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83d Fighter-Day Group (later 83dTactical Fighter Group)
F-100 Super Sabres from Seymour Johnson AFB in the 1950s
Active	1943–1944; 1956–1967
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel John S. Loisel
Insignia
83d Fighter-Day Group emblem

The 83d Fighter-Day Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in September 1943 as the 83d Fighter Group. The group acted a Replacement Training Unit until April 1944, when it was disbanded as the Army Air Forces reorganized its training units in the United States. It was again activated in 1956, as Tactical Air Command reopened Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina as a fighter base. It was inactivated on 8 December 1957, when the 83d Wing converted from the wing base organization to the dual deputy organization.

History

World War II

The group was first activated at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia on 25 September 1943 as the 83d Fighter Group, with the 532d, 533d and 534th Fighter Squadrons assigned as its original components. The group was initially assigned to the Philadelphia Fighter Wing, but it was shortly thereafter decided that the unit would become a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). On 20 November, the 448th Fighter Squadron was assigned as a fourth squadron. Although the squadron was activated at Richmond, it moved to Dover Army Air Field, Delaware the same day. Two days later, group headquarters and the three other squadrons joined it at Dover.

At Dover, the group was an RTU for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots. RTUs were oversized units to train individual pilots or aircrews. However, the Army Air Forces (AAF) found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving not well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, the AAF adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit. Therefore, the 83d Group, along with its components and supporting units at Dover were disbanded on 10 April 1944 and replaced by the 125th AAF Base Unit (Fighter).

Tactical Air Command

The group was reconstituted and redesignated the 83d Fighter-Day Group. It was activated as part of the 83d Fighter-Day Wing in July 1956, as Tactical Air Command (TAC) began to expand its operations at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, which had reopened in April 1956. The group was assigned its three original squadrons, but initially operated a variety of aircraft, including transports and trainers to maintain pilot proficiency. Its only fighter aircraft were Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars, until it began to receive North American F-86H Sabres in October 1956.

The group became combat ready with its F-86s by June 1957 and participated in firepower demonstrations with its Sabres. In late 1957, the group began converting to the North American F-100 Super Sabre, but TAC reorganized the 83d Wing under the dual deputy organization. The group became non-operational on 7 November 1957, a few days before inactivating on 11 November, when its three operational squadrons were transferred directly to the 83d Wing.

The group was redesignated the 83d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985, but remained inactive.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 83d Fighter Group on 18 September 1943

Activated on 25 September 1943

Disbanded on 10 April 1944

• Reconstituted and redesignated the 83d Fighter-Day Group on 24 February 1956

Activated on 8 July 1956

Inactivated on 11 November 1957

Redesignated 83d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985

Assignments

• Philadelphia Fighter Wing, 25 September 1943
• I Fighter Command, c. 22 November 1943 – 10 April 1944
• 83d Fighter-Day Wing, 8 July 1956 – 11 November 1957

Components

• 448th Fighter Squadron: 20 November 1943 – 10 April 1944
• 532d Fighter Squadron (later 532d Fighter-Day Squadron): 25 September 1943 – 10 April 1944; 8 July 1956 – 11 November 1957 (Attached to 83d Fighter-Day Wing after 7 November 1957)
• 533d Fighter Squadron (later 533d Fighter-Day Squadron): 25 September 1943 – 10 April 1944; 8 July 1956 – 11 November 1957 (Attached to 83d Fighter-Day Wing after 7 November 1957)
• 534th Fighter Squadron (later 534th Fighter-Day Squadron): 25 September 1943 – 10 April 1944; 8 July 1956 – 11 November 1957 (Attached to 83d Fighter-Day Wing after 7 November 1957)

Stations

• Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 25 September 1943
• Dover Army Air Field, Delaware, 22 November 1943 – 10 April 1944
• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 8 July 1956 – 8 December 1957

Aircraft

• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
• Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, 1956
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1956
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1956
• Lockheed T-33 T-Bird, 1956
• Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, 1956
• North American F-86H Sabre, 1956-1957
• North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Lead aircraft is a North American F-100C-1-NA Super Sabre, serial 53-174. Wingmen are flying North American F-100F-NA Super Sabres, serials 56-3842 and 56-3868.
2. Approved 25 March 1957 for the 83d Fighter-Day Wing. The 83d Group uses the wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. Air Force Instruction 84-105, Organizational Lineage, Honors and Heraldry, 19 March 2013, para 3.3.3.
3. Aircraft is Republic P-47D Thunderbolt P-47D-20-RA, serial 43-25412, taken in 1944.
4. Aircraft is North American F-86H-10-NH Sabre, serial 53-1298.
5. Despite the similar name, the group is not related to the 83d Pursuit Group (Interceptor), which was constituted on 13 January 1942 and activated at New Orleans Army Air Base as part of Third Air Force on 9 February 1942, but disbanded on 15 February 1942. Maurer,Combat Units, p. 149.

