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Second World War formation badge for the United States 9th Air Force (United States Army Air Force). The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved by the US Quartermaster General on 16 September 1943. Formation note: the 9th Air Force (US Army Air Force, Ninth Air Force) was formed on 8 April 1942 at the New Orleans Army Air Base in Louisiana. The Force served as the US Army Middle East Air Force. Medium bombers and fighters of 9th Air Force supported the British 8th Army (Eighth Army) across North Africa. It served in the Italian campaign and was transferred to England in October 1943 where it provided tactical support for the campaigns in North West Europe. It was disbanded 2 December 1945. © IWM (INS 7305)
"Capt. Lowell B. Smith, 1554 Scenic Ave., Berkley Calif., a 9th AF pilot who spends most of his time co-operating with ground troops, was a recent recipient of timely co-operation originating with a ground unit. Returning to his base after running out of ammunition, Capt Smith was attacked by a Me109 when an anti aircraft unit spotted the Luftwaffe plane and downed it with a few quick bursts. L-R: Cpl Miles E hoyle Jr [Fallston NC], Cpl Hubert C Wright [Linton IN], PFC Alexander Alex [South St. Paul MN], PFC Edward J Merbar [Cleveland OH], members of gun crew and Capt Smith. FRANCE." - New years day 1945, Luftwaffes last throw of the dice - Op Bodenplatte. Capt LB Smith was taking off 15 mins early for a close support mission, just as Fw190's and Me109's streaked in to strafe Asch A/D. Smith's section salvoed their bombs and got stuck in. Capt Smith downed 2 x Fw190's and forced a bouncing Fw190 to overshoot him. It subsequently crashed.
"Final check and inspection of rocket launcher are made by a ground crewman. The rocket has three sections: fuse, war-head and motor. The acceleration of projectile opens six fins that are folded into body of rocket before projectile. France." - 9th AF P-47 with mixed load of bombs and RP's.
"FRAMED IN ARMOR-Surrounded by .50 caliber bullets, a Martin B-26 Marauder gunner of the First TAC AF mans his gun. This is the guardian who is forever on the alert, forever keen, who constantly scans the skies for any Luftwaffe interceptors. S/Sgt Richard J Hightower [Macon, MO] has flown 40 missions against the Nazis best and not once has his plane been hit by the enemy. Judging by the lines on his face, a record like this is not mere luck. FRANCE.."
"FRANCE-A 9th Air force armorer preparing 20 mm. ammunition for the guns of a Northrup P-61 Black Widow night fighter. Defensive aircraft, the night fighter patrols the Siegfried Line area to intercept intruding enemy aircraft. Sgt. Chester Damrow, Brownwood, TX is the armorer."
"T/Sgt. Robert N. Nash, Rapid City, SD., installs rocket tubes onto a P-47 fighter bomber at this advanced first TAC AF fighter field in France. The tenacious, hard-hitting P-47s strafing and bombing the enemy on this front, press home the air war with triple-threat intensity vis machine gun, bomb and rockets." - P-47D 'Tish VII' W3-F 44-197?7 assigned to the 313FS, 50FG.
"This is a muzzle end view of three bazooka guns mounted on the wing struts of a Piper Cub Artillery liaison plane somewhere in France. Three launchers are attached to each wing of the plane. U.S. Army 9th Air force Service Command Armament specialists initiated and developed the idea of converting a few of the light craft into rocket firing planes. The guns may be fired individually or in salvo. Sights are left on launcher to aid bore-sighting."
"1st Lt. Francis G Tuscher (left) of Auburndale, MA., ordnance and transportation officer of a 9th Air force unit in France, supervises the operation of a hoist he made of captured German material to aid in the speedy loading of bombs on Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of the 9th. With him are Sgt George F Chase [centre] of NY City and S/Sgt Walter E Holm of Idaho Falls, ID." - P-47D coded 2N-F 81FS, 50FG, 9AF USAAF.
"Capt William E Smith (now Maj.), right and his crew chief, Sgt Herman T Levy, 828 McBride St., Syracuse, N.Y., examine the bombs load of 'Rat Poison' just before the Martin B-26 Marauder takes off on its 164th mission. FRANCE." - B-26B 41-31606 'Rat Poison' 553BS, 386BG, 9AF.
"Col. Thomas G. Corbin, left, group commander and pilot of "Rat Poison" and Capt. William E. Smith (now Maj.) crouch in the bomb bay to discuss the Martin B-26 Marauder's 164th mission, just before the take-off. FRANCE." - B-26B 41-31606 'Rat Poison' 553BS, 386BG, 9AF.
