XII Bomber Command explained

Unit Name:	XII Bomber Command
Dates:	1942-1944
Role:	Command of medium and light bomber units
Command Structure:	Twelfth Air Force Northwest African Strategic Air Force
Battles:	Mediterranean Theater of Operations^[1]

XII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based in Corsica, France. It was constituted on 26 February 1942, activated on 13 March 1942, and inactivated on 10 June 1944.

History

It was assigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1942 and transferred, without personnel and equipment, to RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom where the command was re-formed. Moved to North Africa, with the first of its elements arriving during the invasion in November 1942. Served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until 1 November 1943 when most of the personnel were withdrawn and reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force. Received additional personnel in January 1944 and served in combat until 1 March 1944. It was finally disbanded in Corsica on 10 June 1944.

Joseph Heller's novel Catch 22 draws on his experiences with the 340th Bombardment Group, part of XII Bomber Command.^[2]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 12th Bomber Command on 16 February 1942

Activated on 13 March 1942

Redesignated XII Bomber Command c. 24 September 1942

Disbanded on 10 June 1944^[1]

Assignments

• Third Air Force, 13 March 1942
• Twelfth Air Force, 31 August 1942^[3] (Attached to VIII Bomber Command September 1942 – c. 16 October 1942)
• Northwest African Air Forces, February 1943 (attached to Northwest African Strategic Air Force (later Strategic Air Force, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces)
• Twelfth Air Force, 1943 – 10 June 1944^[3]

Stations

• MacDill Field, Florida, 13 March 1942
• RAF High Wycombe (AAF-101),^[4] United Kingdom, 31 August-10 November 1942
• Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria, 22 November 1942
• Algiers, Algeria, 27 November 1942
• Constantine Airfield, Algeria, 5 December 1942
• Tunis, Tunisia, 23 July 1943
• Bari Airfield, Italy, c. December 1943
• Pollena Trocchia (Naples), Italy, 4 January 1944
• Corsica, c. April-10 June 1944^[5]

Components

Wings

• 5th Bombardment Wing, 13 October 1942 – 1 November 1943^[6]
• 7th Fighter Wing (later 47th Bombardment Wing), 7 January – 18 February 1943; 1 September – 1 November 1943^[7]
• 42d Bombardment Wing, 1 September – 1 November 1943^[8]
• 57th Bombardment Wing, 1 January – 1 March 1944^[9]

Groups

• 1st Fighter Group, 24 December 1942 – 18 February 1943; 1 September 1943 – 1 November 1943^[10]
• 2nd Bombardment Group, 1 September 1943 – 1 November 1943^[11]
• 3d Photographic Group, 16 October 1942 – 5 January 1943^[12]
• 12th Bombardment Group, 2 January – c. 21 March 1944^[13]
• 14th Fighter Group, 11 December 1942 – January 1943^[14]
• 21st Bombardment Group, 2–8 May 1942^[15]
• 46th Bombardment Group, 2–8 May 1942^[16]
• 48th Bombardment Group, 2–8 May 1942^[17]
• 68th Reconnaissance Group: 18 October – 1 November 1943 (attached to 5th Bombardment Wing after 31 October 1943)^[18]
• 85th Bombardment Group, 16 March - 2 May 1942^[19]
• 86th Bombardment Group: 1 May – 21 July 1942^[20]
• 97th Bombardment Group: 14 September 1942 – January 1943^[21]
• 98th Bombardment Group: 19–24 September 1943^[22]
• 301st Bombardment Group: 14 September 1942 – January 1943^[23]
• 310th Bombardment Group: 2 May 1942 – 18 February 1943 (attached to 7th Fighter Wing after 1 February 1943)^[24]
• 312th Bombardment Group, 2 May – 10 August 1942^[25]
• 319th Bombardment Group: c. 11 November 1942 – 1 June 1943^[26]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Anderson, Capt. Barry. Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II. 1985. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL. March 1, 2021.
• Web site: 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: 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, pp. 449-450
2. News: Aldridge. John W.. The Loony Horror of it all - Catch-22 Turns 25. March 1, 2018. The New York Times. October 26, 1986.
3. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 449-450 (years only).
4. Station number in Anderson, p. 19.
5. Station information in Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 449-450, except as noted.
6. Station information in Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 449-450 (years only).
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Web site: Factsheet 1 Operations Group (ACC). Haulman. Daniel. November 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 27, 2021.
11. Web site: Factsheet 2 Operations Group (ACC). Haulman. Daniel. September 28, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 27, 2021.
12. Futrell, p. 22. However, Robinson indicates the group was assigned directly to Twelfth Air Force. Factsheet, 543 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group.
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 14 Operations Group (AETC). Haulman. Daniel. June 3, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. August 26, 2017.
15. Web site: Factsheet 21 Operations Group (AFSPC). Haulman. Daniel. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
16. Web site: Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC). Robertson. Patsy. September 4, 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 30, 2021.
17. Web site: Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
18. Web site: Factsheet 53 Electronic Warfare Group (ACC). Stephens. Maj Tonia. June 19, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
19. Web site: Factsheet 85 Group. Robertson. Patsy. September 29, 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
20. Web site: Factsheet 86 Operations Group (USAFE). Forte. Maria. April 4, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
21. Web site: Factsheet 97 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy. July 19, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
22. Web site: Factsheet 98 Operations Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 15, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
23. Web site: Factsheet 301 Operations Group (AFRC). Kane. Robert B.. September 23, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
24. Web site: Factsheet 310 Space Wing (AFSPC). Bailey. Carl E.. August 9, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
25. Web site: Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group (AFMC. Bailey. Carl E.. December 27, 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
26. Web site: Factsheet 319 Operations Group (ACC). Ream. Margaret. January 25, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.