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$Unique_ID{USH00396}
$Pretitle{56}
$Title{Air Force Combat Units of World War II
8th Fighter Group - 11th Bombardment Group}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Maurer, Maurer}
$Affiliation{USAF}
$Subject{col
group
lt
jun
apr
oct
dec
nov
field
jan}
$Volume{}
$Date{1986}
$Log{}
Book: Air Force Combat Units of World War II
Author: Maurer, Maurer
Affiliation: USAF
Date: 1986
8th Fighter Group - 11th Bombardment Group
8th Fighter Group
Authorized on the inactive list as 8th Pursuit Group on 24 Mar 1923.
Activated on 1 Apr 1931. Redesignated 8th Pursuit Group (Fighter) in 1939,
and 8th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) in 1941. Trained, took part in maneuvers
and reviews, and tested planes and equipment, using PB-2, P-6, P-12, P-35,
P-36, P-39, and P-40 aircraft prior to World War II. In Dec 1941, became part
of the defense force for the New York metropolitan area. Moved to the
Asiatic-Pacific Theater early in 1942. Redesignated 8th Fighter Group in May
1942. Became part of Fifth AF. Equipped first with P-39's, added P-38's and
P-40's in 1943, and used P-38's after May 1944.
Established headquarters in Australia in Mar 1942 but sent detachments to
New Guinea for operations. Moved to New Guinea in Sep 1942 and served in
combat until malaria forced the organization to withdraw to Australia in Feb
1943. Resumed operations in Apr 1943 and served in the theater through the
rest of the war. Covered Allied landings, escorted bombers, and attacked
enemy airfields in New Guinea; supported operations of the US Marines at Cape
Gloucester, Feb-Mar 1944; flew long-range escort and attack missions to
Borneo, Ceram, Halmahera, and the southern Philippines; provided cover for
convoys, attacked enemy shipping, and won a DUC for strafing a strong Japanese
naval force off Mindoro (26 Dec 1944) covered landings at Lingayen; supported
ground forces on Luzon; escorted bombers to targets on the Asiatic mainland
and on Formosa; and, in the last days of the war, attacked airfields and
railways in Japan. Remained in the theater after V-J Day, being based in
Japan for duty with Far East Air Forces. Converted to P-51's early in 1946
and to F-80's early in 1950. Redesignated 8th Fighter-Bomber Group in Jan
1950.
Began operations in the Korean War on 26 Jun 1950 by providing cover for
the evacuation of US personnel from Seoul. Entered combat the following day.
Shifted to F-51 aircraft in Oct 1950 but converted back to F-80's in Dec 1950.
Began operating from bases in Korea in Oct 1950, but resumed operations from
Japan in Dec 1950 when Communist forces drove far south in Korea. Returned to
Korea in Jun 1951. Served in combat until the end of the war, supporting UN
ground forces and attacking such targets as airfields, supply lines, and troop
concentrations. Maj Charles Loring Jr was awarded the Medal of Honor for his
action on 22 Nov 1952: after his plane had been hit and badly crippled as he
was leading a flight of four F-80's against enemy artillery at Sniper Ridge,
Maj Loring deliberately dived his plane into the gun emplacements. The group
converted to F-86's in the spring of 1953 and returned to Japan the following
year.
Squadrons. 33d: 1932-1941. 35th: 1932-. 36th: 1931, 1932-. 55th:
1931-1932. 68th: 1945-1947. 80th: 1942-1945, 1947-.
Stations. Langley Field, Va, 1 Apr 1931; Mitchel Field, NY, c. 5 Nov
1940-26 Jan 1942; Brisbane, Australia, 6 Mar 1942; Townsville, Australia, 29
Jul 1942; Milne Bay, New Guinea, 18 Sep 1942; Mareeba, Australia, Feb 1943;
Port Moresby, New Guinea, 16 May 1943; Finschhafen, New Guinea, 23 Dec 1943;
Cape Gloucester, New Britain, c. 20 Feb 1944; Nadzab, New Guinea, 14 Mar 1944;
Owi, Schouten Islands, 17 Jun 1944; Morotai, 19 Sep 1944; San Jose, Mindoro,
20 Dec 1944; Ie Shima, 6 Aug 1945; Fukuoka, Japan, 22 Nov 1945; Ashiya, Japan,
20 May 1946; Itazuke, Japan, Sep 1946; Ashiya, Japan, 13 Apr 1947; Itazuke,
Japan, 25 Mar 1949; Tsuiki, Japan, 11 Aug 1950; Suwon, Korea, 7 Oct 1950;
Kimpo, Korea, 28 Oct 1950; Pyongyang, Korea, 25 Nov 1950; Seoul, Korea, 3 Dec
1950; Itazuke, Japan, 10 Dec 1950; Kimpo, Korea, 25 Jun 1951; Suwon, Korea, 24
Aug 1951; Itazuke, Japan, 20 Oct 1954-.
