United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific Area

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces engaged in combat against the Empire of Japan in the South Pacific Area. As defined by the War Department, this consisted of the Pacific Ocean areas which lay south of the Equator between longitude 159° East and 110° West. It included New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji, and most of the Solomon Islands.

The major USAAF combat organizations in the region was Thirteenth Air Force, which was formed in November 1942 as a command and control organization to organize many widely separated Seventh Air Force and independent units scattered in the South Pacific Area during the Solomon Islands campaign. As the war progressed, Thirteenth Air Force units moved into the South West Pacific theatre and coordinated their activities with Fifth and Seventh Air Force units in New Guinea, the Netherlands East Indies and Philippines during 1944 and 1945.

Airfields and unit assignments

COOK ISLANDS

• Amuri Field, Aitutaki Island, Cook Islands

• Robinson (Omoka) Field, Penrhyn Island, Cook Islands

ELLICE ISLANDS

• Funafuti Airfield, Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands

Seventh Air Force

Headquarters, VII Bomber Command, November 1943 – January 1944

11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 2 November 1943 – 13 January 1944

42d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 9 November 1943 – 8 January 1944

431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11 November 1943 – 15 January 1944

• Nanumea Airfield, Nanumea Atoll, Ellice Islands

30th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 12 November 1943 – 3 January 1944

27th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 10 November 1943 – 14 March 1944 (operated from Abemama, Gilbert Islands 26 February-14 March 1944)

38th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 12 November 1943 – 12 March 1944 (operated from Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands 26 February-22 March 1944)

• Nukufetau Airfield, Nukufetau Atoll, Ellice Islands

Seventh Air FOrce

26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 11 November 1943 – 24 January 1944 (air echelon operated from Canton Island 12 November-31 December 1943)

98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 11 November 1943 – 19 January 1944

FIJI ISLANDS

• Nandi Airfield, Viti Levu Island, Fiji Islands

Seventh Air Force

42d Bombardment Group, 22 April – 6 June 1943

394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 25 December 1942 – 3 January 1943

Thirteenth Air Force

394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 4 January 1943 – 27 June 1943 (operated from Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal 3–19 January 1943 and 25 April-5 June 1943)

431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 24 July-31 October 1942 (air echelon operated from New Hebrides, August 1942)

• Nausori Airfield, Viti Levu Island, Fiji Islands

NEW CALEDONIA

• Magenta Airfield, New Caledonia Island, New Caledonia

• Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, New Caledonia Island, New Caledonia

(Approximate)

Thirteenth Air Force

Headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force, 13–21 January 1943

Headquarters, XIII Fighter Command, 13–22 January 1943

4th Photographic Group, 22 November 1942-May 1943

4th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, May–November 1943

4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), November 1943-5 May 1944

42d Bombardment Group, 20 October 1943 – 20 January 1944

347th Fighter Group, 3 October – 29 December 1943

42d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 22 July-22 November 1942

• Tontouta Airfield, New Caledonia Island, New Caledonia

NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS

• Pekoa Airfield (Bomber #2), Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands

Seventh Air Force

5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1 December 1942 – 3 January 1943

23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1 December 1942 – 3 January 1943

31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30 November 1942 – 3 January 1943

72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 24 September 1942 – 3 January 1943 (operated from Guadalcanal 4 October 1942 – 3 January 1943)

394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (operated from Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal 3–19 January 1943 and 25 April-5 June 1943)

11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 22 July 1942 – 4 January 1943

26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22 December 1942 – 4 January 1943

42d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 23 November 1942 – 4 January 1943 (forward echelon operated from Guadalcanal)

98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11 August 1942 – 4 January 1943 (operated from New Caledonia 21 July-11 August 1942)

431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1 November 1942 – 4 January 1943 (forward echelon operated from Guadalcanal, December 1942)

Thirteenth Air Force

Headquarters, XIII Bomber Command, 13 January – 20 August 1943

Headquarters, XIII Fighter Command, 22 January–December 1943

5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 4 January–18 August 1943

23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 4 January 1943 – 3 January 1944 (operated from Guadalcanal 31 March-24 August 1943 and 21 October-7 December 1943)