Citations

1. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 118-119
2. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp.149-150
3. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 639-640
4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 640-641
5. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 641-642
6. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 428
7. ^ Maurer,Combat Squadrons, p. 554
8. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
9. Goss, p. 75
10. Mueller, pp. 111, 114
11. Mueller, p. 521
12. ^ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
13. Lineage through 1956 in Maurer, Combat Units, pp.149-150
14. See Ravenstein, pp.118-119 (dates assigned to 83d Fighter-Day Wing; Mueller, p. 524 (dates stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB).
15. Stations through 1944 in Maurer, Combat Units, pp.149-150
16. Mueller, p. 524

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L., eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

v t e Tactical Air Command (TAC)
Air Forces	First Ninth Twelfth Eighteenth Nineteenth
Air Divisions	20th (ADTAC) 21st (ADTAC) 23d (ADTAC) 24th (ADTAC) 25th (ADTAC) 26th (ADTAC) 28th (ADTAC) 831st 832d 833d 834th 835th 836th 837th 838th 839th 840th
Named units	Air Forces Panama Air Forces Iceland Air Defense, Tactical Air Command
Wings	TFW 1st 4th 12th 15th 20th 23d 27th 32d 33d 37th 50th 56th 312th 323d 347th 354th 355th Other 1st SOW 57th FWW 63d TAW 64th TAW 67th TRW 75th TRW 85th TFTW 317th TAW 363d TRW 405th TFTW 461st TBW 4505th ARW
Former bases	Active (MAJCOM) Altus (AETC) Brooks (AFMC) Cannon (AFSOC) Charleston (AMC) Creech (ACC) Davis–Monthan (ACC) Dover (AMC) Dyess (ACC) Eglin (AFMC) Hill (AMFC) Holloman (ACC) Hurlburt Field (AFSOC) Langley (ACC) Little Rock (AETC) Luke (AETC) MacDill (AMC) McChord (AMC) McConnell (AMC) Moody (ACC) Mountain Home (ACC) Nellis (ACC) Pope (AMC) Seymour Johnson (ACC) Shaw (ACC) Tonopah (ACC) Tyndall (AETC) Whiteman (ACC) Inactive Bergstrom Blythville Donaldson England Forbes George Howard Grenier Myrtle Beach Orlando Sewart Turner Williams Inactive, but with a military presence Bunker Hill Biggs Dow Godman Homestead Lockbourne March Otis
Aircraft	A-1 A-7 A-10 A-37 AC-47 AC-119 AC-130 B-26 B-57 B-66 C-7 C-47 C-82 C-119 C-123 C-130 E-3 E-8 EF-111 EC-135 F-4 F-5 F-15 F-16 F-47 F-51 F-80 F-82 F-84 F-86 F-89 F-100 F-101 F-102 F-104 F-105 F-106 F-111 F-117 H-1 H-5 H-6 H-19 H-43 H-60 H-53 KB-29 KB-50 KC-97 O-1 O-2 OH-23 OV-10 P-40 P-38 R-4 S-62 T-6 T-28 T-29 T-33 T-38

v t e USAAF First Air Force in World War II
Airfields	First Air Force Group Training Stations First Air Force Replacement Training Stations First Air Force Tactical Airfields Freeman Army Airfield Godman Army Airfield Selfridge Field
Units	Commands I Bomber Command I Fighter Command I Ground Air Support Command Wings 25th Antisubmarine 50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier Boston Fighter New York Fighter Norfolk Fighter Philadelphia Fighter Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 13th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 34th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 45th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302d Bombardment 400th Bombardment 402d Bombardment 455th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 471st Bombardment Combat Cargo 1st Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo 4th Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 56th Fighter 57th Fighter 58th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 83d Fighter 87th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 326th Fighter 327th Fighter 332d Fighter 348th Fighter 352d Fighter 353d Fighter 355th Fighter 356th Fighter 358th Fighter 359th Fighter 361st Fighter 362d Fighter 365th Fighter 366th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 402d Fighter 413th Fighter 476th Fighter Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 73d Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 10th Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 63d Troop Carrier 89th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 403d Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier Other 1st Search Attack 477th Composite Incidents Freeman Field Mutiny
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Fighter groups of the United States Air Force
• Military units and formations established in 1956