496th Fighter Training Group
GroupIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Activated as 496th Fighter Training Group on 11 December 1943 at Greencastle by VIII Composite Command.
Transferred without personnel or equipment to Goxhill on 27 December 1943 and assigned to VIII Fighter Command. Classes began on 3 January 1944 for pilots who had received the basic training in the USA. They would practice ETO operational procedures and gunnery before being assigned to the Eighth of Ninth Air Forces.
Assigned to VIII Composite Command on 14 February 1944, and identified as No 8 Combat Crew Replacement Center.
Assigned to VIII Fighter Command on 29 September 1944, and ceased identification as No 8 CCRC.
Assigned to the 2nd Air Division November 1944 and reduced to a Headquarters Squadron of the 55th Fighter Training Squadron.
Moved to Halesworth 15 February 1945 to provide training for 2nd Scouting Force.
Disbanded May 1945.
Connections
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Unit stations
Station | Location | Date |
---|---|---|
Established |
Greencastle | 11 December 1943 |
Based |
Goxhill | 27 December 1943 |
Based |
Halesworth | 15 February 1945 |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 479th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 436th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-763304
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group
- Service Numbers: O-701791
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 496th Fighter Training Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 8th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-701271
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 370th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-803440
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-886199
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Black Lace
- Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 352nd Fighter Squadron 554th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 554th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Smoky Joe
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 352nd Fighter Group 479th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 434th Fighter Squadron 486th Fighter Squadron 55th Fighter Squadron
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)