Fifteenth Air Force

Headquarters
Second World War formation badge for the United States 15th Air Force (United States Army Air Force). The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by the US Quartermaster General on 19 February 1944. Formation note: the 15th Air Force (US Army Air Force, Fifteenth Air Force) was formed on 1 November 1943 at Tunis in North Africa and moved to Italy on 1 December. The Force was disbanded on 15 September 1945 having participated in twelve campaigns.© IWM (INS 7304) media-36277.jpeg INS 7304 Second World War formation badge for the United States 15th Air Force (United States Army Air Force). The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by the US Quartermaster General on 19 February 1944. Formation note: the 15th Air Force (US Army Air Force, Fifteenth Air Force) was formed on 1 November 1943 at Tunis in North Africa and moved to Italy on 1 December. The Force was disbanded on 15 September 1945 having participated in twelve campaigns.

© IWM (INS 7304) IWM collections

Object Number - INS 7304 - Second World War formation badge for the United States 15th Air Force (United States Army Air Force). The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by...

The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force.



It was established on 1 November 1943 in Tunis, Tunisia, and commenced combat operations the following day. The Air Force was formed as part of reorganisation of the Twelfth and Ninth Air Forces, and activated with a strength of 90 B-24 Liberators and 210 B-17 Flying Fortresses, inherited from its predecessors. From December 1943 13 new groups arriving from the US were added to the Fifteenth Air Force, most equipped with B-24 Liberators.



Like the Eighth Air Force in Britain, it was hoped that the Fifteenth would be able to attack Occupied Europe from Italy and the Mediterranean, and keep up the offensive when bad weather in Britain grounded the Eighth Air Force. When the Allies progressed into Italy the Fifteenth were able to reach targets in South France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Balkans which were out of the range of the Eighth Air Force.



During the Second World War the Fifteen heavy bomber groups of the 15th Air Force lost 2,110 Bombers on operations. Its seven Fighter Groups claimed 1,836 enemy aircraft destroyed.



The Fifteenth was inactivated in Italy on 15 September 1945.

Commanding Officers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: O-271855
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Established

Lycée Carnot de Tunis 1 November 1943

Based

Bari 3 December 1943 - 15 September 1945

Previously was

  • Unit Hierarchy: Command
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Encompassing

  • Unit Hierarchy: Wing
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 19192279
  • Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force 419th Bomb Squadron 301st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 14076318
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 15341640
  • Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 19159401 / O-786238
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) Fifteenth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: O-271855
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General

Aircraft

"Vivienne"  41-28965
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Vivienne
  • Unit: 513th Bomb Squadron 376th Bomb Group Fifteenth Air Force
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Alabama Express
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force
A P-39 Airacobra (serial number 42-4561) of the 15th Air Force. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1943.' [stamp] and '23193.' [Censor no.]
  • Aircraft Type: P-39 Airacobra
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: Fifteenth Air Force

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations made to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
Contributormbowen
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Fifteenth Air Force: Gallery (324 items)