Number of planes in USAAF fighter units

[Bertrand H]

Hi,

In the USAAF handbook 39-45, Martin Bowman gives page 23 the number of a/c for a single-engined or a fighter bomber group : Three squadrons and 75 a/c

Page 24 we have by feb 1945 (a new ?) normal allocations of a/c and personnal to AAF groups : For the single-engine figher we have now 111/126 a/c.

Did the number of planes per squadron go from 25 to 37/42 between 1942 and 1945 ?

TIA,

Bertrand

[Graham Boak]

Basically, yes. That's why you see photos of aircraft with additional marks to show that they are not the only (for example) A, B etc in the unit, and they are able to fly multiple large formations on escort missions.

[Bertrand H]

Thank you Graham for this precision to which I had not paid attention...

For Beaufighter "US "do you know how many planes there were at the 415th NFS at the end of 1944 ?

Bertrand

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Bertrand H

Thank you Graham for this precision to which I had not paid attention...

For Beaufighter "US "do you know how many planes there were at the 415th NFS at the end of 1944 ?

Bertrand

I realise this probably isn't much help but I do have figures for the 414th and 416th NFS in 1945. The assigned numbers were 8 Beaufighters and 10 P-61s in the 414th; 12 Mosquitoes in the 416th

[Bertrand H]

Thank you Nick ; the order of magnitude could be ten by comparing with the other two units.

Bertrand

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Bertrand H

Thank you Nick ; the order of magnitude could be ten by comparing with the other two units.

Bertrand

Ten only if you compare night fighter squadron to a fighter group (ie 3 squadrons).

[Jim Oxley]

Originally Posted by Bertrand H

Hi,

In the USAAF handbook 39-45, Martin Bowman gives page 23 the number of a/c for a single-engined or a fighter bomber group : Three squadrons and 75 a/c

Page 24 we have by feb 1945 (a new ?) normal allocations of a/c and personnal to AAF groups : For the single-engine figher we have now 111/126 a/c.

Did the number of planes per squadron go from 25 to 37/42 between 1942 and 1945 ?
TIA,
Bertrand

If ever there was an example of the overwhelming power that the USA brought to the War, this is it.

[Bertrand H]

You are right and the colossal production figures the company: 299293 military a/c with 12677 B-17, 15579 P-47 or 14490 P-51 ...

Bertrand