5th Army Air Force

5th U.S. Army Air Force

HQ : PHILIPPINES

Order: Patrol the south-west Pacific Ocean

Version: 21-01-10 (D-M-Y) - 18 profiles to see here

V. USAAF Command

Lt.-Gen. George C. Kenney 3 Sep 1942
Lt.-Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead 15 Jun 1944
Maj.-Gen. Kenneth B. Wolfe 4 Oct 1945

Boeing B-17E FLYING FORTRESS

"Sally"
B-17E (41-2633)
Transporter of General George C. Kenney
CO Allied Air and Fifth Air Force USAAF
South-West Pacific from 1942 to 1945
A/C damaged in storm, Apr 1945.
Flown to Brisbane for scrapping May 1945.

71st Tactical Recon Group
"?"

First formed as the 71st Observation Group in August 1941, becomimg operational in October of that year 1941.
The Group flew anti-submarine patrols off the west coast of the United States during December 1941 until January 1943.
The Groups name was changed to the 71st Reconnaissance Group in April 1943 and then the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group in May 1944 and yet again to the 71st Reconnaissance Group in May 1945.

B-25 Mitchell
L-4 Grasshopper
L-5 Sentinel
P-40 Warhawk
P-39 Airacobra
P-38 Lightning
L-6 Grasshopper

17th Reconnaissance
25th Liaison
82nd Reconnaissance
102nd Reconnaissance
110th Reconnaissance
128th Reconnaissanceu

17th Recon Squadron
(Bomb)

82nd Recon Squadron
"?"

110th Recon Squadron
"Musketeers"

128th Recon Squadron
"?"

The Group moved to the Southwest Pacific in late 1943 and was assigned to 5th US Airforce.
Based on New Guinea and Biak, they flew reconnaissance missions over New Guinea, New Britain, and the Admiralties to provide target and damage-assessment imagery, they also bombed and strafed Japanese installations, airfields and shipping.

1943, November - Dobudura, New Guinea

Bell P-39Q AIRACOBRA

''Snooks''
P-39Q-5-BE (42-20351)
2nd Lieutenant William A. Shomo
(Medal of Honor winner)
Dobodura, 1943
Fate: Lost May 21, 1944.
MACR 5063

23 "?"
P-39Q-10-BE (42-21192)
beginning of 1944

''Snooks 2nd'' / "Betty Lou 3rd"
P-39Q-5-BE (42-19995)
2nd Lieutenant William A. Shomo
(Medal of Honor winner)
Dobodura, Nov. 1943
Fate: Abandoned at Tadji Dec 1944.
Recovered by David Tallichet's team in 1972-73 and stored at Yesterday's Air Force until 1980.
Donated to Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park.

1944, November - Leyte, central Philippines

Next, they moved to the Philippines in Nov 1944, were they flew reconnaissance missions to provide information on Japanese troop movements, gun positions and supply routes. They also photographed airfields in Formosa and China and attacked enemy shipping off the Asiatic coast.

23 "?"
P-40N (4?-...)
Leyte, December 1944

1945 - Binmaley, Pangasinan, Luzon, northern Philippines

North American B-25D MITCHELL

North American P-51D MUSTANG

Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK

On 11 January 1945 Captain Shomo performed the feat that earned him the Medal of Honor. While he and his wingman, Lt. Paul Lipscomb, were heading north for the Japanese airfields at Tuguegarao, Aparri, and Laoag, they saw several enemy planes flying south at about 2,500 feet. Despite being obviously outnumbered, they immediately pulled Immelmann turns and found themselves behind 11 Ki-61 "Tonys" and 1 Ki-44 "Tojo" escorting a G4M "Betty" bomber.

On their first pass through the formation Shomo closed to less than 40 yards before opening fire. He shot down four Tonys, then came up under the bomber, firing into its belly. The bomber caught fire and began to lose altitude as its pilot attempted to crashland the plane. Two of the Tonys escorting the bomber stayed with it as it went down. Shomo pulled up in a tight vertical spiral to gain altitude while the Tojo turned to engage him. The Japanese fighter fired until it stalled and slipped into the clouds. The Betty exploded as it bellied in, and the two escorting Tonys broke away, staying low. Shomo made a second diving pass at the two Tonys and downed them both. In under six minutes, Bill Shomo had shot down seven enemy planes, becoming an "ace in one day." No other American pilot scored as many confirmed victories in a single mission. Meanwhile, his wingman shot down three of the remaining six planes. The surviving three Japanese planes fled the encounter.

66
P-51D-10-NA (F-6) (44-14841)
Captain William A. Shomo
lost Mar 5, 1945, SW Pacific

1945, February-April - Pangasinan province , Luzon, northern Philippines

By 1 April 1945, Shomo had been promoted to Major and was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack
against heavy odds and destroying seven enemy aircraft. (Wikipedia)

"Mitch the Witch"
B-25D-25-NC (42-87293)
Lt. Bill Goodrich
Lingayen, Pangasinan in May 1945
Survived 190 missions in PTO
Fate: Believed scrapped in
theatre after war's end.

66 "The Flying Undertaker"
P-51D-20-NA (44-72505)
Major William A. Shomo
Binmaley, Pangasinan, 1945

27 "-"
P-51K-15-NT (F-6K) (44-12813) Binmaley, Pangasinan, 1945

1945, August - Ie Shima

After the Group moved again, this time to Ie Shima, they were used to attack transportation targets on Kyushu and fly over southern Japan to locate prisoner of war camps, to assess bomb damage and to obtain information on Japanese movements.

With their last move to Japan in Oct 1945 the Group became non-operational in Febuary 1946.

2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron

1944 - Canadian Vickers OA-10A CATALINA

''Snafu Snatchers''
OA-10A (44-33879)

Later to 13th Air Force

20th Combat Mapping Squadron

1945 - Consolidated F-7A (Photo-)LIBERATOR

V. Bomber Command

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3rd Bombardment Group

12th Bombardment Group

19th Bombardment Group

22nd Bombardment Group

38t Bombardment Group; B-25

43th Bombardment Group (H); B17, B-24

90th Bombardment Group (H); B-24

312th Bombardment Group; A-20

345th Bombardment Group; B-25

380th Bombardment Group (H); B-24

417th Bombardment Group; A-20

V. Fighter Command

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8th Fighter Group

35th Fighter Group

49th Fighter Group

58th Fighter Group

348th Fighter Group

475th Fighter Group

418th Night Fighter Squadron

421st Night Fighter Squadron

547th Night Fighter Squadron

3rd Air Commando Group
The 3rd Air Commando Group was constituted on 25 April 1944 and activated on 1 May 1944 under Commanding Officer Colonel Arvid Olsen. It was initially assigned to the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics and was assigned to the 5th Air Force in December 1944. The 3rd Air Commando Group moved from Drew Field, Florida to Mangaldan Airfield, at Luzon then.
Beside the Squadrons not shown here yet due to lack of material: - 157th Liaison Squadron (C) - 159th Liaison Squadron (C) - 160th Liaison Squadron (C) - 318th Troop Carrier Squadron (C) - 334th Airdrome Squadron - 335th Airdrome Squadron - 341st Airdrome Squadron - 343rd Airdrome Squadron - 23rd Medical Detachment (Aviation) ...the 3rd Air Commando Group operated two Fighter Squadrons
3rd Fighter Squadron (Commando)	4th Fighter Squadron (Commando)
1944, December - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Mangaldan Airfield, Luzon, northern Philippines
2 P-51D-30-NA (44-74279) Leyte (Philippines), 1945	Q P-51D-30-NA (44-14984) Leyte (Philippines), 1944
1945, end of January - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Luzon, northern Philippines
-	C ''Bad Angel'' P-51D-20-NA (44-63272) Lt. Louis E. Curdes
-	O ''Jumpin Jaques'' P-51D-20-NA (44-64076) Lt. J.E. Young
1945, April - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Laoag Airfield, Luzon, northern Philippines
The Group moved to Laoag Airfield in Luzon in April 1945 and then to Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, Japan in August 1945.
-	-
1945, April - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Laoag Airfield, Luzon, northern Philippines
The various Squadrons operated from Atsugi Airfield, Japan from 20 September 1945 until 7 October 1945. They then relocated to Chitose AB, Japan from 27 October 1945 until 25 March 1946.
-	-
At the end of the war it had claimed 6 confirmed aerial victories.

