XII Tactical Air Command explained

Unit Name:	XII Tactical Air Command
Dates:	1942-1947
Role:	Command of tactical units
Battles:	Mediterranean Theater of Operations^[1]
Identification Symbol Label:	Patch with unofficial XII Tactical Air Command emblem^[2]

The XII Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe at Bad Kissingen, Germany, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1947.

History

The 12th Ground Air Support Command was activated on 17 September 1942 at Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama, where it drew its initial cadre from the 3d Ground Air Support Command.^{[1] [3]} Within a week, it had moved to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, to prepare for the invasion of North Africa and changed its name to XII Air Support Command.

The command participated in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. However, it confined itself to administering air affairs in French Morocco until January 1943. On 6 January 1943, it was attached to the Satin Task Force, primarily composed of elements of the II Corps and after 13 January was fully engaged with support of II Corps in its attack through central Tunisia. This campaign proved to be a test for United States air support doctrine and tactics. No pilots or planes trained for night reconnaissance were available, and photographic reconnaissance with Douglas A-20 Havocs was only available late in the campaign. Tying the command to a single corps also kept it from supporting other organizations participating in the campaign, such as the French XIX Corps, even when resources were available.^[4]

The command served in combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters until May 1945. Afterward, remained in Europe as part of the occupation force.

Colonel Demas T. Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco: when the Allies landed on 8 November 1942, Col Craw volunteered to negotiate an armistice; while trying to pass through the lines near Port Lyautey, he was killed by machine-gun fire.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 12th Ground Air Support Command on 10 September 1942

Activated on 17 September 1942

Redesignated XII Air Support Command on 24 September 1942

Redesignated XII Tactical Air Command in April 1944

Inactivated in Germany on 10 November 1947

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Assignments

• Third Air Force, 17 September 1942 (attached to First Air Force after 25 September 1942)
• Twelfth Air Force, 9 November 1942^[5] (attached to Allied Air Support Command after 22 January 1943)
• Northwest African Air Forces, c. 18 February 1943 (attached to Allied Air Support Command (later Northwest African Tactical Air Force c. February 18 – 10 December 1943, further attached to No. 242 Group RAF March 43)
• Twelfth Air Force, c. 10 December 1943^[5] (attached to No. 242 Group RAF, Tactical Air Force, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces January 1944 – April 1944)
• United States Air Forces in Europe, 15 November 1945 – 10 November 1947^[6]

Stations

• Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama, 17 September 1942
• Bolling Field, District of Columbia, 25 September – 18 October 1942
• French Morocco, 9 November 1942
• Algeria, January 1943
• Tunisia, 13 March 1943
• Sicily, Italy, c. 12 July 1943

• Italy, c. 9 September 1943
• Corsica, France, 18 August 1944
• Germany, 27 March 1945
• Erlangen (R-96),^[7] Germany, July 1945
• Bad Kissingen (R-98),^[7] Germany, 1 November 1945 – 10 November 1947

Components

Wings

• 3rd Air Defense Wing (later 64th Fighter Wing): 9 March 1943 – 5 June 1947 (attached to First Tactical Air Force (Provisional) 27 November 1944 – May 1945)^[8]
• 5th Bombardment Wing: c. 13 October 1942 – 1 November 1943^[9]
• 7th Fighter Wing, 27 September 1942 – 7 January 1943 (attached to First Air Force to c. 17 October 1942; Task Force A to 8 November 1942; Moroccan Composite Wing (Provisional) to 6 January 1943)^[10]
• 42d Bombardment Wing: 27 November 1944 – 6 January 1945, 21 May – 26 July 1945^[11]
• 57th Bombardment Wing: 31 August 1943 – 1 January 1944^[12]
• 63d Fighter Wing: 14 June – December 1945
• 70th Fighter Wing: 2 December 1945 – 25 September 1947
• 71st Fighter Wing: 25 September–November 1945
• 87th Fighter Wing: 11 January-22 September 1944

