US Army Air Force

A-36 in Italy

U.S Air Force

Ground crews servicing a North American A-36A Apache aircraft of USAAF’s 86th 86th Fighter Bomber Group, on an Italian airfield, late 1943. At beginning 86th Fighter Group, 86th Fighter Bomber Group from 23 August 1943, when were already in Italy, the group was deployed on many bases in Sicily and Italian mainland. One year later the group received its final wartime designation, again 86th Fighter Group, and replaced the A-36 with the P-47 Thunderbolt. The last Italian base, late 1944, of the 86th was Pisa. Early 1945 the 86th was transferred in France and, finally, in Germany. Victor Sierra