Boreham, home of the 394th Bomb Group. It is assigned to Kandahar Airfield and is also the host unit at Kandahar. The 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) nicknamed "Bomber Barons" operated in the South Pacific (SOPAC) during World War II. Thirteenth Air Force began operations in November 1942 as an organization composed of many widely separated Seventh Air Force and independent units scattered in the South Central Pacific during the Solomon Islands campaign. 32nd Bomb Group,13th,32 SD, 13th AF, Bombardment, Army,Air,Corps . They were equipped with SRC-717-B search and navigation radar. The 864th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. On 6 October 2006, after a one-year transformation of command and control of air, space and information operations in the Pacific, Thirteenth Air Force officially began operations as a component numbered air force headquarters and welcomed a new commander. 2013 2023 WW2 Research Inc. All rights reserved. 48th Materiel Squadron, 5th Air Base Group: 1083rd Signal Company, 301st Air Service Group: 48th Squadron, 313rd Troop Carrier Group . D-Day 394th B-26s 584BS 42-96081 - 2 missions (Lucky Star) 42-96068 42-96062 - 2 missions (War Horse) 42-107592 (Stinky) 42-96026 - 2 missions (Victory Read) 42-96267 42-96067 (Firebird) 42-96226 - 2 missions (Pretty Polly) Bombed lava flowing from Mauna Loa, diverting it from the city of Hilo, Hawaii, 27 Dec 1935. 376th Heavy Bombardment Group. If you are a 13th AAF Veteran and would like to share your experiences, please contact me at - jeff@5thbomberbarons.com. 394th Bomb Group Group View all 46 images Object Number - FRE 7468 - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 43-34200) nicknamed "Sure Go for No Dough" of the 394th Bomb Group, at Mount Farm. This website honors and preserves the record of the 384th. Ravenstein, Charles A. As the Vietnam War escalated during the late 1960s and early 1970s, 13AF again served as a staging base and logistics manager for units fighting in Southeast Asia. photo: Creative Commons / Dsns.gov.ua https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4./deed.en. Constituted 5 Air Police Squadron, Strategic Reconnaissance on 1 Jul 1949. There is a B-17G tail gunner's compartment on display at the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to this crew. Former Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback, assumed command of the unit 6 October, replacing Maj. Gen. Edward A. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. During World War II, 13th AF consisted of two major commands, XIII Fighter Command and XIII Bomber Command. An official website of the United States government, https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. In December 1948, the unit moved to Kadena, Okinawa, where it remained for only a few months before returning to Clark in May 1949. The group provides an airpower presence in the Afghanistan area of operations. Regards, Nick Veronico. The planes flown by the 868th were often called SB-24s and sometimes LABs (Low Altitude Bomber). The 613th Support Group maintains a consolidated commander's support staff providing personnel support for the entire headquarters; an operational support flight providing facility, training, readiness, and security management; and has two subordinate units: the 56th Air and Space Communications Squadron and the 17th Operational Weather Squadron. 322nd Bomb Group (M) 330th Bomb Group. ARTIFACT: This is a World War II United States Army Air Forces 262683634410 FOR SALE! It became a Bombardment Group in March 1938, moving up in scale from medium bombers in 1939 to heavy bombers in 1940, although by the start of the Second World War it was still equipped with a mix of B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-18 Bolo Medium bombers. It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 3rd Combat Cargo Squadron: 3rd Rescue Squadron, 13th AF / 5th AF South Pacific: 3rd Staff Squadron, AAF: 3rd Weather Squadron Walt Disney: 4th Anti-submarine SQ. 394th Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy Legacy ID 18647 Legacy Alias /db-abmc-burial-unit/394th-bomber-squadron-5th-bomber-group-heavy Legacy Source db_abmc_burial_unit Carl H. Calloway Read more John C. Burt Read more Frank D. Buthman Read more Richard V. Buchignani Read more Eugene H. Brush Read more Howard S. Browman Read more 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron que significa dormir con las piernas flexionadas hacia arriba. Redesignated 5 Combat Defense Squadron, and activated, on 21 Feb 1963. The 394th Combat Training Squadron was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 509th Operations Group until inactivated on 13 April 2018. Far East Air Force: 491st Bomb Squadron: 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group: 491st Bomber Squadron, 341st Bomber Group, Medium . The Fifth Air Force and the Thirteenth Air Force were combined to become the Far East Air Forces FEAF (not to be confused with the Far East Air Force - singular, under General Brereton in the Philippines in October 1941) under General George C. Kenney on 15 June 1944. The first wave of Japanese aircraft that attacked U.S. military installations in Hawaii was a powerful aerial armada of 49 high-altitude bombers, 51 dive-bombers, 40 torpedo planes and 43 fighter aircraft; an air force comparable in number to several wings in today's USAF inventory. Formed into 868th Bomb Squadron in January 1944 and operated . 