusekofte said:

Do you actually get to land the Jug in servers? I never done that in a server , I always get blasted to smithereens 

Good taste in aircraft. Love it, but never really liked GB one. DCs one is a jewel

 

Most of the time. ?
We definitely put an emphasis on loading the dice in your favour as much as possible, and playing safe.

Usually, in my experience, landings beget landings so I'd rather return to base with no kills and a clean sheet than not at all.

[354thFG_Leifr]

Some high-altitude action on Combat Box from the excellent Mitchell's Men scenario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2024 by 86th_Leifr

[354thFG_Leifr]

Always on the lookout for players who enjoy the Thunderbolt! We're active in Combat Box, two or three times a week, relaxed schedule (aka none!).

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2024 by 86th_Leifr

[Lusekofte]

What coms do you use? I might meet up on one of those next week. 
To fly it efficient I probably need to nag and ask a lot. I kind of gave up on it at arrival. One of my sorrows in this game. 

[354thFG_Leifr]

49 minutes ago, Lusekofte said:

What coms do you use? I might meet up on one of those next week. 
To fly it efficient I probably need to nag and ask a lot. I kind of gave up on it at arrival. One of my sorrows in this game. 

 

Hi Lusekofte.

We use Discord (86th server here), and sometimes use the SRS-integration with CombatBox.

Nagging and asking is OK, always learning something new. ?

[SoulJumper]

Hello gents!

 

I was a regular player of the original IL2:Sturmovik beginning around 2001 until 2010 when my personal life could no longer accommodate my obsession with it. I think I may have some time available now and would love to see where the evolution of the game has taken it to. Can someone please help me by giving me some minimum requirements and advice on the best way to go, i.e. what should I buy first? By the way, I love the idea of flying the Thunderbolt again!

 

My gaming laptop is:

Processor    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H   2.30 GHz
Installed RAM    32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
 

[354thFG_Leifr]

On 2/19/2024 at 9:08 PM, SoulJumper said:

Hello gents!

 

I was a regular player of the original IL2:Sturmovik beginning around 2001 until 2010 when my personal life could no longer accommodate my obsession with it. I think I may have some time available now and would love to see where the evolution of the game has taken it to. Can someone please help me by giving me some minimum requirements and advice on the best way to go, i.e. what should I buy first? By the way, I love the idea of flying the Thunderbolt again!

 

My gaming laptop is:

Processor    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H   2.30 GHz
Installed RAM    32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
 

 

Good morning SoulJumper.

You certainly have a good enough GPU, I'm not super familiar with the Intel chips though. Are you looking to stay on the laptop or go desktop?

[Lusekofte]

On 2/19/2024 at 10:08 PM, SoulJumper said:

Hello gents!

 

I was a regular player of the original IL2:Sturmovik beginning around 2001 until 2010 when my personal life could no longer accommodate my obsession with it. I think I may have some time available now and would love to see where the evolution of the game has taken it to. Can someone please help me by giving me some minimum requirements and advice on the best way to go, i.e. what should I buy first? By the way, I love the idea of flying the Thunderbolt again!

 

My gaming laptop is:

Processor    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H   2.30 GHz
Installed RAM    32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)
System type    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
 

Your system is fine and dandy for this game

[SoulJumper]

Thanks! I replaced an older desktop with this new gaming laptop. I have it connected to two monitors. I have Thrustmaster flight stick, throttle, and rudder pedals, but I haven't tried hooking them up yet on the laptop. What game/modules should I buy?

[354thFG_Leifr]

19 hours ago, SoulJumper said:

Thanks! I replaced an older desktop with this new gaming laptop. I have it connected to two monitors. I have Thrustmaster flight stick, throttle, and rudder pedals, but I haven't tried hooking them up yet on the laptop. What game/modules should I buy?

 

Hi SoulJumper.

Sounds great, do you have some form of head-tracking or VR set up too?

 

The two 47s available are split between Bodenplatte and Normandy, the former is usually much cheaper during sales.

The -22 is in Normandy (razorback), and the -28 is in Bodenplatte (bubble).

Last night we had nine pilots online and sitting in Thunderbolts, it's been a long time since we put so many in the air at the same time.

Find us here.

 

 

 

[354th_Rails]

We’ve decided to represent a different group now. Sad to see our striped tails go but we will still be rocking the P-47 and now the P-51. If you’re interested please reach out or join our discord. 

[354thFG_Leifr]

Enjoy flying the 47?

So do we, contact Rails above and hop in to our Discord!

 

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https://imgur.com/undefined

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MasterBaiter]

nice liveries guys :]

[354thFG_Leifr]

We fly the Thunderbolt.

Come fly the Thunderbolt.

 

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[354thFG_Jagged_Fel]

Promo vid!

 

[354thFG_Jagged_Fel]

Thunderbolt Thursday here we go

 

[Screwball]

356 still re recruiting?  I'm currently in the 334th, but not much going on there lately, I think they switched to dcs.  I love the Jug and mustang razorbacks and working as a team  striking ground targets.    Let me know..

 

Screwball

 

[354thFG_Leifr]

On 2/1/2025 at 4:25 PM, 334th_Screwball said:

356 still re recruiting?  I'm currently in the 334th, but not much going on there lately, I think they switched to dcs.  I love the Jug and mustang razorbacks and working as a team  striking ground targets.    Let me know..

 

Screwball

 

 

Morning Screwball.

We've closed shop for the time being, took on quite a few new pilots in the last half of 2024 and we're wanting to get folk up to scratch with the Thunderbolt. That said, drop by our server and you're welcome to fly with us all the same - it isn't a problem.

 

https://discord.gg/9mWhExYn