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Combat Groups
THE STRENGTH OF AN AIR FORCE cannot be measured as well in terms of either personnel or airplanes as in terms of trained fighting units, capable of engaging the enemy. The unit which has been generally used during World War II has been the "combat group". And it was the group which became not only the basic measure of present strength but also the planning unit upon which projected operations were based.
The composition of combat groups varies according to the type airplane used. Even for group equipped with the same type airplane, the composition differs occasionally because of varying operational requirements. Following is a table showing the most usual make-up--in both planes and personnel--of the principle types of combat units as of 20 February 1945:
COMPOSITION OF COMBAT UNITS
Type of Unit Major Type of Airplane Number of Airplanes (Including Reserve) Number of Crews (Including Reserve) Men Per Crew Personnel Total Officers Enlisted Very Heavy Bombardment Group B-29 45 60 11 2,078 462 1,616 Heavy Bombardment Group B-17, B-24 72 96 9-11 2,261 465 1,796 Medium Bombardment Group B-25, B-26 96 96 5-6 1,759 393 1,366 Light Bombardment Group A-20, A-26 96 96 3-4 1,304 211 1,093 Single Engine Fighter Group P-40, P-47. P-51 111-126 108-126 1 994 183 811 Twin Engine Fighter Group P-38 111-126 108-126 1 1,081 183 898 Night Fighter Group P-61, P-70 18 16 2-3 288 50 238 Troop Carrier Group C-47 80-110 18 4-5 1,837 514 1,323 Combat Cargo Group C-46, C-47 125 150 4 883 350 533 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron F-6 (P-51), P-39, P-40, L-4, L-5 27 23 1 233 39 194 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron F-5 (P-38) 24 21 1 347 50 297 Combat Mapping Squadron F-7 (B-24)
F-9 (B-17)18 16 9 474 77 397 In the above table, the organization of reconnaissance squadrons rather than of reconnaissance groups is shown because the group does not always comprise the same number or type of squadrons. Generally speaking, however, three or four squadrons are assigned to a group headquarters, which itself consists of about 25 officers and 50 enlisted men. Furthermore, the table omits the Air Commando Group, which is a composite organization consisting of two reduced strength fighter squadrons, one troop carrier squadron and three liaison squadrons, a total of 214 officers and 581 enlisted men. At the peak of the program, there were only three Air Commando Groups, two in China and India-Burma and one in the Far East Air Forces. These three groups are combined in the following tables with the Troops Carrier Groups because of the relative similarity of their mission. Four Combat Cargo Groups, similar in composition to Troop Carrier Groups and located in Pacific Theaters, also have been combined with Troop Carriers.
Throughout the war, there were always a few combat squadrons which were not assigned to a group headquarters. These so-cAlled "separate squadrons" have been excluded from the tables that follow. At the peak of the program, in April 1945, there were 65 of these separate squadrons, 25 of which were reconnaissance, and 16 of which were night fighter squadrons. Fractions of groups shown in the tables indicate group headquarters to which fewer than the standard number of squadrons were attached.
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Table 1
Combat Groups Overseas by Location and in Continental US by State of Training,
By Type of Group:
Dec 1941 to Aug 1945(Figures are as of end of month.)