13th Air Force Known as the Cactus Air Force, the 13th AF served in the South and Southwest Pacific. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 19471977. 1st Lt. O-777 165: HANN, Nathan: 2nd Lt. . Activated on 13 January 1943. It was one of the oldest continuously active numbered air forces in the United States Air Force. The history of the Bomber Barons of the Thirteenth "Jungle" Air Force as compiled by the 5th Group Historical Officer, and released for publication by the 13th Air Force Public Relations Officer Cover title: History of the Fifth Bomb Group Electronic reproduction Master and use copy. 351st Bomber Group, Heavy: 13th Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit: 510th . Constructors Number 2251. Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Apr 1946, and 5th Reconnaissance Group in Feb 1947. 394th Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force. Object number: FRE 7467 - Diamond li. Headquarters, 13 AF is made up of an A-staff (the Air Force Forces staff), personal staff, 613th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC), known as the Maj Richard Bong AOC, and the 613th Support Group. Since World War II, it has provided air defense in the Far East, primarily the Philippines, until the 1991 eruption of Mt. The FEAF deployment order specified that the two RB-17 aircraft be equipped with normal armament insofar as practicable, not to interfere with the photographic capability of the aircraft. All necessary personnel were alerted just after midnight and the crews were breakfasting by 0230 hours. (1984). Crew members: 1st Lt. Ralph J. Lauper, St. George, Utah, Pilot 1st Lt. Charles W. Grogan, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, Co-pilot Airmen from the 394th Bombardment Squadron gather for a group photo during World War II at an unknown location. The Thirteenth Air Force relocated and officially established its headquarters at Andersen Air Force Base on 2 December 1991. During the Korean War, 13AF units provided staging areas for people and equipment destined for the war zone. 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron. Many thanks for the commentary, My take is the WAFS/WASPS deserve a bit more of history's 'time in the books'. Hi Bill. https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, Upon completion of the second bomb run, the formation was attacked by an estimated fifty to seventy-five FW-19Us and ME-109's. Served in the South Pacific and, later, Southwest Pacific, Pinatubo forced the closure of Clark AB. 327th Air Division reported in this capacity to United States Taiwan Defense Command. The 6204th Photo Mapping Flight, located at Clark AB, Philippines, deployed the Flight's two RB-17 aircraft complete with combat crews and maintenance personnel to Johnson AB, Japan in mid-June 1950. Constituted as Thirteenth AF on 14 Dec 1942. on 13 Jan 1943. which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for service in Southwest Pacific, [1-9] Dec 1942. regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters. Inactivated in the Philippines on 15 March 1946. Major General St. Clair Street was in command of the Thirteenth Air Force. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.' "The heaviest losses sustained by the 391st Bombardment Group in a single operation occurred on 23 December 1944, after an attack on the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany (11). Airmen from the 394th Bombardment Squadron gather for a group photo during World War II at an unknown location. FEAF was the functional equivalent in the Pacific of the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) in the European Theater of Operations. 13th Air Force 5th Bomb Group 394th Bomb Squadron (H) CREW MEMBERS OF B-24L AIRPLANE #44-41541. Inactivated on 8 Apr 1959. The unit was demobilized after the war in 1919. Visit our 13th Air ForceHonor Project with rosters of servicemen who served in the groups of the 13th. 5th Bomb Group (H) Association President - Bud Storrs foxtrot70@yahoo.com . Starr, Bill, During the Cold War, 13 AF remained in the Philippines, providing air defense of the nation and becoming one of the Numbered Air Forces of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The only thing we know about my grandfather is that his name was James Lee Wilson, and disappeared during the war. It was Thirteenth Air Force P-38Gs of the 339th Fighter Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group which, on 18 April 1943, flew the mission which resulted in the death of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Squadron 13: Bulldawgs The silver bulldog characterizes the loyalty, moral resolve, and dogged pursuit of duty typical of Bulldawg cadets while the silver lightning bolt signifies their courage, dedication, and strength. The B-52H can carry precision guided ordnance with worldwide precision navigation. Remanned in Mar 1947, equipped with FB-17's and F-2's, and engaged in mapping areas