56th Fighter Group

Group

media-395182.jpg FRE 5239 The insignia of the 56th Fighter Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5239 - The insignia of the 56th Fighter Group.

Flying P-47 Thunderbolts throughout their time stationed in England, the Group, known as "the Wolfpack", had more ace pilots than any other Eighth Air Force Fighter Group. The 56th Fighter Group also destroyed more enemy aircraft in air combat than any other. Francis Gabreski and Robert Johnson, the Eighth Air Force's top aces were both with the 56th. Col. Hubert A. Zemke and Col. David C. Schilling, two of the Group's Cos, were also famous aces, rivalling the 4th Fighter Group's Don Blakeslee and Don Gentile.

Commanding Officers

David C Schilling

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 65th Fighter Wing 56th Fighter Group 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
Service Numbers: O-393204
Highest Rank: Colonel
Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer; Assistant Director Intelligence

Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'First Lieutenant Hub Zemke, US Army Air Corps, 8th Pursuit Group, Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. Taken just before dispersal to England as an Observer to the Royal Air Force.'

Hubert A Zemke

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 479th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group Headquarters (479th Fighter Group) Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
Service Numbers: O-022353
Highest Rank: Colonel
Role/Job: Commander; Pilot

Lucian A Dade

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
Service Numbers: O-432184
Highest Rank: Colonel
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/group commander

Robert B Landry

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: VIII Fighter Command 93rd Combat Bomb Wing 493rd Bomb Group 56th Fighter Group Headquarters (493rd Bomb Group) Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
Service Numbers: O-18868
Highest Rank: Major General
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Group Commander

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Kings Cliffe	12 January 1943 - 4 April 1943
Based	Horsham St Faith	5 April 1943 - 7 July 1943
Based	Halesworth	8 July 1943 - 18 April 1944
Based	Boxted	18 April 1944 - 9 September 1945
Based	Little Walden	9 September 1945 - 10 October 1945

Encompassing

A farm house used by Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling of the 56th Fighter Group at Halesworth. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'This farm house at Halesworth Air Base used the space available for Dave C. Schilling and his 62nd Fighter Squadron to have their admin, Intelligence, Operations, Engineering, Armament and Communications. A hardstand just in front of the main house ran off the runway, in three days with the help of the 33rd Service Group. Carpenters and everyone in holding a faint hush - the

33rd Service Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Supply

61st Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

62nd Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

63rd Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)

Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
Air Force: Eighth Air Force

People

Corporal Jack Kazanjian, Private Albert Asplint, Staff-Sergeant Howard Buchner and Staff-Sergeant George Baltimore of the 56th Fighter Group with a P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-D, serial number 42-7877) nicknamed "In The Mood". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: A FIGHTER ACE'S GROUND CREW Much of the credit for the fine performance of the United Nations' fighter piolt is due to the ceaseless efforts of the ground crews to keep the machines in perfect fighting trim.

Albert A Asplint

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Albert Biales

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 310th Ferry Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: 15071213 / O-661268
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Albert J Bicheler

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Albert Blees

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
Nationality: American
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Albert Brand

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
Nationality: American
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Aircraft

41-6199

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

41-6232

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Unit: 56th Fighter Group

41-6235

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Nicknames: Half Pint
Unit: 36th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron

41-6268

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

41-6537

Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

Mission

8th Air Force 672

Date: 11 October 1944

8th Air Force

Date: 23 August 1944

401

Date: 8 June 1944

8th Air Force 381 (65th Fighter Wing Field Order 102 and 66th Fighter Wing Field Order 62)

Date: 30 May 1944

374

Date: 27 May 1944

Revisions

Date22 Aug 2019 12:56:35

ContributorEmily

ChangesChanges to us air force combat units of world war ii description and commanding officers associations. Changes to Media. Changes to Media

Sources

Air Force Combat Units of WWII

Date10 Apr 2015 06:58:22

ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER

ChangesChanges to mission associations and media associations

Sources

my photo

Date19 Mar 2015 11:18:36

Contributorrossingtonj

ChangesChanges to nicknames, citations, description, aircraft types, commanding officers associations, mission associations and stations

Sources

Nickname and aircraft types added. DUC's relocated to citations section.
Sources:
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/56thfg.php
Information from unit history highlights.

Date13 Mar 2015 15:28:48

Contributorrossingtonj

ChangesChanges to type and mission associations

Sources

Type added.

