IX Fighter Command: Difference between revisions
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* [[303d Fighter Wing (World War II)|303d Fighter Wing]]: 4 Jan-1 Nov 1944 |
* [[303d Fighter Wing (World War II)|303d Fighter Wing]]: 4 Jan-1 Nov 1944 |
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===Operations=== |
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====Middle East==== |
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Performed fighter operations in [[North Africa]], 1943. Moved to [[Europe]] and performed fighter operations over [[France]], 1943-1944 and [[Germany]], 1944-1945. Occupation duty in Germany,1945. |
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Entered combat in [[Egypt]] during January 1943 as command and control organization for [[Ninth Air Force]] fighter units assigned to [[Western Desert Campaign]] in [[Libya]] and [[Tunisia]]. Although subordinate wings assigned to command, combat groups attached to [[Royal Air Force]] [[Western Desert Air Force]]. |
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Command reassigned to [[England]] in November 1943 as tactical fighter component for Ninth Air Force as part of Normandy invasion planning. Assigned units reassigned to [[Twelfth Air Force]] |
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====Western Europe==== |
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During the winter of 1943–44 IX Fighter Command expanded at an extraordinary rate so that by the end of May 1944, its complement ran to 45 flying groups operating some 5,000 aircraft. Initial missions from England consisted of figher sweeps over troop concentrations and attacks on enemy positions and airfields, primarily on German Fifteenth Army units in the [[Pas-de-Calais]] region of [[France]] as well as around [[Normandy]] and [[Cotentin Peninsula]]. On [[D-Day]] IX Fighter Command units carried out massive air attacks on German forces in Normandy area with [[P-51 Mustang]] and [[P-47 Thunderbolt]] fighter-bombers. Air cover during the morning amphibious assault by Allied forces on the beaches of France was flown by [[P-38 Lightning]]s. |
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With the beaches secure, grups began deploying to France on June 16, 1944, ten days after the Normandy invasion by moving P-47 Thunderbolts to a beach-head landing strip. During the Battle of Normandy, its tactical air units then provided the air power for the Allied break-out from the Normandy beachhead in the summer of 1944 during the [[Battle of Cherbourg]], [[Battle for Caen|Caen]], and the ultimate breakout from the beachhead, [[Operation Cobra]]. |
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By early August most IX Fighter Command groups were transferred to bases in France and assigned to the '''U. S. Twelfth Army Group'''. Command then reorganized, with units transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) organizations which directly supported Army ground units. |
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* [[XXIX Tactical Air Command]] supported the [[Ninth United States Army|Ninth Army]] in the north |
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* [[IX Tactical Air Command]] supported the [[United States First Army|First Army]] in the center |
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* [[XIX Tactical Air Command]] supported the [[United States Third Army|Third Army]] in the south |
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After units reassigned, remained as command organization until after [[VE-Day]] when performed occupation duty in Germany. |
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== References== |
== References== |
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Revision as of 23:09, 28 August 2009
| IX Fighter Command | |
|---|---|
 World War II Emblem of Ninth Air Force | |
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Fighter Command and Control |
The IX Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany. It was inactivated on 16 November 1945.
History
Lineage
- Constituted as IX Interceptor Command on 19 Jan 1942
- Activated on 1 Feb 1942
- Redesignated IX Fighter Command in May 1942
- Inactivated on 16 Nov 1945
- Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948
Assignments
- Third Air Force, 1 Feb 1942
- Ninth Air Force, 31 Jan 1943-8 Oct 1948
Stations
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Components
Middle East
- 8th Fighter Wing: 23 Dec 1942-1942-29 Aug 1943
- 9th Fighter Wing: Dec 1942-31 Mar 1943
Western Europe
- 70th Fighter Wing: 29 Nov 1943-3 Oct 1944
- 71st Fighter Wing: 4 Dec 1943-1 Jul 1944
- 84th Fighter Wing: 30 Apr 1944-12 Aug 1945
- 100th Fighter Wing: 30 Apr 1944-1 Nov 1944
- 303d Fighter Wing: 4 Jan-1 Nov 1944
Operations
Middle East
Entered combat in Egypt during January 1943 as command and control organization for Ninth Air Force fighter units assigned to Western Desert Campaign in Libya and Tunisia. Although subordinate wings assigned to command, combat groups attached to Royal Air Force Western Desert Air Force.
Command reassigned to England in November 1943 as tactical fighter component for Ninth Air Force as part of Normandy invasion planning. Assigned units reassigned to Twelfth Air Force
Western Europe
During the winter of 1943–44 IX Fighter Command expanded at an extraordinary rate so that by the end of May 1944, its complement ran to 45 flying groups operating some 5,000 aircraft. Initial missions from England consisted of figher sweeps over troop concentrations and attacks on enemy positions and airfields, primarily on German Fifteenth Army units in the Pas-de-Calais region of France as well as around Normandy and Cotentin Peninsula. On D-Day IX Fighter Command units carried out massive air attacks on German forces in Normandy area with P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bombers. Air cover during the morning amphibious assault by Allied forces on the beaches of France was flown by P-38 Lightnings.
With the beaches secure, grups began deploying to France on June 16, 1944, ten days after the Normandy invasion by moving P-47 Thunderbolts to a beach-head landing strip. During the Battle of Normandy, its tactical air units then provided the air power for the Allied break-out from the Normandy beachhead in the summer of 1944 during the Battle of Cherbourg, Caen, and the ultimate breakout from the beachhead, Operation Cobra.
By early August most IX Fighter Command groups were transferred to bases in France and assigned to the U. S. Twelfth Army Group. Command then reorganized, with units transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) organizations which directly supported Army ground units.
- XXIX Tactical Air Command supported the Ninth Army in the north
- IX Tactical Air Command supported the First Army in the center
- XIX Tactical Air Command supported the Third Army in the south
After units reassigned, remained as command organization until after VE-Day when performed occupation duty in Germany.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
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