United States Army Air Forces in the Central Pacific Area: Difference between revisions
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During [[World War II]], the [[United States Army Air Forces]] engaged in combat against the [[Empire of Japan]] in the Central Pacific Area. As defined by the [[War Department]], this consisted of most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the [[Philippines]], [[Australia]], the [[Netherlands East Indies]], the Territory of [[New Guinea]] (including the Bismarck Archipelago) the Solomon Islands and areas to the south and east of the Solomons. |
During [[World War II]], the [[United States Army Air Forces]] engaged in combat against the [[Empire of Japan]] in the Central Pacific Area. As defined by the [[War Department]], this consisted of most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the [[Philippines]], [[Australia]], the [[Netherlands East Indies]], the Territory of [[New Guinea]] (including the Bismarck Archipelago) the Solomon Islands and areas to the south and east of the Solomons. |
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The initial USAAF combat organization in the region was [[Seventh Air Force]], which was originally formed in Hawaii as the Army Air defense command for the islands. After the Pearl Harbor Attack on 7 December 1941, Seventh Air Force retained the mission of its predecessor of the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and until the closing months of the war it maintained its headquarters at Hickam Field. The command however, deployed most of its combat units to the Central Pacific. |
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As the war progressed, some Seventh Air Force units moved into the [[South West Pacific theatre]] and coordinated their activities with [[Fifth Air Force|Fifth]] and [[Thirteenth Air Force]] units in [[New Guinea]], [[Netherlands East Indies]] and [[Philippines]] during 1944 and 1945. |
As the war progressed, some Seventh Air Force units moved into the [[South West Pacific theatre]] and coordinated their activities with [[Fifth Air Force|Fifth]] and [[Thirteenth Air Force]] units in [[New Guinea]], [[Netherlands East Indies]] and [[Philippines]] during 1944 and 1945. |
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In 1944, [[Twentieth Air Force]] was reassigned from the [[China Burma India Theater of World War II|China Burma India Theater]] to bases in the [[Marianas]] chain of islands, consisting primarily of [[Saipan]], [[Tinian]], and [[Guam]]. The Marianas airfields were considered as being ideal bases from which to launch B-29 operations against [[Japan]]. The islands were about 1500 miles from [[Tokyo]], a range which the B-29s could just about manage. Most important of all, they could be put on a direct supply line from the [[United States]] by ship. |
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Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval ground forces in the campaigns against Japan in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands, being commanded directly from USAAF headquarters at the Pentagon. |
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==Airfields and unit assignments== |
==Airfields and unit assignments== |
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{{USAAF 7th Air Force World War II}} |
{{USAAF 7th Air Force World War II}} |
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{{USAAF 20th Air Force World War II}} |
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[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]] |
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]] |
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During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces engaged in combat against the Empire of Japan in the Central Pacific Area. As defined by the War Department, this consisted of most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands East Indies, the Territory of New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago) the Solomon Islands and areas to the south and east of the Solomons.
The initial USAAF combat organization in the region was Seventh Air Force, which was originally formed in Hawaii as the Army Air defense command for the islands. After the Pearl Harbor Attack on 7 December 1941, Seventh Air Force retained the mission of its predecessor of the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and until the closing months of the war it maintained its headquarters at Hickam Field. The command however, deployed most of its combat units to the Central Pacific.
As the war progressed, some Seventh Air Force units moved into the South West Pacific theatre and coordinated their activities with Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force units in New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies and Philippines during 1944 and 1945.
In 1944, Twentieth Air Force was reassigned from the China Burma India Theater to bases in the Marianas chain of islands, consisting primarily of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The Marianas airfields were considered as being ideal bases from which to launch B-29 operations against Japan. The islands were about 1500 miles from Tokyo, a range which the B-29s could just about manage. Most important of all, they could be put on a direct supply line from the United States by ship.
Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval ground forces in the campaigns against Japan in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands, being commanded directly from USAAF headquarters at the Pentagon.
Airfields and unit assignments
See Also
- United States Army Air Forces in Australia
- United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific Area
- United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre
- United States Army Air Forces in Okinawa
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
External links
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