Location and
Type of Group1941 1942 Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Total 67¼ 67¼ 84½ 99½ 99¾ 106½ 114¼ 13011/12 Heavy Bomb 13½ 13½ 17½ 21½ 21½ 25¾ 30¾ 37¾ Medium & Light Bomb 13 13 14 17 17 19 22 25 Fighter 26 26 34¼ 35 35 34 34 372/3 Troop Carrier 6 6 9½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ Reconnaissance 8¾ 8¾ 9¼ 14½ 14¾ 16¼ 16 19 Overseas Totala 18 18 20 26 26 26¼ 29¼ 35¼ Heavy Bomb 6 6 7 8 8 8¼ 10¼ 12¼ Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 5 Fighter 10 10 11 13 13 13 13 16 Troop Carrier - - - - - - 1 1 Reconnaissance 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Versus Germany--Total - - 1 2 2 1 3 9 Heavy Bomb - - 1 1 1 1 2 4 Medium & Light Bomb - - - - - - - 1 Fighter - - - 1 1 - - 3 Troop Carrier - - - - - - 1 1 Versus Japan--Total 8 8 9 14 14 15 16 16 Heavy Bomb 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 Medium & Light Bomb - - - 3 3 3 3 3 Fighter 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 Latin America & Atlantic Bases-- Total 10 10 10 10 10 10¼ 10¼ 10¼ Heavy Bomb 3 3 3 3 3 3¼ 3¼ 3¼ Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Fighter 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Reconnaissance 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Continental US--Total 49¼ 49¼ 64½ 73½ 73¾ 80¼ 85 952/3 Heavy Bomb 7½ 7½ 10½ 13½ 13½ 17½ 20½ 25½ Medium & Light Bomb 12 12 13 13 13 15 18 20 Fighter 16 16 23¼ 22 22 21 21 212/3 Troop Carrier 6 6 9½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 10½ 10½ Reconnaissance 7¾ 7¾ 8¼ 13½ 13¾ 15¼ 15 18 Operational Training--Totalb 20½ 20½ 18½ 17 18¼ 32 34¾ 412/3 Heavy Bomb 2 2 1 1 1 10 10 10 Medium & Light Bomb 6 6 6 3 3 5 5 6 Fighter 6 6 5 4 5 5 6 62/3 Troop Carrier 1 1 1 1 1 2½ 4½ 5½ Reconnaissance 5½ 5½ 5½ 8 8¼ 9½ 9¼ 13½ Manning Phase--Total ¼ ¼ 17½ 28 28 20¾ 20¾ 26½ Heavy Bomb - - 4 7 7 2 5 11 Medium & Light Bomb - - 1 4 4 4 5 6 Fighter - - 8¼ 8 8 6 5 5 Troop Carrier - - 3½ 5½ 5½ 5 2 2 Reconnaissance ¼ ¼ 3/4 3½ 3½ 3¾ 3¾ 2½ Strategic Reserve--Totalc 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 27½ 27½ 29½ 27½ Heavy Bomb 5½ 5½ 5½ 5½ 5½ 5½ 5½ 4½ Medium & Light Bomb 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 Fighter 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 Troop Carrier 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 Reconnaissance 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 NOTES: a--Includes groups enroute to Continental US. b--Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. c--Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units.
