page_title: 352nd Fighter Group
section_title: Invasion of Normandy
hierarchical_section_title: 352nd Fighter Group / European theatre of World War II / Invasion of Normandy
caption_attribution_description: English: B-24 Liberators of the 458th Bomb Group are escorted by P-51 Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Group.
context_page_description: 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.
context_section_description: The 352nd Fighter Group participated in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 with missions to strafing the beaches and other positions and dive-bomb enemy communications. In July 1944, the group supported the allied breakthrough in the Battle of Saint-Lô and in September 1944 supported Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands.
  Col. James D. Mayden became commanding officer on 17 Nov 1944 and would serve as CO through VE day.
caption: P-51 Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Group escorting B-24 Liberator bombers of the 458th Bombardment Group over the North Sea
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