496th Fighter Training Group

Group
British and American personnel hold up flags at the 496th Fighter Training Group base in Goxhill. Printed caption on reverse: 'P.H.T GREEN COLLECTION PLACE: Goxhill, DATE: 44.' media-377332.jpg FRE 567 British and American personnel hold up flags at the 496th Fighter Training Group base in Goxhill. Printed caption on reverse: 'P.H.T GREEN COLLECTION PLACE: Goxhill, DATE: 44.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 567 - British and American personnel hold up flags at the 496th Fighter Training Group base in Goxhill. Printed caption on reverse: 'P.H.T GREEN 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

A crashed P-38 Lightning (CL-X_) of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 55th Fighter Group 338th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36112790 / O-748896
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 356th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 351st Fighter Squadron 359th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron Headquarters (353rd Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-416268
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 77th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11023943 / O-754470
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11122344 / O-822164
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18049626 / O-812755
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Ginger
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron 2nd Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 434th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Joan Swoose
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group Base Air Depot 1 362nd Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (WR-Z, serial number 42-106448) nicknamed "The Hun Hunter ~ Texas" of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group taxiying at Steeple Morden.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: The Hun Hunter / Texas
  • Unit: 355th Fighter Group 496th Fighter Training Group 1st Scouting Force 354th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual, pp121-124

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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)

496th Fighter Training Group: Gallery (24 items)