US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as XII Ground Air Support Command on 10 Sep 1942 and activated on 17 Sep. Assigned to Twelfth AF. Redesignated XII Air Support Command in Sep 1942, and XII Tactical Air Command in Apr 1944. Moved to North Africa, Oct-Nov 1942. Col Demas T Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco: when the Allies landed on 8 Nov 1942, Col Craw volunteered to negotiate an armistice ; while trying to pass through the lines near Port Lyautey, he was killed by machine-gun fire. The command served in combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters until May 1945. Afterward, remained in Europe as part of the occupation force. Inactivated in Germany on 10 Nov 1947. Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948.

Structure

Part of

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  First Tactical Air Force

  
  The First Tactical Air Force was an ad-hoc multinational force established in November 1944 in south east France to provide air support to the Franco-American Sixth Army Group. It operated until May 1945. ...

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  Twelfth Air Force

  Headquarters
  The 12th Air Force was established in the USA during the Second World War to provide the Army Air Force component of Operation Torch (the invasion of French North Africa) in 1942. The Air Force initially moved to England for training before...

Encompassing

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  57th Bomb Wing

  Wing

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  47th Bomb Wing

  Wing

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  64th Fighter Wing

  Wing

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  63rd Fighter Wing

  Wing

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  5th Bomb Wing

  Wing
  The 5th Air Division (5th AD) originated on 19 October 1940 at McChord Field, Washington. Its initial mission was air defense of the northwest United States with three bombardment groups (12th, 17th and 39th) flying early B-17 Flying Fortresses (B-17C...

Previously was

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Became

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Citations

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