54th Troop Carrier Wing
Shown here for comparison, single Groups below
2nd Combat Cargo Group	317th Troop Carrier Group	374th Troop Carrier Group	375th Troop Carrier Group	433rd Troop Carrier Group
5th CCS	39th TCS	6th TCS	55th TCS	65th TCS
6th CCS	40th TCS	21st TCS	56th TCS	66th TCS
7th CCS	41st TCS	22nd TCS	57th TCS	67th TCS
8th CCS	46th TCS	33rd TCS	58th TCS	68th TCS
-	-	-	-	69th TCS
-	-	-	-	70th TCS

2nd Combat Cargo Group -
?
-
5th Combat Carrier Sqd.	6th Combat Carrier Sqd.	7th Combat Carrier Sqd.	8th Combat Carrier Sqd.
?	?	?	?
-
-	-	-	-

317th Troop Carrier Group "Junge Skippers"
?
The 317th Carrier Group moved to Australia in December 1942. At this time it received some C-47 but soon those planes were transferred to the 374th TCG. Because of this, the 317th TCG was equipped with a lot of different material including: transformed civilian DC-3, a hollandish Lodestar, a LB-30 Liberator and a B-17. They went right to work flying troops and supplies from Australia to Port Moresby , New Guinea . Their baptism of fire came that same month in New Guinea . The Australians were desperately trying to hold on to a vital airstrip at Wau. The Japanese were close to over running the Aussies. The 317 th flew in much needed reinforcements, ammunition and artillery. The Wau airstrip was a difficult airstrip to land on even without a battle going on. The strip was uphill; it rose one foot for every twelve feet. To make matters worse there was a crescent shaped mountain at the end of the runway making a last minute go around impossible. On the patch of the 317 th Troop Carrier Group are the words “I Gain by Hazard”. Each hazard they faced brought them more experience and expertise. Their crest shows a fist being put to the fire and speaks of their baptism of fire their first month in the Pacific.
39th Troop Carrier Sqd.	40th Troop Carrier Sqd.	41th Troop Carrier Sqd.	46th Troop Carrier Sqd.
?	?	?	?
1942, December - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Australia
-	-	-	-
1943, end July - DC-3, Lockheed LODESTAR, LB-30 LIBERATOR & a B-17 FLYING FORTRESS - PNG
From Port Morsby the Jungle Skippers moved to Finchhafen and then to Hollandia, New Guinea, as the Japanese were pushed out of New Guinea.
-	-	-	-
1944 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Mindoro, Philippines
General McArthur had his eye on the Philippines and the Jungle Skippers would have a part in his return. They towed gliders and dropped paratroopers at Leyte in the Philippines . It was the 503rd Parachute Regiment airdropped by the Jungle Skippers that secured Corregidor and led to the opening of Manila Bay.
X16A ''Oklahoma Gal'' C-47A-30-DK (43-48234) At the Aviation Museum in Australia. Noted 1988 in Air World, Wangaratta, Australia	-	-	-
1945 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Camalaniuga, Philippines
X9A ''Cleo C'' C-47A-85-DL (43-15460) Camalaniuga (Philippines) 23 June 1945	-	-	-
1945 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Okinawa
-	-	-	-
1945, August - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Japan
In August of 1945, after the two atom bombs were dropped on Japan , the Japanese agreed to surrender. When word of this reached Allied Headquarters, arrangements were made to establish a secure communications link with Japan and set up the formal surrender. This surrender would take place in Tokyo Bay on the battleship Missouri in Sept. of 1945, sixty years ago this month. Six C-47 Jungle Skippers from the 41 st Troop Carrier Squadron flew the communications equipment from Okinawa to Japan to establish this communications link to Allied Headquarters. They were the first American aircraft to land in Japan since the war began.
-	-	-	-
The unit received two Distinguished Unit Citations during WW2. Three Squadrons of the Jungle Skippers are still active today. The 46th was deactivated after the Korean War. The patches of the three remaining squadrons all speak of their experience in the Pacific during WW2.