31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 4–17 January 1943

72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 4 January 1943 – 8 January 1944 (operated from Guadalcanal 4 January-8 August 1943, 7 October-15 November 1943 and 13 December 1943 – 27 January 1944)

11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 5 January-7 April 1943

26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5 January-28 March 1943 (forward echelon operated from New Guinea January 1943)

42d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5 January-7 April 1943

98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5 January-7 April 1943

431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 15 January-7 April 1943

18th Fighter Group, 11 March – 17 April 1943

4th Reconnaissance Group, 23 January 1943 – 6 May 1944

403d Troop Carrier Group, 13 September 1943 – 30 August 1944

• Palikulo Bay Airfield (Bomber #1), Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands

• Luganville Airfield (Bomber #3), Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands

• Turtle Bay Airfield (Fighter #1), Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands

• Efate Airfield, Efate Island, New Hebrides Islands

Seventh Air Force

26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 25 July-21 December 1942 (forward echelon operated from Espiritu Santo, August 1942, and Guadalcanal, September 1942)

NEW ZEALAND

• Whenuapai Airport, Wellington, New Zealand

NORFOLK ISLAND

• Norfolk Airport, Norfolk Island, Australia

SOCIETY ISLANDS

• Bora Bora Airfield, Motu Mute Island, Society Islands

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Bougainville Island

• Piva Uncle (North) Field, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands

• Piva Yoke (South) Field, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands

Buka Island

• Buka Airfield, Buka Island, Solomon Islands

419th Night Fighter Squadron (DET), 25 January – 27 May 1944

Guadalcanal Island

• Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force, 21 January – 15 June 1944

Headquarters, XIII Bomber Command, 20 August 1943 – June 1944

Headquarters, XIII Fighter Command, December 1943-15 August 1944

18th Fighter Group, 17 April 1943 – 23 August 1944

347th Fighter Group, 29 December 1943 – 15 January 1944

4th Reconnaissance Group, 6 May – 12 December 1944

419th Night Fighter Squadron, 15 November 1943 – 21 August 1944

• Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Thirteenth Air Force

5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 19 August 1943 – 4 February 1944

31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 17 January 1943 – 19 April 1944 (operated from Munda, 2 February-13 March 1944)

72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (operated from Guadalcanal 4 January-8 August 1943, 7 October-15 November 1943 and 13 December 1943 – 27 January 1944)

394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28 June 1943 – 12 April 1944 (operated from Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal 3–19 January 1943 and 25 April-5 June 1943 and from Munda 28 February-9 April 1944)

• Koli Airfield, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Thirteenth Air Force

42d Bombardment Group, 6 June – 20 October 1943

307th Bombardment Group, February 1943-28 January 1944

• Kukum Field, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

New Georgia Islands

• Munda Airfield, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands

Thirteenth Air Force

5th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 4 February–6 April 1944

31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), (operated from here 2 February-13 March 1944)

72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 9 January-14 April 1944 (operated from Guadalcanal (13 December 1943 – 27 January 1944)

394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (operated from Guadalcanal 28 February-9 April 1944)

307th Bombardment Group, 28 January – 29 April 1944

Russell Islands

• Renard Field, Banika Island, Russell Islands, Solomon Islands

• Sunlight Field, Banika Island, Russell Islands, Solomon Islands

TONGA ISLANDS

• Tongatubu Airfield, Tongatubu Island

Seventh Air Force

68th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Group, 16 May - 28 October 1942

See also

• United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific War (1941–1945)
  • USAAF in Australia
  • USAAF in the Central Pacific
  • USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
  • USAAF in Okinawa
• South Pacific air ferry route in World War II

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Army Air Forces Installations Directory, 15 June 1945
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• U.S. Base Facilities Summary, Advance Bases, Central Pacific Area - U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Headquarters, 30 June 1945