48th Fighter Group
GroupShield: Argent, on a pale engrailed azure a dexter hand couped at the wrist grasping a sword or. Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
The Group moved to England in March 1944 and were stationed at Ibsley where the pilots trained in P-47s in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy. The wartime motto was in Latin 'vulneratus non victus' (Unconquered even though wounded).
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Group bombed bridges and German gun positions and over the next couple of months supported the Allies advance across France. They also supported the airborne attack on Holland in September.
Their work over the winter of 1944-1945 would see them awarded two Belgian citations for their close support of Allied ground troops as well as a Distinguished Unit Citation.
The group's missions were varied. As well as flying patrol and escort missions, the group also flew weather reconnaissance and leaflet-dropping missions. On one occasion their payload consisted of blood plasma which was dropped in belly tanks to troops on the ground for medical transfusions.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Based |
Ibsley | 29 March 1944 - 18 June 1944 |
Based |
Villacoublay | 29 April 1944 - 15 September 1944 |
Based |
Deaux Jumeaux | 18 June 1944 - 29 April 1944 |
Based |
Cambrai/Niergnies | 15 September 1944 - 30 September 1944 |
Based |
St Trond | 30 September 1944 - 29 March 1945 |
Based |
Kelz | 26 March 1945 - 15 July 1945 |
Based |
Kassel/Rothwesten | 17 April 1945 - 29 April 1945 |
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Platoon
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Air base
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group 492nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31295484
- Highest Rank: First Sergeant (1st Grade)
- Role/Job: P-47 Thunderbolt - Armourer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group 494th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-706338
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 356th Fighter Group 405th Fighter Group 48th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron 494th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-830434
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group 492nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13170364 / T-063047
- Highest Rank: Flying Officer
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 366th Fighter Group 48th Fighter Group 391st Fighter Squadron 494th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 48th Fighter Group
Revisions
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)