Group or Wing? Depends on which Airforce you served…
So, we’re often asked about the terminology surrounding the USAAF during the Second World War. Most well known are the ‘Groups’ and they often had their own insignias. So, in our latest episode Lightning Strikes & The Ragged Irregulars of Bassingbourne, this plane was part of the 401st Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.
For those unversed, an American “group” typically comprises 3-4 squadrons, each “squadron” originally contained around 12 planes each, but as the war progressed this number grew and sometimes Squadrons more than doubled their size. As a result, Groups themselves also exponentially grew, often being divided into two with an A & B group. Regardless of Group size however, a “wing” was made up of several groups. In turn, multiple wings make up a “division”. In the Second World War, the Eighth Airforce eventually had 3 Divisions.
At the bottom end of the scale a “flight” is a group of Aircraft that originally numbered between 4-12 planes but that depended on the number of aircraft available. So you can send a flight up which could also be an entire Squadron. But usually however, the number donated a smaller number as many planes in a squadron would typically be being serviced, refitted or were waiting for replacement.
So, in early 1943, only on ‘Maximum Effort’ days would a flight consist of an entire Squadron, more likely it would be between 6-9 on average. For the 401’st, it was sometimes much lower, 3-4 planes because of the horrific losses they endured.
In the field Army there is some similarity – you have 4 man Squads (but also Sections of 7-12 men), 12-30 men Platoons, 120 men Companies, 600 men Battalions and 1,200 men Regiments. You then have 3-4000 men Brigades usually made up from different Regiments, and then Divisions that usually consist of three Brigades. So in terms of organisational make up it’s very similar with the fly boys but of course not an exact science as there are more men than planes!
Squad / Section = Flight
Platoon = Squadron
Company = Group. (In the RAF this definition would be a Wing – see below)
Battalion = Wing (In the RAF this definition would be a Group)
(Regiment = Big Wing (this was thing in WW2) or a couple of wings. However, a Regiment in the Army is something that can grow or shrink so not an exact comparison.)
Brigade = Several Wings
Division = Division
During WWII, under the command of stalwart generals like Ira Eaker and Jimmy Doolittle, the Eighth Air Force, also known as the “Mighty Eighth,” forged history’s mightiest air armada. By mid-1944, boasting a force exceeding 200,000 personnel, it could deploy over 2,000 four-engine bombers and 1,000 fighters in a single mission against European targets.
But it does get a little more confusing, because the RAF used slightly different terminology where a Group and Wing were reversed. So a Wing was made up of several squadrons and Group was made up of several Wings.
Who came first? We don’t know, probably the British as we have the world’s oldest Airforce the RAF. However, it was the American who created the first fighter aircraft.
Anyway, if you want to hear more, please listen to our podcast Lightning Strikes & The Ragged Irregulars of Bassingbourne.
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