page_title: 113th Operations Group
section_title: Combat operations
hierarchical_section_title: 113th Operations Group / History / World War II / Combat operations
caption_attribution_description: English: ©John "Wily" Mollison - P-51B flown by Lt. Roberty "Punchy" Powell
context_page_description: The 113th Operations Group is a flying group of the United States Air Force. It provides air sovereignty forces to defend District of Columbia and also provides fighter, airlift and support forces capable of local, national and global employment.
  The group's primary mission is training of air combat and operational airlift crews for national defense. The group also provides a ready response force of fighters for the defense of the District of Columbia area. Members of the group also assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking in the District of Columbia on a case by case basis.
  Its predecessor, the 352nd Fighter Group, was one of the most highly decorated United States Army Air Forces Fighter Groups in World War II, producing many leading aces of the war. The 352d was composed of three squadrons. Once deployed to the European Theater of Operations, the group was eventually headquartered in RAF Bodney, England before being forward deployed to Belgium. It performed a variety of missions for the Eighth Air Force, but predominantly served as bomber escort.
context_section_description: The first missions of the 352d were flown on 9 September 1943 when the Thunderbolts flew an escort mission over the North Sea protecting Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers returning from a raid over continental Europe. Skirmishes with the Luftwaffe were frequent, but it wasn't until 26 November when Major John C. Meyer of the 487th Squadron scored the group's first victory over Europe, a Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter. Meyer later became deputy commander of the 352d during its most successful period of operations.
  On 8 April 1944, the 352d exchanged its radial-engined P-47s for sleek North American P-51 Mustang fighter planes. It was then that the Group adopted their unique blue nose marking and the nickname the "Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney."
  Notable pilots of the 352d include top scoring P-51 aces Major George Preddy and Col. John C. Meyer, Capt. John Thornell, Capt. William T. Whisner, Captain Donald S. Bryan, Capt. Raymond Littge Lt. Robert "Punchy" Powell, Capt. John "Smokey" Stover and Capt. William C. Miller.
caption: P-51B of 352d FG/328th FS pilot, Lt. Robert "Punchy" Powell
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