Date4 Feb 2015 16:06:52

ContributorLucy May

ChangesChanges to mission associations

Sources

Changed key image.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:46

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / 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)

56th Fighter Group: Gallery (889 items)

Object number: UPL 15767 -

A P-47 Thunderbolt of the 56th Fighter Group scores an aerial victory during a mission over Schweinfurt, 19 August 1943. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group has handwritten on the reverse: 'Picture # 3 Gun camera sequence Capt GW Johnson & 1st Lieut Frank E McCauley. This last accomplishment made Captain GW Johnson the first ace in the 56th Fighter Group. It was not until the October 1943 that I tagged a FW 190 to become the second Ace in the 56th Fighter Group. From that time on Acedom picked up through the

Object number: FRE 10000 -

A recepit for handmade wellingtoon boots, purchased by Hubert Zemke, commanding officer 56th Fighter Group. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group) has handwritten on the reverse: ' Here are the charges for the handmade wellington boots not a bad price in those days. To show how vain young fighter pilots could be another fa was adapted in the 56th Fighter Group. "Anyone attaining the ace status (five aerial victories) was permitted to tear out the linings of his tunic and replace it with a scarlet red one. Noth

Object number: FRE 10002 -

A letter from Peale & Co to Colonel Hubert Zemke, commanding officer of the 56th Fighter Group, that his handmade wellington boots are ready for collection. Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: 'An example of British esteemed business courtesy in notifiying Col Zemke his handmade (brown) Wellington boots were ready for pick up. Col David C Schilling started this fad for the 56th by having a pair of riding boots cut off half way between knees and the ankles. Dave had three or four pairs made by Peale & co

Object number: FRE 10003 -

A playbill from Hotel Pierre in New York, a favoured haunt of the 567th Fighter Group. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group) has handwritten on the reverse: 'A favourite haunting place of the 56th Fighter Group early in the war- before going overseas to the ETO. Spent many an evening at dinner shows listening to Ella Logan. Hotel Pierre, NY, NY, Cortillion Room, note the prices.'

Object number: FRE 10004 -

A map showing the position of all armies in Germany April 1945. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group) has handwritten on the reverse: 'This map- which will require you to take out your reading glass- shows the disposition of all armies - east south and west just before the final push that ended WWII. The time must have been around 1 April 1945. By then the Soviets were on the Oder River- building up strength. At Stalag Luft we could hear the rumble of heavy artillery barrages once the front opened about 15-16

Object number: FRE 10007 -

The Organisation board of the 56th Fighter Group. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group) has handwritten on the reverse: 'The 56th Fighter Organisation status board that hung in the CO Office. Shows the complete complement of the 56th Fighter Group and the 33rd Service Squadron.'

Object number: FRE 10008 -

Hubert Zemke, later commanding officer of the 56th Fighter Group, with the University of Montana Football Squadron. Zemke is in the second row, on the far right.

Object number: FRE 10009 -

A scoreboard of Leading Aces of the US Army Air Forces. Pesonnel of the 56th Fighter Group have been marked by Hubert Zemke. Hubert Zemke (56th Fighter Group) has handwritten on the reverse: 'HQ US Army Air Force score board of top aces 23 April 1945. Only Aerial kills are credited. The check marks are aces fron the 56th Fighter Group- 7 to be exact. Zemke ranked 20th from the top. Robert Johnson- 6th.'

Object number: FRE 10010 -

Captain George R Hornig, flight surgeon of the 56th Fighter Group at a crew briefing. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '295021.' [censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed.

Object number: FRE 10012 -

Hubert Zemke with Commanding Officers of the Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force. Hubert Zemke (commanding officer of the 56th Fighter Group has handwritten on the reverse: 'Front Row L-R: 1-?; 2- Lt. Col. Ben[illegible] (353rd);3- Lt. Col. D.C. Schilling (56th); 4- Lt. Col. P.T.Tukey (356th);5- Lt Col. V. Henry (339th);6- Brig. Gen. Woodruff; 7- Brig. Gen. E. Anderson; 8- Col. R. Follows [illegible] FW; 9- Col. [illegible] 361st FG. Back Row L-R: 1- Col. Hub Zemke (479th); 2- Col. Don Blakeslee (4th);3-L

Object number: FRE 10016 -

An FW 190 shot down by Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '6/6/44, Zemke, FW 190.'

Object number: FRE 10018 -