78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group | |
---|---|
Air Defense Command | |
Motto(s) | Above the Foe |
Insignia | |
Current form of the group emblem | |
Original form of the group emblem as approved 26 September 1942[1] |
The 78th Fighter Group (78 FG) is an inactive
During
History
World War II
The 78th Fighter Group was activated at
The group was reassigned to
The group consisted of the following squadrons:
- 82d Fighter Squadron(MX)
- 83d Fighter Squadron (HL)
- 84th Fighter Squadron (WZ)
From Duxford, the 78th flew many missions to escort
In addition to other operations, the 78th participated in the intensive campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944 and helped to prepare the way for the invasion of France.[1] The group supported the landings in Normandy in June 1944 and contributed to the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July.[1]
The group converted to North American P-51 Mustangs in December 1944[1] and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, from December 1944 to January 1945. It also supported the airborne assault across the Rhine in March.
The 78th Fighter Group received a
The 78th Fighter Group returned to Camp Kilmer New Jersey and October 1945 and was inactivated on 18 October.[1]
Cold War
Occupation of Germany
The 78th FG was reactivated in Germany on 20 August 1946, replacing the
In Germany the group was assigned to the
Air Defense of the United States
At Mitchel, the group remained active and was assigned to
On 1 March 1949, the 78th Fighter Group received the first of the new production
On 1 July 1949, Air Defense Command was inactivated as a major command, and Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed the air defense mission. In January 1950 the wing and group were redesignated as the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing and 78th Fighter-Interceptor Group and the squadrons became Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS).[1]
With the outbreak of the
Throughout this period, the F-84s remained problematic with wing integrity, the group having only 50 of its authorized 70 aircraft operational, as a third of its aircraft had been sent to Republic Aircraft or Air Materiel Command depots for repairs. This led to excess hours being put on the remaining aircraft, reducing their designed operational life. By the first quarter of 1951, the number of operational aircraft on station was reduced to 44, with only 34 actually being combat ready. The manpower shortage was worse, with only seven of the forty combat-rated pilots being available, the remainder being assigned Europe or combat duty in Korea.
In June 1951, the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Group received the first four
By the end of 1951, the 82d FIS stood alert during daylight hours while the other two squadrons rotated night and foul weather duties. The F-89s, however, were rushed into service too rapidly. There were not enough trained pilots and radar operators, and there were not enough maintenance personnel who knew the intricacies of the complex and troublesome Hughes E-1 fire control system. The in-service rate of the F-89B was appallingly low, and crashes were all too frequently.
The 78th Fighter-Interceptor Group was inactivated along with the wing on 6 February 1952 along with its parent wing as part of a major ADC
The unit was reactivated in 1955 by replacing the 566th Air Defense Group
Lineage
- Constituted as the 78th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942
- Activated on 9 February 1942
- Redesignated 78th Fighter Group (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated 78th Fighter Group, ca. 1 March 1943
- Redesignated 78th Fighter Group, Single Engine, ca. 21 August 1944
- Inactivated on 18 October 1945.
- Activated on 20 August 1946
- Redesignated 78th Fighter Group, Jet ca. 16 November 1948
- Redesignated 78 Fighter-Interceptor Group on 20 January 1950
- Inactivated on 6 February 1952
- Redesignated 78th Fighter Group (Air Defense), and activated 18 August 1955
- Inactivated on 1 February 1961
Assignments
- IV Fighter Command, 9 February 1942
- VIII Fighter Command, 29 November 1942.
- 4th Air Defense Wing, 30 June 1943
- 65th Fighter Wing, 7 August 1943.
- 66th Fighter Wing, 18 August 1943.
- Attached to: 3d Bombardment (later Air) Division, 5 September 1944 – 10 October 1945
- XII Tactical Air Command, 20 August 1946 – 15 June 1947
- Fourth Air Force, 30 June 1947
- 78th Fighter Wing(later 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing), 16 November 1948 – 6 February 1952
- 28th Air Division, 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956
- 78th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 18 October 1956 – 1 February 1961
Components
Operational Squadrons
|
Support Units
|
Stations
- Baer Field, Indiana 9 February 1942
- Muroc Army Air Field, California 30 April 1942
- Hamilton Field, California May–November 1942
- RAF Goxhill (USAAF Station 345),[12] England December 1942
- RAF Duxford (USAAF Station 357),[12]England April 1943 – October 1945
- Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 16–18 October 1945
- AAF Station Straubing, Germany, 20 August 1946 – June 1947
- Mitchel Field, New York June 1947
- Hamilton Air Force Base, California November 1948 – 6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 1 February 1961
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
17 September 1944–24 September 1944 | 78th Fighter Group, the Netherlands[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | 16 April 1945 | 78th Fighter Group, Czechoslovakia[1] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Air Offensive, Europe | December 1942-5 June 1944 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
Air Combat, EAME Theater | December 1942-11 May 1945 | 78th Fighter Group[1] | |
World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) | 20 August 1946 – June 1947 | 78th Fighter Group[1] |
Aircraft
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–43)
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–44, 1946)
- North American P-51 Mustang (1944–45, 1946–1947, 1949–52)
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet (1949–52)
- Northrop F-89 Scorpion (1951–52, 1956–59)
- North American F-86 Sabre (1956–58)
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (1957–60)
- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (1958–60)
- McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (1959–61)
- Convair F-106 Delta Dart (1959–60)
See also
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
References
Notes
- ^ Aircraft is Convair F-106A-90-CO Dart Serial 57-2504.
- ^ Aircraft are (bottom to top) Republic F-84D-10-RE Thunderjets 48-678, 48-667, 48-680, 48-657
- ^ Aircraft is Lockheed F-94C-1-LO Serial 59-641.
- ^ Lockheed F-104A-15-LO Serials 56-772 and 56-776 are identifiable
- ^ On 1 December 1950, ADC was reactivated and assumed the air defense mission from ConAC
- ^ Project Arrow also reunited groups with their traditional squadrons. Buss, et al.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 142–144
- ^ "Abstract, History 78 Fighter Group May 1942 – Mar 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Abstract, Presentation History 78 Fighter Group". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 11 May 2012. This source also claims the group had the first triple ace, but does not identify the pilot.
- ^ "Abstract, History 78 Fighter Group, Aug 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Abstract, History 78 Fighter Group, Sep 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Abstract, History 78 Fighter Group, Dec 1948 – Dec 1949". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ See Grant
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 84
- ^ Buss (ed), Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p. 6
- ^ Bailey, Carl E. (26 December 2007). "Factsheet 82 Aerial Targets Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ Bailey, Carl E. (8 March 2010). "Factsheet 84 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ a b Station number in Anderson
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1956
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 – 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. p. 84. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0-900913-09-6
- Grant, C. L. "The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126" (PDF). Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
External links
- Kane, Robert B. (4 February 2010). "Factsheet 78 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- Preller, Fred. "Duxford Airfield, Station 357, Cambridgeshire, UK". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- Randall, Peter. "The 78th Fighter Group". Little Friends. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009.