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52nd Fighter Group

Group

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Two of the Squadrons of the 52nd Fighter Group flew Spitfires with RAF Fighter Command in August and early September 1942 from Northern Ireland. After these preparatory missions, the Group joined the Twelfth and then Fifteenth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater, supporting successive army operations in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. The Group also escorted bombers flying strategic and interdictory missions over occupied central Europe.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as 52nd Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated 52nd Fighter Group in May 1942. Trained with P-39 and P-40 aircraft, and participated in maneuvers. Moved to the British Isles, the air echelon arriving in Jul 1942 and the ground echelon in Aug. Received Spitfire aircraft and, as part of Eighth AF, flew missions from England to France during Aug and Sep. The pilots of the group flew Spitfires from Gibraltar to Algeria during the invasion of North Africa on 8 Nov 1942; the remainder of the group, moving by ship from England, arrived after the campaign for Algeria-French Morocco had ended.

Assigned first to Twelfth AF and later (after May 1944) to Fifteenth, the group served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war. Flew escort, patrol, strafing, and reconnaissance missions to help defeat Axis forces in Tunisia. Took part in the conquest of Sicily. Attacked railroads, highways, bridges, coastal shipping, and other targets to support Allied operations in Italy. Converted to P-51’s during Apr- May 1944 and afterwards engaged primarily in escorting bombers that attacked objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, and Yugoslavia. Received a DUC for a mission of 9 Jun 1944 when the group protected bombers that struck aircraft factories, communications centers, and supply lines in Germany. In addition to escorting bombers of Fifteenth AF, the group made strafing attacks on important targets in Italy, France, central Europe, and the Balkans. Received second DUC for a strafing raid in which the group destroyed a great number of fighter and transport planes on a landing ground in Rumania on 31 Aug 1944. Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

Structure

Part of
Encompassing
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 2

    19 August 1942
    Bombers from 97th Bombardment Group are despatched to bomb the German airfield Drucat at Abbeville, France. This mission is flown to occupy the Luftwaffe and to try to prevent them from opposing the invasion of Dieppe, France by over 5,000 allied...

  • VIII Fighter Command

    19 August 1942
    31st Fighter Group despatches 123 Spitfires in support of the landings at Dieppe, France. 8 are lost. These are the first operations of VIII Fighter Command units under VIII Fighter Command control. ...

  • VIII Fighter Command

    1 September 1942
    1FG/71FS despatches 32-P-38s in a fighter sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 12 Spitfires in a practice fighter sweep.

  • VIII Fighter Command

    2 September 1942
    31FG and 52FG despatch Spitfires in patrols and sweeps along the French coast; off St. Catherines Point, UK; and over the English Channel between Manston, UK and Calais, France

  • VIII Fighter Command

    2 September 1942
    31FG and 52FG despatch Spitfires in patrols and sweeps along the French coast; off St. Catherines Point, UK; and over the English Channel between Manston, UK and Calais, France

  • VIII Fighter Command

    2 September 1942
    31FG and 52FG despatch Spitfires in patrols and sweeps along the French coast; off St. Catherines Point, UK; and over the English Channel between Manston, UK and Calais, France

  • VIII Fighter Command

    10 September 1942
    52FG despatches 11 Spitfires in a fighter sweep over enemy occupied areas along the coast of France.

  • VIII Fighter Command

    2 October 1942
    1FG despatches 31 P-38s to escort bombers attacking the aircraft factory at Meaulte, France, sustaining one loss. 1FG also despatches 34 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 7 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 4FG...

  • VIII Fighter Command

    6 October 1942
    52FG despatches 18 Spitfires to patrol for enemy ships in the English Channel. This is the last mission for 52FG with the 8th AF before their transferred to North Africa.

Stations

Station Location Date
Assigned 8th Air Force July 1942
Based Eglinton 13 July 1942 – 13 September 1942
Based Goxhill 26 August 1942 – 21 October 1942
Assigned 12th Air Force November 1942
Based Tafaraoui 9 November 1942 – 14 November 1942
Based La Senia 14 November 1942 – 20 January 1943
Based Telerghma 20 January 1943 – 9 March 1943
Based Youks-les-Bains 9 March 1943 – 18 April 1943
Based La Sebala 21 May 1943 – 30 July 1943
Based Madna 14 May 1944 – 21 April 1945
Assigned 15th Air Force July 1944

Connections

People

  • John Aitken

    Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 339th Fighter Group
    First tour of operations in the Mediterranean flying Spitfires in the 2FS, 52FG, 15AF USAAF as a Lieutenant. Credited with two victories and one shared in 1943. For second tour, assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with three aerial victories....

