00080950 1551-28 UNCLASSIFIED 2430400 02-09-1942 2430725 12-31-1942

GROUP/0085/FIGHTER BOMBER

HISTORY GP-85-HI 0000001278 B0169 1283 1380 97 35 2445987 10-13-1984 GROUP ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED FOR LIGHT BOMBARDMENT, ACTIVATED FEB 42 SAVANNAH ARMY AIR BASE, SAVANNAH, GA. IN MAY GROUP MOVED TO BOWMAN ARMY AIR FIELD, LOUISVILLE, KY TO TRAIN FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT OPERATIONS. IN JUL GROUP RECEIVED ITS FIRST AIRCRAFT, V-72 (A-31 VULTEE "VENGEANCE") AIRCRAFT AND WAS REDESIGNATED FOR DIVE BOMBARDMENT, FIRST GROUP SO DESIGNATED. MOVEMENT TO ARMY AIRPORT, WAYCROSS, GA ACCOMPLISHED IN AUG 42 AND GROUP RECEIVED A-24 AIRCRAFT. MOVEMENT TO BLYTHE ARMY AIR BASE, BLYTHE, CA, OCT 42. DEC 42, GROUP ACQUIRES A-36 AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH BOMB RACKS AND DIVE BRAKES. NONE SQUADRON/0499/BOMBARDMENT (DIVE) SQUADRON/0500/BOMBARDMENT (DIVE) SQUADRON/0501/BOMBARDMENT (DIVE) SQUADRON/0502/BOMBARDMENT (DIVE)