56th Fighter Group History

Formation of the 56th Fighter Group in World War 2

Excerpts printed from "The 56th Fighter Group" published through Osprey Aviation

The 56th Fighter Group was the best known Thunderbolt equipped unit in the USAAF. They were the only one out of 15 different Eighth Air Force fighter groups which didn't convert to the longer-ranged Mustang before the end of hostilities and were credited with more enemy aircraft shot down than any other USAAF fighter groups flying in Europe. The two most successful Eighth Air Force fighter aces were members of the group, and there were many others who distinguished themselves. But above all, it was the 56th's developed fighting spirit that “showed the way” to other Eighth Air Force fighter groups at a time before the allies gained control over the skies of Europe.

On 20 November 1940, the 56th Pursuit Group (PG) was granted authorization to form and designate a new fighter organisation which was to be composed of a headquarters with three new pursuit squadrons, namely the 61st, 62nd and 63rd. It got no further than being a paper reference for the next seven weeks. but on 14 January 1941 the 56th was given physical existence with orders for activation. Three officers and 150 enlisted men from units at Hunter Field. Georgia, were duly assigned to the National Guard building in nearby Savannah. Other personnel were subsequently posted in, but it was not until May 1941, following a move to Charlotte Army Air Base in North Carolina, that the neophyte organisation was brought to life as a flying unit - albeit only with a few training aircraft and three well-worn P-39 Airacobras and five P-40 Warhawks.

The demand for military aircraft was such that the squadrons could not muster a dozen fighters apiece until transferring to South Carolina following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War 2. Here, the three squadrons were placed on different airfields, and given obsolete P-36s to bolster aircraft complements. The stay was short, for in January 1942 the 56th PG was selected to provide an air defence for New York, despite the fact that it was unlikely that any defence would be required for a city located so far from air hostilities. Here, the squadrons were again placed on three different airfields, and their aircraft complements increased with the inclusion of a few P-38s Lightnings and more P-40 Warhawks.

By April 1942 production allowed the group's full re-equipment with P40E’s. Personnel strength had also been gradually built up, and while some men were moved on to other recently formed units, by the spring of 1942 the group was near to its authorised compliment of 800 men, of which 80 were pilots.

While the group headquarters was located in an army installation at Teaneck. New Jersey. the 61st PS took up station at the Bridgeport airport in Connecticut, the 62nd at Bendix airport New Jersey, and the 63rd on an airstrip serving the Republic Aviation Corporation at Farmingdale on Long Island, New York.

p47b Republic was just commencing production of its new P-47B Thunderbolt fighter which, unlike most of its contemporaries, employed an aircooled radial engine in the shape of the recently developed Pratt & Whitney R-2800, developing 2000 hp. Designed as a high-altitude interceptor, the P47 featured turbo-supercharging for the engine, which gave top speeds in excess of 400 mph at the then very high altitudes of 25.000 ft. In comparison with the P-39 and P-40, the P.47 was a giant both in size and weight.

With part of the 56th PG deployed on Republic's doorstep, it carne as no surprise when, in May 1942, the group was selected to be the first outfit in the army air force to equip with the new type - the first example was received the following month. Also in May the USAAF discarded the term “pursuit”, all units so identified thus being re designated as “fighter”.

The changes continued throughout the summer of 1942, as the USAAF altered the structure of its combat groups by disbanding headquarters squadrons. Therefor, a group headquarters was a slimmed down organization providing the united administration and leadership for three combat squadrons. During July and August this brought some reorganisation of personnel within the 56th, and the concentration of all elements in Connecticut, the Headquarters, 61st and 63rd FSs at Bridgeport, where facilities had been extended, and the 62nd on a new military airfield at Windsor Locks. Col John Crosswaithe assumed command at this time. but was replaced in September by Maj Hubert Zemke.

Already boasting considerable flying experience on the Curtis P-40, Zemke had been sent to Britain in the spring of 1941 to advise on the handling of the Curtis fighters acquired by the RAF, which had named them Tomahawks. Soon after Zemke's arrival, Hitler made his attack on the Soviet Union, and in an immediate gesture of help, the British shipped many of the Tomahawks on to Russia. Zemke and another US officer followed with a small party of RAF mechanics to help the Russians with assembly, Zemke acting as teat pilot. On return to the US his experience warrented command of a fighter group being groomed for overseas duty.

Through the summer and autumn of 1942 the 56th accelerated in training on the Thunderbolt. In practice it became a text unit on the type for Republic. whose engineers closely monitored usage. Numerous modifications were made as a result of unsatisfactory reports made by 56th pilots and engineers and they worked closely together to modify and improve the preformance of the Thunderbolt.

In late November of 1942, the group was notified for overseas movement and the planes they were currently using were designated to other units. The USAAF had decided to incorporate the 56th as one of two Thunderbolt units in England to support its daylight bombing effort.

After a month of awaiting orders to move, the 56th's personnel travelled by train to Camp Kilmer in New Brunswick, NJ. After a week of so-called processing, the group sailed on the Queen Elizabeth in the early hours of January 6, 1943. They were in the company of some 11,000 other US servicemen, including those of the 33rd Service Group, which would provide the engineering back-up for the 56th in the ETO.