  • Richard Alexander

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 4th Fighter Group
    He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940, and was awarded his pilot wings on September 15, 1941, joining the 133 Eagle Squadron in England. Alexander was credited with destroying 1 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, before...

  • Dale Anderson

    Military | 52nd Fighter Group

  • Ernest Anderson

    Military | 52nd Fighter Group

  • Harold Beedle

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 52nd Fighter Group
    Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF. ...

  • Norman Bolle

    Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 52nd Fighter Group
    Was sent to the 8th AAF for 2 months, then transferred to Algeria to the 12th AAF and then to the 15th AAF. Shot down March 22, 1943 while attacking German airdrome at Mezzouna Tunisia. Became prisoner of war held at Stalag Luft III in Sagan Germany.

  • Haden Bourg

    Military | Pilot | 52nd Fighter Group
    Born on June 15, 1923 in Port Arthur, TX. After graduating high school he joined the United States Army Air Corps and served with the 2nd Squadron in the 52nd group. Surviving a POW camp later returned to live a long life with a large family until...

  • Clyde Cleveland

    Military | Second Lieutenant | 52nd Fighter Group

  • Priesley Cooper

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 52nd Fighter Group
    Assigned to 5FS, 52FG, 15AF USAAF. 22-Feb-45: Having escorted bombers to the Ulm area, killed while strafing ground targets near Dietingen, Germany. German eye witnesses reported the aircraft being hit by flak. Baling out at about 400 feet the...

  • Ottaway Cornwell

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 52nd Fighter Group
    Pilot 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12AF USAAF, lost over France 27-1-44 Lt Ottaway B Cornwell KIA. MACR 2225. ...

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Aircraft

  • AR404

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire AR404 Mk Vb, Built at Westland. ...

  • P7965

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire P7965 Mk IIa, Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • P7686 'Tyrone'

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire P7686 Mk IIa, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • W3942

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire W3942 Mk Vb, Const # 2078 Built at High Post. ...

  • AB896

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire AB896 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • AB907

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire AB907 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • AB897

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire AB897 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • 44-13287 Miss Ruth, Pendaja

    P-51 Mustang

  • BM479

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire BM479 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

  • EN894

    Spitfire
    Supermarine Spitfire EN894 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...

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Citations

9 June 1944 For an escort mission where the group protected bombers that struck aircraft factories, communications centers, and supply lines in Germany.

31 August 1944 for a strafing raid in which the group destroyed a great number of fighter and transport planes on a landing ground in Rumania.

Air Force
8th
12th
15th
Type
Combat
Type category
Fighter
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Seek. Attack. Destroy
Insignia
Shield: Quarterly per fess nebuly, first and fourth argent, each charged with a dagger in pale point downward gules, hilt and pommel of the same, grip or; second quarter azure; third quarter, sable.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
08 January 2021 03:44:21 466thHistorian Changes to stations
Sources

https://www.52fg.org/
Date Contributor Update
08 January 2021 03:41:42 466thHistorian Changes to motto and stations
Sources

https://www.52fg.org/
Date Contributor Update
08 January 2021 03:40:46 466thHistorian Changes to stations
Sources

https://www.52fg.org/
Date Contributor Update
08 January 2021 03:39:54 466thHistorian Changes to stations
Sources

https://www.52fg.org/
Date Contributor Update
22 August 2019 10:04:07 Emily Changes to motto, insignia, us air force combat units of world war ii description, citations and air forces
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of WWII
Date Contributor Update
24 November 2016 00:25:29 466thHistorian Changes to stations
Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foggia_Airfield_Complex
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 06:43:08 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 06:41:27 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
10 April 2015 06:40:24 EMBLEMHUNTER Changes to mission associations and media associations
Sources

my photo
Date Contributor Update
19 March 2015 11:04:02 rossingtonj Changes to type, air forces and mission associations
Sources

Airforce added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:46 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / 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).

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