Groups

• 12th Bombardment Group: 1 September 1943 – 2 January 1944^[13]
• 31st Fighter Group: November 1942 – 24 July 1943^[14]
• 33d Fighter Group: 13 January – 18 February 1943; 14 March 1943 – 24 July 1943; 21 December 1943 – c. 20 February 1944 (under operational control of 64th Fighter Wing)^[15]
• 36th Fighter Group: 15 November 1945 – 15 February 1946^[16]
• 47th Bombardment Group, assigned 27 September – 31 December 1942; 22 January – 18 February 1943; attached 1 September 1943 – 6 October 1943; 10 December 1943 – 20 July 1944; 7–15 September 1944^[17]
• 50th Fighter Group, 29 September 1944 – 4 August 1945 (under operational control of 64th Fighter Wing until June 1945)^[18]
• 52nd Fighter Group: 18 February – 23 May 1943; 15 May – 25 June 1947^[19]
• 57th Fighter Group: attached 22 August 1943; assigned 1 September – 1 November 1943; 2 January – 23 April 1944 (attached to 64th Fighter Wing 2–28 March 1944)^[20]
• 68th Observation Group (later 68th Reconnaissance Group): c. 18 October 1942 – c. 18 June 1943 (attached to 5th Bombardment Wing after 31 October 1942)^[21]
• 69th Tactical Reconnaissance Group: 27 March – 20 May 1945^[22]
• 79th Fighter Group: attached c. 2–c. 14 June 1943; assigned 1 September – 1 November 1943 (attached to Northwest African Tactical Air Force)^[23]
• 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 86th Fighter Group): assigned c. November 1943 – 9 September 1944; 20 February 1945 – c. 30 April 1945 (attached to 64th Fighter Wing after 21 February 1945; attached 30 April 1945); assigned 20 June – August 1945; 1 March – 6 October 1947^[24]
• 340th Bombardment Group: 1 September – 1 November 1943; 2 January – 1 March 1944^[25]
• 354th Fighter Group, 4 July 1945 – 15 February 1946^[26]
• 363d Reconnaissance Group, 15–20 November 1945^[27]
• 366th Fighter Group: 4 July 1945 – 20 August 1946^[28]
• 501st Tactical Control Group (see 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion)

Squadrons

• 2d Air Support Communications Squadron (later 2d Tactical Air Communications Squadron): 2 February 1943 – 6 July 1943^[29]
• 4th Tactical Air Communications Squadron: 4 July 1945 – 5 June 1947^[30]
• 11th Tactical Air Communications Squadron: 4 July – c. 12 October 1945^[31]
• 14th Liaison Squadron: 4 July – 5 October 1945 (attached to Third Army after 26 June 1945)^[32]
• 18th Air Support Communications Squadron (later 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron): c. 12 February – 10 June 1944^[33]
• 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 3 October 1944 – 20 April 1945 (attached to Provisional Reconnaissance Group after 16 October 1944)^[34]
• 47th Liaison Squadron: 23 November 1945 – 1 February 1946^[35]
• 72d Liaison Squadron: 20 May – 3 July 1945^[36]
• 99th Fighter Squadron: 28 May 1943 – 1 May 1944 (attached to 33d Fighter Group, 29 May 1943; 324th Fighter Group, c. 19 June 1943; 33d Fighter Group 19 July 1943; 79th Fighter Group, 16 October 1943; 324th Fighter Group after 1 April 1944)^[37]
• 111th Observation Squadron (later 111th Reconnaissance Squadron, 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): attached 12–31 March 1943, 20 June 1943, assigned 26 May 1944 – 20 April 1945 (attached to Provisional Reconnaissance Group after 16 October 1944)^[38]
• 125th Liaison Squadron: 20 June – 15 December 1945^[39]
• 153d Liaison Squadron: attached 25 April 1944, assigned 15 July 1945 – 15 December 1945 (attached to Twelfth Army Group 15 November 1944, Seventh Army after 26 July 1945)^[40]
• 162d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 16 October 1944 – 21 April 1945^[41]
• 167th Liaison Squadron: 20 May – 15 July 1945^[42]
• 365th Bombardment Squadron: 1 November – 25 December 1946^[43]
• 415th Night Fighter Squadron: 12 October – 5 December 1943^[44]
• 417th Night Fighter Squadron: 17 May – 26 June 1945^[45]

