Dewey Decimal940.54/4973
SynopsisJay Stout breaks new ground in World War II aviation history with this gripping account of one of the war's most highly decorated American fighter groupsVivid descriptions of aerial combat in P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs, along with veteran interviews and after-action reportsThe 352nd was part of the famed Eighth Air Force and fought in the European theaterNickname comes from the noses of the unit's planes, which were painted blue, *Jay Stout breaks new ground in World War II aviation history with this gripping account of one of the war's most highly decorated American fighter groups *Vivid descriptions of aerial combat in P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs, along with veteran interviews and after-action reports *The 352nd was part of the famed Eighth Air Force and fought in the European theater *Nickname comes from the noses of the unit's planes, which were painted blue AUTHOR: Jay Stout is a retired U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot with 20 years of service, including 37 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. He is now a senior aviation consultant for a leading defense corporation and appears as a military aviation expert on Fox News. ILLUSTRATIONS: 50 b/w photographs, The 352nd Fighter Group was constituted in September 1942 and activated at Brandley Field, CT on October 1, 1942. Two of its squadrons, the 21st (later changed to the 486th) and the 34th (later changed to the 487th) had long combat histories, but like the newly formed 328th, were short on experienced personnel. Early flight training in the P-47 Thunderbolts was at Westover, Trumbell, LaGuardia and Mitchel fields. Most of the enlisted personnel, Det. "A" of the 1st Service Group arrived in January, 1943. The Group embarked from New York harbor July 1, 1943, arriving in Scotland July 5th and, a few days later, reached their new base at Bodney, England. Training for combat became intense during those next few months. The Group flew its first combat mission on September 9, 1943, an uneventful sweep out over the North Sea to escort returning B-17s. Some 40 pilots participated in this mission. Although the 352nd had several minor encounters with the enemy in their early missions, it wasn't until November 26th that Major J. C. Meyer, C.O. of the 487th Squadron scored their first victory- an Me-109 attacking the bombers near Gronigen - the first of many victories for the 352nd.During WWII the 352nd flew 420 missions, 59,387 operational combat hours, destroyed 776 enemy aircraft and had 29 aerial aces. Returning to the U.S. at war's end, the unit was deactivated., The 352nd Fighter Group was constituted in September 1942 and activated at Brandley Field, CT on October 1, 1942. Two of its squadrons, the 21st (later changed to the 486th) and the 34th (later changed to the 487th) had long combat histories, but like the newly formed 328th, were short on experienced personnel.