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Published on Thursday, 22 December 2011 18:56

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Equipped with p-38's Trained for combat and served
as an air defense organization.

Moved to England Apr-May 1944 and assigned to the Eighth AF.
From May1944 to Apr 1945, escorted heavy bombers during operations
against targets on the Continent,
strafed targets of opportunity and flew fighter-bomber,

Counter-air, and area-patrol missions. Engaged primarily in escort
activities and fightersweeps until the normandy invasion in June 1944.
Patrolled the beachheadduring the invasion.

Strafed and dive-bombed troops,
bridges locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields,
gun emplacements, flack towers, ammunition dumps, power
stations and rader siteswhile on escort for fighterbomber missions
as the allies drove across France during the summer and fall of
1944.

Flew area patrols to support the breakthrough at St Lo in July and
the airborne attack on Holland in Sep, received a DUC for the
destruction of numerous aircraft on airfields in France on 18 Aug and
5 Sep and during an aerial battle near Munster on 26 Sep.

Continued escort and fighter-bomber activities from Oct to mid-Dec
converting to P-51"sduring this period. Participated in the battle of
the bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) by escorting
bombers to and from targets in the battle area and by
starfing transportation targets while on escort
duty.