The Legend of Y-29

Desperately trying to defend German, German forces launched a counter-offensive at to try and halt the allied invasion after the invasion of France and the capture of Paris. In hopes of breaking through, the Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte to try to take out allied air support of the invasion. About 800 German fighters launched an attack on 15 different allied air bases in and around Belgium. One of these airfields in Asch Belgium, named Y-29, was attacked on New Years Day of 1945.

Y-29 was home to 2 different fighter groups: the 352nd and the 366th. During the invasion on France, P-51 mustangs of the 352nd would protect the P-50 Thunderbolts of the 366th while the Thunderbolts attacked German ground troops. Just 6 days before, Maj. George Preddy, the most successful P-51 pilot during WWII, was shot and killed while strafing an airfield. The 352nd were demoralized at the time and on New Years Day, they would not be ready. This lead to the 487th fighter squadron taking the place of the 352nd on their escort mission wit the 366th on New Years Day.

George Preddy returning from his 6th "ace" mission
(An ace is when a pilot scores 5 or more kills during a mission)

At 7 A.M., January 1st, the 487th and 366th were preparing to take off for their mission. Little did they know that the Jagdgeschwader 11, a German fighter squadron, was approaching their base. As the saw the specs of German aircraft on the horizon, the American aircraft quickly took off. The battle over Y-29 lasted about 30 minutes. Amazingly, pilots of the 487th claimed 23 combined kills while sustaining no losses, and 17 other victories, from ground fire or other flight squadrons. This would be one of the most successful days for the US Air Corps of WWII. The 487th would go on the be the only fighter squadron, in the Northwestern European theater of operation, to receive a Distinguished Unit Citation.

Zutendaal Air Base in Asch Belgium named Y-29 today

Sources:

http://352ndfg.com/Y-29/legend.htm