Task Force 88 (TF88) was the escort carrier force, commanded by Rear Admiral Thomas Hope Troubridge of the Royal Navy, that supported Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France.
Its tasks were to achieve air superiority over the landing beaches, provide air support for the ground forces by suppressing enemy resistance and movement, destroying military infrastructure and artillery spotting for the naval bombardment.
The TF 88 designation was later used for Operation Argus, an ocean-based US nuclear test series in the late 1950s.
Task Force 88 was made up of two naval groups, 88.1 and 88.2 with VOC-01, a observation composite squadron with 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat nightfighters operating out of Corsica.
881 Naval Air Squadron (Grumman F4F Wildcat) VOF-01 (Grumman Hellcat) 882 Naval Air Squadron (Grumman Wildcat[a] VF-74 (F6F Hellcat) 879 Naval Air Squadron Supermarine Seafire 807 Naval Air Squadron Seafire 800 Naval Air Squadron F6F Hellcat 809 Naval Air Squadron Seafire 899 Naval Air Squadron Seafire (anti-aircraft cruiser) (anti-aircraft cruiser) (anti-aircraft cruiser) (flagship and Fighter Direction operations)