Commanders. Unkn, 1931-1932; Maj Byron Q Jones, 25 Jun 1932; Capt Albert
M Guidera, 31 Mar 1934; Lt Col Adlai H Gilkeson, 1 Jul 1935; Lt Col William E
Kepner, 7 Jul 1938; Lt Col Edward M Morris, 1 Feb 1940; Lt Col Frederic H
Smith Jr, 17 Jan 1941; Lt Col William H Wise, 22 May 1942; Lt Col Leonard B
Storm, 8 Mar 1943; Lt Col Philip H Greasley, 10 Apr 1943; Lt Col Emmett S
Davis, 18 Jan 1944; Lt Col Philip H Greasley, 28 Jun 1944; Col Earl H Dunham,
8 Aug 1944; Lt Col Emmett S Davis, 16 Jun 1945; Lt Col Robert L Harriger, Dec
1945; Lt Col Fergus C Fay, 24 May 1946; Lt Col Luther H Richmond, Jul 1946;
Col Stanley R Stewart, Feb 1947; Col Henry G Thorne Jr, 12 Apr 1947; Col
Charles T Olmstead, c. 28 May 1948; Lt Col Richard C Banbury, 18 Aug 1948; Lt
Col Woodrow W Ramsey, 18 Mar 1949; Lt Col Charles D Chitty Jr, 21 May 1949;
Col William T Samways, 1 May 1950; Col Edward O McComas, 19 May 1951; Col
Harvey L Case Jr, 31 Jul 1951; Col Levi R Chase, 22 Jan 1952; Col Walter G
Benz Jr, 12 Sep 1952; Col John L Locke, 16 Sep 1953; Lt Col Walter A
Rosenfield, 13 May 1954; Col Woodrow B Wilmot, 16 Jul 1954-.
Campaigns. World War II: East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China
Defensive; Papua; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte;
Luzon; Southern Philippines. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF
Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall
Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter;
Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua, [Sep] 1942-23 Jan
1943; Philippine Islands, 26 Dec 1944; Korea, 16 Sep-2 Nov 1950. Philippine
Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations:
27 Jun 1950-31 Jan 1951; 1 Feb 1951-31 Mar 1953.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a chevron nebule or. Crest: On a wreath of
the colors (or and azure) three fleur-de-lis or in front of a propeller
fesswise azure. Motto: Attaquez Et Conquerez - Attack and Conquer.
(Approved 6 Sep 1934.)
8th Reconnaissance Group
Constituted as 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 15 Sep 1943.
Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Trained to provide photographic intelligence for air
and ground forces. Moved to India, Feb-Mar 1944. Equipped with F-5, F-6,
F-7, and P-40 aircraft. Conducted photographic reconnaissance, photographic
mapping, and visual-reconnaissance missions. Produced maps, mosaics, terrain
models, and target charts of areas in Burma, China, French Indochina, and
Thailand. Also bombed and strafed enemy installations and provided escort for
bombardment units. Redesignated 8th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945.
Returned to the US, Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on 5 Nov 1945. Disbanded on 6
Mar 1947.
Squadrons. 9th: 1944-1945. 20th: 1944-1945. 24th: 1944-1945. 40th:
1944-1945.
Stations. Peterson Field, Colo, 1 Oct 1943; Gainesville AAFld, Tex, 26
Oct 1943-12 Feb 1944; Bally, India, 31 Mar 1944-7 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ,
3-5 Nov 1945.
Commanders. Lt Col Paul A Zartman, 1 Oct 1943; Col Charles P Hollstein,
12 Dec 1943; Col James W Anderson Jr, 24 Jan 1945; Lt Col John R Gee, Oct
1945-c. 5 Nov 1945.
