Zemke's Wolfpack: The 56th Fighter Group of World War II

The famous 56th Fighter Group is the subject of this video. It was one of the premier fighter groups in all of Europe during World War II. From its first operational mission on April 13, 1943, through the end of the war in Europe, it scored 677 German aircraft destroyed in air-to-air combat -- the second-highest among U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighter groups in the European Theater, the highest of all Eighth Air Force groups, and the highest among all P-47 Thunderbolt-equipped groups of the USAAF. First commander of the 56th was Colonel Hubert "Hub” Zemke, a fearless and highly respected leader. He devised the "Zemke fan" tactic to enhance the flexibility of fighters escorting bombers. Instead of flying close escort, the fighter group would rendezvous at an easily found landmark from which it would break up into squadrons and fan out, maintaining contact to respond to attacks on the bombers. The 56th called itself "Zemke's Wolfpack." Former Air Force officer and current museum docent Matt Ouding tells us about the 56th and personal stories of some of its most famous members. Watch Matt's presentation and then see a flight of the museum’s P-47 Thunderbolt, a “D” model like those of the 56th.