Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter Groups

Group

Air Force

Location

Active with P-38

1st

12th 15th

Africa-Italy

1942-45

8th

5th

Pacific

May 1944 onwards

14th

12th 15th

Africa-Italy

1942-45

18th

13th

Pacific

Complete group from August 1944 to VJ day

20th

8th

Europe

August 1943-July 1944

21st

7th

Pacific

From 1944

23rd

10th

China (one squadron)

August-October 1943

33rd

10th 14th

India

 

35th

5th

Pacific 5th

To late 1943

49th

5th

Pacific 5th

By September 1944, to VJ day

51st

10th 14th

China (one squadron)

October 1943 onwards

55th

8th

Europe

September 1943-July 1944

78th

8th

Reserve for Africa*

1942

80th

10th

India

 

82nd

12th 15th

Africa-Italy

1942-45

329th

4th

Training in USA

 

343rd 11th Alaska 1942-45

347th

13th

Pacific

Partly from February 1943, complete by 1944

360th

4th

Training in USA

 

364th

8th

Europe

March-July 1944

367th

9th

Europe

May 1944-February 1945

370th

9th

Europe

May 1944- January 1945

473rd

4th

Training in USA

 

474th

9th

Europe

April 1944 onwards

475th

5th

Pacific

Only used P-38

479th

8th

Europe

May-September 1944

* The 78th FG was equipped with the P-38 when it moved to Europe in November 1942. However, these aircraft were soon called to North Africa, where the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups were running short of aircraft. The 78th FG converted to the P-47 in February 1943 and flew its first missions with the 8th Air Force in April 1943.

9th Air Force in this table refers to the version of that air force formed in Britain as a tactical air force to support the D-Day invasions.

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (pending), Title, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/name.html

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