78th Fighter Group

The Duxford Days . .

Duxford Historical Notes . .

When the United States entered World War II, it was planned that a heavy bomber force would be established in the United Kingdom to engage in the strategic bombing of Nazi Germany . This force would consist of sixty(60) heavy bombardment groups(operating B-17 and B-24 aircraft), fifteen(15) medium bombardment groups and a supporting contingent of twenty five(25) fighter groups. This air armada would require significant airfield and service facilities. Over 700 airfields were counted at the end of the war, approximately 500 of which were constructed during the conflict in support of the Allied Air Strategy. One of the largest concentrations of these airfields was in East Anglia. These fields were used exclusively by either Eighth or Ninth Air Force Units. Duxford was one of these facilities.

East Anglia Area Map - Click on the image for a larger view.

The Duxford airfield dates back to the First World War. In fact, some of the original buildings were constructed by WW I German POWs. No. 8 Squadron was the first resident RAF unit in 1919 flying F.2Bs. No. 19 Squadron called Duxford home from April 1, 1923. No. 19 was the first squadron to be equipped with operational Spitfires.

An aerial photograph of the Duxford Airfield in 1918 viewed from the northwest. Note the WW I vintage Belfast type hangars. These hangars were a 2 bay type construction with trestle roofs. The flying field is partially shown in the lower left hand corner of the photo.( source - Imperial War Museum )

During the " Battle of Britain " Duxford and her RAF resident units were to distinguish themselves many times over.

" Duxford Scramble "

RAF Hurricanes from the No. 242 and No. 310 Squadrons are represented in this painting by Mark Postlewaite. Leading the flight is the legendary Douglas Bader. The Belfast type hangars can be seen in the background

Also, during this time, Duxford was the center of RAF controversy with regards to No.12 Group's Air Vice-Marshall Trafford Leigh-Mallory's " Big Wing " concept.

At the end of 1940, the RAF Air Fighting Development Unit(AFDU) moved to Duxford. The AFDU evaluated new aircraft types including those captured from the enemy.

RAF Insignia Crest for the Duxford Airdrome.

The first American unit to call Duxford home was the 350th Fighter Group, formed to provide Tactical support for the invasion of North Africa via the12th Air Force. They departed by January of 1943.

An in-depth history of the Duxford Air Field can be found on Tim Cheeks' web page "Duxford - An unofficial History". It covers all of the historical periods through to date.

Station # 357...Home of the 78th Fighter Group

In April of 1943, the 78th Fighter Group moved to Duxford from their training facility in Goxhill, Lincolnshire to begin what was a long term residency....

An aerial photograph taken of the Duxford Airfield ( Station # 357 ) in 1943 after occupancy by the 78th Fighter Group. The view is from the Northwest. The flight line and flying field are South of the hangars at the top of the picture. "( Picture source: "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry, Phalanx Publishing, 1991)

For two and one half years( between 1943 - 1945 ), the 78th Fighter Group became a part of the community known as " Eighth Air Force Country " . . East Anglia. They lived, worked and died " side by side " with a proud English people. Theirs was a mutual destiny . . . a destiny of Victory and Freedom.

The following pages will provide some insight with regards to the Duxford facility, operational routines of the 78th and the Anglo-American relationship.

The Duxford Facility

Another aerial photograph of Duxford viewed from the Northeast. The base living quarters are to the right of A-505, the Royston / Newmarket road. The officers club and quarters were in the H-shaped complex at the lower left(note the tennis court). Flight operations were located across the road. The two visible hangars were assigned to the 82nd Squadron(left) and the 83rd Squadron(right). Base Headquarters(two story building) was located just inside the main gate, between A-505 and the 82nd Squadron hangar. Service buildings / maintenance shops are sandwiched between the hangars and A-505. ( Picture Source: Garry L. Fry )

" RAF Duxford was to the British what Wright Field was to the AAF, the home of their air force research and development establishment between the wars. Built as a permanent station during World War I by German POWs, the Battle of Britain saw it function as the Headquarters Sector Station of RAF 12 Group, home of the famous "Bader Wing". Later the new Typhoon Wing was born there and the Air Fighting Development Unit also operated from there. Duxford was now Station Number 357-F of the fledgling Eighth Fighter Command of the Eighth Air Force. The station radio call letters were DX."