374th Troop Carrier Group
?
The 374th Carrier Group was declared operationnal in November 1942 and was immediately engaged in New-Guinea Campaign. It was then involved in all campaigns fought in the south-west Pacific.
6th Troop Carrier Sqd.	21st Troop Carrier Sqd.	22nd Troop Carrier Sqd.	23rd Troop Carrier Sqd.
?	?	?	?
1942, November - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Port Moresby, PNG
-	-	-	-
1943 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - etc.
-	-	-	-
The unit received three Distinguished Unit Citations during the conflict.

375th Troop Carrier Group
?
The 375th Carrier Group was created in the USA in November 1942 and moved to Australia in July 1943 after having trained on C-47. At the end of July it moved to Port Moresby and was involved in the aerial operation against Nadzab on 5 September 1943. For the most dangerous missions it used armed B-17. The 375th moved then to Biak (September 1944), Mindoro (March 1945), Luçon (May 1945) and Okinawa (August 1945).
55th Troop Carrier Sqd.	56th Troop Carrier Sqd.	57th Troop Carrier Sqd.	58th Troop Carrier Sqd.
?	?	?	?
1943, July - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Australia
-	-	-	-
1943, end July - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Port Moresby, PNG
-	-	-	-
1944, September - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Biak, PNG
104 ''Classy Chassis'' C-47A-90-DL (43-16119) Mindoro 1944 55th TCS (??)	-	-	-
1945, March - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Mindoro, Philippines
-	? C-46D-5-CU (44-77339) 375th TCG Lost Jan 25, 1945, SW Pacific	-	-
1945, May - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Luçon, Philippines
? C-46D-5-CU (44-77336) 375th TCG MIA May 26, 1945, SW Pacific	-	-	-
1945, August - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Okinawa, Japan
-		-	-
After the war it was based in Japan. It was first equipped with C-47, C-53 and B-17; before moving to the Philippines it was transformed on C-46.

433rd Troop Carrier Group "Frontline Airline"
?
The 433rd Carrier Group arrived in Australia in September 1943 and was send at the end of the month to Port Moresby. Its operationnal parcour is similar to the 375th.
65th Troop Carrier Sqd.	66th Troop Carrier Sqd.	67th Troop Carrier Sqd.	68th Troop Carrier Sqd.	69th Troop Carrier Sqd.	70th Troop Carrier Sqd.
?	?	?	?	?	?
1943, September - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Australia
-	-	-	-
1943, end September - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Port Moresby, PNG
-	-	-	-
1944, September - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Biak, PNG
			-
1945, March - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Mindoro, Philippines
? C-46D-5-CU (44-77367) 433rd TCG Lost Mar 10, 1945, SW Pacific	? C-46D-5-CU (44-77373) 433rd TCG Lost Mar 12, 1945, SW Pacific	X304 C-46D-5-CU (44-77377) 37th TCS, 433rd TCG 1944	? C-46D-5-CU (44-77341) 433rd TCG Lost Mar 10, 1945, SW Pacific
1945, May - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Luçon, Philippines
-	? C-46D-5-CU (44-77353) 433rd TCG MIA Jun 11, 1945, SW Pacific.	? C-46D-5-CU (44-77369) 433rd TCG Lost May 17, 1945, SW Pacific	-
1945, August - Curtiss C-46D COMMANDO - Okinawa, Japan
-	-	-	-
After the war it was based in Japan. It was first equipped with C-47, C-53 and B-17; before moving to the Philippines it was transformed on C-46.

References

USAAF - Serial numbers collection by Joseph F. Baugher

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