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15th Air Force

The 15th AF primary function was Strategic Bombardment of Italy, France, Germany,Romania,Hungary,Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Yugoslavia and Greece.

Visit our 15th Air Force Honor Project with rosters of servicemen who served in the groups of the 15th.

 15th Air Force

Constituted as Fifteenth AF on 30 Oct 1943. Activated in the Mediterranean theater on 1 Nov 1943. Began operations on 2 Nov. Inactivated in Italy on 15 Sep 1945.

Wings: 5th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 42d Bombardment: 1943. 47th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 49th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 55th Bombardment: 1944- 1945. 304th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 305th Bombardment : 1943-1945. 306th Fighter: 1944-1945. 307th Bombardment: 1944.

Stations: Tunis, Tunisia, 1 Nov 1943; Bari, Italy, 1 Dec 1943-15 Sep 1945.

Commanders: Maj Gen James H Doolittle, 1 Nov 1943; Maj Gen Nathan F Twining, 3 Jan 1944; Brig Gen James A Mollison, 26 May 1945; Brig Gen William L Lee, 3 Aug 1945; Col Elmer J Rogers Jr, 31 Aug-15 Sep 1945.

Campaigns: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley.

Insigne: On a blue disc a white star charged with a red disc in the center and with golden orange stylized wings below a golden orange Arabic numeral “15”, all within a golden orange annulet. (Approved 19 Feb 1944.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986.

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