495th Fighter Training Group

Group
Brigadier-General Francis Griswold stands on the wing of a P-51 Mustang (VM-?) of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Brig Gen Francis Griswold P-51B-1-NA 43-12406 8th F.C.' media-377331.jpg FRE 566 Brigadier-General Francis Griswold stands on the wing of a P-51 Mustang (VM-?) of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Brig Gen Francis Griswold P-51B-1-NA 43-12406 8th F.C.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 566 - Brigadier-General Francis Griswold stands on the wing of a P-51 Mustang (VM-?) of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Handwritten caption on reverse:...

The 495th Fighter Training Group, which operated in England from December 1943, trained P-47 Thunderbolt pilots. These pilots, who had received the basic training in the USA would be assigned to a training group to practise ETO operational procedures and gunnery from the UK before being assigned to the Eighth or Ninth Air Forces.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Atcham

Encompassing

People

Harry Leon Blystone

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16004858 / O-686806
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Everett Lee Brock

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 360th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-190736
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Harold Caskey Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 350th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-695032
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Lieutenant Barney P. Casteel of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, stands beside his battle damaged P-47 Thunderbolt (UN-A, serial number 43-25531), May 1944.

Barney Parks Casteel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810471
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Henry G Castle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 67th Fighter Wing 352nd Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 496th Fighter Training Group 376th Fighter Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18110192 / O-705544
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

41-6206

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron

41-6217

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 78th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron 82nd Fighter Squadron

41-6219

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Ajax / Rocket Jo
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 82nd Fighter Squadron

41-6225

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron

41-6231

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Mighty Eighth. A History of the Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force.' by Roger A. Freeman (1989). 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II' compiled by the Department of the US Air Force, edited by Maurice Maurer (1983). / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

495th Fighter Training Group: Gallery (39 items)

A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th Fighter Training Group suffers a watery crash landing.

Object number: FRE 575 - A P-47 (DQ-K, serial number 41-6538) of the 495th...

Three P-38 Lightnings, (serial number 42-68184) and two comrades, of the 495th Fighter Training Group in flight.

Object number: FRE 577 - Three P-38 Lightnings, (serial number 42-68184)...

An A-20 Havoc (F, serial number 41-3383) of the 495th Fighter Training Group performs a low level fly past. Printed caption on reverse: 'PHT GREEN COLLECTION DATE: 44, SIBJECT: Douglas A20 C - 13383 F1.'

Object number: FRE 580 - An A-20 Havoc (F, serial number 41-3383) of the...

Two A-20 Havocs (B, serial number 41-3379) and (F, serial number 41-3383) of the 495th Fighter Training Group fly over countryside. Printed caption on reverse: 'PHT GREEN COLLECTION DATE: '44 SUBJECT: Douglas A20 C.'

Object number: FRE 581 - Two A-20 Havocs (B, serial number 41-3379) and (F...

Three P-38 Lightnings, (serial number 42-68184) and two comrades, of the 495th Fighter Training Group in flight.

Object number: FRE 6420 - Three P-38 Lightnings, (serial number 42-68184)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (VM-A, serial number 41-6530) of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '496 FTG [sic], Atcham.'

Object number: FRE 6907 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (VM-A, serial number 41-6530)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-26637) nicknamed "Kokomo" of the 495th Fighter Training Group, flown by General William E Kepner. Written on slide casing: 'VM, 226637, Kepner's. 495 FTG at Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 6908 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-26637)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-26637) nicknamed "Kokomo" of the 495th Fighter Training Group, flown by General William E Kepner. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: ' Kepner's P-47 226637, Kokomo at Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 6909 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-26637)...

The nose art of a a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 42-26637) nicknamed "Kokomo" of the 495th Fighter Training Group, flown by General William E. Kepner. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: 'Kepner's A/C Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 7541 - The nose art of a a P-47 Thunderbolt (serial...

Lieutenant Colonel Hough with a P-38 Lightning of the 495th Fighter Training Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 4 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '277342.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ' FASTER THAN SOUND PILOT- Associated Press photo shows: Lt. Col. Hough photographed in front of a Lightning aircraft on the nose of which is a picture of his mascot, a skunk.'

Object number: FRE 9755 - Lieutenant Colonel Hough with a P-38 Lightning of...

An airman of the 495th Fighter Training Group on the wing of a P-51 Mustang.

Object number: FRE 9871 - An airman of the 495th Fighter Training Group on...

Object number: UPL 17344 - 2nd Lt John Woods [O-795010] 551st FTS, 495FTG...