V Fighter Command

V Fighter Command
V Fighter Command
Active	1941–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of fighter units
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

The V Fighter Command is an inactive United States Army formation. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Fukuoka AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946.

During World War II the headquarters initially controlled fighter units in the Northwestern United States. In 1942, V Fighter Command became the primary command and control organization for Fifth Air Force, fighter units operating primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater. Its assigned units participated in aerial combat in the Fifth Air Force Area of Responsibility (AOR) flying cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supported ground forces.

Afterward, served with the occupation force in Japan before being inactivated in 1946.

Lineage

Constituted as 2nd Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941[note 1]

Activated on 4 June 1941

Redesignated: 2nd Fighter Command on 15 May 1942

Redesignated: 5th Fighter Command c. 28 August 1942

Redesignated: V Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 31 May 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]

Assignments

Army Air Forces, 4 June 1941
Fifth Air Force, 25 August 1942 – 31 May 46[1][2]

Units

3d Air Commando Group*: 13 December 1944 – 25 March 1946
8th Fighter Group*: November 1942-31 May 1946
35th Fighter Group*: 11 November 1942 – 10 November 1945
38th Bombardment Group*: 1 August 1942 – 22 November 1945
42d Bombardment Group: 1946
49th Fighter Group*: 11 November 1942 – 10 November 1945

54th Fighter Group (Interceptor): 1941
55th Fighter Group (Interceptor): 1941
58th Fighter Group*: 6 March – 23 November 1945
312th Bombardment Group: 19 November 1943 – 16 January 1944
348th Fighter Group: 23 June 1943 – 10 May 1946
475th Fighter Group: 14 May 1943 – 1 February 1946

*Note; Does not include periods detached to combat wings

Stations

Fort George Wright, Washington, 4 June 1941
Fort Lawton, Washington, 19 June 1941 – 2 October 1942
RAAF Base Townsville, Australia, 5 September–December 1942
Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome), Port Moresby, December 1942
Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea, January 1944
Owi Airfield, Schouten Islands, Netherlands East Indies, July 1944

Bayug Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, November 1944
McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines, January 1945
Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, March 1945
Hamasaki (Motobu Airfield), Okinawa, August 1945
Itazuke Air Base, Japan, October 1945-31 May 1946[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "II" Interceptor Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Citations

Maurer, pp. 443-444
Robertson, Patsy (26 August 2009). "Factsheet Fifth Air Force (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 December 2021.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

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[1] Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "II" Interceptor Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

[MaurerVFC-2] Maurer, pp. 443-444

[3] Robertson, Patsy (26 August 2009). "Factsheet Fifth Air Force (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 December 2021.