The first unit to train at Dale Mabry Field was the 79th Fighter Group, which was formed at the field in early February 1942 and equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks. It then moved to Morris Field, North Carolina, in early May 1942. It was replaced by the 81st Fighter Group which moved from Morris Field in early May. The 81st was equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. It trained until the end of June before moving to Muroc Field in California, in preparation for deployment to the South Pacific. However it was instead, deployed to Egypt.