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Location and Type of Group 1942 1943 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Total 1372/3 1435/12 155¼ 164¼ 167 171 179½ Very Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - Heavy Bomb 37¾ 38¾ 43¾ 46 46¼ 47½ 51½ Medium & Light Bomb 25 27¾ 27¾ 29¾ 29 29 29 Fighter 442/3 462/3 52¾ 55¾ 58¾ 60¾ 63 Troop Carrier 11½ 11½ 12½ 14½ 14¾ 15½ 17½ Reconnaissance 18¾ 18¾ 18½ 18¼ 18¼ 18¼ 18½ Overseas Totala 461/6 515/12 615/12 661/6 69¼ 73¾ 77¼ Heavy Bomb 20¼ 20¼ 20¼ 20¼ 19½ 20¾ 21¾ Medium & Light Bomb 5¼ 6¼ 10¼ 11¼ 12¾ 12¾ 14¾ Fighter 172/3 192/3 255/12 255/12 27¼ 29½ 30 Troop Carrier 2 3 3 5½ 5½ 6½ 6½ Reconnaissance 1 2¼ 2½ 3¾ 4¼ 4¼ 4¼ Versus Germany--Total 182/3 2111/12 3111/12 362/3 38½ 42 44¼ Heavy Bomb 11 11 11 11 10¾ 12 12 Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 5 6 7 7 9 Fighter 42/3 52/3 115/12 125/12 13½ 15¾ 16 Troop Carrier 2 3 3 4½ 4½ 4½ 4½ Reconnaissance - 1¼ 1½ 2¾ 2¾ 2¾ 2¾ Versus Japan--Total 17¼ 19¼ 20¼ 21¼ 22¾ 23¾ 25 Heavy Bomb 6 6 7 7 6¾ 6¾ 7¾ Medium & Light Bomb 3¼ 4¼ 4¼ 4¾ 4¾ 4¾ 4¾ Fighter 8 9 9 9 9¾ 9¾ 10 Troop Carrier - - - 1 1 2 2 Reconnaissance - - - - ½ ½ ½ Latin America & Atlantic Bases-- Total 10¼ 10¼ 9¼ 8¼ 8 8 8 Heavy Bomb 3¼ 3¼ 2¼ 2¼ 2 2 2 Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Fighter 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 Reconnaissance 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Continental US--Total 91½ 92 935/6 98½ 97¾ 97¼ 102¼ Very Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - Heavy Bomb 17½ 18½ 23½ 25¾ 26¾ 26¾ 29¾ Medium & Light Bomb 19¾ 21½ 17½ 18½ 16¼ 16¼ 14¼ Fighter 27 27 271/3 301/3 31½ 31¼ 33 Troop Carrier 9½ 8½ 9½ 9 9¼ 9 11 Reconnaissance 17¾ 16½ 16 14½ 14 14 14¼ Operatinonal Training--Totalb 42¼ 46 455/6 435/6 51½ 49¼ 49¼ Very Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - Heavy Bomb 4 6 7 9 13 13 12 Medium & Light Bomb 8 9 7 7 7 7 5 Fighter 11 14 131/3 121/3 13½ 12¼ 13 Troop Carrier 5½ 4½ 4½ 3 6 5 7 Reconnaissance 13¾ 12½ 14 12½ 12 12 12¼ Manning Phase--Total 22 16 15 16 9 13 18 Very Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - Heavy Bomb 7 5 7 4 - - 4 Medium & Light Bomb 4 3 1 2 2 2 2 Fighter 7 4 5 7 5 8 9 Troop Carrier 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 Reconnaissance 2 2 - - - - - Strategic Reserve--Totalc 27¼ 30 33 38¼ 37¼ 35 35 Very Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - Heavy Bomb 6½ 7½ 9½ 12¾ 13¾ 13¾ 13¾ Medium & Light Bomb 7¾ 9½ 9½ 9½ 7¼ 7¼ 7¼ Fighter 9 9 9 11 13 11 11 Troop Carrier 2 2 3 3 1¼ 1 1 Reconnaissance 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 NOTES: a--Includes groups enroute to Continental US. b--Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. c--Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units.
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Location and Type of Group 1943 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total 194½ 2045/6 2167/12 234½ 23811/12 2477/12 255½ 2621/3 265 269¼ Very Heavy Bomb 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 5 9 Heavy Bomb 58½ 59¼ 67½ 78½ 76½ 80½ 86½ 917/12 95 95 Medium & Light Bomb 31 32½ 31¾ 34½ 34½ 35½ 35½ 34¼ 34 35 Fighter 66¼ 685/6 715/6 75 79¼ 831/12 84 88 87¾ 86¼ Troop Carrier 19½ 19½ 19½ 22½ 22½ 23½ 24½ 25½ 26½ 27 Reconnaissance 