Outstanding tribute to some great warriors. Very well deserving. And as you can see in some of these photos it wasn't all fun and games for these guys. Very dangerous business. I'll be happy to post more photos if anyone is interested. Don't want to intrude on someone else's thread.
Wiki,
The 78th Fighter Group was activated at Baer Field, IN as the 78th Pursuit Group in January 1942, receiving its cadre from the 14th Fighter Group. and redesignated as a fighter group four months later. It initially trained for combat with P-38's and served as part of the west coast air defense organization. It moved to England in November 1942 and was assigned to Eighth Air Force. The group lost its P-38's and most of its pilots in February 1943 when they were assigned to the Twelfth Air Force for service in the North African campaign.
The group was reassigned to Duxford airfield in April 1943 and reequipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. Aircraft of the group were identified by a black/white chequerboard pattern.
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 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers that attacked industries, submarine yards and docks, V-weapon sites, and other targets on the Continent. In 1943, the group had the first American ace in Eighth Air Force. The group also claimed a victory over a German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter. The unit also engaged in counter-air activities and on numerous occasions strafed and dive-bombed airfields, trains, vehicles, barges, tugs, canal locks, barracks, and troops.
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. The group supported the landings in Normandy in June 1944 and contributed to the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July.
The group converted to North American P-51 Mustangs in December 1944 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 Distinguished Unit Citation for activities connected with the Operation Market-Garden combined ground and airborne attack through on Holland in September 1944 when the group covered troop carrier and bombardment operations and carried out strafing and dive-bombing missions. It suffered its heaviest casualties of the war in this operation. The group received a second DUC for destroying numerous aircraft on five airfields near Prague and Pilsen on 16 April 1945.
The 78th Fighter Group returned to Camp Kilmer New Jersey and October 1945 and was inactivated on 18 October.
Pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force (US Air Force Photo)
Pilots of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force on July 5,1944 (US Air Force Photo)
Pilots of the 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force on July 5,1944 (US Air Force Photo)
Crash crew of the 79th Service Group posing in front of the control tower at Duxford (Station 357), home field of the 78th Fighter Group, on August 16,1944. (US Air Force Photo)
P-47D-28-RE Thunderbolt
s/n 44-19566
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
This plane had two different assigned pilots and two different names while serving with the 78th....both of them big brass.
Lt.Col. Jack J. Oberhansley was the C.O. of the 82nd Fighter Squadron and named the plane "Iron Ass".
Col. Benjamin I. Mayo was the 78th Fighter Group's C.O. and named the plane "No Guts - No Glory". (US Air Force Photo)
Mustangs from the 78th Fighter Group lined up on the field at Duxford (Station 357) for a post-war review on June 7,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
Mustangs from the 78th Fighter Group lined up on the field at Duxford (Station 357) for a post-war review on June 7,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
Mustangs from the 78th Fighter Group lined up on the field at Duxford (Station 357) for a post-war review on June 7,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
Mustangs from the 78th Fighter Group lined up on the field at Duxford (Station 357) for a post-war review on June 7,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
P-47C-2-RE Thunderbolts of the 82d Fighter Squadron 78th Fighter Group 1944 (US Air Force Photo)
P-47 of the 78th Fighter Group (US Air Force Photo)
P-47 of the 78th Fighter Group (US Air Force Photo)
P-47 of the 78th Fighter Group (US Air Force Photo)
P-47 of the 78th Fighter Group (US Air Force Photo)
"Big Beautiful Doll"
P-51D-20-NA Mustang
s/n 44-72218
84th Fighter Squadron (WZ-I), 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Assigned to Lt.Col. John D. Landers, an ace with 14.5 victories. He also flew planes with the same name in the 357th,361st and 55th Fighter Groups.
This aircraft was originally assigned to the 361st Fighter Group but went to the 78th when Lt.Col. Landers transfered.
Plane was sold for scrap after the war. (US Air Force Photo)
"Noamie Vee" (HL-H)
P-47D-21-RA Thunderbolt
s/n 43-25528
83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Assigned to Lt. Franklin R. Pursell.
Shown after belly landing at Duxford by Lt. Peter W. Klaassen on September 5,1944.
After being repaired it was transfered to the 36th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force and was lost in action on March 19,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
(WZ-V)
P-51D-15-NA Mustang
s/n 44-15683
84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Crash landed on January 3,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
(MX-C)
P-51D-20-NA Mustang
s/n 44-63177
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
Lost on Feb. 24,1945 while being flown by Lt. Edwin B. Anderson who became a POW.
Photo taken on Jan. 4,1945.
MACR 12613 (US Air Force Photo)
(WZ-J)
P-51D-20-NA Mustang
s/n 44-72163
84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. (US Air Force Photo)
(WZ-S̲)
P-51B-5-NA Mustang
s/n 43-6593
84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
Damaged during landing accident onApril 10,1945 at Duxford,Cambridgeshire,England (Station 357).
This plane had been declared 'war weary' after service with the 487th FS, 352nd FG. Was then converted to a two-seater and assigned to the 78th FG for the group's transition from the P-47 to the P-51. (US Air Force Photo)
While assigned to the 352nd FG she was flown by:
- Lt. Robert H. Berkshire,Jr. who named her "Brutal Lulu".
- Capt. Robert C. Draftz
"Small Boy Here" (HL-C)
P-51D-20-NA Mustang
s/n 44-63620
Assigned to Lt. John A. Kirk III.
83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Crash landed on May 6,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
"Little Rebel" (MX-S)
P-51D-15-NA Mustang
s/n 44-15505
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
Assigned to Capt. Donald C. Hart
Crash landed on January 2,1945. (US Air Force Photo)
(MX-N)
P-51K-5-NT Mustang
s/n 44-11675
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Originally a 369th FS, 359th FG aircraft.
Crash landed on February 11,1945 while being piloted by Lt. Harry L. Roe. (US Air Force Photo)
(MX-U)
P-51D-20-NA Mustang
s/n 44-63170
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
Crash landed on March 1,1945 while on a training flight by Lt. Milton B. Stutzman. (US Air Force Photo)
(MX-I)
P-51D-15-NA Mustang
s/n 44-15574
82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.
Crash landed on April 20,1945 while being piloted by Lt. Milton B. Stutzman.
(US Air Force Photo)
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