Campaigns. India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. None.
9th Bombardment Group
Authorized as 9th Group (Observation) on 19 Jul 1922. Organized on 1 Aug
1922. Redesignated 9th Bombardment Group in 1935, 9th Bombardment Group
(Medium) in 1939, and 9th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in 1940. Trained, took
part in maneuvers, and participated in air shows, during the period 1922-1940.
Equipped with B-10's and B-18's in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Moved to
Panama late in 1940 to serve as part of the defense force for the canal. Used
B-17's for antisubmarine operations in the Caribbean. Returned to the US in
1942. Equipped with B-17, B-24, and B-26 aircraft. Trained cadres for
bombardment units and tested equipment.
Redesignated 9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Mar 1944. Prepared
for combat with B-29's. Moved to the Pacific theater, Nov 1944-Feb 1945, and
assigned to Twentieth AF. Commenced operations late in Jan 1945 with attacks
against Japanese-held Maug. After that, struck industrial targets in Japan,
conducting the missions in daylight and at high altitude. Received a DUC for
bombing the industrial area of Kawasaki in Apr 1945. Beginning in Mar 1945
the group carried out incendiary raids at night on area targets in Japan.
During Apr and May it assisted the Allied assault on Okinawa by hitting
airfields that the Japanese were using to launch planes against the invasion
force. Also conducted mining operations against Japanese shipping, receiving
second DUC for such actions in the Inland Sea during May 1945. After the war,
dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners and took part in show-of-force
missions over the Japanese home islands. Moved to the Philippines in Apr 1946
and to the Marianas in Jun 1947. Inactivated on Guam on 20 Oct 1948.
Redesignated 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Group. Activated in the US on
1 May 1949. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Equipped primarily with
B-29's although a few B-36's were assigned during 1949-1950. Redesignated 9th
Bombardment Group (Heavy) in Apr 1950, and 9th Bombardment Group (Medium) in
Oct 1950. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.
Squadrons. 1st: 1922-1923; 1929-1948; 1949-1952. 5th: 1922-1923;
1929-1948; 1949-1952. 99th: 1929-1948; 1949-1952. 430th: 1943-1944.
Stations. Mitchel Field, NY, 1 Aug 1922-6 Nov 1940; Rio Hato, Panama, 12
Nov 1940; Waller Field, Trinidad, 30 Oct 1941; Orlando AB, Fla, 31 Oct 1942;
Dalhart AAFld, Tex, 9 Mar 1944; McCook AAFld, Neb, 19 May-18 Nov 1944; North
Field, Tinian, 28 Dec 1944; Clark Field, Luzon, 15 Apr 1946; Harmon Field,
Guam, 9 Jun 1947-20 Oct 1948. Fairfield Suisun AFB, Calif, 1 May 1949-16 Jun
1952.
Commanders. Unkn 122 929; Maj William O Ryan, 1929-unkn; Col Follett
Bradley, Jun 1933-May 1934; Col Walter H Frank, Aug 1934-1936; Lt Col Carl W
Connell, 1 Sep 1936-unkn; Col Ross F Cole, Apr 1940; Maj Charles F Born, Aug
1941-unkn; Lt Col Stuart P Wright, 1942; Lt Col Gerald E Williams, 1942; Col
Harry G Montgomery, 10 Nov 1942; Col James T Connally, 15 Dec 1942; Col Donald
W Eisenhart, 1 May 1944; Col Henry C Huglin, 6 Mar-Aug 1945; Col David Wade,
Sep 1945-c. 25 Apr 1947; unkn, Apr 1947-20 Oct 1948. Lt Col Walter Y Lucas, 1
May 1949; Col Donald W Eisenhart, 24 Aug 1949; Col William P. Brett, 27 Mar
1950; Lt Col Walter Y Lucas, 24 Jun 1950; Col Clifford Heflin, 6 Jul 1950-16
Jun 1952.
Campaigns. Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan;
Western Pacific.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Kawasaki, Japan, 15/16 Apr
1945; Japan, 13-28 May 1945.
