00080945 4205-41 UNCLASSIFIED 2429265 01-01-1939 2430937 07-31-1943

GROUP/0084/FIGHTER BOMBER

HISTORY GP-84-HI 0000001278 B0169 1131 1152 21 35 2445987 10-13-1984 BETWEEN 1 JAN 39 AND 7 DEC 41, GROUP HAD NOT YET BEEN ACTIVATED. ACTIVATION REALIZED 5 JAN 42 AT HUNTER ARMY AIR FIELD, SAVANNAH, GA. REDESIGNATED 12 FEB 42 AS LIGHT BOMBARDMENT. GROUP WAS DERIVED FROM 3 BOMBARDMENT GROUP. GROUP CONTAINED FIRST SQUADRON DESIGNATED FOR DIVE BOMBING. GROUP ITSELF WAS DESIGNATED FOR DIVE BOMBING IN JUL 42. GROUP'S FIRST AIRCRAFT WAS RT-14 AIRCRAFT AND WAS LATER EQUIPPED WITH A-24 AND V-72 (A-31 VULTEE "VENGEANCE") AIRCRAFT. GROUP'S OPERATIONS DEMONSTRATED THAT V-72 AIRCRAFT WAS UNSUITED FOR DIVE BOMBING TACTICS. GROUP WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STATIONED AT DREW ARMY AIR FIELD, FL, FEB 43. GROUP WAS PRIMARILY A TRAINING ORGANIZATION AND PARENTED SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS: 85, 311, 312, 339, 405 AND 407 BOMBARDMENT; AS WELL AS CONDUCTING THE TRAINING OF 20 CHILEAN PILOTS. NONE