18¼ 23¾ 25 23 231/6 20 20 18 16¾ 17 Overseas Totala 78 86¾ 931/12 1037/12 109 1135/12 1132/3 119 1231/12 1352/3 Heavy Bomb 21¾ 28½ 29¾ 33¾ 34¾ 35¾ 35¼ 367/12 83½ 43½ Medium & Light Bomb 15¼ 15¼ 16¾ 18¾ 19¾ 19¾ 19¼ 20¼ 21 21 Fighter 30¼ 31¼ 317/12 34¼ 37½ 39¾ 41 43 43 49 Troop Carrier 6½ 6½ 9½ 11 11 12½ 12½ 13½ 14¼ 15¼ Reconnaissance 4¼ 5¼ 5½ 55/6 6 52/3 52/3 52/3 6½ 611/12 Versus Germany--Total 44¼ 50¼ 565/6 651/6 681/3 70½ 72½ 76 79¼ 89¾ Heavy Bomb 21¾ 28½ 29¾ 33¾ 34¾ 35¾ 35¼ 367/12 38½ 43½ Medium & Light Bomb 15¼ 15¼ 16¾ 18¾ 19¾ 19¾ 19¼ 20¼ 21 21 Fighter 30¼ 31¼ 317/12 34¼ 37½ 39¾ 41 43 43 49 Troop Carrier 6½ 6½ 9½ 11 11 12½ 12½ 13½ 14½ 15¼ Reconnaissance 4¼ 5¼ 5½ 55/6 6 52/3 52/3 52/3 61/12 611/12 Versus Japan--Total 25¾ 27½ 28¾ 315/12 332/3 3511/12 341/6 37 385/6 4011/12 Heavy Bomb 7¾ 8¾ 8¾ 8¾ 8¾ 8¾ 8¼ 9¼ 9 9 Medium & Light Bomb 5¼ 5¼ 6¾ 6¾ 6¾ 6¾ 6¼ 7¼ 8 8 Fighter 10¼ 10¼ 10¼ 11¼ 13½ 14¾ 14 14 14 15 Troop Carrier 2 2 2 3½ 3½ 5 5 5 5½ 5¾ Reconnaissance ½ 1¼ 1 11/6 11/6 2/3 2/3 1½ 21/3 31/6 Latin America & Atlantic Bases--Total 8 9 7½ 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 Heavy Bomb 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Fighter 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 Reconnaissance 1 1 1½ 1 1 1 1 - - - Continental US--Total 116½ 118½ 123½ 13011/12 12911/12 1341/6 1415/6 1431/3 14111/12 1337/12 Very Heavy Bomb 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 5 9 Heavy Bomb 36¾ 30¾ 37¾ 44¾ 41¾ 44¾ 51¼ 55 56½ 51½ Medium & Light Bomb 15¾ 17¼ 15 15¾ 14¾ 15¾ 16¼ 14 13 14 Fighter 36 377/12 40¼ 40¾ 41¾ 431/3 43 45 44¾ 37¼ Troop Carrier 13 13 10 11½ 11½ 11 12 12 12 11¾ Reconnaissance 14 18½ 19½ 171/6 171/6 141/3 141/3 121/3 102/3 101/12 Operational Training--Totalb 44 471/3 42¾ 382/3 472/3 471/3 581/6 625/6 66¾ 585/6 Very Heavy Bomb - - - - 1 1 2 3 3 4 Heavy Bomb 13 10 9 9 9 10 12¾ 17 21½ 22½ Medium & Light Bomb 5 7 6 4 5 6 7¾ 8 8 8 Fighter 8 141/3 12 10½ 17½ 16 19 22 22¾ 14¾ Troop Carrier 6 6 4 5½ 5½ 4 6 6 7½ 7¼ Reconnaissance 12 10 11¾ 92/3 92/3 101/3 102/3 65/6 4 21/3 Manning Phase--Total 28 25½ 33 39 27 341/3 32 28 20½ 18½ Very Heavy Bomb 1 1 - - 1 3 2 1 1 4 Heavy Bomb 9 7 15 17 10 13 16 16 12 6 Medium & Light Bomb 4 3 2 5 3 3 2 1 - - Fighter 10 7 11 13 9 111/3 9 7 6 7 Troop Carrier 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1½ 1½ Reconnaissance - 3½ 2 1 1 - - - - - Strategic Reserve--Total c 44½ 45¼ 47¾ 53¼ 55¼ 52½ 512/3 52½ 542/3 56¼ Very Heavy Bomb - - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Heavy Bomb 14¾ 13¾ 13¾ 18¾ 22¾ 21¾ 22½ 22 23 23 Medium & Light Bomb 18 16¼ 17¼ 17¼ 15¼ 16 15 16 16 15½ Fighter 18 16¼ 17¼ 17¼ 15¼ 16 15 16 16 15½ Troop Carrier 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Reconnaissance 2 5 5¾ 6½ 6½ 4 32/3 5½ 62/3 7¾ NOTES: a--Includes groups enroute to Continental US. b--Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. c--Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units.
