365th Fighter Group
From 1 March 1944 Beaulieu airfield was made available for USAAF Ninth Air Force use. With the imminent arrival of more bomber groups in Essex the 365th Fighter Group was transferred from RAF Gosfield on th 5 and 6 March 1944.
The 365th was a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt group, with the following operational squadrons:
- 386th Fighter Squadron (D5)
- 387th Fighter Squadron (B4)
- 388th Fighter Squadron (C4)
The 365th was a group of Ninth Air Force's 84th Fighter Wing, IX Tactical Air Command.
The group was stood down three days after arrival so that it could undertake a two-week intensive course in ground attack and fighter-bombing. After training, the 365th flew dive-bombing missions to attack such targets as bridges, aerodromes, rail facilities, gun positions, and V-weapon sites prior to the invasion of the Continent.
On D-Day, its duties were attacking gun emplacements and communications facilities behind the bridgehead. Two P-47s were lost. On the following day, when 12 separate squadron-sized missions were flown, five aircraft failed to return.
On 9 June 1944 an unusual accident occurred. Two P-47s were being delivered to Beaulieu by ferry pilots, and they landed on different runways at the same time, colliding at the runway intersection. Unfortunately one of the pilots were killed.
The 365th was one of the most successful P-47 groups of the Ninth Air Force when it came to air combat, and a total of 29 enemy aircraft were credited as shot down during the four months the group operated from Beaulieu. On 25 June, the 365th had one of its best days when eight enemy fighter-bombers were destroyed. On 2 July, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Corey Junior, the Air Executive, became the Ninth Air Force's third Thunderbolt ace. As with other P-47 groups, losses were modest until June when ground attack became a regular task. All told, 24 P-47s were missing-in-action during their stay at Beaulieu.
The 365th Group began its move to Europe on 21 June 1944, the first squadron taking up residence at Azeville, France (A-71) on 26 June, the last moving out of Beaulieu on 28 June and the rear party on 2 July providing tactical air support in support of U.S. First Army.
Read more about this topic: RAF Beaulieu, History, USAAF Use
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