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

Albert V Niemi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 360th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-798340
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Lieutenant George F. Perpente, sitting on a loaded bomb trolley, talks to Lieutenant Francis N. King and Lieutenant William Thistlewaite, also of the 353rd Fighter Group. The group is in front a P-47 Thunderbolt. This photograph was taken at Metfield air base where the group were stationed between 3 August 1943 and 12 April 1944. Passed for publication 4 December 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Fighters Now Carry Bombs. Photo shows: U.S. fighter pilots discuss their first fighter bomber raid while

George FA Perpente

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 351st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793528
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant

Allen R Peters

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 496th Fighter Training Group 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-743368
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Donald V Peters

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687261
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Flight Surgeon Captain George R. Hornig in conversation with Captain Donald D. Renwick of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group in the mess at Halesworth air base. Passed for publication 29 November 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '"Ace" Flight-Surgeon is combination family physician, foster-father and chaplain.' And 'Associated Press photo shows: "Doc" Hornig gives a physical check-up to Capt. D.D. Renwick just back from an operational flight.'

Donald Dean Renwick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: 15018988 / O-432208
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-7872

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group Headquarters Squadron (2906th Observation Training Group)

42-7889

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 551st Fighter Training Squadron 83rd Fighter Squadron

42-7894

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Rebel
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron

42-7898

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

42-7936

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
  • Unit: 48th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 493rd Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training 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)