352nd Fighter Group

The 352nd Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces fighter formation assigned to the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Constituted on 29 September 1942 and activated on 1 October 1942, it was initially organized in the United States for training and air-defense duties before deploying to England in mid-1943. Its flying units were the 328th, 486th, and 487th Fighter Squadrons. The group trained first with Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters and moved through a series of American bases, including Mitchel Field in New York, Bradley Field in Connecticut, Westover Field in Massachusetts, Trumbull Field in Connecticut, and Republic Field on Long Island. It reached England during June and July 1943 and established its principal wartime base at RAF Bodney in Norfolk. There it became part of VIII Fighter Command and later operated within arrangements involving the 67th Fighter Wing, the 1st Bombardment Division, and IX Tactical Air Command. The 352nd's central mission was to escort heavy bombers attacking targets in German-occupied Europe and Germany. It also performed counter-air patrols and offensive operations against airfields, rail traffic, motor vehicles, troop concentrations, artillery positions, communications, and other ground targets. During the Allied air offensive known as Big Week in February 1944, the group helped protect bomber formations intended to draw the Luftwaffe into combat and weaken German aircraft production and air defenses. In April 1944, the group converted from the P-47 to the North American P-51 Mustang. The Mustang's long range made it particularly effective for bomber escort, while the group's blue-painted aircraft noses and upper cowling produced the informal nickname “Blue-nosed Bastards of Bodney.” The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance during the 8 May 1944 escort mission to Brunswick, Germany, when it fought off a numerically superior German fighter force until fuel and ammunition limitations compelled its return to base. The 352nd supported the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944 by attacking coastal positions and communications. It subsequently provided air support during the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô and Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. During the Battle of the Bulge, a detachment operated from Asch Airfield in Belgium under Ninth Air Force control. On 1 January 1945, during the German Operation Bodenplatte airfield attacks, aircraft of the 487th Fighter Squadron took off under attack and engaged the attacking force. The group's actions on that date earned it the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. In February 1945, the rest of the group moved to Belgium, making the 352nd one of the first American fighter groups to operate from the European continent. It supported Operation Varsity, the Allied airborne crossing of the Rhine, in March and returned to RAF Bodney in April. The group continued operations there until the end of the European war on 8 May 1945. It returned to the United States in November 1945 and was inactivated through redesignation on 24 May 1946, when it became the 113th Fighter Group. Most of the organization entered the District of Columbia Air National Guard, while the 328th Fighter Squadron was separately allocated to the Virginia National Guard.

The 352nd Fighter Group was created within the United States Army Air Forces during the buildup to the European air war. It was constituted on 29 September 1942 and activated two days later, with three fighter squadrons: the 328th, 486th, and 487th. During its initial training period, the group formed part of I Fighter Command and moved among airfields in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Its early work centered on fighter training and domestic air-defense responsibilities using the P-47 Thunderbolt. The group moved to England during the summer of 1943 and settled primarily at RAF Bodney in Norfolk. Under VIII Fighter Command and associated Eighth Air Force formations, it became a long-range escort and attack unit. Its missions included protecting bomber formations, patrolling against German aircraft, and striking airfields, railways, vehicles, troops, gun positions, and communications. Its service during Big Week in February 1944 formed part of the wider effort to force the Luftwaffe into combat and reduce Germany's ability to produce and operate fighter aircraft. A major transition came in April 1944, when the group converted to the P-51 Mustang. The new aircraft's range and performance made it well suited to escorting bombers deep into German-controlled territory. The blue markings on the noses and upper cowling of its Mustangs led to the group's enduring nickname, the “Blue-nosed Bastards of Bodney.” On 8 May 1944, during an escort mission to Brunswick, the group fought a substantially larger German fighter formation and was later awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. The 352nd flew in support of the Normandy invasion in June 1944, attacking positions and communications near the landing area. It then supported the Allied advance at Saint-Lô and Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. During the Battle of the Bulge, a detachment deployed to Asch Airfield in Belgium under Ninth Air Force control. On New Year's Day 1945, German aircraft conducted Operation Bodenplatte against Allied airfields. Members of the 487th Fighter Squadron launched under attack and engaged the raiders, an action for which the entire group received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. The rest of the group moved to Belgium in February 1945, and the 352nd became one of the first American fighter groups to operate from the European mainland. It supported Operation Varsity during the Rhine crossing and returned to RAF Bodney in April. The group remained there until the German surrender on 8 May 1945. It returned to the United States in November and was redesignated the 113th Fighter Group on 24 May 1946. This ended the 352nd Fighter Group's separate existence, although much of its organizational lineage continued in the Air National Guard. The group was associated with 27 fighter aces, including George Preddy and John C. Meyer.

