352nd Fighter Group | |
---|---|
Active | 29 September 1942 |
Disbanded | 10 November 1945 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
Garrison/HQ | RAF Bodney |
Nickname(s) | Blue-nosed Bastards of Bodney |
Motto(s) | Custodes Pro Defensione Guardians for Defense |
Engagements | Air Offensive, Europe Normandy Northern France Rhineland Battle of the Bulge Invasion of Germany |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | P-47 Thunderbolt P-51 Mustang |
The 352nd Fighter Group was a unit of the Eighth Air Force that was located in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.[1] [2][3] The unit served as bomber escort, counter-air patrols, and attacking ground targets. It initially flew P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft before converting to P-51 Mustang in April 1944. The group was located at RAF Bodney in England for the majority of its service and were nicknamed the Blue-nosed Bastards of Bodney due to the distinctive blue of the nose and upper cowl of the P-51 Mustangs of the group.