Constituted as V Air Support Command on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Redesignated Ninth AF in Apr 1942. Moved to Egypt and began operations on 12 Nov 1942, participating in the Allied drive across Egypt and Libya, the campaign in Tunisia, and the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Moved to England in Oct 1943 to become the tactical air force for the invasion of the Continent. Helped prepare for the assault on Normandy, supported operations on the beach in Jun 1944, and took part in the drive that carried the Allies across France and culminated in victory over Germany in May 1945. Inactivated in Germany on 2 Dec 1945.
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force Fighter Command
From 1909 to 1913, Kepner served in the US Marine Corps. By 1916 he was a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard. After a short spell in the US cavalry, in 1917 he transferred to the infantry as a captain and commanded a company at the Battle...
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General
Lewis Hyde Brereton (June 21, 1890 – July 20, 1967) was a military aviation pioneer and lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. A 1911 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he began his military career as a United States Army officer...
Military | General | Commanding General 9th Air Force
Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg (January 24, 1899 – April 2, 1954) was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence.
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Squadron
Established as a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron in early 1942. Engaged initially in antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; redesignated as a heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South...
Command
IX Air Defense Command was established in the ETO to carry out Air Defence, it over saw fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft artillery and signal warning units.
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Command
Command
Command
Command
Command
Group
The 98th trained for bombardment missions with B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942.
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Group
Battalion
Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsaces, and Central Europe; Distinguished Unit Citation: 3-8 August 1944 (Company "A" only); Meritorious Unit Commendation: 13 January - 25 March 1945; Occupation Service: 20 May - 5 July 1945 ...
US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) was activated on 28 June 1942 in Cairo, Egypt. It brought together several units which had been operating the area including the HALPRO Detachment, and Lewis Brereton's 9th Bomb Squadron.
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 366th Fighter Group
Killed in Action on 21 January 1945 in P-47 Thunderbolt 44-20424.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Nantes in B-26 41-31974. Hit by flak in target area, smoke seen trailing from starboard engine, control lost, A/C turned on its back, crashed Trois Moulins, 12km Sth of Nantes,...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 391st Bomb Group
Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin, crashed....
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Aerial Gunner | 416th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Radio / Gunner | 394th Bomb Group
Assigned to 586BS, 394BG, 9AF USAAF. Lt Myron E Brown Crew [#5].
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier/Navigator | 416th Bomb Group
Military | Major | Bomb / Nav | 391st Bomb Group
Assigned to 575BS, 391BG, 8AF USAAF. Bomb/Nav of “Silver Dollar,” B-26C 42-107671, shot down about 30 miles south of their target, the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany. 23-Dec-44. A/C last seen with starboard engine feathered and port engine...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 416th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 438th Troop Carrier Group
Assigned to 87TCS, 438TCG, 9AF USAAF. Piloted C-47A 42-100745 from US to ETO.
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 24. Failed to Return (FTR) Nimoyceques, FR with Herb Price crew. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1216
B-24 Liberator
Although the B-24D Liberator, SN #41-23771, named, 'Jerk's Natural', was part of the 8th Air Force based in Britain, the the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron, it spent time on detached service to the 9th Air Force in North Africa, hence the...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 'The Duchess', was in the 8th Air force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 330th Bombing Squadron in Britain. - Transferred temporarily to the 9th Air Force in North Africa and flew on Operation Tidal Wave to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti,...
B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 555BS, 381BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) St Omer, France 8-Sep-43 last seen with engine feathered dropping out of formation escorted by several Spitfires.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 559BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. 149 x combat mission. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Bastogne. Shot down by Me109's, pilot 2Lt Vernon O Staub hit in face by 20mm cannon shell and killed instantly, went down with A/C. Crew baled out. 6 x...
B-26 Marauder
B-26 41-31698 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 2 March 1944. Pilot Oliver Jopling and tail gunner Richard Byrem survived. The four other crew members died: Arnold Warmuth, Irving Lerman, John Gober and James White; MACR 2525.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 322BG, 449BS, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 96, 17 Jul 43 to 4 Jun 44; recoded PN-N, Missions flown 16; 17 Jun 44 to 12 Aug 44.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.
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B-26 Marauder
Assigned to 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Siracourt,France. Damaged badly enough by AAA [hit in port engine, which was feathered and undercarriage dropped, possibly hydraulic damage] on the 21-Apr-44 mission to cause the crew to bail...
B-26 Marauder
Assigned to the 553rd Bombardment Squadron of the 386th Bomb Group, 9th AF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb a bridge near Ecouché 28-Jul-44. Collided with Fw190 fighter. 6 x KIA. MACR 7016.
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 12 November 2019 22:22:05 | ihanson7 | Changes to person associations |
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My Grandfather |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 September 2019 14:25:52 | Emily | Changes to type, category, insignia, us air force combat units of world war ii description, unit part of associations and commanding officers associations |
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Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 June 2019 19:54:59 | Claiborne Stokes | Changes to type and air forces |
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CMS |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 September 2016 15:02:15 | Al_Skiff | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Added Gordon E Batdorf. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:42:43 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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