I have noticed that when I group two objects together, apply physics as the motion and add directional force to the scene a strange thing happens... the grouped object flips on frame one before it starts to drop. Any ideas?

not sure but it might be in the physics settings. Look at the initial velocity settings and all of that to see which axis is being affected. I wonder if the position of the physics tool in the scene is a factor . Maybe position it directly above the object.