1st Air Division
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
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Group
The 352nd Fighter Group were based at Bodney, Norfolk from July 1943 until November 1945 but in the winter months of 1944/1945 detachments moved to bases in Belgium to provide extra air support to ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge and to assist with the airborne assault across the Rhine. The 487th Fighter Squadron was the only Eighth Air Force Squadron to be awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation, usually an award reserved to Groups. The Squadron was given the DUC for destroying 23 enemy aircraft in a single mission on 1 January 1945. Major George Preddy, the highest scoring P-51 Mustang in Eighth Air Force, flew with the 352nd Fighter Group.
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Wing
Group
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
Headquarters
14 September 1943
A force of 126 P-47s from: 4FG, 56FG, 352FG, and 355FG are despatched on a fighter sweep over dunkirk and the Dutch Islands. 1 aircraft is damaged on take-off, hitting a tree. Pilot makes wheels up landing in a field and is OK. Aircraft repaired.
14 September 1943
A formation of 83 P-47s frim 352FG and 355FG are despatched on a fighter sweep of the Knokke/Calaise area. 1 Aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-1KIA. There are no other losses or claims.
15 September 1943
201 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; and 353FG are despatched to provide escort for the B-17 formations attcking targets at Romilly-sur-Seine and Paris, France. The fighters claim 0-0-1 of attacking German fighters. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)...
22 September 1943
A combined force of 240 P-47s from: 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched on fighter sweeps of the Calaise/Egmond area of France. One aircraft Failed to Retunr (FTR) 1KIA and another sustained a mechanical failure of the propellor...
22 September 1943
A combined force of 155 P-47 from 56FG; 325FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to fly fighter sweeps of the Furnes/Lille/Ghent/Flushing area. No enemy fighters are encountered. There are no losses or claims.
23 September 1943
A combined force of 140 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG and 353FG are despatched to escort the B-17s of VIII Bomber Command mission 100. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA and 2 were damaged. The fighters claimed 4-0-1 of attacking German fighters.
23 September 1943
A combined force of 74 P-47s from 325FG and 355FG are despatched to act as a diversionary force for the B-26s attacking the German airfied of Beauvais/Tille, France. There are no losses or claims.
24 September 1943
A combined force of 128 P-47s from 78FG; 352FG; 355FG are despatched on fighter sweeps in the Sangatte/Lille/Ghent/Blankenberge area. No enemy aircraft are encountered. There are no losses or claims.
8 October 1943
A combined force of 274 P-47s from 4FG; 56FG; 78FG; 352FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Bremen, Germany. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1KIA 2POW and 5 others are damaged. 2 airmen are Wounded in Action ...
9 October 1943
A combined force of 153 P-47s from 78FG; 325FG; 353FG; and 355FG are despatched to performa fighter sweep in the Leeuwarden area of Holland before joining the B-17 bomber formations attacking at Anklam and Marienburg, Germany. There are no losses or...
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based | Bodney | 8 July 1943 – 7 February 1945 |
Based | Asch | 23 December 1944 – 27 January 1945 |
Based | Bodney | 13 April 1945 – 3 November 1945 |
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 89FS, 80FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 322FS, 326FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) fighter sweep to Aachen area. Last seen in pursuit of enemy A/C near Aachen in P-51D 'Flossie III' 44-14710 24-Jan...
Military | Master Sergeant | Line Chief | 352nd Fighter Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) dive bombing mission, hit by flak strafing targets of opportunity, crashed at Royville in P-51B 42-106460. Baled out.
...
Military | First Sergeant | Administrative NCO 502 | 352nd Fighter Group
Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 487FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. 118 combat missions flown from mid 1943 to Oct-44. Credited 9 aerial kills. Transferred to 496FTG. Completed Tour of Duty (ETD).
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Killed in Action (KIA) in P-47D 42-22531 352FG/328FS. The aircraft either had mechanical failure or the pilot was suffering from Anoxia and crashed into the English Channel 50 miles east of the Blackwater Estuary, UK. 1 KIA MACR 562.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Completed Tour of Duty (ETD).
Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Woodrow Anderson entered service from Texas and served as a pilot with the 78th Fighter Group transferring to the 352nd Fighter Group. He Failed to Return (FTR) from a bomber escort to Dessau. Bounced by three Bf109's near Leipzig and shot down in P...
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 486FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with 9 air to air kills. Failed to Return (FTR) fighter sweep to Budapest, pulling clear of the target engine noted to be smoking, after which it quit. Lt Andrew belly landed and then sprinted clear...
Military | Flight Officer | Fighter Pilot | 27th Air Transport Group
Assigned to 487FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF.
Transferred to 310th Ferry Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group, 8AF USAAF.
Transferred to Base Air Depot 2, 8AF USAAF.
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
Princess Elizabeth was lost on 6 June 1944, D-Day, on a strafing mission over Northern France at 21:00PM. The aircraft was hit by flak while strafing a railway, and the pilot Robert Butler, was forced to bale out. Butler evaded capture until 20 July...
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
Assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) dive bombing mission, hit by flak strafing targets of opportunity, crashed at Royville. Pilot Lt Leroy J Allain Jr baled out. Prisoner of War (POW). 13-Aug-44. MACR 7603.
None
Date | Contributor | Update |
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17 June 2018 18:16:51 | ajgoebel | Changes to motto |
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Added Motto June 17, 2018 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2017 00:54:20 | PEP.1956 | Changes to motto |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
31 March 2015 07:23:00 | Lindawright01 | Changes to mission associations |
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Linda Salvesen Wright |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
19 March 2015 11:42:42 | rossingtonj | Changes to nicknames, aircraft types, mission associations and stations |
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Nickname and aircraft types added. Dates for Bodney added. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 March 2015 15:13:14 | rossingtonj | Changes to type and mission associations |
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Type added. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:42:45 | AAM | AAM ingest |
Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980) |