352nd Fighter Group
| 352nd Fighter Group | |
|---|---|
P-51 Mustang of the 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. 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.