US Army Air Force

From Spitfire to Mustang

52nd FG

Another shot of the 52th Fighter Group’s 2nd Fighter Squadron P-51D code QP-Q “Marie” on an Italian airport, 1944. The 52th FG (Fighter Squadrons 2nd, 4th, 5th) was one of the two U.S. Army Air Force fighter groups, the other is the 31st FG (Fighter (Squadrons 307th, 308th, 309th), which began operations throughout the Mediterranean theatre flying the Supermarine Spitfire. Both, after their transfer to 15th Air Force for long-range bomber escort, was destined to transition to North American P-51 Mustang. In the case of the 52th, this latter received their first Mustang, as Spitifire’s replacement, on 14 April 1944. The Squadrons 2nd and 5th begin their conversion on 17 April, while the other, 4th Squadron, continued flying Spitfires for a few more days. On 20 April, they too were pulled off combat status, the same day was flown the first operational combat mission of 52nd FG’s Mustang. In Italy the 52nd FG’s bases was Madna Airfield, Foggia Airfield Complex, Southern Italy, from May 14 1944, Piagiolino Airfield, Marche, Central Italy, from April 21 1945, and, finally, Lesina, Southern Italy from July until August 1945. Victor Sierra