366th Fighter Group

Group
A P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Magic Carpet" of the 366th Fighter Group, in the snow. media-395955.jpg FRE 7229 A P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Magic Carpet" of the 366th Fighter Group, in the snow. Lt Colonel Harold Holt’s “Magic Carpet” of the 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. On January 1, 1945, green pilot Bob Brulle flew his bosses ride off the primitive runway Y-29 near Asche, Belgium, when the Luftwaffe descended. Operation Bodenplatte, a daring (and foolhardy) plan to disrupt Allied air superiority during the Battle of the Bulge, was underway. Brulle bagged a FW190. Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 7229 - A P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed "Magic Carpet" of the 366th Fighter Group, in the snow. Lt Colonel Harold Holt’s “Magic Carpet” of the 390th...

The Group moved in England over the New Year of 1944, setting up home first at Membury and then at Thruxton. The pilots' first mission was a fighter sweep of the French coast in March 1944 and from then until D-Day that June the ground supported Allied preparations for the invasion of France, taking out German military sites and equipment in northern France. The Group were awarded a DUC for quite a singular action: when supporting infantry in the St. Lo area on 11 July 1944, the pilots discovered a column of enemy tanks as yet unknown to the infantry. Despite coming under intense fire, the Group, as well as striking nearby pillboxes, the intended target of the mission, attacked this column. This put many of the German tanks out of action before they engaged the infantry. The Group carried out armed reconnaissance missions during the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945) and escorted bombers during the assult across the Rhine river. The Group's last mission saw them attacking harbors at Kiel and Flensburg on 3 May 1945. The Group remained in Germany after the war and, as part of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), were part of the occupation force.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Membury 10 January 1944 - 1 March 1944

Based

Thruxton 1 March 1944 - 12 June 1944

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Saint-Pierre-du-Mont 13 June 1944 - 24 August 1944

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Dreux 24 August 1944 - 8 September 1944

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Laon /Couvron 8 September 1944 - 19 November 1944

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Asch 19 November 1944 - 11 April 1945

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Handorf 11 April 1945 - 25 June 1945

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-813104
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Man wearing uniform, a leather helmet, headphones and googles on the top of his head, looks of to the right.  An oxygen mask hangs loose by the right shoulder
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 391st Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 390th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-812348
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 391st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-763454
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 362nd Fighter Group 366th Fighter Group 377th Fighter Squadron 390th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: A0745258
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group
Lieutenant Samuel O. Stamps of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, with two ground crew, on P-47 Thunderbolt named "Tinkle".
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Tinkle
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 366th Fighter Group

Mission

Revisions

Date
ContributorPaul Jacob
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

Station added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;
- http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Date
ContributorPaul Jacob
Changes
Sources

The patch worn by members of the 366th Fighter Group during WWII is displayed on the 366th Fighter Association web site http://www.366fighterassociation.net/366th-command-patches.html The Association, initially named "366th Fighter Group Association" was formed by a group of WWII veterans of the 366th. The Association was renamed 366th Fighter Association, in 2012, to reflect the fact that membership now includes veterans from the initial Army Air Corps 366th Fighter Group and descendant organizations up to and including the current 366th Fighter Wing based at Mt Home AFB..

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

found online

Date
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Changes
Sources

Found online

Date
ContributorGilad_Bashan
Changes
Sources

Gilad Bashan

Date
ContributorGilad_Bashan
Changes
Sources

Gilad Bashan

Date
ContributorGilad_Bashan
Changes
Sources

Gilad Bashan

Date
ContributorGilad_Bashan
Changes
Sources

Gilad Bashan

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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)

366th Fighter Group: Gallery (46 items)