On April 1, 1943, Waycross was made a sub-base of Drew Army Airfield, Tampa, Florida. In July 1943, the 311th Bomb Group was re-designated a Fighter-Bomber Group, shipped out to Tenth Air Force in India, and eventually into combat. The next month, the 85th Bomb Group and its four squadrons, the 499th, 500th, 501st, and 502nd, returned to Waycross from Harding Army Airfield, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 85th had been re-designated as a Fighter-Bomber Group, was assigned the new mission of training replacement pilots. In September, the 499th Fighter Squadron t moved to Harris Neck Army Airfield, near the Atlantic coast. The same month, the Army placed Waycross under the jurisdiction of Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida. On September 15, 1943, the 30th Service Group arrived increasing the personnel of the field to 4,250. In December 1943, the 499th returned to Waycross, the 500th moved to Harris Neck, and the 502nd transferred to Punta Gorda Army Airfield, Florida. During this time frame, the Group's squadrons were operating the Bell P-39 Airacobra. At the end of 1943, the last of six Service Groups departed and the main activity of the base turned to the training of fighter-bomber replacement pilots by the 501st Fighter-Bomber Squadron.