World War II The
group was activated as part of
III Fighter Command at
Dale Mabry Field, Florida in July 1942. The group initially flew a mix of
Bell P-39 Airacobras,
Curtiss P-40 Warhawks,
Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and
North American P-51 Mustangs. In February 1943, the group added a fourth
squadron, the
441st Fighter Squadron. After this squadron was operational, the group began a split operation, with group
headquarters and the 305th and 306th Squadrons remaining at Dale Mabry Field, while the 312th and 441st Squadrons operated from
Perry Army Air Field, Florida. The group and its squadrons were disbanded in May 1944, The
560th Bombardment Squadron, which was already active at Orchard Park, however, was not assigned to the group until the end of September. In October, the
42d Fighter Squadron was activated and assigned to the group. The group trained under the supervision of
Air Defense Command (ADC)'s 141st AAF Base Unit (Reserve Training) (later the 2471st Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center). As the post war Air Force took shape, the
National Guard was considered the first line of reserve. Reserve units got what was left over after National Guard units received facilities, equipment and aircraft. Aircraft were allotted to reserve units as a means of maintaining flying proficiency, not combat readiness. Aircraft assigned to the reserves were overwhelmingly trainers. In July 1948
Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and
Air National Guard units from ADC. In September 1948, the group's 561st Squadron moved to
General Mitchell Field, Wisconsin, although it remained assigned to the group. The 338th was inactivated when ConAC reorganized its reserve units under the
wing base organization system in June 1949. President
Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, The Air Force reorganized its operational reserve forces into 25 wings located at 23 reserve training centers, a reduction of 18 training centers. At O'Hare, the 338th Group and its squadrons were inactivated, and most of its personnel transferred to the
437th Troop Carrier Wing. The 561st Squadron in Wisconsin was also inactivated, but its inactivation temporarily ended reserve flying operations there. ==Lineage==