Riverside in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group

"The American Beagle Squadron"

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

1. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Monument

Inscription.

2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group. "The American Beagle Squadron".

This sculpture is a memorial to the men who served with the squadron in combat during World War 2

[Dedicated] 18 October 1986

Combat in the Spitfire. From September 1942 through April 1944 the squadron flew combat missions in Spitfires supplied by Great Britain under the Reverse Lend-Lease Agreement. During the North African Campaign the squadron carried out harbor and airfield patrols, fighter sweeps and escort missions for cargo planes, medium bombers, attack planes and fighter bombers. In these operations 9 pilots were killed, 3 became prisoners of war, and 44 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air. The squadron, in the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, carried out harbor and convoy patrols, scrambles after enemy reconnaissance aircraft, fighter sweeps, dive-bombing missions, reconnaissance missions and escort missions for medium bombers. 3 pilots were killed, 5 became prisoners of war and 22 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air, and dive-bombing and strafing, destroyed or damaged considerable enemy material.

Combat in the P-51 Mustang. In April 1944 the squadron was equipped with the P-51, Mustang, long-range fighter. From 10 May 1944 until early May 1945 the squadron, based near Termoli, Italy, carried out escort missions for heavy bombers over Europe and an escort mission for P-38 fighter bombers to the Ploesti oil fields which involved landing at a base near Kiev, Russia, refueling, rearming, and in a day or two flying back to Ploesti and then to its base in Italy. In addition its pilots flew many strafing missions against German airfields, trains, trucks and tanks. On these missions 18 pilots were killed, 13 became prisoners of war, and 117 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air. Strafing missions destroyed or damaged many enemy aircraft and inflicted substantial damage to enemy equipment and installations, but these hazardous missions took the lives of 12 of the 18 pilots who were killed and accounted for 9 of the 13 pilots who became prisoners of war.

This sculpture is a memorial to the men who served
with the squadron in combat during World War 2

[Dedicated] 18 October 1986

Combat in the Spitfire

From September 1942 through April 1944 the squadron flew combat missions in Spitfires supplied by Great Britain under the Reverse Lend-Lease Agreement. During the North African Campaign the squadron carried out harbor and airfield patrols, fighter sweeps and escort missions for cargo planes, medium bombers, attack planes and fighter bombers. In these operations 9 pilots were killed, 3 became prisoners of war, and 44 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air. The squadron, in the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns, carried out harbor and convoy patrols, scrambles after enemy reconnaissance aircraft, fighter sweeps, dive-bombing missions, reconnaissance missions and escort missions for medium bombers. 3 pilots were killed, 5 became prisoners of war and 22 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air, and dive-bombing and strafing, destroyed or damaged considerable enemy material.

Combat in the P-51 Mustang
In April 1944 the squadron was equipped with the P-51, Mustang, long-range fighter. From 10 May 1944 until early May 1945 the squadron, based near Termoli, Italy, carried out escort missions for heavy bombers over Europe

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and an escort mission for P-38 fighter bombers to the Ploesti oil fields which involved landing at a base near Kiev, Russia, refueling, rearming, and in a day or two flying back to Ploesti and then to its base in Italy. In addition its pilots flew many strafing missions against German airfields, trains, trucks and tanks. On these missions 18 pilots were killed, 13 became prisoners of war, and 117 enemy aircraft were destroyed in the air. Strafing missions destroyed or damaged many enemy aircraft and inflicted substantial damage to enemy equipment and installations, but these hazardous missions took the lives of 12 of the 18 pilots who were killed and accounted for 9 of the 13 pilots who became prisoners of war.

Erected 1986 by the American Beagle Squadron Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1944.

Location. 39° 46.774′ N, 84° 6.739′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker (Memorial 111) is in the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, with museum access off Springfield Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton OH 45431, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 86th Fighter Bomber Group (here, next to this marker); 5th Bomb Group (H)

2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

2. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Marker

(here, next to this marker); 64th Troop Carrier Group (here, next to this marker); 459th Fighter Squadron (a few steps from this marker); Flying Cadet Class 40-G (a few steps from this marker); Headquarters Squadron, Air Service Command (a few steps from this marker); 390th Bombardment Group (H) (a few steps from this marker); 68th Fighter Squadron (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Regarding 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group. A book, The American Beagle Squadron: A History Of The Second Fighter Squadron In World War II (ISBN:9781425924317), tells their story.

Also see . . . 2nd Fighter Squadron. American Air Museum in Britain website entry (Submitted on August 1, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

3. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire Marker

2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group P-51 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

4. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group P-51 Marker

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

5. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Monument

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

6. 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group Monument

2nd Fighter Squadron Emblem image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 5, 2010

7. 2nd Fighter Squadron Emblem

NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign image. Click for more information.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.

8. NMUSAF Memorial Park Sign

Memorial Park map and marker listing
Click for more information.

P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13298 "Marie" (QP-Q) of 52nd Fighter Group - 2nd Fighter Squadron - 15th AF image. Click for full size.

via American Air Museum in Britain, 1944

9. P-51D-5-NA s/n 44-13298 "Marie" (QP-Q) of 52nd Fighter Group - 2nd Fighter Squadron - 15th AF

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 501 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 16, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 8. submitted on December 28, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 9. submitted on August 1, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.