78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
"DOWN TO EARTH - Fighter Attack on Ground Targets", August, 1944
The original cover art of the " Down To Earth " manual. Note, that the cover was printed with the word "CONFIDENTIAL" on the top. The CD copy viewed has the word "CONFIDENTIAL" struck out in pen or pencil with "RESTRICTED" hand printed above it. Two serialized numbers are stamped on the page( RDN S 48 G and 48613). ( Source Credit: webmaster's collection )
In August, 1944, the 8th Fighter Command published a follow-up training manual addressing air to ground tactics. This manual was released during the height of battle, shortly after the Normandy invasion, when the focus of the 8th Fighter Command shifted to supporting the early ground actions in France.
Brigadier General Francis H. Griswold - Introduction
General Francis H. Griswold, 8th Fighter Command Staff, provides the manual introduction. He opens by indicating how integral ground attack missions are with respect to supporting the overall Allied strategic bombing offensive by crippling the Luftwaffe's defensive capability at their own airdromes "beyond the hope of significant recovery". This "frees the bomber forces from more than sporadic" fighter attacks. In addition, the ground attacks significantly impeded German supply and reinforcement logistics "to a point incompatible with the support of modern armies". He addresses the "profit versus loss" factors of fighter aircraft attacking ground targets. He points out that, even though pilot and aircraft losses were "significant", the successful invasion of Europe and destruction of the Luftwaffe's airdrome assets were the exacted "profits" gained. He states, " ..clearly had the entire 8th Fighter Command been wiped out in the course of it's tremendous ground attack, the cost would have been well spent toward's the purchase of mankind's victory". As with the "Long Reach" manual, he presents the manual contents as a summary of pilot experiences. New Groups and pilots are encouraged to study the tactics and "lessons learned" presented by their peers.
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Gun cameras recorded 78th Fighter Group low level ground strafing attacks. The frame on the left shows the destruction of a twin engine aircraft at an airdrome in Germany. An explosion follows a strafing pass on a railroad marshaling yard in the picture on the right. These pictures illustrate just how low the fighters "bore in" when making their attacks. This low altitude also made them very vulnerable to ground fire ranging from light and heavy anti-aircraft guns to hand held weapons. ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Robert Eby, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing )
Following a 78th Fighter Group strafing attack, smoke rises from burning rail cars in the southern French countryside. ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing )
The following are scans of the actual "Down To Earth" manual pages, authored by General Griswold( select a page and click to view ):
"Down To Earth" introduction , Page 1
"Down To Earth" introduction , Page 2
"Down To Earth" introduction , Page 3
Colonel Frederic C. Gray, 78th Fighter Group, P-47
Colonel Frederic C. Gray was a popular Group Commanding Officer of the 78th Fighter Group from May 21,1944 - January 29, 1945. In his contribution to the "Down To Earth" training manual, Col. Gray relates to the mechanics of "steep" dive bombing techniques with the P-47. He points out that accuracy is a product of practice. He encourages a 60 - 70 degree dive angle for accurate bomb placement on a target. The brevity of his report is surprising compared to the other contributions made in the manual. More personal information about Colonel Gray can be found in the " Group and Squadron Commanders" section of this web site.
Colonel Frederic C. Gray, Jr., 78th Fighter Group CO(May 21,1944 - January 29, 1945) with his flight crew and assigned aircraft,P-47D, "Mr Ted", HL-Z, s/n 42-26391. ( Source Credit: Warren M. Bodie, "Thunderbolt - From Seversky to Victory",1994, Widewing Publications, ISBN-0-9629359 )
A P-47 C of the 82nd Fighter Squadron shows "flak" damage to it's horizontal stabilizers, possibly the result of a ground attack mission on a heavily defended target. It was not unusual to find heavy concentrations of anti-aircraft ground fire in the vicinity of airdromes, train marshaling yards and major bridges. Special tactics were in order. ( Source Credit: USAF Museum collection)
The following is a scan of the actual "Down To Earth" manual page, authored by Colonel Gray( click to view ):
"Down To Earth" article, Col. Frederic C. Gray, Page 60
This page was revised on 7 / 22 / 02
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