The 1st Proving Ground Group is a disbanded

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

unit. It was last active with the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, based at

Eglin Field Eglin may refer to: * Eglin (surname) * Eglin Air Force Base Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso, Florida, Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Flor ...

, Florida, where it was disbanded on 1 April 1944. The unit's personnel/equipment/mission was taken over by the 610th Army Air Forces Base Unit (AAF Base Unit) and 611th AAF Base Unit. The group was originally established as the 23d Composite Group and was part of the

Air Corps Tactical School The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. ...

with a mission that focused on developing and demonstrating

tactics Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics In chess, a tac ...

and doctrine. After moving to Eglin it also conducted testing of experimental weapons.

History

The

group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...

was established at

Maxwell Field Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation under the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. ...

, Alabama in August 1939 as the 23d Composite Group.Abstract, History 23d Composite Group August 1939-Sep 1943
Air Force History Index''See'' It was assigned the 1st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Bombardment Squadron (Light)Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 125 (not manned until 1940) and the 54th Bombardment Squadron (Medium).Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 223 Throughout the 1930s, there had been a number of attempts to have Air Corps tactical units demonstrate current tactics to students attending the

, which was the advanced school for Air Corps officers. The impracticability of scheduling a recently trained unit with modern aircraft for these demonstrations led the school to recommend the formation of a composite unit permanently stationed with the school as early as 1932. The recommendation was disapproved because of the lack of personnel or equipment that could be dedicated to this mission. The establishment of the group was finally approved in August 1939, with the understanding that the group would also assume the demonstration and exhibition function that was being carried out by combat units of

Air Force Combat Command The Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the prim ...

., pp. 18-19 The group was also assigned the mission of performing tactical service tests of aircraft and other equipment; developing and testing new air tactics; and demonstrating these new tactics to the service schools of the other branches of the

Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

, to General Headquarters, and at Air Corps stations. However, because the Tactical School suspended classes in June 1940, because experienced officers were required for the expansion of the Air Corps in response to the war in Europe and could not be spared for a nine-month-long school, the group was only able to support the school for a short time. In September 1940, the group moved to

Orlando Army Air Base Orlando Executive Airport is a public airport three miles (6 km) east of downtown Orlando, in Orange County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and serves general aviation. Overview Orlan ...

, Florida, which would become the base for the

Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by p ...

. The group transferred from Orlando for assignment to Eglin Field to conduct flight testing activities in July 1941. At Eglin it was redesignated as the Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment, then the Air Corps Proving Ground Group. On 1 May 1942, the group's three original squadrons were disbanded as it focused on weapons development rather than tactics. In 1944, the group conducted "Operation Crossbow" program to determine the best method of attacking German V-1 "buzz bomb" sites along the French and Dutch coasts, February 1944. Began testing the

Republic-Ford JB-2 The Republic-Ford JB-2, also known as the Thunderbug, KGW and LTV-N-2 Loon, was an American copy of the German V-1 flying bomb. Developed in 1944, and planned to be used in the Allied invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall), the JB-2 was ...

, an American version of the German V-1, which became the foundation of the Air Force guided missile program, October 1944.History of Eglin Air Force Base
. Air Armament Center Office of History The AAF found standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the support mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit. Accordingly, the group was disbanded and the testing mission and associated personnel of the group were assumed by the 611th AAF Base Unit (Flight Test) (later 611th AF Base Unit (Proof Test Group)). At the same time the 610th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Proving Ground Complement) assumed the equipment, and personnel of the group associated with base support as well as those of the 118th WAC Post Headquarters Company, 2051st Ordnance Company, Aviation (Service), 869th Signal Service Company (Aviation), 24th Aviation Squadron, 4th AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron, and 1453d Quartermaster Service Company (Aviation). Later in 1944, the 610th assumed the electronics and flight test activities of the 611th and became the 610th AAF Base Unit (Flight Test). The 610th transferred its base support activities to the 609th AAF Base Unit (Airdrome Group) in January 1947 and was discontinued on 1 August 1947 with its mission assumed by Army Air Forces Proving Ground (Provisional).''See'' Mueller, pp. 133-141 The 611th AAF Base Unit was discontinued on 9 July 1948, when the

Air Proving Ground Command The Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command (AAF PGC) was the primary testing command of the United States Army Air Forces (1946-47), and then the United States Air Force (1947-57). In March 1946, the Army Air Forces Center was redesignated the ...

reorganized according to the Wing/Base (

Hobson Plan The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States A ...

) model.

Lineage

* Constituted as: 23d Composite Group, and activated on 1 August 1939 : Redesignated as: Air Corps Proving Ground Detachment on 1 July 1941 : Redesignated as: Air Corps Proving Ground Group on 10 April 1942 : Redesignated as: 1st Proving Ground Group on 16 April 1943 : Disbanded on 1 April 1944.

