Fifteenth Air Force

Fifteenth Air Force was a Numbered Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, operating in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Henry H. Arnold. The air force was composed of B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber groups, including the 301st Bombardment Group, 97th Bombardment Group, and 2d Bombardment Group, which conducted strategic bombing missions against Axis powers such as Germany, Italy, and Austria. The Fifteenth Air Force worked closely with other Allied air forces, including the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force, to achieve its objectives.

● History

The Fifteenth Air Force was established on November 1, 1943, at Tunis, Tunisia, with Major General James H. Doolittle as its first commander, who later became the commander of the Eighth Air Force. The air force was formed from the Northwest African Strategic Air Force and was tasked with conducting strategic bombing missions against Germany and its allies in Europe. The Fifteenth Air Force played a significant role in the Allied invasion of Italy, providing air support for the Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army during the Battle of Salerno and the Battle of Anzio. The air force also participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, providing air support for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

● Organization

The Fifteenth Air Force was organized into several bombardment wings, including the 5th Bombardment Wing, 47th Bombardment Wing, and 49th Bombardment Wing, which were equipped with B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers. The air force also had several fighter groups, including the 1st Fighter Group, 14th Fighter Group, and 82d Fighter Group, which were equipped with P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. The Fifteenth Air Force was supported by several air bases, including Foggia Airfield, Bari Airfield, and Vincenzo Airfield, which were located in Italy and North Africa. The air force worked closely with other Allied air forces, including the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Polish Air Force, to achieve its objectives.

● Operations

The Fifteenth Air Force conducted a wide range of operations during World War II, including strategic bombing missions against Germany and its allies, as well as tactical air support for Allied ground forces. The air force participated in several major campaigns, including the Battle of the Brenner Pass, the Battle of the Po Valley, and the Battle of the Alps. The Fifteenth Air Force also conducted bombing missions against Axis targets in Austria, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, including the Ploiești oil fields and the Wiener Neustadt aircraft factory. The air force worked closely with other Allied air forces, including the Soviet Air Forces and the Czechoslovakian Air Force, to achieve its objectives.

● Lineage

The Fifteenth Air Force was established on November 1, 1943, and was disbanded on September 15, 1945. The air force was reactivated on May 31, 1946, as a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force, and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command. The Fifteenth Air Force was inactivated on January 1, 1959, and its functions were transferred to the Fifteenth Air Force (Air National Guard). The air force was reactivated on July 1, 1993, as a Numbered Air Force of the Air Combat Command, and is currently headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The Fifteenth Air Force has a long and distinguished history, with notable commanders including General Curtis LeMay and General Carl A. Spaatz.

● Assignments

The Fifteenth Air Force was assigned to several major commands during its history, including the United States Army Air Forces, the Strategic Air Command, and the Air Combat Command. The air force was also assigned to several operational theaters, including the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and the European Theater of Operations. The Fifteenth Air Force worked closely with other Allied air forces, including the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, and the Soviet Air Forces, to achieve its objectives. The air force participated in several major operations, including Operation Overlord and Operation Frantic, and was supported by several notable figures, including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. The Fifteenth Air Force is currently assigned to the Air Combat Command and is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, under the command of General Mark D. Kelly and General John W. Raymond.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States