Insigne. Shield: Per pale vert and sable a pallet wavy argent; over all
on a fess or four crosses patee of the second (sable). Crest: On a wreath of
the colors (argent and vert) a rattlesnake entwined about a prickly pear
cactus all proper. Motto: Semper Paratus - Always Ready. (Approved 20 Mar
1924.)
9th Reconnaissance Group
Constituted as 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 15 Sep 1943.
Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Assigned to Third AF. With squadrons attached but
none assigned, the group trained crews and units for photographic
reconnaissance and combat mapping. Aircraft included B-17's, B-24's, F-4's,
F-5's, F-7's, and A-20's. Disbanded on 6 May 1944.
Squadrons. (See narrative.)
Stations. Will Rogers Field, Okla, 1 Oct 1943-6 May 1944.
Commanders. Lt Col Paul A Zartman, 11 Nov 1943; Lt Col Hiette S Williams
Jr, c. 5 Dec 1943-unkn.
Campaigns. None.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. None.
10th Reconnaissance Group
Constituted as 73rd Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep
1941. Engaged in training activities, participating in the Tennessee
Maneuvers in 1943. Redesignated 73rd Reconnaissance Group in Apr 1943, 73rd
Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943, and 10th Photographic Group
(Reconnaissance) in Dec 1943. Moved to the European theater, Jan-Feb 1944,
for duty with Ninth AF. Used F-3, F-5, F-6, L-1, L-4, and L-5 aircraft for
operations, Feb 1944-May 1945. Photographed airfields, coastal defenses, and
ports, and made bomb-damage assessment photographs of airfields, marshalling
yards, bridges, and other targets, in preparation for the Normandy invasion;
received a DUC for flying at low altitude to photograph the coast from
Blankenberghe to Dunkirk and from Le Touquet to St-Vaast-la-Hougue, 6-20 May
1944. Supported the invasion in Jun by making visual and photographic
reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road and railroad junctions, traffic
centers, airfields, and other targets. Assisted the Allied drive toward the
German border during the summer and early fall of 1944 by flying daylight and
night photographic missions; also performed tactical reconnaissance for ground
and air units, directing artillery to enemy positions and fighter-bombers to
opportune targets. Aided Third Army and other Allied organizations in the
battle to breach the Siegfried Line, Sep-Dec 1944. Participated in the Battle
of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by flying reconnaissance missions in the
combat zone. From Feb 1945 to V-E Day, assisted the advance of Third Army
across the Rhine, to Czechoslovakia, and into Austria. Remained in Germany
after the war as part of the army of occupation, being assigned to United
States Air Forces in Europe. Redesignated 10th Reconnaissance Group in Jun
1945. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Jun 1947.
Remanned and equipped with RF-51's. Redesignated 10th Tactical Reconnaissance
Group in Jun 1948. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949.
Activated in Germany on 10 Jul 1952. Assigned to United States Air
Forces in Europe. Equipped with RB-26, RB-57, RF-80, and RF-84 aircraft.
Squadrons. 1st: 1945-1949; 1952-. 12th: 1941-1942, 1944-1946. 14th:
1943. 15th (formerly Observation): 1942-1943, 1944-1945, 1947-1949. 15th
(formerly Photographic): 1947. 16th: 1941-1942. 22d: 1941-1942. 30th:
1944. 31st: 1944-1945. 32d: 1952-. 33d: 1944. 34th: 1944, 1945. 36th
(formerly 28th): 1942-1943. 38th: 1952-. 39th: 1945. 42d: 1952-. 91st:
1941-1942, 1942-1943. 111th: 1945. 152d: 1943. 155th (formerly 423rd,
later 45th): 1944-1945, 1945-1947. 160th: 1945-1947. 162d: 1945.
Stations. Harrisburg, Pa, 1 Sep 1941; Godman Field, Ky, c. 7 Nov 1941;
Camp Campbell AAFld Ky c. 23 Jun 1943; Key Field, Miss, Nov 1943-Jan 1944;
Chalgrove, England, Feb 1944; Rennes/St-Jacques, France, c. 11 Aug 1944;
Chateau-dun, France, c. 24 Aug 1944; St-Dizier/Robinson, France Sep 1944;
Conflans/Doncourt, France, Nov 1944; Trier/Evren, Germany, Mar 1945; Ober Olm,
Germany, c. 5 Apr 1945; Furth, Germany, c. 28 Apr 1945; Furstenfeldbruck,
Germany, Apr-Jun 1947; Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947; Lawson Field, Ga, c. 8
Sep 1947; Pope Field, NC, 27 Sep 1947-1 Apr 1949. Furstenfeldbruck AB,
Germany, 10 Jul 1952; Toul/Rosiere AB, France, Nov 1952; Spangdahlem AB,
Germany, May 1953-.
