XIII Fighter Command explained

Unit Name:	XIII Fighter Command
Dates:	1943–1946
Role:	Command of fighter units
Battles:	Southwest Pacific Theater China-Burma-India Theater^[1]
Notable Commanders:	Brig Gen Dean C. Strother

The XIII Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. It was last assigned to Thirteenth Air Force, based at Manila, Luzon, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 March 1946.

History

XIII Fighter Command was a World War II command and control organization for Thirteenth Air Force. Its mission was to provide command and control authority of Army Air Force fighter organizations within the Thirteenth Air Force Area of Responsibility.

It participated in the following campaigns: China Defensive; Guadal¬canal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

Lineage

• Constituted as the XIII Fighter Command on 14 December 1942

Activated on 13 January 1943

Inactivated on 15 March 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Assignments

• Thirteenth Air Force, 13 January 1943 – 15 March 1946^[2]

Stations

• Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, New Caledonia, Melanesia, 13 January 1943
• Pekoa Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 22 January 1943
• Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, December 1943
• Sansapor (March) Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, 15 August 1944
• Bayug Airfield, Burauen, Leyte, Philippines, 10 January 1945
• Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan, Philippines, 1 March 1945
• Manila, Luzon, Philippines, November 1945 – 15 March 1946^[1]

Components

Groups

• 18th Fighter Group, 14 April 1943 – 15 March 1946^[3]
• 42nd Bombardment Group, attached 1 October 1944 – 8 January 1945, c. 22 March – c. September 1945^[4]
• 347th Fighter Group: 13 January 1943 – 1 January 1946 (attached to I Island Command 1 July – c. 29 December 1943)^[5]
• 414th Fighter Group: 1 January–30 September 1946^[6]

Squadrons

• 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 10 December 1945 – 1 February 1946^[7]
• 419th Night Fighter Squadron: 25 August 1944 – 10 January 1946^[8]
• 550th Night Fighter Squadron: 12 December 1944 – 15 December 1945 (attached to XIII Bomber Command 14 February 1945, 85th Fighter Wing 7 April – c. 17 June 1945)^[9]

See also

• United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific Area

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. December 17, 2016. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. December 17, 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.

Notes and References

1. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 451
2. Web site: Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (PACAF). Kane. Robert B.. October 21, 2011. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 24, 2021.
3. Web site: Factsheet 18 Operations Group (PACAF). Robertson. Patsy. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
4. Web site: Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC). Haulman. Daniel. June 13, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 30, 2021.
5. Web site: Factsheet 347 Rescue Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 12, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 12, 2022.
6. Web site: Factsheet 414 Fighter Group (AFRC). Robertson. Patsy. August 9, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 16, 2022.
7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 93-94
8. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 515
9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 654-655