56th Fighter GroupOne of the first Thunderbolt groups to see action in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) with the US Army Air Forces, the 56th Fighter Group (FG) was also the only fighter unit within the Eighth Air Force to remain equipped with the mighty P-47 until war's end. Led by the inspirational 'Hub' Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber escort tactics employed by VIII Fighter Command between 1943 and 1945. By VE-Day the 56th FG had shot down 100 more enemy aircraft than any other group in the Eighth Air Force, its pilots being credited with 677 kills during 447 missions. The exploits of this elite fighter unit are detailed in this volume together with photographs, their aircraft profiles and insignia. |
Common terms and phrases
56th FG 61st FS 62nd FS 63rd FS aerial victories Air Force fighter aircraft destroyed airfield altitude April assigned to Lt attack August bail belly bombers bombs Boxted Bridgeport Municipal Airport camouflage Capt Robert claimed climb cockpit code letters COMBAT REPORT cowling credited Dade damaged Dave Schilling days later December dive drop tanks Eighth Air Force enemy aircraft enemy fighters engine escort February fighter groups flak flew flight flown flying formation Francis Gabreski fuel fuselage Gabby gallon groundcrews guns Halesworth hangar Harold Comstock Horsham St Faith Hubert Zemke January Joe Egan July June kills leading Luftwaffe Mahurin March mission Mustang November o’clock October operational original combat pilots Paul Conger PGBL Robert Johnson S/Sgt score seen September 1943 shoot shot strafing tally targets Thunderbolt took tour turn USAAF VIII Fighter Command whilst wing wingman Zemke’s