Commanders. Maj Edgar M Scattergood Jr, 1 Sep 1941; Lt Col John C
Kennedy, c. 6 Nov 1941; Capt Phillip H Hatch, c. 24 Jan 1942; Lt Col Robert M
Lee, c. 9 Feb 1942; Maj Burton L Austin, c. 26 Dec 1942; Lt Col Bernard C
Rose, c. 19 Jan 1943; Lt Col Crawford H Hollidge, c. 28 Jan 1943; Maj William
A Daniel, c. 4 Aug 1943; Col William B Reed, 9 Sep 1943; Col Russell A Berg,
20 Jun 1944-unkn; Lt Col W D Hayes Jr, 1945; Col Marvin S Zipp, 11 Jan 1946-19
Jun 1947; Lt Col James L Rose, 1 Oct 1947; Lt Col Harrison R Christy Jr, 16
Dec 1947; Lt Col Edward O McComas, 6 Jan 1948; Col William A Daniel, 26 Jan
1948-unkn. Lt Col Barnie B McEntire Jr, 10 Jul 1952; Col Willie O Jackson Jr,
Dec 1952; Lt Col Steven R Wilkerson, c. 22 Sep 1953; Col Howard Withycombe, 23
Feb 1954; Col Arthur E Smith, 13 Jul 1954; Col Fred W Dyer, c. 23 Jun 1955-.
Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern
France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 6-20 May 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Azure a sphere or, latitude and longitude lines sable,
in chief the head and arms of the Greek mythical god Argus, head facing base,
arms fesswise both hands toward dexter of the second, outlined of the field.
Motto: Argus - Ceaseless Watch. (Approved 29 Dec 1942.)
10th Troop Carrier Group
Constituted on the inactive list as 1st Transport Group on 1 Oct 1933.
Consolidated with the 10th Observation Group (which had been constituted on
the inactive list on 1 Oct 1933), redesignated 10th Transport Group, and
activated, on 20 May 1937. Trained with C-27's and C-33's. As part of the
logistic organization, assigned first to Office of Chief of the Air Corps and
later (1941) to Air Service Command, the group transported supplies, materiel,
and personnel within the US. Assigned to Air Transport Command (later I Troop
Carrier Command) in Apr 1942. Redesignated 10th Troop Carrier Group in Jul
1942. Converted to C-47's. Trained cadres for troop carrier groups and in
1943 was given the additional duty of training replacement crews. Disbanded
on 14 Apr 1944.
Squadrons. 1st: 1937-1943. 2d: 1937-1943. 3d: 1937-1940. 4th:
1937-1940. 5th: 1937-1944. 27th: 1942-1943, 1943-1944. 38th: 1942-1944.
307th: 1943-1944. 308th: 1943-1944.
Stations. Patterson Field, Ohio, 20 May 1937; Wright Field, Ohio, 20 Jun
1938; Patterson Field, Ohio, 17 Jan 1941; General Billy Mitchell Field, Wis,
25 May 1942; Pope Field, NC, 4 Oct 1942; Dunnellon AAFld, Fla, 13 Feb 1943;
Lawson Field, Ga, 30 Nov 1943; Grenada AAFld, Miss, 21 Jan 1944; Alliance
AAFld, Neb, 8 Mar-14 Apr 1944.
Commanders. Maj Hugh A Bevins, May 1937; Capt Lyman Whitten, Jun 1938;
Maj Fred Borum, 1939; Capt Murray E Woodbury, Jan 1941; Capt Theodore Q Graff,
2 Sep 1941; Capt Maurice Beach, 1 Apr 1942; Maj Loren Cornell, 1 Aug 1942; Maj
Douglas M Swisher, 30 Aug 1942; Lt Col Boyd R Ertwine, 25 Oct 1942; Lt Col
Erickson S Nichols, 28 Jan 1943; Lt Col Henry P King, 12 May 1943-14 Apr 1944.
