496th Fighter Training Group

The 496th Fighter Training Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit established during World War II to train replacement fighter pilots for the Eighth Air Force in the United Kingdom. Activated on 11 December 1943 at Greencastle Army Air Forces Station 237 in County Down, Northern Ireland, it was created within the operational-training structure of VIII Composite Command. The group was moved without personnel to Goxhill Army Air Forces Station 345 in Lincolnshire on 27 December 1943, where it operated Combat Crew Replacement Center No. 8. At Goxhill, the group combined flying-training and support organizations. The 554th Fighter Training Squadron initially conducted Lockheed P-38 Lightning instruction, while the 555th Fighter Training Squadron trained pilots on the North American P-51 Mustang. The group also included the 2d and 3d Tow Target and Gunnery Flights, which supplied aerial and ground gunnery services. Colonel Harold W. McGee, who was also the Goxhill station commander, assumed command of the group. The unit’s role changed during 1944 as the Eighth Air Force reorganized its replacement-pilot system. On 14 August, the 495th Fighter Training Group assumed responsibility for P-38 instruction, and the 554th Fighter Training Squadron transferred its P-38 aircraft to the 495th. The 554th then shifted to P-51 training. On 1 October, the 496th and 495th Groups moved from VIII Composite Command to VIII Fighter Command. On 26 October, their formal training responsibilities ended after the Eighth Air Force decided that operational training should instead be conducted within existing combat fighter groups. During its operation of the replacement center, the group graduated 2,434 of 2,481 trainees. The training program also involved substantial operational hazards: seven students suffered serious injuries, 23 were killed in 117 major accidents, and 53 aircraft were lost. These figures reflect the dangerous conditions associated with high-performance fighter instruction during the war rather than a commercial or consumer brand activity. After its training mission ended, the 496th became primarily a support organization. Its subordinate and attached units were progressively reassigned or moved. The 2d Tow Target and Gunnery Flight transferred to Leiston in November 1944, and the 554th Fighter Training Squadron moved to Raydon in early December to serve with the 353d Fighter Group. The group was reassigned to the 65th Fighter Wing of the 2d Bombardment Division, later renamed the 2d Air Division, and completed its move to RAF Halesworth on 15 December 1944. At Halesworth, the group provided manpower, maintenance, and other base-support services for units operating from the station. These included the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, an air-sea rescue organization; the 1st Tow Target and Gunnery Flight; and the 2d Weather and Relay Flight. The 496th Fighter Training Group was inactivated on 26 April 1945. Its rescue and other remaining units were placed directly under the 65th Fighter Wing, while the group’s remaining personnel were transferred to the 332d Air Service Squadron pending reassignment or discharge after the end of combat in the European theater.

The 496th Fighter Training Group was organized by the United States Army Air Forces during the expansion of the Eighth Air Force’s combat capability in World War II. It was activated on 11 December 1943 at Greencastle Army Air Forces Station 237 in County Down, Northern Ireland. The group formed part of VIII Composite Command, an organization responsible for operational training and related preparation for American air units serving in Britain. On 27 December 1943, the group moved without personnel to Goxhill Army Air Forces Station 345 in Lincolnshire, England. At Goxhill it operated Combat Crew Replacement Center No. 8, a facility intended to prepare replacement pilots for assignment to operational fighter units. Colonel Harold W. McGee, the station commander at Goxhill, also became the group’s commanding officer. The group consolidated support units that had previously been associated with the 67th Fighter Wing. The principal flying organizations were the 554th and 555th Fighter Training Squadrons. The 554th initially conducted training on the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, while the 555th provided instruction on the North American P-51 Mustang. The 2d and 3d Tow Target and Gunnery Flights supported the training program through target towing and gunnery services, including both aerial and ground-based activities. The group’s training operation produced a large number of replacement pilots, but the work was hazardous. Of 2,481 trainees handled by the replacement center, 2,434 graduated. Seven students were seriously injured and 23 died in 117 major accidents. Fifty-three aircraft were lost during the period covered by the group’s training mission. The available historical account presents these figures as part of the operational record of wartime fighter training. The Army Air Forces altered the organization of fighter-pilot preparation during 1944. On 14 August, the 495th Fighter Training Group assumed all P-38 training. The 554th Squadron’s P-38 aircraft were transferred to the 495th, and the 554th subsequently changed to P-51 instruction. On 1 October, both the 495th and 496th Groups were transferred to VIII Fighter Command. Later that month, the Eighth Air Force ended their replacement-training responsibilities and restored operational training units within the combat fighter groups themselves. Following the end of its training function, the 496th was reorganized as a support unit. The 2d Tow Target and Gunnery Flight moved to Leiston on 18 November 1944. In early December, the 554th Fighter Training Squadron transferred to Raydon to serve with the 353d Fighter Group. Other detachments were moved or reassigned administratively, while the group was placed under the 65th Fighter Wing of the 2d Bombardment Division, which became the 2d Air Division in February 1945. The group completed its move to RAF Halesworth on 15 December 1944, replacing the 489th Bombardment Group at the station. Until its inactivation, it supplied manpower, maintenance, and general support for units based at Halesworth. These included the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, an air-sea rescue organization; the 1st Tow Target and Gunnery Flight; and the 2d Weather and Relay Flight. On 26 April 1945, the 496th Fighter Training Group was inactivated. The 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron and other remaining organizations were placed directly under the 65th Fighter Wing. Personnel still assigned to the group were transferred to the 332d Air Service Squadron pending reassignment or discharge as combat operations in the European Theater of Operations came to an end.

