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 Superfortress]] 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 western [[United States]] ports by ship.
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 Superfortress]] 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 western [[United States]] ports by ship.
In September 1945, just after the [[Surrender of Japan]], a few advance elements of [[Eighth Air Force]] arrived on [[Tinian]] and [[Guam]]. Eighth Air Force was transferred from [[England]] to be a second strategic air force in the [[Pacific War]], with a mission to carry out B-29 attacks on the [[Japanese Archipelago|Japanese Home Islands]] during the planned [[Operation Downfall|Invasion of Japan]] beginning in November 1945. These advance units were reassigned to other stations in December 1945.
Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval forces in the tactical campaigns against Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands.
Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval forces in the tactical campaigns against Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands.
Revision as of 03:01, 28 January 2009
Airfields of the United States Army Air Force in the Central Pacific Area
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.
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 Superfortress 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 western United States ports by ship.
In September 1945, just after the Surrender of Japan, a few advance elements of Eighth Air Force arrived on Tinian and Guam. Eighth Air Force was transferred from England to be a second strategic air force in the Pacific War, with a mission to carry out B-29 attacks on the Japanese Home Islands during the planned Invasion of Japan beginning in November 1945. These advance units were reassigned to other stations in December 1945.
Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval forces in the tactical campaigns against Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands.
Note: Only 420th Bombardment Squadron of group arrived with B-29 Aircraft, 464th and 872d Bomb Squadrons only ground echelons arrived. Air Echelon of squadrons with assigned aircraft remained in United States until inactivation.
See Also
United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific War (1941-1945)