| 12th Air Force Organization, August 20, 1942
Stations: England (August 1942), Algeria (November 1942) Commander: Brig. Gen. James H. Doolittle |
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+Groups still training in the U.S. in late 1942. The 12th Air Force was activated on August 20, 1942 with the organization shown above. General H. H. "Hap" Arnold and US Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall chose Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle as head of the 12th Air Force and Doolittle formally assumed command in the UK on September 23, 1942. The B-25s of the 310th Bombardment Group were the first planes in the 12th AF to arrive in Europe during October, 1942. They flew over by way of Maine, Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and Prestwick, Scotland. The 310th BG B-25s were followed by A-20 Havocs from the 47th BG and B-26 Marauders of the 319th BG but winter weather interfered with this route and subsequent groups took the southern route via Florida; Boringuen Field, Puerto Rico; Waller Field, Trinidad; Atkinson Field, British New Guiana (Guyana); Belem and Natal, Brazil; Ascension Island; Dakar, Marrakech, Telergma, and some other North African destinations. The largest air force ever assembled at that time, the 12th AF was initially assigned some 70,000 men and 1400 planes for the invasion of Vichy French held North Africa (Operation Torch) on November 8, 1942. In November 1942, on order of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Carl Spaatz reorganized the Allied Air Forces in North Africa. Spaatz became commander of the allied Northwest African Air Forces (NAAF) in February 1943. By March 1943 he took command of the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa as a temporary lieutenant general. Doolittle, who was promoted to Major General in November 1942, took over command of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) in March, 1943. Air Vice Marshall Sir Arthur Coningham became commander of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF). At the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and United States President Franklin Roosevelt reorganized the Mediterranean air forces naming RAF Air Chief Marshall Arthur W. Tedder as Air Commander in Chief of the new Mediterranean Air Command (Allied). Both British and American officers became part of the new command structure with the intent of forcing international cooperation. According to "Vol. II, AAF in WWII," this is the new organization as of 17 Feb 1943: Mediterranean Air Command (Allied) Air Chief Marshal Lord Arthur Tedder Northwest African Air Forces Lt Gen Carl Spaatz Northwest African Tactical Air Forces Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham Northwest African Strategic Air Force Maj Gen James Doolittle Northwest African Coastal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd Northwest African Training Command Maj Gen John K. Cannon Northwest African Air Service Command Maj Gen Delmar H. Dunton Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing Lt. Col. Elliot Roosevelt Later was added: Northwest African Troop Carrier Command Brig Gen Paul L. Williams Here is an excellent historical link regarding this period: The Army Air Force in Northwest Africa 12th Air Force Organization, July, 1943 Stations: Algeria (November 1942), Tunisia (August, 1943) Commander: Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz
*Groups from the 9th Air Force. The organization of the 12th AF is shown above at the time of Operation Husky or the invasion of Sicily on July 10, 1943. One month prior to Operation Husky was the invasion of Pantelleria or Operation Corkscrew. For ten days 12th AF bombers pounded the island of Pantelleria using 1100 planes and 1571 tons of bombs during one four-day period causing the Italians to surrender immediately when British forces landed on June 11, 1943. This is believed to be the first time ground troops surrendered due to air power alone. The Italian garrisons on the islands of Linosa and Lampedusa surrendered soon after clearing the way for the Italian Campaign. Here is an excellent Air Force link describing the history of this period. 12th Air Force Organization, September, 1943 Stations: Tunisia (August 1943), Italy (December 1943) Commander: Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz
*Groups from 9th Air Force. In November of 1943 the 15th Air Force was created. The four B-17 groups, the two B-24 groups, and the three B-26 groups of the 12th Air Force were transferred to the 15th Air Force along with the three P-38 groups, the 325th FG which had just converted to P-47s, and the 68th Recon Group. The three B-26 groups transferred back to the 12th Air Force in January 1944. In November of 1943, General Jimmie Doolittle was named Commander of the 15th Air Force which became the strategic air force in the MTO while the 12th Air Force became the tactical air force in the MTO. From January 1944 to September 1945 Doolittle commanded the 8th Air Force in Europe and the Pacific, until the end of the war. Doolittle was promoted to lieutenant general on March 13, 1944. By January 1944, Carl Spaatz commanded all of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe including the Eighth Air Force under Doolittle in England, and the Fifteenth Air Force under General Nathan Twining in Italy. Below is shown the organization of the new 12th Tactical Air Force as of January 1, 1944. At that time, Major General John K. Cannon was named CO of the 12th Air Force and the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF). The above 12th Air Force organizational information is taken from the USAAF Film "The 12th Air Force Story." Commanders of the 12th Air Force in WWII Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle, 23 Sep 1942. Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, 1 Mar 1943. Lt. Gen. John K. Cannon, 21 Dec 1943. Maj. Gen. Benjamin W. Chidlaw, 2 Apr 1945. Go on to see the 12th Air Force Organization in 1944 Go Back to The 489th Bombardment Squadron in Corsica If you have any comments or suggestions please email me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