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Location and Type of Group 1944 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Total 218 218 218 223 229 234 235 238 Very Heavy Bomb 8 8 10 17 17 21 21 24 Heavy Bomb 75½ 75½ 75½ 73½ 73½ 73½ 73½ 73½ Medium & Light Bomb 29½ 29½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ Fighter 66 66 66 67 67 67 67 67 Troop Carrier 24 24 23 24 30 31 31 31 Reconnaissance 15 15 15 13 13 13 14 14 Overseas Totala 148 160½ 174½ 193 201 203 204 205 Very Heavy Bomb - - - - 4 4 4 4 Heavy Bomb 52½ 58½ 63½ 70½ 72½ 73½ 73½ 73½ Medium & Light Bomb 20½ 23½ 25½ 27½ 27½ 27½ 27½ 27½ Fighter 49 50 53 63 64 64 64 64 Troop Carrier 17 18½ 22½ 23 24 25 25 26 Reconnaissance 9 10 10 9 9 9 10 10 Versus Germany--Total 104½ 115½ 130½ 145 148 148 149 149 Heavy Bomb 42 48 53 60 62 62 62 62 Medium & Light Bomb 12 15 17 18 18 18 18 18 Fighter 33½ 34 38 45 46 46 46 46 Troop Carrier 11 12½ 16½ 17 17 17 17 17 Reconnaissance 6 6 6 5 5 5 6 6 Versus Japan--Total 42 44 44 48 53 55 55 56 Very Heavy Bomb - - - - 4 4 4 4 Heavy Bomb 10½ 10½ 10½ 10½ 10½ 11½ 11½ 11½ Medium & Light Bomb 7½ 8½ 8½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ Fighter 15 15 15 18 18 18 18 18 Troop Carrier 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 9 Reconnaissance 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Latin America & Atlantic Bases--Total 1½ 1 - - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb 1 - - - - - - - Fighter ½ 1 - - - - - - Continental US--Total 70 57½ 43½ 30 28 31 31 33 Very Heavy Bomb 8 8 10 17 13 17 17 20 Heavy Bomb 23 17 12 3 1 - - - Medium & Light Bomb 9 6 3 1 1 1 1 1 Fighter 17 16 13 4 3 3 3 3 Troop Carrier 7 5½ ½ 1 6 6 6 5 Reconnaissance 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 Operational Training--Totalb 48½ 39 26½ 13 7 7 11 12¾ Very Heavy Bomb 4 4 4 8 4 4 6 8 Heavy Bomb 19 13 10 3 1 - - - Medium & Light Bomb 8 4 2 - - - - - Fighter 11 13½ 10 1 - - - - Troop Carrier 5½ 4½ ½ 1 2 3 5 4 Reconnaissance 1 - - - - - - - Manning Phase--Total 10¾ 10 7 10 14 17 12 13¼ Very Heavy Bomb 4 4 6 9 9 13 11 12 Heavy Bomb 2 2 - - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ¼ Fighter 2¼ 2 - - - - - - Troop Carrier 1½ 1 - - 4 3 - - Strategic Reserve--Total c 10¾ 8½ 10 7 7 7 8 7 Heavy Bomb 2 2 2 - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb - 1 - - - - - - Fighter 3¾ ½ 3 3 3 3 3 2 Troop Carrier - - - - - - 1 1 Reconnaissance 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 NOTES: a--Includes groups enroute to Continental US. b--Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. c--Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units.
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Location and
Type of Group1944 1945 Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Total 238 241 241 242 242 243 243 243 237 228 228 213 Very Heavy Bomb 24 24 24 25 25 25 26 26 26 28 37 40 Heavy Bomb 73½ 73½ 73½ 73½ 73½ 73½ 72½ 72½ 70½ 60 51 35 Medium & Light Bomb 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28½ 28 28 27 Fighter 66 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 71 70 Troop Carrier 31 31 31 31 31 32 32 32 28 28 28 28 Reconnaissance 15 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Overseas Totala 20 210 213 214 216 219 223 224 204 183 165 155 Very Heavy Bomb 4 8 8 10 12 14 16 16 18 18 21 23 Heavy Bomb 73½ 73½ 73½ 72½ 72½ 72½ 72½ 70½ 52½ 33 24 25 Medium & Light Bomb 27½ 27½ 27½ 27½ 26½ 26½ 26½ 26½ 27½ 26 19 17 Fighter 63 63 63 63 64 64 65 67 67 67 68 61 Troop Carrier 26 27 30 30 30 31 31 