of the Philippines, Formosa, and the Pescadores. Please note that your data will be managed in the US by the American Air Museum in Britain charity. By early December the detachment returned to Clark AB and resumed the flight's mapping program in the Philippine area. Its last assignment was with the 494th Bombardment Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where it flew Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses under Strategic Air Command.It was inactivated on 2 April 1966. The 5th BG was the first overseas group to be equipped with the new Boeing heavy bomber. The bomber can fly at high subsonic speeds at altitudes reaching 50,000 feet. 13th AF 5th BG 394th BS Former Assignments 19th BG 435th BS USAAF c1943 USAAF c1943 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. rob stafford daughter chicago fire. The first combat mission undertaken by the Group occurred on Friday 30th July 1943. She passed away 10 years ago. Moved to the US in May 1949. My Blog 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron Comments: kansas smart search 0 baikal firearms canadath charter flights from miami to . In September 2012, 13 AF was inactivated and its functions merged into PACAF. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Formerly 349th Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group. The group headquarters is located at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (13 AF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Roblox Id , Galapagos Finches Speciation , Leanne Cushing Bio , Fox Chase Farm Community Day 2021 , Does Sam Marry Eileen In Supernatural , I Accidentally Ate Cooked Bean Sprouts While Pregnant , Edwards Plateau Weather And Climate , Russia Volleyball Team Players Height , - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 43-34200) nicknamed "Sure Go for No Dough" of the 394th Bomb Group, at Mount Farm. By August 1947, 13AF returned to Clark Field. 78 B&W photos, 8 color images, 1 map. In 1943, assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF). The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, nuclear and conventional heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron; disney channel september 2002 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron . The 5th Bomb Group (the 'Bomber Barons') flew heavy bombers in the Pacific theater during WWII. FANTASTIC ITALIAN-MADE WWII USAAF 449th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force Ashtray - $957.31. As a professional researcher and World War II historian, Bill Beigel providesresearch services to genealogists, historians, authors, andcivilians who are looking for information found in WW2 military unitrecords. Thirteenth AF also commands the only Air Force-led standing joint task force, Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, a collaborative Department of Defense and National Science Foundation effort supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program through Operation Deep Freeze. With the buildup and execution of Operations Desert Shield and Storm, 13AF provided aircraft and support staff vital to the Gulf war coalition victory in Southwest Asia. Active duty on 9 Feb. 1942 Transferring to Karachi, India on 28 Jun. Hi Bill, It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Kim Woods, Im looking for information on My Great great GRANDFATHER WAS ON A B-24 LIBERATOR CALLED: Fifth Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II: 13th Air Force, USAAF by Ray Merriam: 5th BG History of the Fifth Bomb Group by Hillsborough House: 5th BG - SCOOTIN THUNDER B - 24 D1 - 30 - CO 42-40100 13 5 72 . FEAF was subordinate to the U.S. Army Forces Far East and served as the headquarters of Allied Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area. cocktail bars clifton; lucy gaskell mark bonnar wedding; do goats bleed when in heat. The Fifth Air Force and the Thirteenth Air Force were combined to become the Far East Air Forces under General George C. Kenney on 15 June 1944. MISSION FOR TODAY Today is March 1st The Group flew one mission on this date: Personnel Search 13TH AIR FORCE: Content . It reports to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base.. Regardless, so many losses in so many ways. Operations. Squadron 14: Cobras Patrols over the Pacific, 8 Dec 1941-Nov 1942; 26 Aug-18 Oct 1943. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a pursuit squadron. (Courtesy photo) PHOTO BY: VIRIN: 071115-F-9999S-394.JPG FULL SIZE: 0.49 MB Download Share Additional Details Prior to its inactivation, two wings were permanently assigned to 13 AF: On 5 January 2007, Detachment 1, 13 AF was activated at Yokota AB, Japan. The unit's main missions include aircraft instructor pilot training in Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, Northrop T-38C Talon and Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk aircraft, Air Force and Navy . 394th Bombardment Squadron Association 14010 N. Taft Street, Apt. The command was moved from Guam to Hickam AFB in May 2005. In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo buried Clark Air Base, Philippines, in volcanic ash, leading to the evacuation of military personnel and their families in Operation Fiery Vigil, eventually forcing the base to close 26 November 1991. Includes chapters on the 13th Air Force, the 5th Bomb Group, and each Bomb Squadron, plus life at the various unit stations and the ground crews who serviced the aircraft. 