Asch
AirfieldConnections
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Detailed History
Its facilities consisted of a tent city, an access road to the existing road infrastructure, a dump containing fuel, food, water and ammunition, and en minimal electrical grid for communications and station lighting.
Asch was home to the USAAF 352FG (P-51 Mustangs) and 366FG (P-47 Thunderbolts) between 19 November 1944 and 11 April 1945.
Between 8 February and 15 April 1945 it also based 406FG (P-47 Thunderbolts).
These units were all tasked with disrupting German operations ahead of the beachhead, strafing anything german they encountered.
On the start of Operation Bodenplatte (the German counterattack through the Ardennes) on 1 January 1945 Asch was the site of a major aerial battle, which later became known as "The Legend of Asch".
When the fighter units moved out Asch became home to 391BG (B-26 Marauders) until 27 May 1947.
With the end of the war in Europe the airfield was closed and abandoned on 20 June 1945.
Today, nothing but a small memorial reminds of the airfield, which is partly in a wooded area at Zutendaal Air Base, and partly at the other end of Highway E314.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 30907054 / O-817101
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 366th Fighter Group 389th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-024419
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 366th Fighter Group 390th Fighter Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 573rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-704994
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14065183 / O-798190 / 16324A / FR16324
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Little Rebel
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Moonbeam McSwine
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: The Sheepherder
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Sweet and Lovely
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Socky
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron