9th U.S. Army Air Force Order: tactical bombing raids over occupied Europe Version: 15-08-08 (D-M-Y) - 194 pics of aircraft to see here ;-) |
||||
|
The Ninth Air Force began life in the United States as a numbered close
air support command. This establishment became the major Tactical Air Force in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Most of the Ninth
Air Force was created from USAAF units which had been part of the U.S. Army
Forces in the Middle East (USAFIME) fighting in the Egypt-Libya Campaign in late
1942. As the Ninth Air Force they were initially under the overall command of
AFHQ in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. In 1943 they moved to the
United Kingdom with their headquarters at R.A.F Burtonwood, England in 1943.
They left behind the heavy bombers of IX Bomber Command which joined the
newly created Fifteenth Air Force. Following the war, Ninth Air Force served as
one of the tactical air forces of Tactical Air Command. |
||||
|
9th USAAF was a tactical force. Before the Invasion of the Normandy, it must
ensure the air control and prepare the invasion. Thereafter, it had the role of supporting the troops on the ground at the time of their progression. Thus, 9th USAAF objectives were:
|
||||
| IX Bomber Command | ||||
| Commander ? | ||||
| IX Troop Carrier Command | ||||
| Brigadier General (*) P. Williams | ||||
| IX FIGHTER COMMAND | ||||
| Brigadier General (*) R. Etheral - Middle Wallop, England | ||||
| Direct Reporting Units | ||||
| 71th Fighter Group (P-61) | ||||
| IX Tactical Air Command | XIX Tactical Air Command | XXIX Tactical Air Command | ||
| Major General (**) Elwood Quesada | Major General (**) Otto Weyland | (Activated 15 September 1944) | ||
| Provided tactical air support in support of U.S. First Army | Provided tactical air support in support of U.S. Third Army. | Provided tactical air support in support of U.S. Ninth Army. | ||
| IX Bomber Command | ||
| Commander ? | ||
| 97th Bomb Wing | 98th Bomb Wing | 99th Bomb Wing |
| 409th BG (A-20) | 323rd BG (B-26) | 322nd BG (B-26) |
| 410th BG (A-20) | 387th BG (B-26) | 344th BG (B-26) |
| 416th BG (A-20) | 394th BG (B-26) | 386th BG (A-26) |
| - | 395th BG (B-26) | 391st BG (B-26) |
| - | 397th BG (B-26) | - |
| - | Pathfinder | - |
| - | 1st (P)PS (Aircraft?) | - |
| 97th Bomb Wing |
| 409th Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Preston Pender | |||
| 640th Bomb Squadron | 641st Bomb Squadron | 642nd Bomb Squadron | 643rd Bomb Squadron |
| WS | 7F | E2 | 5L |
| 1944 - Douglas A-20G HAVOC | |||
| A-20G WS+? | A-20G 7F+? | A-20G E2+? | A-20G 5L+? |
| 410th Bomb Group (Light) | |||
| Colonel Ralph Raudy | |||
| 644th Bomb Squadron | 645th Bomb Squadron | 646th Bomb Squadron | 647th Bomb Squadron |
| 5D | 7X | 8U | 6Q |
| Propeller-hub-colors: | |||
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Douglas A-20J HAVOC - Gosfield, England | |||
 A-20J-20-DO 5D+G (43-22022) "Bill" |
 A-20J-10-DO 7X+P (43-10131) "Source of Annoyance" |
 A-20J-15-DO 8U+S (43-21745) "Irene" |
A-20G 6Q+? |
| 1944, August - Douglas A-20G-35-DO HAVOC - France | |||
| A-20G 5D+? |
 A-20G 7X+G (43-9671) "8 Ball Express" |
A-20G 8U+? |
 A-20G-35-DO 6Q+O (43-10181) "Joker" |
| A-20G 5D+? |
 A-20G-30-DO 7X+J (43-9670) "Margaret Maria" |
A-20G 8U+? | A-20G 6Q+? |
| 416th Bomb Group (Light) | |||
| Colonel Harold Mace | |||
| 668th Bomb Squadron | 669th Bomb Squadron | 670th Bomb Squadron | 671st Bomb Squadron |
| 5H | 2A | F6 | 5C |
| 1944, February - Douglas A-20G-25-DO HAVOC - Wethersfield, England, UK | |||
 A-20G 5H+B (43-9182) |
A-20G 2A+? | A-20G F6+? | A-20G 5C+? |
| 1944, July - Douglas A-20G-20 HAVOC - France | |||
 A-20G 5H+E ''La France Libre'' |
A-20G 2A+? | A-20G F6+? | A-20G 5C+? |
| 98th Bomb Wing |
| 323rd Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Wilson Wood | |||
| 453rd Bomb Squadron | 454th Bomb Squadron | 455th Bomb Squadron | 456th Bomb Squadron |
| VT | RJ | YU | WT |
| 1945, early - Martin B-26G-MA MARAUDER - Laon, France | |||
| Black paint for Night Intruder Missions | |||
| B-26G VT+? |
 B-26G RJ+G (41-34871) (41-31813) in the back |
B-26G YU+? |
 B-26G WT+K - - - - |
|
387th Bomb Group (3.BW (From 8AF) ???) |
|||
| Colonel Tom Seymour | |||
| 556th Bomb Squadron | 557th Bomb Squadron | 558th Bomb Squadron | 559th Bomb Squadron |
| FW | KS | KX | TQ |
| 1943 - Martin B-26B-20-MA MARAUDER - Chipping Onger, England | |||
| B-26G FW+? |
 B-26G KS+K (41-31714) "Keller's Killer" |
B-26G KX+? | B-26G TQ+? |
| 1944 - Martin B-26G-15-MA MARAUDER - France(?) | |||
| B-26G FW+? | B-26G KS+? |
 B-26G KX+D (42-95930) - - - - - - |
 B-26G-15-MA TQ+M (44-67894) This aircraft crashed near Zuzgen, Switzerland on 16th April 1945. The pilot was killed, white the rest of the crew successfully bailed out. Then the aircraft was interned in Switzerland. |
| 394th Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Tom Hall - Holmesley | |||
|
The 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) was
constituted on 15 Feb 1943. Activated on 5 Mar 1943. Moved to England, Feb-Mar 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF. Entered combat in Mar 1944 and helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by hitting V-weapon sites, marshalling yards, bridges, air-dromes, and gun emplacements. On D- Day, 6 Jun, bombed gun positions at Cherbourg; afterward, struck communications, fuel supplies, and strong points in support of the Normandy campaign. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo by bombing targets in the area on 25 Jul 1944. |
|||
| 584th Bomb Squadron | 585th Bomb Squadron | 586th Bomb Squadron | 587ht Bomb Squadron |
| K5 | 4T | H9 | 5W |
| 1944 - Martin B-26G-25-MA MARAUDER - Boreham, England | |||
| B-26G K5+? | B-26G 4T+? |
 B-26G H9+A (44-68129) "Lil Ass" Aircraft code letter unknown, shown as 'A' for effect. |
B-26G 5W+? |
| 1944 - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - Cambrai, France | |||
| B-26G K5+? |
 B-26G 4T+Z - - |
 B-26G 7T+E (41-17769) "Nightmare" (7T?? - probably 4T of 585BS) |
B-26G 5W+? |
| 395th Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Richard Joiner - Hurn | |||
| ?th Bomb Squadron | ?th Bomb Squadron | ?th Bomb Squadron | ?th Bomb Squadron |
| ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Martin B-26B MARAUDER | |||
| - | - | - | - |
|
397th Bomb Group (3.BW (From 8AF) ???) |
|||
| Colonel Tom Seymour | |||
| 596th Bomb Squadron | 597th Bomb Squadron | 598th Bomb Squadron | 599th Bomb Squadron |
| X2 | 9F | U2 | 6B |
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Martin B-26B-55-MA MARAUDER - Revinal, UK | |||
 B-26B-55-MA X2+M (42-96152) "Missouri Mule II" |
 B-26B-55-MA 9F+N (42-96191) ''Milk Run Express" |
B-26B U2+? |
 B-26B-55-MA 6B+A (42-96165) - |
| B-26B X2+? | B-26B 9F+? | B-26B U2+? |
 B-26B-55-MA 6B+T (42-96165) "The Big Hairy Bird" Revinal, UK, June 1944 After the war this aircraft was transferred to 387th BG and used in training and occupation duties. |
| 1944, post D-Day - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - France | |||
| D-Day-Stripes overpainted on Top surfaces | |||
 B-26B X2+A |
B-26B 9F+? | B-26B U2+? | B-26B U2+? |
 B-26B X2+M (42-96152) "Missouri Mule II" |
B-26B 9F+? | B-26B U2+? | B-26B U2+? |
1st (Provisional) Pathfinder Squadron |
|
| 1H | |
| - | |
| - |
| 99th Bomb Wing |
| 322nd Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Glen Nye | |||
| 449th Bomb Squadron | 450th Bomb Squadron | 451st Bomb Squadron | 452nd Bomb Squadron |
| PN | ER | 5S | DR |
| 1944 - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - RAF Andrews Field | |||
 B-26B PN+Q (41-18272) ''Murder Inc'' - |
B-26 ER+? | B-26 5S+? | B-26 DR+? |
| 1944 - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - RAF Andrews Field | |||
 B-26B PN+F (42-94483)? ''Los Lobos Grandes III'' - |
 B-26B ER+X (41-31765) ''Fightin' Cock'' Andrews Field in March 1944 |
B-26B 5S+? |
 B-26B DR+H (41-18054) ''Jezabelle'' - |
| 1944, June - Martin B-26C MARAUDER - Great Sailing, UK | |||
| B-26 PN+? |
 B-26C-45-MO ER+V (42-107685) ''Fightin' Cock'' Great Sailing, UK, June 1944 Fate: Damaged by AAA and crew bailed out Feb 22, 1945 |
B-26 5S+? | B-26 DR+? |
| 1944, end - Martin B-26C MARAUDER - Italy | |||
 B-26G-5-MA PN+X (43-34371) ''Los Lobos Grandes III'' Italy 1944 |
B-26 ER+? | B-26 5S+? | B-26 DR+? |
| 344th Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Reginald Vance | |||
| 494th Bomb Squadron | 495th Bomb Squadron | 496th Bomb Squadron | 497th Bomb Squadron |
| K9 | Y5 | N3 | 7I |
| Martin B-26B MARAUDER | |||
| B-26B K9+? |
 B-26B Y5+D (43-34101) ''?'' ? |
B-26B N3+? |
 B-26B 7I+B (42-95864) ''Valkyrie'' January 1945 |
| B-26B K9+? |
 B-26B Y5+P (43-34101) ''?'' ? |
B-26B N3+? | B-26B 7I+? |
| 1945 - Douglas A-26C INVADER - Schleissheim, Germany | |||
| Note: Neutrality band of Occupation Force | |||
| B-26B K9+? | B-26B Y5+? |
 B-26B N3+C (43-34101) ''?'' Schleissheim, Germany |
B-26B 7I+? |
| 386th Bomb Group, 3.BW (From 8AF) | |||
| Colonel Joe Kelly | |||
| 552th Bomb Squadron | 553th Bomb Squadron | 554th Bomb Squadron | 555th Bomb Squadron |
| RG | AN | RU | YA |
| 1943-44 - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - Boxted, England | |||
| B-26B RG+? | B-26B AN+? (41-...) |
 B-26B-30-MA RU+V (41-31877) ''Bar Fly'' Boxted 1943-44 This aircraft crashed on takeoff January 1st, 1945 |
B-26B YA+? (41-...) |
| 1944, June - Martin B-26B MARAUDER - Boxted, England | |||
| B-26B RG+? |
 B-26B AN+L (41-34946) ''Yankee Guerilla'' June 1944 |
B-26B RU+? |
 B-26B YA+P (42-...) ''?'' July 1944 |
| B-26B RG+? | B-26B AN+? (41-...) | B-26B RU+? |
 B-26C-25-MO YA+V (41-35358) ''?'' Boxted, UK, June 1944. This aircraft condemned salvage from enemy action April 2, 1946. |
| 1944 - Douglas A-26B INVADER - France | |||
 A-26B RG+D (?) - |
A-26B AN+? | A-26B RU+? | A-26B YA+? |
 A-26B RG+O (?) - |
A-26B AN+? | A-26B RU+? | A-26B YA+? |
| 1945, April - Douglas A-26B INVADER - France | |||
 A-26B-15-DT RG+A (43-22369) ''Stinky'' |
A-26B AN+? |
 A-26B-20-DT RU+D (43-22418) ''Kiwi Boid'' |
A-26B YA+? |
| A-26B RG+? | A-26B AN+? |
 A-26B-20-DT RU+V (?) |
A-26B YA+? |
| 391th Bomb Group | |||
| Colonel Gerald Williams | |||
| 572th Bomb Squadron | 573th Bomb Squadron | 574th Bomb Squadron | 575th Bomb Squadron |
| P2 | T6 | 4L | O8 |
| 1944 - Martin B-26B-55 MARAUDER - France | |||
| - |
 (T6+D) ''Hitch Hiker'' |
- | - |
| 1945 - Douglas A-26B INVADER - France | |||
 A-26B P2+C |
A-26B T6+? | A-26B 4L+? | A-26B =8+? |
| IX Troop Carrier Command | ||
| Brigadier General (*) P. Williams | ||
| IX TCC Pathfinder Group (Provisional) | ||
| 50th Troop Carrier Wing | 52nd Troop Carrier Wing | 53rd Troop Carrier Wing |
| 439th TCG (C-47A) | 61st TCG (C-47A) | 434th TCG (C-47A) |
| 440th TCG (C-47A) | 313th TCG (C-47A) | 435th TCG (C-47A) |
| 441st TCG (C-47A) | 314st TCG (C-47A) | 436th TCG (C-47A) |
| 442nd TCG (C-47A) | 315th TCG (C-47A) | 437th TCG (C-47A) |
| - | 349th TCG (C-47A) | 438th TCG (C-47A) |
|
Note: The individual Code behind the cockpit is painted sometimes in
yellow and sometimes in white on these pics. I have no idea, if one of them is wrong interpretation, if this varied from squadron to squadron, or changed in time from one colour to the other. If you know the secret, please tell me! Thanks in advance! |
||
| IX TCC Pathfinder Group (P) | |||
| Colonel Charles Young | |||
| 1st PFS (P) | 3rd PFS (P) | 3rd PFS (P) | 4th PFS (P) |
| 1944 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - North Witham, Chalgrove | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 50th Troop Carrier Wing |
| Cottesmore, Bottesford, Exeter |
| 439th Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Charles H. Young (to 06-10-1945) | |||
| 91st Troop Carrier Squadron | 92nd Troop Carrier Squadron | 93rd Troop Carrier Squadron | 94th Troop Carrier Squadron |
| L4 | J8 | 3B | D8 |
| 1944, February - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Balderton | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, April 26 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Upottery | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Devon, UK | |||
 (L4 F) |
- | - |
 (D8 H) |
 (L4 S) - |
 (J8 I) "Kilroy was here" |
- |
 (D8 Z) "The Argonia" |
| 1944, post D-Day - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Upottery, UK | |||
| Note: D-Day-stripes overpainted on top surfaces | |||
 (L4 L) |
- | - |
 (D8 Z) "The Argonia" |
| 440th Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Lt.Colonel Frank X. Krebs (from 03-1944 to 18-09-1944) | |||
| 95st Troop Carrier Squadron | 96nd Troop Carrier Squadron | 97rd Troop Carrier Squadron | 98th Troop Carrier Squadron |
| 9X | 6Z (6X?) | W6 | 8Y |
| 1944, March - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Bottesford | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, April 18 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Exeter | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, June (D-Day) - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Exeter | |||
| - | - | - |
 (8Y D) |
| 441st Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Theodore G. Kershaw (from 03-1944 to 24-11-1944) | |||
| 99th Troop Carrier Squadron | 100th Troop Carrier Squadron | 301th Troop Carrier Squadron | 302nd Troop Carrier Squadron |
| 3J | 8C | Z4 | 2L |
| 1944, March - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Langar | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, April 25 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Merryfield | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Merryfield | |||
| - | - |
 (Z4 E) (42-101033) Para-Dropper - |
- (2L ?) (43-15073) Para-Dropper Pilot: Harper This C-47 will be exposed the museum of
merville in 2008! |
| Douglas C-53 | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 442nd Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Charles M. Smith (to 25-09-1945) | |||
| 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron | 304th Troop Carrier Squadron | 305th Troop Carrier Squadron | 306th Troop Carrier Squadron |
| J7 (I7?) | V4 | 4J | 7H |
| 1944, March 29 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Fulbeck | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Weston Zoyland | |||
| - | - |
 (4J B) Para-Dropper |
- |
| Douglas C-53 | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 52nd Troop Carrier Wing |
| Cottesmore |
|
Deliveries of Curtiss C-46 Commando began to all 52d Troop Carrier Wing
groups in March 1945, however only used by 349th Troop Carrier Group in
combat during Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945. High attrition rate during operation led to withdrawal from combat afterwards and aircraft deemed too vulnerable for further combat assignments. |
| 61st Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Willis M. Mitchell (to 12-04-1945) | |||
| 14th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 15th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 53th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 59th Troop Carrier Sqd. |
| 3I | Y9 | 3A | X5 |
| 1944, February - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Barkston Heath | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1944, June 6 (D-Day) - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Barkston Heath | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 313th Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel James Roberts Jr. (to 18-03-1945) | |||
| 29th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 47th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 48th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 49th Troop Carrier Sqd. |
| 5X | N3 | Z7 | H2 |
| 1944, February - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Folkingham | |||
| - | - |
 (Z7 S) Para-Dropper |
- |
| 314th Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Clayton Styles (to 22-08-1945) | |||
| 32nd Troop Carrier Sqd. | 50th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 61st Troop Carrier Sqd. | 62nd Troop Carrier Sqd. |
| S2 | 2R | Q9 | E5 |
| 1944, February - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Saltby | |||
| - | - |
 (Q9 R) |
 (E5 ?) |
| 315th Troop Carrier Group | |||
| Colonel Hamish McLelland (16-10-1943 to 27-09-1944) | |||
| 34th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 43rd Troop Carrier Sqd. | 309th Troop Carrier Sqd. | 310th Troop Carrier Sqd. |
| NM (ex 8thAF) | UA (ex 8thAF) | M6 | 4A |
| 1943 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Aldermarston | |||
| - | - | - | - |
| 1943, November 6 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Welford | |||
| - |
 |
- | - |