1943 Flying P-40s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s Patch Size 5.0 inch 603rd Bombardment Squadron, 398th Bombardment Group, Nuthampstead Air Field, England, 8th Air Force. It engaged in operations primarily in the South Pacific, attacking enemy forces in the Solomon Islands, Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns; Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns and the Philippines campaign (194445). The 394th BS was the training unit for all incoming B-17 Flying Fortress crews and was stationed throughout the Pacific theater. In 2005, the Jungle Air Force stood down as a traditional Numbered Air Force and moved to Hickam Air Force Base to assume the role of the new Kenney Warfighting Headquarters for PACAF, which was activated in provisional status in June 2005. 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadroncharacteristics of innovation management 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron. Served in combat with Thirteenth AF until the end of the war. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." Object Number - FRE 7468 Established on 13 Jan. 1942 Selfridge Field, MI. The command is charged with planning, executing, and assessing operations in support of the U.S. Pacific Command commander's objectives. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]), "Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (PACAF)", "13th Air Force inactivates, merges with PACAF", Air Force Historical Research Agency PACAF History Factsheet, Outside Link 7th Radio Squadron, Mobile (J) information, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thirteenth_Air_Force&oldid=1068109236, Air Forces of the United States Army Air Forces, Military units and formations established in 1942, Military units and formations of the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War, Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force, World War II aerial operations and battles of the Pacific theatre, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 16 January 2007 28 September 2012 (as Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific)), Det B 6th Night Fighter Squadron (February September 1943) (P-70, P-38), 419th Night Fighter Squadron (April November 1943) (P-38, P-61), 550th Night Fighter Squadron (194446) (P-61), Much of this text in of this article was taken from pages on the, This page was last edited on 26 January 2022, at 17:48. The 13th Air Expeditionary Group, and formerly the 500th Air Expeditionary Group, is activated seasonally to support Operation Deep Freeze in the Antarctic. He was on the waterpolo team. The 12th Operations Group is the flying component of the 12th Flying Training Wing of United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command. Final Cut: The Postwar B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors, Scott A. Thompson, Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1993. General Ennis C. Whitehead was appointed to command the Fifth Air Force. The planes of the 394th Bomb Group who soared in gray sky in the largest freedom effort known to man are listed below. Help us to tell the stories that deserve to be told, by contributing information to the archive. 13th Air Force 5th Bomb Group 23rd BS B-24M Liberators #03 2245 and #14 over Balikpapan October 1944 B-24M #056 44-42056 from 865th Bomb Squadron 494th Bomb Group B-24 Bombers Flying Through AA Fire B-24 of the 90th Bomb Group Jolly Rogers over Balikpapan October 1944 Woman Ordnance Worker on B-24 Libeartor 1944 Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980). On 25 June 1950, 13AF consisted of the following units:[6][7][8]. Thirteenth Air Force has never been stationed in the continental United States; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces. The first P-61 Black Widow kill in the CBI theater took place on October 30, 1944, when a Kunming-based Black Widow flown by Capt. Randall Col Randy is actually my great grandfather and I was wandering if you ever new him? 13th Bombardment Squadron 13th Fighter Squadron 13th Observation Squadron 14th Air Force - (Tiger facing inwards) 14th Air Force - (Tiger facing outwards) 14th Antisubmarine Squadron 14th Bombardment Squadron 14th Fighter Squadron 14th Observation Squadron 14th Service Squadron 14th Tow Target Squadron 14th Troop Carrier Squadron Thanks for putting this together. 96th Bomb Group 8th Air Force: 99th Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, 20th AF: 99th Bomb Group, 15th AF: serial #'d (leather) (embroidered) (decal) 99th Fighter Squadron Unit records are useful in piecing together stories abouta unit or group, as well as aboutindividuals who served in them. Unit stations Encompassing Thirteenth AF relocated and officially established its headquarters at Andersen AFB, Guam, on 2 December 1991. The command plans, commands and controls, delivers, and assesses air, space, and information operations in the Asia-Pacific regionexcluding the Korea theater of operationsacross the security spectrum from peacetime engagement to major combat operations. Activated on 16 Jul 1949. After hostilities ended in 1945, Thirteenth Air Force established its headquarters at Clark Field, Philippines, in January 1946. Hi! 78 B&W photos, 8 color images, 1 map. The Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) ( 13 AF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The 394th BS was the training unit for all incoming B-17 Flying Fortress crews and was stationed throughout the Pacific theater. