Comes with hand-signed C.O.A.

This incredible and museum-grade WWII letter is dated March, 1st, 1945 and was written by S/Sgt. Loren Mcgregor (35478100) of the 48th Fighter Group, 494th Fighter Squadron, 9th Air Force. During his service in the Army Air Corps S/Sgt. Mcgregor participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Allied forces break through at St Lo, the airborne attack on Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and the attack on Germany.

On D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, the 494th Fighter Squadron attacked rail lines and trains, motor transports, bridges, fuel dumps, and gun positions the rest of the Normandy campaign. The 494th Fighter Squadron moved to Strip 4 near Longueville, Normandy in Jun 1944. It was here they helped Allied forces break through the German lines at St Lo in July 1944, and supported the Allied drive across France in August and September, and assisted the airborne attack on Holland in September. Cited by Belgian government for close cooperation with Allied armies during the period Jun-Sept 1944. The 494th Fighter Squadron moved to Airstrip A-12, Paris early Sept 1944 and to Airstrip A-74, Cambrai, France later that same month. Moved to Airstrip A-92, Sint-Truiden (St Trond), Belgium early Oct 1944. Cited again by the Belgian government for operations conducted during the Fall and Winter of 1944-1945. Received the Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 6 Dec 1944: facing intense enemy fire while flying below heavy overcast, the group struck buildings , entrenchments, and troop concentrations to assist the advance of ground forces against an enemy stronghold north of Julich, Germany. Supported ground operations during the Battle of the Bulge(Dec1944-Jan 1945)and received third Belgian citation for relentless assaults against the enemy during that battle. Continued tactical air operations from bases on the Continent, supporting ground forces until the end of the war. Moved to Airstrip Y-54 Kelz, Germany late Mar 1945, to Airstrip R-12, Kassel, Germany late Apr 1945 and to Airstrip R-10, Illesheim, Germany the same month. During combat also flew patrol, escort, weather reconnaissance, and leaflet missions: on one occasion carried blood plasma that was dropped in belly tanks to ground troops. Moved to US during August-Sept 1945.

History of the 48th Fighter Group:

The 48th Fighter Group moved to England in March 1944 and were stationed at Ibsley where the pilots trained in P-47s in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy. The wartime motto was in Latin 'vulneratus non victus' (Unconquered even though wounded). On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Group bombed bridges and German gun positions and over the next couple of months supported the Allies advance across France. They also supported the airborne attack on Holland in September.Their work over the winter of 1944-1945 would see them awarded two Belgian citations for their close support of Allied ground troops as well as a Distinguished Unit Citation. The group's missions were varied. As well as flying patrol and escort missions, the group also flew weather reconnaissance and leaflet-dropping missions. On one occasion their payload consisted of blood plasma which was dropped in belly tanks to troops on the ground for medical transfusions.

Campaigns Decorations

Antisubmarine Distinguished Unit Citation Germany 6 Dec 1944

American Theater Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army 6 Jun- 30 Sept 1944

Air Offensive 1 Oct 1944- 14 Dec 1944

Europe 18 Dec 1944- 15 Jan 1945

Northern France Belgian Fourragere

Rhineland

Ardennes-Alsace

Central Europe

Stations

Savannah, GA 15 Jan 1941
Will Rogers Field,OK 22 May 1941
Savannah, GA 7 Feb 1942
Key Field, MS 28 Jun 1942
William Norther Field, TN 20 Aug 1943
Walterboro AAF, SC 27 Jan-13 Mar 1944
Ibsley, England 29 Mar 1944
Deux Jumeau (Loungeville), France 18 Jun 1944
Villacoublay, France 29 Aug 1944
Cambrai/Niergnies, France 15 Sept 1944
Sint-Truiden(St Trond), Belgium 30 Sept 1944
Kelz, Germany 26 Mar 1945
Kassel, Germany 17 Apr 1945
Illesheim, Germany 29 Apr 1945
Laon, France 5 Jul- Aug 1945
Seymour-Johnson AAF, NC 9 Sept 1945-7 Nov 1945

Detailed WWII Combat History of the 48th Fighter Group:

Moved overseas, arriving in England in Mar 1944. Assigned to Ninth AF. Trained with P-47's. Began operations on 20 Apr 1944 by making a fighter sweep over the coast of France. Redesignated 48th Fighter Group in May 1944. Flew escort and dive-bombing missions to help prepare for the invasion of Normandy. Bombed bridges and gun positions on 6 Jun and attacked rail lines and trains, motor transports, bridges, fuel dumps, and gun positions during the remainder of the Normandy campaign. Moved to France, Jun-Jul 1944. Helped Allied forces break through the German lines at St Lo in Jul, supported the Allied drive across France in Aug and Sep, and assisted the airborne attack on Holland in Sep. Cited by the Belgian Government for close cooperation with Allied armies during the period Jun-Sep 1944. Moved to Belgium and operated from there in the fall and winter of 1944-1945, being awarded second Belgian citation for operations during that time. Received a DUC for action on 6 Dec 1944: facing intense enemy fire while flying below a heavy overcast, the group struck buildings, entrenchments, and troop concentrations to assist the advance of ground forces against an enemy stronghold north of Julich. Supported ground operations during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) and received third Belgian citation for relentless assaults against the enemy during that battle. Continued tactical air operations from bases on the Continent, supporting ground forces until the end of the war. During combat, also flew patrol, escort, weather reconnaissance, and leaflet missions; on one occasion carried blood plasma that was dropped in belly tanks to ground troops. Moved to the US during Aug-Sep 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.