Normandy American Cemetery Welcome Screen
366th Fighter Group
Activated on June 1, 1943, the P-47 Thunderbolt-equipped 389th, 390th, and 391stFighter Squadrons of the 366thFighter Group moved to England in December. Assigned to the Ninth Air Force, the group entered combat on March 14, 1944 with a fighter sweep along the French coast, and then participated in operations preparing for the invasion of Normandy. The 366thflew fighter sweeps over Normandy on D-Day, attacking such targets as motor convoys and gun emplacements. The group moved to France shortly thereafter, and dive-bombed enemy communications and fortifications until May 1945. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation on July 11, 1944.
Aerial view of St. Pierre du Mont airfield which served as home for the 366th FG from June 13 to September 5, 1944.
When attacking pillboxes near St. Lo, the 366thdiscovered an enemy tank column unknown to the ground forces. Despite driving rain and intense antiaircraft fire, the group mauled the enemy armored force while destroying its original targets as well. The 366thsupported Allied armored columns during the breakthrough at St. Lo in July, and attacked flak positions near Eindhoven in support of airborne landings in Holland in September. It flew armed reconnaissance during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 through January 1945, and escorted bombers during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.
P-47 pilots of the 366th FG look over the result of their accurate and deadly fire on an enemy tank in France. July 19, 1944.
A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt of the 366th Fighter Group is shown landing at the first American air field in Normandy. c. 1944
The 366thattacked railroads, highways, bridges, motor transports, gun emplacements, supply depots, and troops, and escorted bombers attacking airfields, factories, and marshalling yards and dropping leaflets. The group flew its last combat mission against Kiel and Flensburg on May 3. The group remained in Germany after the war and after being assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe, and became part of the occupation force. The 366thFighter Group inactivated in Germany on August 20, 1946.
A camouflaged P-47D Thunderbolt assigned to the 366th Fighter Group at St. Pierre du Mont airfield (A-1) on July 31, 1944.
Men gather around Republic P-47S that have landed on the Newly Constructed Airfield At St. Pierre Du Mont, Normandy, France.
Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe
William J. McGowan