( Source: Garry L. Fry, "Eagles of Duxford", Phalanx Publishing Ltd., 1991)

The following section visits the Duxford Airdrome " as it was " during the time of the 78th Fighter Group occupancy. Duxford's radio "call-sign" was " Rutley".

Home Sweet " Rutley" . .

78th Fighter Group Flight Operations . . .

The primary objective of the VIII Fighter Command was to achieve total "air superiority" over the Luftwaffe in support of the precision daylight bombing campaign. The strategy initially included high altitude fighter "sweeps" over France and Holland, challenging the Luftwaffe to "come up and fight". The first operational missions of the four fledgling 8th Fighter Groups( including the 78th) were limited to such "sweeps". Bomber escort missions were soon to follow, but these were limited by the range of the existing fighter aircraft. Tactics evolved to overcome some of the short comings, but the Luftwaffe easily countered these with tactics of their own. As auxiliary fuel systems were developed and new aircraft introduced, the range of the fighters became greatly enhanced, supporting longer range escort missions both to and from the bombing targets.

84th Fighter Squadron ground crews prep their aircraft for a mission. The auxiliary belly tanks suggest a long range mission into the ETO. P-47, WZ-E, s/n 42-24459, "Joker" was 1st Lt. George T. Hartman's assigned aircraft. ( Picture Source: "Eagles of Duxford", Negley Sapper via Garry L. Fry, Phalanx Publishing Ltd., 1991 )

Over time, more Fighter Groups were added to the 8th Fighter Command. Attrition finally took it's toll of the Luftwaffe fighter interceptor forces, allowing the Fighter Groups to leave the bombers and attack airdromes and other "targets of opportunity". D-Day focused all efforts of the 8th Fighter Groups as fighter bombers, attacking ground targets in support of the invasion. As the 9th Air Force assumed more of this ground support role, the 8th returned to it's long range escort duties to the war's end.

The daily routine of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford was focused on this strategy. The basic element of this strategy was the " Mission" . The planning, preparation and execution of the "Mission" was the daily pre-occupation of the 78th. The following section follows a typical 78th Fighter Group"Mission" from the receipt of the Field Order( issued to the Group from VIII Fighter Command ), through the planning, logistics , execution and return phases.

The Mission . . .

Living in East Anglia . . .

From their first day in Goxhill, the 78th Fighter Group began to blend into their adopted environment; riding RAF issued bicycles( a popular and practical form of transportation in WW II England) to and from their quarters to duty stations over a ten mile radius. For most of these young men in a strange country, there was a flurry of excitement and curiosity over the new environment. Soon most of their American money was squandered away in the local pubs and dance halls. As their equipment slowly arrived and duty schedules evolved and accelerated, a routine soon developed with a re-focus on the business at hand. Also, there became a keener appreciation and respect of this war weary country and people plagued by rationing, shortages and a constant threat of air raids. The men of the 78th became a part of this community . . .

" What one would remember most was the deep affection with which our visitors regarded all things British. They showered friendship freely upon us all which they viewed as so old fashioned and quaint. Duxford, they considered, was quite an antique and clearly they were prepared to fight to save it! Never mind your rank, you were treated as equal. If you were young they had a special brand of affection for you. They impressed upon all that whilst they had come to win the war they were here to play as well as fight. "

( Source: Michael J. F. Bowyer, " Duxford Reflections ", " Duxford Diary ", East Anglian Aviation Society, reprint, 1975 )

The Anglo Experience . . .

" Eighth Air Force " Country. .

" There were more than 120 US Army Air Forces airfields fit like puzzle pieces in the gentle undulations of East Anglia. Smaller in square miles than the island of Hawaii, East Anglia is an imprecisely defined region north of the Thames River and south of the Wash, a major inlet of the North Sea. For it's strategic location - flatlands well suited for runways and closeness to Continental Europe- the area became the hyperactive origination place for Eighth Air Force Strikes against the Third Reich. "

( Source: David A. Lande, "From Somewhere in England ", Motorbooks International,1990 )

In any direction that you would travel from Duxford you would be only minutes away from another 8th Air Force Facility. Sharing the same community, friendships and rivalries were soon developed between the different Units....the common thread being the reality of the War and duty. The 78th at Duxford was in close proximity to both Fighter and Heavy Bombardment Group neighbors.

8th Air Force Neighbors . .

This page was last revised on 1 / 27 / 01

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