00080260
3-4585-1
UNCLASSIFIED
2430010
01-15-1941
2431211
04-30-1944
GROUP/0053/FIGHTER
HISTORY
GP-53-HI
0000001252
B0149
4
16
12
21
2445987
10-13-1984
ACTIVATED AT MCDILL FIELD FL ON 15 JAN 41 AS THE 53 PURSUIT GROUP. ASSIGNED THE P-35 AIRCRAFT AND P-40 AIRCRAFT. RELOCATED TO DALE MABRY FIELD FL DURING DEC 41 AND ON 19 DEC 41 GROUP MOVED TO CHARLESTON SC IN PREPARATION FOR OVERSEAS SHIPMENT. UNIT SAILED FOR PANAMA ON 26 DEC 41 AND THROUGH COORDINATION WITH THE TRANSFER, P-39 AIRCRAFT WERE ASSIGNED TO REPLACE THE P-35 AIRCRAFT AND P-40 AIRCRAFT. ASSIGNED TO HOWARD FIELD, CZ. UNIT WAS REDESIGNATED TO 53 FIGHTER GROUP ON 4 JUN 42. RELOCATED TO UNITED STATES ON 10 NOV 42 ARRIVING AT FORT MYERS ARMY AIR FIELD FL IN FEB 43. DURING MAY 43 ONE SQUADRON RECEIVED P-51 AIRCRAFT, REPLACING THE P-39 AIRCRAFT, AND BY AUG 43 THE ENTIRE GROUP WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE P-47 AIRCRAFT. GROUP CONTINUED AS A REPLACEMENT TRAINING UNIT AT FORT MYERS, TRAINING FIGHTER PILOTS FOR OVERSEAS DUTY, UNTIL ITS INACTIVATION IN APR 44. ROSTER OF COMMANDING OFFICERS AND STATIONS. INCLUDES UNIT INSIGNIA. DISCUSSES TRAINING, ORGANIZATION, ACTIVATION OF SQUADRONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES.
NONE
GROUP/0053/PURSUIT