• 1945

  Inactivation

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 496th Fighter Training Group was inactivated on 26 April 1945.

• 1944

  P-38 training reassigned

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 495th Fighter Training Group took over P-38 training on 14 August, while the 554th Squadron shifted to P-51 instruction.

• 1944

  Transfer to VIII Fighter Command

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group transferred from VIII Composite Command to VIII Fighter Command on 1 October.

• 1944

  Replacement-training mission discontinued

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Eighth Air Force ended the group’s formal training responsibilities on 26 October and returned operational training to combat fighter groups.

• 1944

  Move to RAF Halesworth

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group completed its relocation to Halesworth on 15 December and assumed station-support responsibilities.

• 1943

  Activation at Greencastle

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 11 December 1943 at Greencastle Army Air Forces Station 237 in County Down, Northern Ireland.

• 1943

  Transfer to Goxhill

  [1]496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 27 December, the group moved to Goxhill in Lincolnshire and began operating Combat Crew Replacement Center No. 8.

A wartime military training and support unit focused first on replacement-fighter-pilot preparation and later on operational support for United States Army Air Forces units stationed in Britain.

• Fighter pilot training · 1943

  Lockheed P-38 Lightning training

  The group initially used the twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning for replacement-pilot instruction through the 554th Fighter Training Squadron. This responsibility was transferred to the 495th Fighter Training Group in August 1944, after which the 554th shifted to P-51 training.

• Fighter pilot training · 1943

  North American P-51 Mustang training

  P-51 Mustang instruction was conducted by the 555th Fighter Training Squadron and later became the principal aircraft role of the 554th Squadron after the group’s P-38 aircraft were transferred. The training prepared replacement pilots for Eighth Air Force fighter operations.

• Aircrew training support · 1943

  Tow-target and gunnery services

  The 2d and 3d Tow Target and Gunnery Flights provided target-towing and gunnery support for the group’s training activities. Their work covered aerial and ground-based practice and continued in modified form after the group’s replacement-training mission ended.

• Military installation support · 1944

  RAF Halesworth station support

  After October 1944, the group supplied manpower, maintenance, and related support for organizations at RAF Halesworth, including air-sea rescue, weather and relay, and target-towing units.

• 1945

  Inactivation and redistribution of personnelOther

  Background

  The end of the group’s wartime mission followed the cessation of combat operations in the European theater.

  Action taken

  The group was inactivated on 26 April. Its remaining units were directly subordinated to the 65th Fighter Wing, and remaining personnel were transferred to the 332d Air Service Squadron.

  Aftermath

  The 496th Fighter Training Group ceased to exist as an independent unit.

  Source

• 1944

  Transfer of P-38 training responsibilityStrategy

  Background

  The Eighth Air Force adjusted the distribution of fighter replacement training among its training groups.

  Action taken

  On 14 August, the 495th Fighter Training Group assumed all P-38 training, and the 554th Squadron transferred its P-38 aircraft and changed to P-51 instruction.

  Aftermath

  The 496th retained a fighter-training role temporarily but no longer operated the group’s original P-38 training function.

  Source

• 1944

  End of centralized replacement trainingStrategy

  Background

  The Eighth Air Force reconsidered how operational preparation should be integrated with combat units.

  Action taken

  On 26 October, the formal training responsibilities of the 496th and 495th Fighter Training Groups were ended, with operational training returned to combat fighter groups.

  Aftermath

  The 496th shifted from pilot preparation to support functions at Halesworth and other British stations.

  Source

• 1944

  Conversion to a station-support roleStrategy

  Background

  After its replacement-training mission ended, the group’s remaining organizations were reorganized within the Eighth Air Force support structure.

  Action taken

  The group was assigned to the 65th Fighter Wing, moved to RAF Halesworth, and provided manpower, maintenance, rescue, weather, relay, and target-towing support.

  Aftermath

  The group continued in a support capacity until its inactivation in April 1945.

  Source

1. 1496th Fighter Training Groupen.wikipedia.org