78th Fighter Group
| 78th Fighter Group | |
|---|---|
F-106 Delta Dart of the group's 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
|
|
| Active | 1942-1945, 1946-1952, 1955-1961 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Air Defense |
| Role | Fighter Interceptor |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
| Motto(s) | Above the Foe |
| Insignia | |
| Cuurent form of the group emblem |  |
| Original form of the group emblem as approved 26 September 1942 |  |
The 78th Fighter Group (78 FG) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 78th Fighter Wing, at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 February 1961.
During World War II the group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England assigned primarily to RAF Duxford. It claimed 338 air-to-air and 358 air-to-ground aircraft destroyed. It flew its last mission on 13 April 1945.
The 78th Fighter Group was activated at Baer Field, IN as the 78th Pursuit Group in January 1942, receiving its cadre from the 14th Fighter Group. and redesignated as a fighter group four months later. It initially trained for combat with P-38's and served as part of the west coast air defense organization. It moved to England in November 1942 and was assigned to Eighth Air Force. The group lost its P-38's and most of its pilots in February 1943 when they were assigned to the Twelfth Air Force for service in the North African campaign.
The group was reassigned to Duxford airfield in April 1943 and reequipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. Aircraft of the group were identified by a black/white chequerboard pattern.--
The group consisted of the following squadrons:
From Duxford, the 78th flew many missions to escort Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers that attacked industries, submarine yards and docks, V-weapon sites, and other targets on the Continent. In 1943, the group had the first American ace in Eighth Air Force. The group also claimed a victory over a German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter. The unit also engaged in counter-air activities and on numerous occasions strafed and dive-bombed airfields, trains, vehicles, barges, tugs, canal locks, barracks, and troops.
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