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Air Corps - 394th Fighter Squadron - 367th Fighter Group,394th Fighter . [2] Connections See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below. Redesignated 5 Air Police Squadron on 16 Mar 1950. On the 30 April 1945, the 394th Bomb Squadron took off from Guiuan Air Strip, Samar Island, Philippine Islands, for a combat bombing mission on Davao, Mindanao Island, Philippine Islands . Initially charged with taking a defensive stand against advancing enemy forces, Thirteenth Air Force later took the offensive flying a variety of aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, B-26 Marauder, P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk, P-61 Black Widow, C-46 Commando, C-47 Skytrain, and L-5 Sentinel. This posed a problem for the Flight, since the RB-17s had been flying peacetime missions and were not equipped for combat. He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. Image by Robert. AbeBooks.com: Fifth Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II (9781716458897) by Usaaf, 13th Air Force and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. During the Korean War, its units provided staging areas for people and equipment destined for the war zone. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. crcst test prep; crcst free test questions; paid test; crcst exam prep notes; subscribe The squadron was first activated in late 1943 for service during World War II. is dean norris related to chuck norris; wall sarking australian standards 13th air force 5th bomb group 394th squadron. 13 AF units last engaged in combat during the SS Mayaguez Incident in May 1975. 5 Security Forces Squadron (ACC) Lineage. 5th Bombardment Group (1943 46) (B-17, B-24) . Interesting.very hard to know the 'who hit who'..Fort had enough flying time to be a instructor, I know nothing about the other pilot. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2440 On December 1, 1941 departs Boeing Field piloted by Lt. Clyde B. Kelsey. From Pearl Harbor, through Midway, the Central Pacific, Guadalcanal, the Northern Solomons, the Eastern Mandates, the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, the Western Mandate, the Southern Philippines, Borneo, Luzon, and China, this bomb group fought as part of the 13th Air Force. If Pastor Jeff had information on her being talked into a situation, I would love to know if reliable. As the Vietnam War escalated during the late 1960s and early 1970s, 13th AF provided command and control for USAF units stationed in Thailand, its units conducting combat missions throughout Indochina until August 1973. In the early 2000s, 13 AF activated the 13th Air Expeditionary Group for a number of exercises, (February 2004-1 April 2004 for Exercise Balikatan 04; FebruaryMarch 2004 for Exercise Cope Tiger 04; JanuaryFebruary 2005 for Exercise Cope Tiger 05. This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. Robert R. Scott and Charles W. Phillips of the 426th Night Fighter Squadron shot down a Japanese twin-engined aircraft. Thank you for your efforts here. 67, stationed at Celone Field, Foggia, Italy were part of the 15th Air Force, 5th Wing (B-17 Flying Fortresses), from May to October 1944. DNA research has led to Wilson family in South Carolina, just hoping to try to piece together more information. Organized on 1 Jul 1963. For further information on how your data is collected and used, please read our Privacy Policy. WikiZero zgr Ansiklopedi - Wikipedia Okumann En Kolay Yolu If you do not see the name of the unit you are searching for, you may click on any unit and type the correct name into the form that follows. 463rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 775th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Crew No. . Established on 14 December 1942 at Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, on New Caledonia, 13 AF was a United States Army Air Forces combat air force deployed to the Pacific Theater of World War II. The U.S. Air Force was part of the Army during World War II, and was also called the Army Air Forces or the Air Corps. trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings The 13 BS is one of the oldest units in the United States Air Force, first being organized as the 13th Aero Squadron on 14 June 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas. The 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) flew 316 combat missions over Europe in B-17 aircraft during World War II in the 8th Air Force's strategic bombing campaign against Axis powers. . Rice Jr., who had commanded Thirteenth Air Force from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Hickam since January 2005.