32 27 27 21 19 Reconnaissance 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 10 Versus Germany--Total 149 149 144 148 147 147 148 147 124 103 81 69 Heavy Bomb 62 62 62 61 61 61 61 59 41 21 12 12 Medium & Light Bomb 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 9 8 Fighter 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 38 Troop Carrier 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 13 13 7 5 Reconnaissance 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 6 Versus Japan--Total 56 61 64 66 69 72 75 77 80 80 84 86 Very Heavy Bomb 4 8 8 10 12 14 16 16 18 18 21 23 Heavy Bomb 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 11½ 12 12 13 Medium & Light Bomb 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 9½ 10½ 10 10 9 Fighter 18 18 18 18 19 19 20 22 22 22 23 23 Troop Carrier 9 10 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 Reconnaissance 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Latin America & Atlantic Bases--Total - - - - - - - - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb - - - - - - - - - - - - Fighter - - - - - - - - - - - - Continental US--Total 33 31 28 28 26 24 20 19 33 45 63 58 Very Heavy Bomb 20 16 16 15 13 11 10 10 8 10 16 17 Heavy Bomb - - - 1 1 1 - 2 18 27 27 10 Medium & Light Bomb 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 9 10 Fighter 3 8 8 8 7 7 6 4 4 4 3 9 Troop Carrier 5 4 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 7 9 Reconnaissance 4 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 Operational Training--Totalb 14¾ 13 14 17 17 17 17 16 30 42 49 54 Very Heavy Bomb 10 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 8 10 16 17 Heavy Bomb - - - 1 1 1 - 2 18 27 27 10 Medium & Light Bomb 3/4 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 9 10 Fighter - 1 5 6 5 5 4 2 2 2 1 7 Troop Carrier 4 3 - - - - 1 - 1 1 6 8 Reconnaissance - - - - - - - - - - - - Manning Phase--Total 11¼ 13 9 6 4 2 - - - - - - Very Heavy Bomb 10 8 8 6 4 2 - - - - - - Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb ¼ - - - - - - - - - - - Fighter 1 5 1 - - - - - - - - - Troop Carrier - - - - - - - - - - - - Strategic Reserve--Totalc 7 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 4 4 Heavy Bomb - - - - - - - - - - - - Medium & Light Bomb - - - - - - - - - - - - Fighter 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Troop Carrier 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - 1 1 Reconnaissance 4 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 NOTES: a--Includes groups enroute to Continental US. b--Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. c--Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units.
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Table 2
Combat Groups Overseas, By Theater and By Type of Group:
Dec 1941 to Aug 1945
End of Month European Theater of Operations Mediterranean Theater of Operations Total Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn-
aissanceTotal Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn-