Campaigns. American Theater.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: Azure, ten bendlets or surmounted by a torteau
fimbriated of the second charged with a wheel winged bend sinisterwise of the
like. Motto: Alatum Servitium - Winged Service. (Approved 9 Dec 1941.)
11th Bombardment Group
Constituted as 11th Observation Group in 1933. Redesignated 11th
Bombardment Group (Medium) in 1938. Activated in Hawaii on 1 Feb 1940.
Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in Nov 1940. Assigned to Seventh
AF in Feb 1942. Trained with B-18's; received B-17's for operations. Flew
patrol and search missions off Hawaii after the Japanese attacked Pearl
Harbor. Moved to the New Hebrides in Jul 1942. Became part of Thirteenth AF.
Struck airfields, supply dumps, ships, docks, troop positions, and other
objectives in the South Pacific, Jul-Nov 1942, and received a DUC for those
operations. Continued operations, attacking Japanese airfields,
installations, and shipping in the Solomons, until late in Mar 1943. Returned
to Hawaii, reassigned to Seventh AF, and trained with B-24's. Resumed combat
in Nov 1943 and participated in the Allied offensive through the Gilberts,
Marshalls, and Marianas, while operating from Funafuti, Tarawa, and Kwajalein.
Moved to Guam in Oct 1944 and attacked shipping and airfields in the Volcano
and Bonin Islands. Moved to Okinawa in Jul 1945 to take part in the final
phases of the air offensive against Japan, bombing railways, airfields, and
harbor facilities on Kyushu and striking airfields in China. After the war,
flew reconnaissance and surveillance missions to China and ferried liberated
prisoners of war from Okinawa to Luzon. Remained in the theater as part of
Far East Air Forces but had no personnel assigned after mid-Dec 1945 when the
group was transferred to the Philippines. Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group
(Very Heavy) in Apr 1946. Transferred to Guam in May 1946, remanned, and
equipped with B-29's. Terminated training and operations in Oct 1946.
Inactivated on Guam on 20 Oct 1948.
Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy). Activated in the US on 1
Dec 1948. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-36 aircraft.
Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.
Squadrons. 14th: 1940-1941. 26th: 1940-1948; 1948-1952. 42d:
1919-1948; 1948-1952. 98th: 1941-1948; 1948-1952. 431st: 1942-1946.
Stations. Hickam Field, TH, 1 Feb 1940; New Hebrides, Jul 1942; Hickam
Field, TN, 8 Apr 1943; Funafuti, Nov 1943; Tarawa, 20 Jan 1944; Kwajalein, 5
Apr 1944; Guam, 25 Oct 1944; Okinawa, 2 Jul 1945; Manila, Dec 1945; Guam, May
1946-20 Oct 1948. Carswell AFB, Tex, 1 Dec 1948-16 Jun 1952.
Commanders. Lt Col Walter F Kraus, Feb 1940; Lt Col St Clair Streett, 15
Jun 1940; Lt Col Albert F Hegenberger, 1 Apr 1941; Col LaVerne G Saunders, Mar
1942; Col Frank F Everest, Dec 1942; Col William J. Holzapfel Jr, 26 Apr 1943;
Col Russell L. Waldron, 7 Jul 1944; Col John Morrow, Mar 1945-c. Dec 1945; Col
Vincent M Miles Jr, 20 May 1946; Capt Thomas B Ragland Jr, Nov 1946; Capt
Thomas B Hoxie, 27 Dec 1947-20 Oct 1948. Maj Russell F Ireland, Dec 1948; Lt
Col Harry E Goldsworthy, 11 Jan 1949; Col Richard H Carmichael, May 1949; Col
Bertram C Harrison, 4 Mar 1950; Col Thomas P Gerrity, 3 Apr 1950-16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns. Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Guadalcanal; Northern
Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: South Pacific, 31 Jul-30 Nov
1942.
Insigne. Shield: Azure (Air Force blue), on a bend or (Air Force
yellow), three grey geese volant proper (in their natural colors). Crest: On
a wreath or and azure a grey goose proper with wings displayed and inverted.
Motto: Progressio Sine Timore Aut Praejudicio - Progress without Fear or
Prejudice. (Approved 11 Jun 1941.)