IX Tactical Air Command explained


Unit Name:IX Tactical Air Command
Dates:1943-1945
Role:Command of fighter bomber units
Battles:European theater of World War II[1]
Notable Commanders:Maj Gen Elwood Richard Quesada

The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.

History

Formed in the United Kingdom during 1943 as the IX Air Support Command, its primary role was to provide close air support for the U.S. First Army. Re-designated as the IX Tactical Air Command in April 1944, its initial missions included interdicting transportation, disrupting communications and destroying warehouses and supply dumps in occupied France and the Low Countries in preparation for the Normandy Invasion in June. Targets included bridges, road junctions, railroads, airfields, radio towers and telephone exchanges. Engaging enemy aircraft in the air and establishing air superiority was another priority.

After the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, IX Tactical Air Command Republic P-47 Thunderbolts concentrated on enemy targets in the Cotentin Peninsula area and afterward supported Operation Cobra, the breakout of Normandy. Paying particular attention to German forces in the Falaise-Argentan Gap, targets were expanded to include tanks, vehicles of all types and troop formations. Many times targets of opportunity on the ground were spontaneously attacked when spotted. Coordinated attacks were made with Allied ground forces, especially when they were being held up by strong defenses. Thunderbolts dropped bombs at low level, made rocket attacks and strafed enemy positions with demoralizing effect.

Wing headquarters and subordinate units operated primarily from liberated airfields and temporary Advanced Landing Grounds. Moving into north-central France, its groups attacked enemy targets near Paris and then concentrated its activity north-west across Belgium and into the southern Netherlands. In December 1944 and January 1945 it engaged targets on the north flank of the Battle of the Bulge, then concentrated eastward into the Northern Rhineland as part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany.

The First Army was closely supported as it crossed the Rhine River at Remagen after which attacks were made on ground targets in the Ruhr district where air support was given to Allied forces that had encircled a large concentration of German troops in the Ruhr Pocket. That operation essentially ended organized enemy resistance in western Germany. The First Army halted its advance at the Elbe River in late April 1945 after which the wing engaged targets of opportunity in enemy-controlled areas until the fighting ended on 5 May 1945.

The IX Tactical Air Command remained in Europe after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), performing occupation duty and the destruction or shipment to the United States of captured enemy combat equipment. Assigned units also performed air defense duty over the American Zone of Occupation. It returned to the United States and was inactivated during October 1945.

Lineage

Activated on 4 December 1943

Redesignated IX Tactical Air Command c. 24 April 1944

Inactivated on 25 October 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]

Assignments

Components

Wings
Groups
Squadrons
Other

Stations

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
Citations

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 448
  2. Web site: Factsheet Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) (ACC). Ream. Margaret. October 5, 2020. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 20, 2021.
  3. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 448 (year only).
  4. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 448 (year only).
  5. Web site: Factsheet 404 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy. 16 December 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 17, 2022.
  6. Web site: Factsheet 36 Operations Group (PACAF). Robertson. Patsy. July 5, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 30, 2021.
  7. Web site: Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
  8. Web site: Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
  9. Web site: Factsheet 67 Cyberspace Operations Group (AFSPC). Ream. Margaret. March 21, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 7, 2022.
  10. Web site: Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC). Dollman. TSG David.. October 18, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
  11. Web site: Factsheet 405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC). Hauman. Daniel L.. November 21, 2014. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 17, 2022.
  12. Web site: Factsheet 4 Air Support Operations Group (USAFE). Dollman. TSG David. August 5, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 14, 2022.
  13. Web site: Factsheet 6 Combat Training Squadron (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 31, 2009. Air Force Historical Research Agency. July 4, 2018.
  14. Web site: Factsheet 11 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC). Dollman. TSG David. May 16, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 15, 2022.
  15. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 184
  16. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 352
  17. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 355
  18. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 518-519
  19. Web site: Factsheet 521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC). Lacomia. John M.. April 29, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 16, 2022.
  20. Station number in Anderson, p. 31.
  21. Station number in Anderson, p. 28.
  22. Station number in Johnson, p. 77.
  23. Station number in Johnson, p. 54.
  24. Station information in Maurer, Combat Units, p. 448, except as noted.

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

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.