IX Air Defense Command explained

Unit Name:IX Air Defense Command
Dates:1944–1946
Role:Air defense
Battles:European Theater of Operations[1]

The IX Air Defense Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. It was assigned throughout its time in combat to Ninth Air Force. Its final station was at Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1946.

History

It was established in England on 19 July 1944, and activated on 1 July 1944. Mission was to provide air defense for liberated areas of Western Europe consisting of France and later, the Low Countries. Subordinate wing headquarters and subordinate units operated primarily from liberated airfields and newly built temporary Advanced Landing Grounds in continental Europe. Along with air defense, subordinate units engaged in combat in support of ground forces during the breakthrough at St. Lo in July 1944. Attacked tanks, trucks, and troop concentrations as enemy retreated; provided armed reconnaissance for advancing Allied armored columns. During September 1944, attacked flak positions near Eindhoven during Operation Market-Garden, the airborne landing in the Netherlands; bombed enemy communications and transportation lines in western Germany. Flew armed reconnaissance missions over Battle of the Bulge during December 1944 – January 1944. Flew missions against enemy transportation systems including motor vehicles, bridges, trains, railway bridges, and marshalling yards during February and March 1945. Moved to Germany in April 1945, flying last combat missions on 3 May 1945.

However, inactivation only occurred on 25 June 1946, and the unit was disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Lineage

Activated on 1 July 1944

Inactivated on 25 July 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Wing
Squadrons and companies

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 447
  2. Web site: Factsheet Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) (ACC). Ream. Margaret. October 5, 2020. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 18, 2021.
  3. Web site: Factsheet United States Air Forces in Europe (USAF). Rumley. Christopher M.. January 25, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 18, 2021.
  4. Station number and detailed location in Anderson, pp. 13, 28
  5. Station number in Johnson, p. 16.
  6. Station information in Maurer, p. 447, except as noted.
  7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 518-519
  8. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 522
  9. Web site: Document Detail for IRISNUM= 00021626. airforcehistoryindex.org. 26 November 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "IX Air Defense Command".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.