▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁its ▁service , ▁the ▁group ▁provided ▁support ▁services ▁for ▁units ▁at ▁R AF ▁H ales worth , ▁including ▁an ▁air - se a ▁rescue ▁squad ron . ▁The ▁group ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 5 ; ▁its ▁attached ▁units ▁were ▁directly ▁sub ordin ated ▁to ▁the ▁ 6 5 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ▁and ▁remaining ▁personnel ▁transferred ▁to ▁an ▁air ▁service ▁squad ron . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁group ▁was ▁activ ated ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁at ▁Green castle ▁( Ar my ▁Air ▁Forces ▁Station ▁ 2 3 7 ) ▁in ▁County ▁Down , ▁ ▁Northern ▁Ireland . ▁The ▁group ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁VIII ▁Compos ite ▁Command , ▁which ▁had ▁been ▁formed ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁to ▁provide ▁oper ational ▁training . ▁On ▁ 2 7 ▁December ▁the ▁ 4 9 6 th ▁was ▁moved ▁without ▁personnel ▁to ▁G ox hill ▁( A AF ▁Station ▁ 3 4 5 ) ▁in ▁Lincoln shire . ▁The ▁group ▁operated ▁Com bat ▁C rew ▁Rep lacement ▁Center ▁# 8 . ▁Colonel ▁Harold ▁W . ▁McG ee , ▁G ox hill ▁station ▁commander , ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 9 6 th ▁F T G . ▁Support ▁units ▁at ▁G ox hill ▁formerly ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁ 6 7 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ▁were ▁cons olid ated ▁into ▁the ▁ 4 9 6 th . ▁The ▁group ▁included ▁the ▁ 5 5 4 th ▁F ighter ▁Training ▁Squadron ,