aissance1942 Feb - - - - - - 1 1 - 1 - - Mar - - - - - - 2 1 - 1 - - Apr - - - - - - 2 1 - - - - May - - - - - - 1 1 - - - - Jun 2 1 - - 1 - 1 1 - - - - Jul 5 2 - 2 1 - 4 2 1 1 - - Aug 142/3 9 - 32/3 2 - 4 2 1 1 - - Sep 1711/12 9 - 42/3 3 1¼ 4 2 1 1 - - Oct 231/6 9 4 82/3 - 1½ 8¾ 2 1 2¾ 3 - Nov 15¼ 7 1 5 ½ 1¾ 215/12 4 5 75/12 4 1 Dec 14 6 1 5 ½ 1½ 24½ 4¾ 6 8½ 4 1¼ 1943 Jan 12¾ 7 1 3 ½ 1¼ 29¼ 5 6 12¾ 4 1½ Feb 12¾ 7 1 3 ½ 1¼ 31½ 5 8 13 4 1½ Mar 12¾ 7 1 3 ½ 1¼ 31½ 5 8 13 4 1½ Apr 17¾ 12 1 3 ½ 1¼ 32½ 5¾ 8 13 4 1¾ May 20 14 1 3 ½ 1½ 365/6 6 8 141/3 7 1½ Jun 261/6 16 3 5 ½ 12/3 39 8 8 14 7 2 Jul 281/6 16 4 6 ½ 12/3 401/6 9 8 14 7 21/6 Aug 30½ 17 4 7 ½ 2 40 9 8 14 7 2 Sep 35½ 20 4 9 ½ 2 37 6 8 14 7 2 Oct 385/6 201/3 4 11 1½ 2 371/6 6 8 14 7 21/6 Nov 415/6 22½ 4 12 2 11/3 375/12 6 8 14 7 25/12 Dec 51¼ 26 4 17 2½ 1¾ 38½ 7½ 8 14 7 2 1944 Jan 59 283/4 4 19¼ 4 3 45½ 13¼ 8 14¼ 7 3 Feb 72½ 31 8 21 9½ 3 43 17 7 13 3 3 Mar 84½ 33 10 25 13½ 3 46 20 7 13 3 3 Apr 99 39 11 32 14 3 46 21 7 13 3 2 May 102 41 11 33 14 3 46 21 7 13 3 2 Jun 102 41 11 33 14 3 46 21 7 13 3 2 Jul 103 41 11 33 14 4 46 21 7 13 3 2 Aug 103 41 11 33 14 4 46 21 7 13 3 2 Sep 103 41 11 33 14 5 46 21 7 13 3 2 Oct 104 41 11 33 14 5 45 21 7 12 3 2 Nov 106 41 13 33 14 5 43 21 5 12 3 2 Dec 105 40 13 33 14 5 43 21 5 12 3 2 1945 Jan 105 40 13 33 14 5 42 21 4 12 3 2 Feb 107 40 13 35 14 5 40 21 4 10 3 2 Mar 108 40 13 35 14 6 40 21 4 10 3 2 Apr 109 40 13 35 15 6 38 19 4 10 3 2 May 94 28 13 35 12 6 30 13 4 10 1 2 Jun 81 15 13 35 12 6 22 6 3 10 1 2 Jul 63 7 9 35 6 6 18 5 - 10 1 2 Aug 56 7 8 33 4 4 13 5 - 5 1 2
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End of Month Pacific Ocean Areas Far East Air Forces Total Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn
aissanceTotal Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn
aissance1941 Dec 5 2 - 3 - - 2 1 - 1 - - 1942 Jan 5 2 - 3 - - 2 1 - 1 - - Feb 5 2 - 3 - - 3 1 - 2 - - Mar 5 2 - 3 - - 8 2 3 3 - - Apr 5 2 - 3 - - 8 2 3 3 - - May 5 2 - 3 - - 8 2 3 3 - - Jun 5 2 - 3 - - 8 2 3 3 - - Jul 4 1 - 3 - - 9 3 3 3 - - Aug 5 2 - 3 - - 9 3 3 3 - - Sep 5 2 - 3 - - 9 3 3 3 - - Oct 4½ 1½ - 3 - - 10½ 4½ 3 3 - - Nov 4½ 1½ - 3 - - 11½ 4½ 3 3 1 1 Dec 35/8 1 - 25/8 - - 125/8 4 3 41/8 1 ½ 1943 Jan 33/4 1 - 23/4 - - 13½ 4 3 4 2 ½ Feb 3¼ 1 - 2¼ - - 14¼ 4 3 43/4 2 ½ Mar 4¼ 2 - 2¼ - - 14 3 3½ 5 2 ½ Apr 33/4 1½ - 2¼ - - 153/4 4½ 3½ 5 2 3/4 May 3¼ 1 - 2¼ - - 17½ 5 5 5 2 ½ Jun 3¼ 1 - 2¼ - - 19 5 5 5 3½ ½ Jul 3 1 - 2 - - 21 5 5 7 3½ ½ Aug 3 1 - 2 - - 225/12 5 5 71/12 5 1/3 Sep 3 1 - 2 - - 221/3 5 5 7 5 1/3 Oct 5 2 1 2 - - 23 5 5 7 5 1 Nov 5 2 1 2 - - 241/3 5 6 7 5 11/3 Dec 5 2 1 2 - - 262/3 5 6 8 5 22/3 1944 Jan 5 2 1 2 - - 27 6 5 8 5 3 Feb 5 2 1 2 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Mar 5 2 1 2 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Apr 6 2 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 May 6 2 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Jun 7 3 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Jul 7 3 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Aug 7 3 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Sep 7 3 1 3 - - 28 6 6 8 5 3 Oct 7 3 1 3 - - 29 6 6 8 6 3 Nov 7 3 1 3 - - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Dec 7 3 1 3 - - 30 6 6 8 7 3 1945 Jan 7 3 1 3 - - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Feb 8 3 1 3 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Mar 8 3 1 3 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Apr 8 3 1 3 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 May 9 3 2 3 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Jun 9 3 2 3 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Jul 6 3 2 - 1 - 30 6 6 8 7 3 Aug 5 3 2 - - - 30 6 6 8 7 3
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End of Month China & India-Burma Alaska Total Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn
aissanceTotal Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn
aissance1941 Dec 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - - 1942 Jan 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - - Feb 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - - Mar 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - - Apr 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - - May 2 - - 2 - - - - - - - - Jun 3 1 - 2 - - - - - - - - Jul 3 1 - 2 - - - - - - - - Aug 3 1 - 2 - - ¼ - ¼ - - - Sep 4 1 - 2 - - 1¼ - ¼ 1 - - Oct 4 1 - 2 - - 1¼ - ¼ 1 - - Nov 4 1 - 2 - - 1¼ - ¼ 1 - - Dec 4 1 - 2 - - 2½ 3/4 3/4 1 - - 1943 Jan 4 1 - 2 - - 2½ 3/4 3/4 1 - - Feb 5 2 - 2 - - 2½ 3/4 3/4 1 - - Mar 5 2 - 2 - - 2½ 3/4 3/4 1 - - Apr 5¼ 2 - 2 - ¼ 23/4 3/4 3/4 1 - ¼ May 5¼ 2 - 2 - ¼ 23/4 3/4 3/4 1 - ¼ Jun 62/3 2 1 3 - 2/3 2½ 3/4 3/4 1 - - Jul 62/3 2 1 3 - 2/3 3 3/4 3/4 1½ - - Aug 71/3 2 1 4 - 1/3 31/6 3/4 3/4 12/3 - - Sep 71/3 2 1 4 - 1/3 1½ ¼ ¼ 1 - - Oct 7½ 2 1 4 - ½ 1½ ¼ ¼ 1 - - Nov 8½ 2 1 4 ½ 1 1 - - 1 - - Dec 8¼ 2 1 4 3/4 ½ 1 - - 1 - - 1944 Jan 8 2 1 4 1 - 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Feb 9 2 1 4 1 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Mar 9 2 1 4 1 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Apr 12 2 2 6 1 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - May 13 2 2 6 2 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Jun 14 2 2 6 3 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Jul 14 2 2 6 3 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Aug 15 2 2 6 4 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Sep 15 2 2 6 4 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Oct 15 2 2 6 4 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Nov 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Dec 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - 1945 Jan 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Feb 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Mar 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Apr 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - May 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 ½ ½ 1 - - Jun 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 1 - 1 - - Jul 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 1 - 1 - - Aug 17 2 2 6 6 1 2 1 - 1 - -
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End of Month Twentieth Air Force Latin & Atlantic Bases Total Heavy Fighter Troop Carrier Total Heavy Medium & Light Bomber Fighter Troop Carrier Reconn
aissance1941 Dec - - - - 10 3 1 5 - 1 1942 Jan - - - - 10 3 1 5 - 1 Feb - - - - 10 3 1 5 - 1 Mar - - - - 10 3 1 5 - 1 Apr - - - - 10 3 1 5 - 1 May - - - - 10¼ 3¼ 1 5 - 1 Jun - - - - 10¼ 3¼ 1 5 - 1 Jul - - - - 10¼ 3¼ 1 5 - 1 Aug - - - - 10¼ 3¼ 1 5 - 1 Sep - - - - 10¼ 3¼ 1 5 - 1 Oct - - - - 9¼ 2¼ 1 5 - 1 Nov - - - - 8¼ 2¼ 1 4 - 1 Dec - - - - 8 2 1 4 - 1 1943 Jan - - - - 8 2 1 4 - 1 Feb - - - - 8 2 1 4 - 1 Mar - - - - 8 2 1 4 - 1 Apr - - - - 9 2 1 5 - 1 May - - - - 7½ 1 1 4 - 1½ Jun - - - - 7 1 1 4 - 1 Jul - - - - 7 1 1 4 - 1 Aug - - - - 7 1 1 4 - 1 Sep - - - - 7 1 1 4 - 1 Oct - - - - 6 1 1 4 - - Nov - - - - 5 1 1 3 - - Dec - - - - 5 1 1 3 - - 1944 Jan - - - - 1½ - 1 ½ - - Feb - - - - 1 - - 1 - - Mar - - - - - - - - - - Apr - - - - - - - - - - May 4 4 - - - - - - - - Jun 4 4 - - - - - - - - Jul 4 4 - - - - - - - - Aug 4 4 - - - - - - - - Sep 4 4 - - - - - - - - Oct 8 8 - - - - - - - - Nov 8 8 - - - - - - - - Dec 10 10 - - - - - - - - 1945 Jan 13 12 1 - - - - - - - Feb 15 14 1 - - - - - - - Mar 18 16 2 - - - - - - - Apr 20 16 4 - - - - - - - May 22 18 4 - - - - - - - Jun 22 18 4 - - - - - - - Jul 29 21 8 - - - - - - - Aug 32 23 8 1 - - - - - -
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