P-47 Thunderbolts of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford
78th Fighter Group
Assignments:
- Eighth Air Force: Assigned on 29 November 1942.
- VIII Fighter Command (VIII FC): From 29 November 1942.
- 4th Air Defense Wing (ADW): From 30 June 1943.
- 65th Fighter Wing (FW): From 7 August 1943.
- 66th Fighter Wing (FW): From 18 August 1943.
- 3rd Bombardment Division (BD): From 15 September 1944.
- 3rd Air Division (AD): From 1 January 1945.
Component Squadrons:
- 82nd Fighter Squadron
- 83rd Fighter Squadron
- 84th Fighter Squadron
Combat Aircraft:
- P-38G Lightning: Used from December 1942 to February 1943.
- P-47C Thunderbolt: Introduced from late January 1943.
- P-47D Thunderbolt: Used from June 1943 to January 1945.
- P-51D (Block 20) and P-51K Mustang: Engaged in combat from 29 December 1944.
Stations:
- Goxhill: 1 December 1942 – 3 April 1943.
- Duxford: 3 April 1943 – 10 October 1945.
Group Commanding Officers (COs):
- Col Arman Peterson: May 1942 – 1 July 1943 (KIA).
- Lt Col Melvin F. McNickle: 12 July 1943 – 30 July 1943 (POW).
- Col James J. Stone: 31 July 1943 – 22 May 1944.
- Col Frederic C. Gray: 22 May 1944 – 1 February 1945.
- Lt Col Olin E. Gilbert: 1 February 1945 – 21 February 1945.
- Col John D. Landers: 22 February 1945 – 1 July 1945.
- Lt Col Roy B. Caviness: 1 July 1945 – October 1945.
Combat Missions:
- First Mission: 13 April 1943.
- Last Mission: 16 April 1945.
- Total Missions: 450.
- Aircraft Missing in Action (MIA): 167.
- Enemy Aircraft Claims: 338 air, 358 ground.
Major Awards:
- Distinguished Unit Citations:
- 16-23 September 1944, for actions in Holland supporting airborne forces.
- 16 April 1945, for ground strafing in Czechoslovakia.
Claims to Fame:
- Produced the first 8th Air Force ace: Captain Charles London.
- First ‘triple kill’ by a VIII Fighter Command pilot: Major Eugene Roberts on 30 July 1943.
- Only 8th Air Force group to fly all three main US fighter types: P-38, P-47, and P-51.
- Conducted the first strafing attack by a P-47 pilot: Lieutenant Q. L. Brown on 30 July 1943.
- Claimed the first Me 262 jet brought down by the 8th Air Force on 28 August 1944.
- Set a record for the highest number of enemy aircraft destroyed while strafing: 135 on 16 April 1945.
History:
- Activated on 9 February 1942 at Baer Field, Indiana.
- Training and expansion occurred at Hamilton Field, California, in May 1942.
- The group was selected to fly the P-38 Lightning, demonstrating a high level of proficiency.
- Departed Hamilton in November 1942 and sailed from New York on the Queen Elizabeth on 24 November 1942.
- Remained in the UK until October 1945.
- Personnel and aircraft were disposed of or transferred after V-E Day.
- The group sailed from Southampton on the Queen Mary on 11 October 1945, arriving in New York on 16 October 1945, and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, NJ, on 18 October 1945.
Aircraft Markings and Camouflage:
P-38G Lightnings (Dec 1942-Feb 1943):
- Standard Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Gray.
- Unit markings included squadron-colored spinners and markings on the fuselage.
P-47C/D Thunderbolts (Jan 1943-Jan 1945):
- Standard camouflage with Identification Yellow tail numbers.
- Squadron code letters: MX for 82nd, HL for 83rd, and WZ for 84th.
- Later featured black and white checkerboard markings on the engine cowlings.
- Introduction of squadron-colored rudders (red for 82nd, white for 83rd, black for 84th) after October 1944.
P-51B/D/K Mustangs (Dec 1944-Aug 1945):
- Checkerboard markings were adapted for the P-51s with a specific arrangement for the black and white squares.
- Spinners were half white and half black, creating a flickering effect when in motion.
- Rudder colors were maintained from the P-47s, with some modifications.