Click on banner to return to main menu


War poster says Longing Won't Bring Him Back Sooner, Get A Job

Rivet style divider line



13TH ARMY AIR FORCE:

As shown on page one the 13th Air Force's initial base was on Espiritu Santo. What follows
is a basic time-line of the progressive movements of the 13th AAF Combat Units up through
the South Pacific via the Solomons, New Guinea, and the Philippines to Japan's front door.

This is the chronological listing for the Unattached Squadrons.

6th Night Fighter Squadron419th Night Fighter Squadron550th Night Fighter Squadron
868th Bomber Squadron

In the listing below when a group, squadron, or air force "moves" to a location that means
the headquarters located there. When it "operates" from a location that means that's where
some or all of the planes were stationed away from headquarters.



6th NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green

February 28 1943:
One detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron is attached to the 13th AAF and starts
   operations from Guadalcanal.

April 18 1943:
One detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron is attached to the 13th AAF and starts
   operations from New Guinea.

September 14 1943:
One detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron ends operations from New Guinea.

September 15 1943:
One detachment of the 6th NFS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green





419th NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green

November 15 1943:
The 419th Night Fighter Squadron (NFS) is assigned to the XIII Fighter Command and moves
   to Guadalcanal.

November 21 1943:
The 419th NFS is assigned to the 18th FG.

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

January 25 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Bouganville.

May 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Bouganville.

June 26 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Nadzab, New Guinea.

June 27 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Los Negros.

July 25 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Nadzab, New Guinea.

July 26 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Noemfoor.

August 18 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Los Negros.

August 21 1944:
The 419th NFS moves to Middleburg Island.

August 25 1944:
The 419th NFS is re-assigned to the XIII Fighter Command.

November 27 1944:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Noemfoor.
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Morotai.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

March 6 1945:
The 419th NFS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

March 16 1945:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Morotai.

March 18 1945:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Zamboanga, Mindanao.

June 20 1945:
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Sanga Sanga, Sulu.

July 20 1945:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Zamboanga, Mindanao.

July 24 1945:
One detachment of the 419th NFS ends operations from Sanga Sanga, Sulu.



550th NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green


Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

December 2 1944:
The 550th Night Fighter Squadron (NFS) is assigned to the 13th AAF.

December 12 1944:
The 550th NFS is assigned to the XIII Fighter Command.

December 14 1944:
The 550th NFS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

December 31 1944:
A detachment of the 550th NFS starts operations from Middleburg Island.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

February 14 1945:
The 550th NFS is assigned to the XIII Bomber Command.
A detachment of the 550th NFS ends operations from Middleburg Island.
The 550th NFS moves to Morotai.

March 8 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS starts operations from Tacloban, Leyte.

April 7 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS ends operations from Tacloban, Leyte.
The 550th NFS Moves to Tacloban, Leyte.

April 27 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS starts operations from Zamboanga, Mindanao.

May 28 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS starts operations from Sanga Sanga, Sulu.

June 8 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS starts operations from Puerta Princesa, Palawan.

June 17 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS ends operations from Zamboanga, Mindanao.

June 19 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS ends operations from Puerta Princesa, Palawan.

August 1945:
A detachment of the 550th NFS ends operations from Sanga Sanga, Sulu.



868th BOMBER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green


Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

January 1 1944:
The 868th BS is activated at Munda, New Georgia.

March 20 1944:
The 868th BS moves to Los Negros.

August 29 1944:
The 868th BS moves to Noemfoor.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

March 22 1945:
The 868th BS moves to Morotai.

July 3 1945:
The 868th BS moves to Leyte.

July 29 1945:
The 868th BS moves to Okinawa.



This was the 13th Army Air Force Unattached Squadron travels and bases during the war.


Army Air Base, Greenville, SC Letterhead showing a B-25

Thin grey divider line
Left bullet, click to go back a pageMain MenuSite MapRight bullet, click to go forward a page

Small early AAF insignia