352nd Fighter Group

S3: Operation Overlord AAR

Operation Overlord was the best showing by the 352nd FG so far. Not only did we set new records for attendance, but it was the first time the we have flown P-51D's as a full Fighter Group. This was our chance to chase the LuftWaffe over Germany in our Mustangs.

Frame One saw the 352nd assisting the 31st FG to escort the 450th BG to Schweinfurt. The Penetration leg of the mission was uneventful. However immediately after the drop we were hit by Me 109s and Fw 190s. This began a running battle out of Germany. In the end four of us were shot down. However only one bomber was lost during the mission.

Frame Two was another trip to Germany escorting the 450th BG. We were engaged once during the Penetration leg. Dune and Wicked shot down Me 109's, however Dune was also lost. Once again we were heavily engaged, but this time it was throughout the mission. But Rhino, Jamdru and Joemac were able to stay with the heavies and were still escorting them when they reached the English Channel. Once again we kept the LuftWaffe away from our charges and the 450th only lost 2 bombers.

Frame Three we were tasked with escorting the 457th BG on a northern route. YT lead a formation o f 8 P-51D's who stayed in close contact with the bombers while Rebel lead 8 P-47D's out ahead. Joining us on this mission was Col Daff of the 56th FG. As we turned south towards the target, we received reports of numerous LuftWaffe taking off from a nearby base. YT ordered Rebel's Thunderbolts to attack. Rebel's Jugs caught the LuftWaffe as they were taking off and tore into them. Pnus shot down two and Daff accounted for one. Thanks to this preemptive strike, the heavies were never challenged during the mission. We returned to base without losing a single bomber.

For Frame Four we were sent on a free hunt over Germany. We were to react to any reports of enemy activity. As we approached the Ruhr Valley the 305th BG and 4th FG came under attack from numerous German planes. However they were gone by the time we got there. So we reacted to new calls of enemy activity. This began a series of running battles back across Germany and France. First YT, Wicked and Dune engaged several Germans down low as other flew in on the attack. As we rejoined the Group we were attacked and many of us became separated. YT and Wicked were lost during this encounter, but not before YT shot down two Germans. In the end the rest of us turned north to avoid the flak around Cologne and headed home. With our fuel state becoming critical we were jumped from above by Fw190A4's of the NightStalkers squadron just east of Lille (F11). The remaining Bastards began a swirling dogfight at 20,000 feet. As dune dove back towards the fight he saw a 190 diving away from the furball and beginning an Immelman. He had just enough speed to follow him up, he closed to within 400 yards and blew him up. Dune then turned back into the furball and watched as the Bastards kept clearing each other's 6 and calling out cons. Dune found another 190 that had entered a spin, dove on him and blew him up also. When it was all over, Jamdru had killed 2, Absnth 1, DGoose 2 and Dune had gotten 2. The sky was clear of LW and only the fuel-critical 352nd FG remained. Dune called rtb and we began our final run home. I radioed Rifle and told him we were going to head for Dover (F9). We were aware that a huge fight was in process over Caen (F10), but we had no fuel to join in. As we headed home Airbos, who had come on late, came up in his P-47D and covered us.

For Frame Five the 352nd was tasked with clearing the way for the 450th BG and the 31st FG. Dune lead a flight of 10 Mustangs and Rebel led the 486th FS in several P-47D's. As we approached Germany Dune ordered DGoose to take his 328th FS to the 9 o'clock position as Bonger took his 487th FS to the 3 o'clock. At that point Wicked spied a Me 110 and dove on it, shooting it down. We then found a large flight of Fw 190's from JG 14 heading west towards the bombers. We dove on them. During the dogfight that followed Dune shot down one, as did Jamdru. Unfortunately DGoose, Rhino and Airbos were lost. Because the FG was now spread out Dune ordered them to find a wingman and continue on to the target, Hamburg. We joined with the 450th and 31st after the Cottontails made their drop and helped escort them out over the North Sea. When they were safe we turned back towards France looking for more targets. We found a Me 410 that was searching for the bombers and we all dove after it. Wicked was finally awarded with its kill. At this point Dune was low on ammo and Rebel and BBGun's P-47D's were low on fuel. Dune and H-Kriz escorted the two Jugs back towards base and Bonger led the 487th (Wicked, Jamdru, and Alsail [in his P-47D]} had all joined Absnth over Calais which became a huge dogfight as several LW tried to get in a last shot. During this furball Wicked claimed his third kill of the day and Alsail downed another member of JG 14 in his P-47D. Unfortunately, a member of JG 14 decided to get his revenge by ramming H-Kriz and he was lost. As the sun began to sink low, the ramming members of the 352nd in the air quickly raced home.

The Operation Overlord was our finest moment as a Fighter Group.

Final Totals

Claims

S3 Summary

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