IX Air Force Service Command
Command![A ceremony to celebrate the handover of an RAF Airfield into US Army Air Force control. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 22 Jun 1943.' [stamp] and '270991.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'TRANSFER OF RAF AIRFIELD TO US ARMY AIR FORCE. 22-6-43, A formal ceremony was held today when Air Vice Marshall JH D'Albiac CB. DSO. of RAF Fighter Command, handed over an RAF Airfield to Brigadier General Robert Candee, Commanding General VIII Air Support command. K](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-456663.jpg.webp?itok=7Z3BwB8N)
Airfields of the Ninth Then & Now (R A Freeman, 1994)
Object Number - FRE 9791 - A ceremony to celebrate the handover of an RAF Airfield into US Army Air Force control. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone press.' [stamp], 'Passed...
The IX Air Force Service Command performed two functions: supplying the Ninth Air Force, and maintenance and major repair of airplanes and other equipment.
The Command was activated at MacDill Field, Florida on 1 September 1942, and sent to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations in December 1942. From Cairo the command supported the campaign in North Africa.
On 15 October 1943, the Command was sent to England where it was reorganised at Bushey Park, then Headquarters of the Eighth Air Force. It moved to Sunninghill on 16 November 1943. The command was charged with the responsibility of the maintaining the operational units of the Ninth Air Force and supporting their aims of spearheading the invasion of France. With this remit the command quickly became the largest Air Force Command in the European Theatre of Operations, reaching a maximum strength of 62,617 in August 1944.
Connections
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Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Maintenance
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Company
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Company
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: IX Air Force Service Command VIII Air Force Service Command 31st Transport Group 325th Ferry Squadron 335th Fighter Squadron No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885099
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Revisions
Removed note in nickname field added by user Phil Marchese pertaining to Eighth Air Force naming conventions, as information was both added in wrong place and irrelevant to this record. As per the Unit History at Bangor Public Library, the unit was designated IX Air Force Service Command in September 1942
See VIII AIR Support Command and 3rd BW transfer to Ninth Air Force after its redeployment from NWA/ME (MTO) to ETO.
Ninth air force service command Unit History from Bangor Public Library
Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)
![A ceremony to celebrate the handover of an RAF Airfield into US Army Air Force control. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 22 Jun 1943.' [stamp] and '270991.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'TRANSFER OF RAF AIRFIELD TO US ARMY AIR FORCE. 22-6-43, A formal ceremony was held today when Air Vice Marshall JH D'Albiac CB. DSO. of RAF Fighter Command, handed over an RAF Airfield to Brigadier General Robert Candee, Commanding General VIII Air Support command. K](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456663.jpg.webp?itok=QDMuoEjj)