The 1st Fighter Group were initially deployed to Britain in the summer of 1942 as part of Operation Bolero. After shuttling through a number of different bases in the UK, the Group was reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force in September 1942 and supported the Allied invasion of North-West Africa as part of Operation Torch. After the fall of Tunis in May 1943, the Group escorted bombers in missions over Sicily and Italy and in the summer of 1944 supported the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon).

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Reconstituted in 1924 and consolidated with 1st Pursuit Group that had been organized in the US on 22 Aug 1919. Redesignated 1st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) in Dec 1939, and 1st Pursuit Group (Fighter) in Mar IWI. Trained, participated in exercises and maneuvers, put on demonstrations, took part in National Air Races, tested equipment, and experimented with tactics, using Spad, Nieuport, DeHavilland, SE-5, MB-3, PW-8, P-I, P-6, PT-3, P-16, P-26, P-35, P-36, P-38, P-41, P-43, and other aircraft during the period 1919-1941. Was the only pursuit group in the Army’s air arm for several years; later, furnished cadres for new units. Moved to the west coast immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and flew patrols for several weeks.

Redesignated 1st Fighter Group in May 1942. Moved to England, Jun-Jul 1942. Assigned to Eighth AF. Entered combat with P-38 aircraft on 28 Aug and flew a number of missions to France before being assigned to Twelfth AF for duty in the Mediterranean theater. Moved to North Africa, part of the ground echelon landing with the assault forces at Arzeu beach on 8 Nov 1942. The air echelon arrived a few days later and the group soon began operations, attacking enemy shipping, escorting bombers, flying strafing missions, and performing reconnaissance duties during the campaign for Tunisia. Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria. Escorted bombers to targets in Sicily and later aided ground forces during the conquest of that island by strafing and dive bombing roads, motor transports, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, bridges, and railways. Flew missions against the enemy in Italy and received a DUC for its performance on 25 Aug 1943 when the group carried out a strafing attack on Italian airdromes, destroying great numbers of enemy aircraft that presented a serious threat to the Allies’ plans for landing troops at Salerno. Also escorted bombers to Italy, receiving another DUC for a mission on 30 Aug 1943 when the group beat off enemy aircraft and thus enabled bombers to inflict serious damage on marshaling yards at Aversa. Supported the invasion at Salerno in Sep and continued operations with Twelfth AF until Nov 1943.

Assigned to Fifteenth AF with the primary mission of escorting bombers that attacked targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Received third DUC for covering the withdrawal of B-17’s after an attack on Ploesti on 18 May 1944. Also flew strafing and dive-bombing missions in an area from France to the Balkans. Supported the landings at Anzio in Jan 1944 and the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944. Continued operations until May 1945. Inactivated in Italy on 16 Oct 1945.

Commanding officers

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  John Stone

  Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer, 1st Fighter Group | 1st Fighter Group
  Commanding Officer of the 1st Fighter Group from 9 July 1942 to 7 December 1942.

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  Ralph Garman

  Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer, 1st Fighter Group | 1st Fighter Group
  Commanding Officer of the 1st Fighter Group from 7 December 1942 to 8 September 1943.

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  John Zahn

  Military | Major | Commanding Officer, 1st Fighter Group | 1st Fighter Group
  Commanding Officer of the 1st Fighter Group from 1 May 1942 to 9 July 1942.

Structure

Part of

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  5th Bomb Wing

  Wing
  The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C...

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  6th Fighter Wing

  Wing

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  42nd Bomb Wing

  Wing

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  306th Fighter Wing

  Wing

Encompassing

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  27th Fighter Squadron

  Squadron

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  71st Fighter Squadron

  Squadron

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  94th Fighter Squadron

  Squadron

Previously was

Not yet known

Became

Not yet known

Missions

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  VIII Fighter Command

  29 August 1942
  31FG despatches 36 Spitfires to patrol along the French coast; 1FG despatches 2 P-38s on a fighter intercept on enemy raiders. First use of P-38s by 8th AF in the ETO.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  1 September 1942
  1FG/71FS despatches 32-P-38s in a fighter sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 12 Spitfires in a practice fighter sweep.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  4 September 1942
  1FG scrambles 2 P-38s on patrol off Ibsley, UK; 31FG despatches 2 Spitfires on patrol off of Selsey Bill, UK.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  5 September 1942
  31FG despatches 24 Spitfires to escort DB-7 A-20 Boston III bombers of 15BS in their attack on the port area of Le Harve, France

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  VIII Fighter Command

  5 September 1942
  31FG despatches 24 Spitfires to escort DB-7 A-20 Boston III bombers of 15BS in their attack on the port area of Le Harve, France

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  VIII Fighter Command

  6 September 1942
  1FG scrambles 2 P-38s to intercept enemy aircraft, but none are sighted.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  8 September 1942
  1FG despatches a total of 6 P-38s on practice sweeps with the RAF and 2 of these are scrambled to intercept enemy aircraft, but none are sighted.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  8 September 1942
  1FG despatches a total of 6 P-38s on practice sweeps with the RAF and 2 of these are scrambled to intercept enemy aircraft, but none are sighted.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  16 September 1942
  1FG despatches 24 P-38s on a fighter sweep of the French coastline between Dieppe and Le Touquet, France.