• 1946

  Redesignation as the 113th Fighter Group

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 352nd was redesignated the 113th Fighter Group on 24 May, ending the unit's existence under its wartime designation.

• 1945

  Croix de Guerre recognition

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  France awarded the group the Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions during Operation Bodenplatte on 1 January.

• 1944

  Conversion to the P-51 Mustang

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group changed from P-47 Thunderbolts to P-51 Mustangs in April.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was cited for its defense of bombers during the Brunswick mission on 8 May.

• 1943

  Arrival at RAF Bodney

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group reached RAF Bodney in England on 5 July and began its operational role with the Eighth Air Force.

• 1942

  Constitution and activation

  [1]352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 352nd Fighter Group was constituted on 29 September and activated on 1 October with the 328th, 486th, and 487th Fighter Squadrons.

A wartime fighter group identified with long-range P-51 Mustang escort operations, blue-nosed aircraft, and combat service with the Eighth Air Force in northwest Europe.

• Fighter aircraft

  Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

  The P-47 Thunderbolt was the group's principal training and early operational fighter. The 352nd used it during its period of domestic training and during the initial stage of its deployment before changing to the P-51 Mustang in April 1944.

• Fighter aircraft · 1944

  North American P-51 Mustang

  The P-51 Mustang became the group's defining combat aircraft. Its long range and high performance supported bomber escort missions deep into Europe, while blue nose and upper-cowling markings gave the unit its well-known nickname.

• 1945Operation Varsity

  Germany · Belgium

  From bases in Belgium, the group supported the Allied airborne crossing of the Rhine in March.

  Outcome. The unit helped provide air support for the final Allied advance into Germany.

  Source
• 1944Big Week

  Germany · Western Europe

  From 20 to 25 February, the group escorted bombers during the Allied campaign against the German aircraft industry and helped draw Luftwaffe fighters into battle.

  Outcome. The operation contributed to sustained pressure on German fighter production and air defenses.

  Source
• 1944Normandy invasion

  France

  The group conducted strafing and dive-bombing missions against coastal positions and communications during the Allied landings in June.

  Outcome. The unit provided tactical air support for the invasion and subsequent operations in Normandy.

  Source
• 1944Battle of Saint-Lô

  France

  The group attacked German positions and supported the Allied breakthrough around Saint-Lô in July.

  Outcome. Its missions supported the Allied advance out of the Normandy bridgehead.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden

  Netherlands

  The group provided fighter and ground-support missions during the Allied airborne and ground offensive in the Netherlands.

  Outcome. The 352nd contributed air support to the operation's advancing Allied forces.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge

  Belgium

  A detachment deployed to Asch Airfield and operated under Ninth Air Force control during the German winter offensive.

  Outcome. The group continued counter-air and ground-support operations during the campaign.

  Source

• 1946

  Redesignation and transfer to the Air National GuardOther

  Background

  Following the end of the European war and the group's return to the United States, the wartime organization was reorganized.

  Action taken

  On 24 May, the group was redesignated the 113th Fighter Group; most of the organization was allocated to the District of Columbia Air National Guard.

  Aftermath

  The 352nd Fighter Group ceased to operate under its wartime designation, while elements of its lineage continued in the Air National Guard.

  Source

• 1944

  Conversion from P-47 to P-51 aircraftGeneration change

  Background

  The group required a fighter with greater range and stronger escort capability for operations over occupied Europe and Germany.

  Action taken

  In April, it replaced its P-47 Thunderbolts with P-51 Mustangs.

  Aftermath

  The conversion defined the group's later combat role and reinforced its association with the blue-nosed Mustangs of RAF Bodney.

  Source

1. 1352nd Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org