▁Tw elf th ▁Air ▁Force . ▁▁ ▁H Q , ▁ 6 4 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing , ▁ 1 9 ▁ ▁June – 1 9 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁▁ 8 6 th ▁F ighter ▁Group , ▁ 1 9 ▁ ▁June – 1 2 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁P - 4 7 ▁Th under bol t ▁▁ 4 3 9 th ▁Tro op ▁Car rier ▁Group , ▁ 1 8 ▁ ▁July – 2 4 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁C - 4 7 ▁Sky train ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁the ▁group ▁historian ▁of ▁the ▁ 8 6 th , ▁the ▁air field ▁was ▁put ▁into ▁use ▁by ▁the ▁group ▁with ▁the ▁front ▁lines ▁just ▁a ▁few ▁miles ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁field . ▁ ▁When ▁the ▁first ▁elements ▁arrived , ▁they ▁found ▁a ▁bur nt - out ▁German ▁half - track ▁with ▁numerous ▁cas ual ties ▁in ▁it , ▁along ▁with ▁numerous ▁empty ▁German ▁hel m ets ▁scattered ▁around . ▁ ▁At ▁Or bet ello ▁the ▁ 8 6 th ▁transition ed ▁from ▁the ▁A - 3 6 ▁Apache ▁to ▁the ▁P - 4 7 ▁Th under bol t ▁and ▁was ▁red es ign ated ▁a ▁F ighter ▁Group ▁from ▁its ▁former ▁F ighter - B om ber ▁design ation . ▁ ▁Also , ▁the ▁ 6 4 th ▁F ighter ▁Wing ▁set ▁up ▁headquarters ▁on ▁the ▁air field . ▁ ▁As ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁southern ▁France ▁( Operation ▁Drag oon ), ▁the