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.

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Atcham

Encompassing

People

George J Hays

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885466
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Danford E Josey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 495th Fighter Training Group 496th Fighter Training Group 555th Fighter Training Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-830234
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Herman E King

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-530797
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Elmer A Kovacs

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 361st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-763646
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Armand A LaFlam

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810523
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

A P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft (serial number 42-22537), which was piloted by Lieutenant Leroy B. Schreiber, 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide casing:"LM:T (L.Schreiber's a/c) on HS 15 Hightree Farm. looking south 43-44 AFM 51790b" Printed on slide casing:" JAN 91F01"

42-22537

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 551st Fighter Training Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron

42-22767

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 551st Fighter Training Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron
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.'

42-26637

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Kokomo
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 551st Fighter Training Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (86th Air Depot Group)
The burning wreck of a P-38 Lightning (serial number 42-67490) of the 496th Fighter Training Group.

42-67490

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 496th Fighter Training Group 552nd Fighter Squadron 554th Fighter Training Squadron 79th Fighter Squadron

42-68037

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Strictly Stella's Baby
  • Unit: 20th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 79th 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)