Assignments

* Air Corps Tactical School, 1 August 1939 * Office of the Chief of Air Corps, 1 June 1940 * Air Corps Proving Ground (later Proving Ground Command), 15 May 1941 – 1 April 1944

Stations

* Maxwell Field, Alabama * Army Air Base, Orlando, Florida, 1 September 1940 * Eglin Field, Florida, 29 May 1941- 1 April 1944Mueller, p. 137

Components

* 1st Pursuit Squadron (later 1st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)): 1 August 1939 - 1 May 1942 * 1st Proving Ground Torpedo Squadron: 27 August 1942 – 1 April 1944 * 24th Bombardment Squadron (Light): 1 December 1939 - 1 May 1942 * 54th Bombardment Squadron (Medium): 1 October 1939 - 1 May 1942 * 1000 Quartermaster Boat Company (Aviation)(later 4th AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron): 9 September 1942 – 1 April 1944 * 2051st Ordnance Company, Aviation (Service): By 1 June 1943 – 1 April 1944 * 3062d Ordnance Company, Aviation (Service)

Aircraft

Curtiss A-12 Shrike The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps' second monoplane ground-attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s. It was based on the A-8, but had a radial engine instead of the A-8's inline, wate ...

, 1940–1942 *

Curtiss A-18 Shrike The Curtiss A-18 ''Model 76A Shrike II'' was a 1930s United States twin-engine ground-attack aircraft. It was the production test version of Curtiss' A-14 Shrike. Design and development In the years leading up to World War II, the United State ...

, 1940–1942 *

Douglas A-20 Havoc The Douglas A-20 Havoc (company designation DB-7) is an American light bomber, attack aircraft, Intruder (air combat), night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II. Designed to meet an Army Air Corps requirement for ...

, 1940–1942 * Stearman XA-21, 1940–1942 *

Martin B-10 The Martin B-10 is a bomber aircraft designed by the Glenn L. Martin Company. It was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by the United States Army Air Corps, having entered service in June 1934.Jackson 2003, p. 246. It wa ...

, 1940–1942 * Martin B-12, 1939–1940 *

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during ...

, 1939–1942 *

Douglas B-18 Bolo The Douglas B-18 Bolo is an American twin-engined medium bomber which served with the United States Army Air Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force (as the Digby) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was developed by the Douglas Airc ...

, 1940–1942 * Douglas B-23 Dragon, 1940–1942 *

North American B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allies of World War ...

, 1940–1942 *

Martin B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in ...

, 1941–1942 * North American BC-1A, 1941–1942 * Lockheed C-36 Electra, 1940–1942 * Lockheed C-40 Electra, 1939–1940 *

Douglas O-38 The Douglas O-38 is an observation airplane used by the United States Army Air Corps in the 1930s and early 1940s. Between 1931 and 1934, Douglas built 156 O-38s for the Air Corps, eight of which were O-38Fs. Some were still in service at the t ...

, 1939–1940 *

Grumman OA-9 Goose The Grumman G-21 Goose is an amphibious flying boat designed by Grumman to serve as an eight-seat "commuter" aircraft for businessmen in the Long Island area. The Goose was Grumman's first monoplane to fly, its first twin-engined aircraft, and i ...

, 1939–1942 *

Bell YFM-1 Airacuda The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was an American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Bell Aircraft Corporation for the United States Army Air Corps during the mid-1930s. It was the first military aircraft produced by Bell. Originally designated th ...

, 1939–1940 *

Consolidated P-30 The Consolidated P-30 (PB-2) was a 1930s United States two-seat fighter aircraft. An attack version called the A-11 was also built, along with 2 Y1P-25 prototypes and YP-27, Y1P-28, and XP-33 proposals. The P-30 is significant for being the firs ...

, 1939–1940 *

Curtiss P-36 Hawk The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, is an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation ...

, 1939–1942 *

Curtiss YP-37 The Curtiss YP-37 was an American fighter aircraft developed by Curtiss-Wright in the late 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A derivative of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk, the YP-37 was designed to improve performance by replacing the ...

, 1939–1940 *

Bell P-39 Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by th ...

, 1941–1942 *

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter-bomber that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry ...

, 1941–1942 * Waco PT-14, 1939–1942 * Stearman PT-17, 1939–1940 *

Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main Carrier-based aircraft, ...

, 1939–1940 (Navy)

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * {{cite book, last=Ravenstein, first=Charles A., title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977, url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave, year=1984, publisher=Office of Air Force History, location=Washington, DC, isbn=0-912799-12-9, url-access=registration Groups of the United States Army Air Forces Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 1939 establishments in Alabama