Fifth Air Force

5th Air Force
5th Air Force
Active	1942
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQ	Yokota Air Base
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Bruce A. Wright

Fifth Air Force is a United States Air Force Numbered Air Force in Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

Fifth Air Force's mission is three-fold. First, Fifth Plans, Conducts, Controls, and Coordinates Air Operations in accordance with tasks assigned by the PACAF Commander. Fifth Air Force maintains a level of readiness necessary for successful completion of directed military operations. And last, but certainly not least, Fifth Air Force assists in the mutual defense of Japan and enhances regional stability by planning, exercising, and executing joint air operations in partnership with Japan.

To achieve this mission, Fifth Air Force maintains its deterrent force posture to protect both U.S. and Japanese interests, and conducts appropriate air operations should deterrence fail.

Fifth Air Force is one of very few numbered air forces of the United States Air Force never to have been based in the United States itself. It is also one of the oldest and continuously active US air forces.

Fifth Air Force traces its roots to the Philippines in the 1940's, U.S. military aviation made its first presence in the region there in March of 1912. Starting with a flight training school near Manila, its presence grew to the establishment of several aero squadrons over the next thirty years.

Then, in September of 1941, the Philippine Department Air Force was created. Also, the Far East Air Force (FEAF), was formed in the Philippines under Major General Lewis H. Brereton. It was under this name in which fifth air force saw its first combat action.

Immediately after the outbreak of the Pacific War in December, Brereton sought permission from theater commander Gen Douglas MacArthur to conduct air raids against Japanese forces in Formosa, but was refused. As a consequence, FEAF was largely destroyed on the ground by Japanese air attacks. Following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the remnants of FEAF relocated southwards to bases in the Dutch East Indies. After those islands also fell to Japanese forces early in 1942, FEAF headquarters moved to Australia.

While in Australia, the Far East Air Force was redesignated Fifth Air Force in 1942 and placed under the command of Major General George Kenney. United States Army Air Forces units in Australia, including FEAF, were eventually reinforced and re-organised following their initial defeats in the Philippines and the East Indies.

Kenney became General Douglas MacArthur's component commander for all allied air services. Under his leadership, Fifth Air Force provided the aerial spearhead for MacArthur's island hopping campaign. The 5AF, along with the Thirteenth Air Force (the other main combat command of the FEAF) devastated Japan's air, land, and sea forces in the South West Pacific Area for the remainder of World War II. Using General Kenney's innovative and devastating low-level parafrag, strafing, and skip-bombing tactics, the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces played a major role in pushing the Japanese back to their home islands by 1945

When the war ended, Fifth Air Force had an unmatched record of 3,445 aerial victories, led by the nation's two top fighter aces Major Richard Bong and Major Thomas Mcguire, with 40 and 38 confirmed victories respectively, and two of Fifth Air Force's ten Medal of Honor recipients.

Shortly after World War II ended in August, the 5AF relocated to Japan as part of the Allied occupation forces.

In 1950, from headquarters still in Japan, the 5AF became the main United Nations combat air command during the Korean War, and was instrumental in bringing about the cease-fire that formally ended that conflict in 1953.

The Commander Air Group of the 38th BG which flew B25's during the 1970's was Major James B. Clark Sr. Who also later was Deputy Post Commander During the late 70's of Carswell Air Force Base, in Fort Worth, Texas USA.

Template:Entête tableau charte

! FIGHTER GROUPS ! NIGHT FIGHTER GROUP ! BOMB GROUPS ! RECCE AND PHOTO GROUPS ! TRANSPORT GROUPS |-

| 35 FG, P-47, P-51 | 418 NFS | 3 BG, B-25,A-20 | 6 RG, F-5, F-7 | 374 TCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| 49 FG, P-40, P-47, P-38 | 421 NFS | 417 BG, A-20 | 71 RS, B-25 | 317 TCG |-

| 8 FG, P-40, P-38 | 547 NFS | 43 BG, B-24 | | 375 TCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| 348 FG, P-47, P-51 | | 38 BG, B-25 | | 433 TCG |-

| 475 FG, P-38 | | 22 BG, B-26, B-24 | | 2 CCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| | | 90 BG, B-24 | | |-

| | | 380 BG, B-24 | | |-Template:Ligne grise

| | | 345 BG, B-25 | | |-

| | | 312 BG, A-20 | | |-Template:Ligne grise

|- |}