#56th fighter group

[onefootin1941]

Three top ace fighter pilots of World War 2, from the 56th Fighter Group

(Left to right) Robert Johnson, Hubert “Hub” Zemke and Walker “Bud” Mahurin. (National Archives)

[usafphantom2]

Here's an image to brighten up a drab day.

It was taken in Essex during WW2, Boxted to be precise. It shows a USAAF P-47 of the 56th Fighter Group undergoing maintenance. Coloured by Howdi.

@WW2airfields via X

[freetheshit-outofyou]

Colonel Dave Schilling, P-47 ace (22.5 kills) and eventual CO of the 56th Fighter Group 'Zemke's Wolfpack' carried a full auto modified .45 'machine pistol' on missions over occupied Europe.

[bigglesworld]

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Radio equipment test. 1944

[aviationgeek71]

P-47C Thunderbolt, 56th Fighter Group, 61st Fighter Squadron. 

[pukindawgsblog]

Republic P-47C,D,& M Thunderbolts of 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group

[captain-price-unofficially]

Republic P-47B Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group in flight, in 1942

[eliotqueliot]

Ted Coldwater's airplanes

This might not matter to anyone but me (art purposes), but I'm identifying some of Quentin's father's model planes. The one in the foreground left here is a P-47 Thunderbolt, one of the workhorses of World War II, flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces. This one flew with the 56th Fighter Group, 61st Fighter Squadron, 8th Air Force (stationed at the RAF air bases in this order: RAF Kings Cliffe, then moved to RAF Horsham St Faith, then RAF Halesworth, and finally RAF Boxted--most likely flying out of Boxted). I can't see the serial number on the tail, so I can't be certain, but one of the most popular model planes of this type is the P-47D (serial number 42-26418) flown by Lt. Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski out of Boxted. If you have more info, please let me know.

By the way--Quentin's mom was wrong on so many levels. So many. Including the fact that these planes aren't a worthless waste of time, or something to quickly dispose of--not just for sentimental reasons. Q's dad's collection would indeed have been worth quite a lot. Most of all I wish Q had been able to keep at least one plane to remember his dad--no matter how much catharsis Jennifer helped him achieve that day.

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1943 11 26 Wolfpack - Robert Taylor

Captain Walker “Bud” Mahurin in formation with P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group – “The Wolfpack”, climbs out through majestic clouds high above the east coast of England as they prepare to escort B-24 Liberators of the 392nd Bomb Group on a mission to the German port of Bremen, 26 November, 1943. A tough battle with the Luftwaffe lies ahead, but today the escorting “Wolfpack” will claim an ETO record, destroying more enemy aircraft in a day than any other fighter group and Mahurin will add three more victories to his tally, to become the leading Ace in the Group. The bombers have none better to protect them.

[militarymetalart]

We build the Future of Airpower through our unwavering focus on safe, reliable aircraft! The 56th Maintenance Group provides aircraft maintenance on 77 F-16 and 86 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The group plays a pivotal role in conducting safe training for 405 pilots, by generating more than 30,000 sorties and 37,000 flight hours each year. The group also provides maintenance and munition support for Republic of Singapore Air Force partner nations; and is the largest US Air Force fighter maintenance group. Additionally, the group directly supports the 372 Training Squadron’s mission to train mission ready F-35 crew chiefs. The 56th Maintenance Group also directly contributes to Luke's second mission: training more than 3,000 maintenance technicians and 121 Mission Ready F-35 crew chiefs each year. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpTjY3frcXJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[usaac-official]

Men of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group.  Unlike many group photographs, all the men have been identified.

Front Row: Lt. George E Levkovich, Lt. Robert A Baughman, Capt. James R Carter, Lt. Stuart H Getz, Lt. Arthur C Maul, Lt. Robert J Rankin, Lt. Earl Hertel, Lt. Cleon C Thornton, Lt. Oscar M Belk, Lt. Joel I Popplewell. 

Middle Row: Lt. William R Hudson, Lt. Warren S Patterson, Lt. Timothy J Sullivan, Lt. Merton J Gillies, Lt. Jack J Haek, Lt. Praeger Neyland, Lt. Edward A Sisson, Lt. Samuel D Hamilton, Lt. William M Heaton, Lt. Herbert R Holtmeier, Lt. Steven Gerick, Lt. Carl E Westman. 

Back Row: Lt. Dick W Thompson, Lt. James J Clark, Lt. William H Barnes, Capt. Benjamin E Cathers, S/Ldr. Tadeusz Sawicz, Flt/Lt. Tadeusz Andersz, Lt.Col. Francis S Gabreski, Flt/Lt. Boleslaw M Gladych, S/Ldr. Kazimierz Rutkowski, Flt/Lt. Witold A Lanowski, Lt. Robert J Keen, Lt. James M Jure, Lt. Joseph H Perry, Lt. William R Aggers. 

Identification thanks to Piotr Wisniewsk

[airmanisr]

Post War Paris Display by Willard Womack Via Flickr: B-17 of the 94th Bomb Group, the 331st Squadron. P-47, #44-21175, (UN-Z) of the 56th Fighter Group, Zemkes Wolfpack. P-51, along the wing tip of a B-17, and a B-24 of the 453 Bomb Group, (circle J)

[usafphantom2]

Photo thread of the USAAF 56th Fighter Group 'Zemke's Wolfpack' who flew P47 Thunderbolts. Based in north Suffolk at Halesworth Airfield, England.

@WW2 airfields via X

[aviationwarhistory]

Frederick Joseph Christensen Jr. was an American fighter pilot who flew with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. A member of the 56th Fighter Group in England, Christensen scored 21½ aerial victories.

[j-r-macready]

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning AF 13-5071 USAF , "LF" 62nd Fighter Squadron "Spike War Dawgs", by christopher murkin Via Flickr: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning AF 13-5071 USAF , "LF" 62nd Fighter Squadron "Spike War Dawgs", 56th Operations Group, "LF" Luke AFB, Arizona, Air Combat Command, F-35 advanced fighter training Squadron The F35 Jet is multirole combat aircraft, designed for ground attack and air-superiority mission Photo taken at EAA Airventure Wittman Regional Airport Oshkosh Wisconsin USA July 2019 1AA_6965

[aviationgeek71]

P-47C Thunderbolt with the 56th Fighter Group, 62nd Fighter Squadron, March 11, 1943.