Other

• 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion (later 501st Tactical Control Group), 15 November 1945 – 25 July 1947^[46]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Command of Observation Aviation: A Study in Control of Tactical Airpower, USAF Historical Study No. 24. Futrell. Robert F.. September 1956. Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University . January 23, 2022.
• Book: Johnson, 1st Lt. David C.. U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day. 1988. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf . September 29, 2015. June 26, 2017.
• 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. 450
2. See Maurer, Combat Units, p. 450 (no approved emblem).
3. Futrell, p. 14
4. Futrell, p 23
5. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 450 (years only).
6. Web site: Factsheet United States Air Forces in Europe (USAF). Rumley. Christopher F.. January 25, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 23, 2021.
7. Station number in Johnson, p. 42
8. Web site: Factsheet 64 Air Division (Defense) . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014002920/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10113 . 14 October 2012 . 2 April 2014.
9. Web site: Factsheet 5 Air Division. 4 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121030115646/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10055 . 30 October 2012. 12 March 2014.
10. Web site: Factsheet 47 Air Division . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017235335/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10100 . 17 October 2012 . 4 April 2014.
11. Web site: Factsheet 42 Air Division . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020093643/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10096 . 20 October 2012 . 4 April 2014.
12. Web site: Factsheet 57 Air Division . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121013204459/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10111 . 13 October 2012. 2 April 2014.
13. Web site: Factsheet 12 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy. June 26, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 28, 2021.
14. Web site: Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 27, 2021.
15. Web site: Factsheet 33 Operations Group (ACC). Dollman. TSG David. October 18, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
16. Web site: Factsheet 36 Operations Group (PACAF). Robertson. Patsy. July 5, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 30, 2021.
17. Web site: Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. dead. December 31, 2021. 28 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211228135346/https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433520/47-operations-group-aetc/.
18. Web site: Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
19. Web site: Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy. May 7, 2013. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 1, 2022.
20. Web site: Factsheet 57 Operations Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 29, 2009. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 1, 2022.
21. Web site: Factsheet 53 Electronic Warfare Group (ACC). Stephens. Maj Tonia. June 19, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
22. Web site: Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 7, 2022.
23. Web site: Factsheet 53 Test and Evaluation Group (ACC). Stevens. Maj Sonia. July 11, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 7, 2022.
24. Web site: Factsheet 86 Operations Group (USAFE). Forte. Maria. April 4, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
25. Web site: Factsheet 340 Flying Training Group (AFRC). Haulman. Daniel. November 1, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 12, 2022.
26. Web site: Factsheet 354 Operations Group (PACAF). Robertson. Patsy. April 5, 2012. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
27. Web site: Factsheet 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
28. Web site: Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC). Dollman. TSG David.. October 18, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
29. Web site: Factsheet 2 Air Support Operations Squadron (USAFE). Dollman. TSG David. June 16, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. July 17, 2018.
30. Web site: Factsheet 4 Air Support Operations Group (USAFE). Dollman. TSG David. August 5, 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 14, 2022.
31. Web site: Factsheet 11 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC). Dollman. TSG David. May 16, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 15, 2022.
32. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 78-79
33. Web site: Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC). Dollman. TSG Davis. August 31, 2012. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 14, 2022.
34. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 165
35. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 207
36. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266
37. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 329
38. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 340-341
39. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 350
40. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 352
41. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 362
42. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 364
43. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 451
44. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 508
45. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 511
46. Web site: Factsheet 521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC). Lacomia. John M.. April 29, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 16, 2022.