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  VIII Fighter Command

  17 September 1942
  1FG despatches 24 P-38s on a fighter sweep of the English Channel and French coast.

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Stations

Station	Location	Date
Assigned 8th Air Force		June 1942
Based	Goxhill	10 June 1942 – 24 August 1942
Based	Kirton-in-Lindsey	10 June 1942 – 24 August 1942
Based	Ibsley	24 August 1942 – 14 November 1942
Based	High Ercall	27 August 1942 – 15 September 1942
Based	Colerne	15 September 1942 – 6 November 1942
Assigned 12th Air Force		November 1942
Based	Nouvion	20 November 1942 – 14 December 1942
Based	Chateaudun-du-Rhumel	February 1943 – 29 June 1943
Based	Mateur	29 June 1943 – 31 October 1943
Assigned 15th Air Force		November 1943 – October 1945
Based	Gioia del Colle	8 December 1943 – 8 January 1944
Based	Salsola	8 January 1944 – 8 January 1945
Based	Vincenzo	8 January 1945 – 21 February 1945
Based	Salsola	21 February 1945 – March 1945

Connections

People

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  Charley Brown

  Military | Captain | Fighter pilot | 1st Fighter Group
  Assigned to 84FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 27FS, 1FG, 12AF USAAF. Credited 3 x kills. ...

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  Ralph Garman

  Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer, 1st Fighter Group | 1st Fighter Group
  Commanding Officer of the 1st Fighter Group from 7 December 1942 to 8 September 1943.

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  James Hunt

  Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot-1056 Twin Engine | 1st Fighter Group
  Flight Leader 27th FS 1st FG 43 combat missions

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  Jack Ilfrey

  Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot 1056 multi-engine/Squadron Commander | 1st Fighter Group
  Captain Jack M Ilfrey from Houston, Texas first arrived in the UK in 1942 with the 1st Fighter Group initially based at Goxhill and Kirton-in-Lindsey in Lincolnshire as part of Operation Bolero, the build-up of an American strategic air force in...

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  Donald Kienholz

  Military | Major | Fighter Pilot/Bomber Pilot | 1st Fighter Group
  Kienholz was an ace with 6 victories. He went on to serve in the Korean war, and retired in October 1965 after 27 years of service.

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  Stanley Lau

  Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 1st Fighter Group
  LT. COL. STANLEY WILFRED LAU ...

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  Harold Lentz

  Military | Major | Fighter Pilot-1056 Twin Engine | 1st Fighter Group
  Flight leader 94th FS 1st FG 50 missions 3 ME-109s confirmed, 2 probable, 2 damaged 1 ship destroyed Post war 123rd FIS OR ANG

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  Robert McCord

  Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 1st Fighter Group
  Engine problems with P-38F-1-LO 41-7617 forced McCord to land back at Goxhill with landing gear retracted 19 August 1942. No injuries.

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  Everett Miller

  Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1056 Twin Engine | 1st Fighter Group
  Flight leader 94th FS April 1944 - Jan 1945 5 air kills P-38J s/n 43-28773 #67 "Martha J" Sgt Everett Jacobson-crew chief

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  Newell Mills

  Military | Second Lieutenant | 1st Fighter Group

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Aircraft

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  W8959

  Master
  Miles Master W8959, assigned to 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 8th AF USAAF.

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  41-7587 Texas Terror-left boom/Mad Dash-right boom

  P-38 Lightning

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  41-7580

  P-38 Lightning

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  41-7631

  P-38 Lightning
  Assigned to 94FS, 1FG, 8AF USAAF. The aircraft was eventually scrapped in Tunisia. The tail section was used by the 33rd Fighter Group's 59th Fighter Squadron as a bar in the spring of 1943.

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  43-28650

  P-38 Lightning

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  43-2136

  P-38 Lightning

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  42-13480 Billie Jo/Bar Fly

  P-38 Lightning

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  44-25734

  P-38 Lightning

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  44-24217

  P-38 Lightning

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  44-24379

  P-38 Lightning
  1st FG, 27th FS shot down by AAA Padova, Italy Apr 23, 1945. MACR 14032 Pilot John Hurst POW

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Citations

Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 Aug 1943; Italy, 30 Aug 1943; Ploesti, Rumania, 18 May 1944.