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Map of the Western Pacific showing the late war bases of the 13th AAF
September 23 1944 - Noemfoor
October 29 1944 - Morotai
March 1 1945 - Leyte, Philippines
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.

Looking for time-lines for specific units ? Click on the unit(s) you're interested in.

Fighter Groups18th FG Squadrons347th FG Squadrons
Bomber Groups5th BG Squadrons11th BG Squadrons
42nd BG Squadrons307th BG SquadronsSupport Groups and Squadrons
Unattached Squadrons


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.


Thin grey divider line
1943 in green

January 13 1943:
The 13th AAF is activated in New Caledonia.

January 17 1943:
The 31st BS moves to Guadalcanal.

January 19 1943:
The 394th BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.

January 20 1943:
The 424th BS starts operations out of Funafuti.

January 21 1943:
The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following units.
The 347th Fighter Group (FG) (had been operating out of New Caledonia since Oct. 3 1942).
The 5th Bomber Group (BG) (had been operating out of Espiritu Santo since Dec. 1 1942).
The 11th Bomber Group (BG) (had been operating out of New Hebrides since Feb. 1942).
The 23rd Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo.
The 31st Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo.
The 70th Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Guadalcanal.
The 72nd Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo (had been operating out of
   Guadalcanal since Oct. 4 1942).
The 394th Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Fiji (had been operating out of Espiritu
   Santo and Guadalcanal since Jan. 3 1943).

January 29 1943:
The 67th FS moves to Guadalcanal.

February 1943:
The 307th BG moves to Guadalcanal and joins the 13th AAF.

February 1 1943:
The 424th BS ends operations out of Funafuti.

February 4 1943:
The 70th BS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

February 6 1943:
The 370th BS moves to Espiritu Santo from Midway.
The 424th BS starts operations out of Espiritu Santo.

February 9 1943:
The 69th BS moves to Guadalcanal.

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

March 11 1943:
The 18th FG joins the 13th AAF and moves to Espiritu Santo.
The 44th FS, operating out of Guadalcanal since Dec. 20 1942 joins the 18th FG.

March 18 1943:
The 370th BS moves to Guadalcanal.
The 424th BS moves to Guadalcanal and ends operations out of Espiritu Santo.

March 28 1943:
The 11th Bomber Group (BG) is transferred to the 7th AAF and returns to Hawaii.

March 30 1943:
The 12th Fighter Squadron (FS) joins the 18th FG and continues to operate from Guadalcanal.

March 31 1943:
The 23rd BS operates from Guadalcanal until Aug. 24 1943 but retains it's base at Espiritu Santo.

April 6 1943:
The 70th FS, operating out of Guadalcanal since Dec. 21 1942 joins the 18th FG.

April 12 1943:
The 68th FS operating out of Guadalcanal since Nov. 12 1942 moves it's station to Fiji but
   continues to operate from Guadalcanal.

April 15 1943:
The 390th BS moves to New Caledonia from the states.

April 17 1943:
The 18th FG moves to Guadalcanal.

April 18 1943:
The 75th BS moves to New Caledonia from the states.
The 371st BS starts operations from Funafuti.
The 372nd BS starts operations from Funafuti.
One detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron is attached to the 13th AAF and starts
   operations from New Guinea.

April 22 1943:
The 42nd BG moves to the Fiji Islands and joins the 13th AAF.

April 23 1943:
The 390th BS moves to Fiji Islands.
The 371st BS ends operations from Funafuti.
The 372nd BS ends operations from Funafuti.

April 25 1943:
The 394th BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal.

May 11 1943:
The 390th BS moves to Guadalcanal.

May 26 1943:
The 75th BS moves to Guadalcanal but continues operations from New Caledonia.

June 5 1943:
The 394th BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.

June 6 1943:
The 42nd BG moves to Guadalcanal.

June 13 1943:
The 371st BS moves to Espiritu Santo.
The 372nd BS moves to Espiritu Santo.

June 28 1943:
The 394th BS moves to Guadalcanal.

July 17 1943:
The 75th BS ends operations from New Caledonia.

July 20 1943:
The 69th BS moves it's headquarters to New Caledonia and continues to operate from Guadalcanal.

July 23 1943:
The 67th FS moves to Woodlark.

July 27 1943:
The 371st BS resumes operations out of Funafuti.

August 1 1943:
The 371st BS ends operations out of Funafuti.

August 5 1943:
The 372nd BS starts operations out of Guadalcanal.

August 8 1943:
The 72nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.

August 16 1943:
The 70th BS resumes operations from Guadalcanal.

August 19 1943:
The 5th BG moves to Guadalcanal.

August 25 1943:
The 371st BS starts operations out of Guadalcanal.

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

September 15 1943:
The 372nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.
One detachment of the 6th NFS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

October 1943:
The 42nd BG moves to Russell Islands.
The 69th BS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

October 7 1943:
The 72nd BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal.

October 14 1943:
The 371st BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.

October 18 1943:
The 70th FS moves to New Georgia.

October 20 1943:
The 70th BS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

October 21 1943:
The 23rd BS resumes operations from Guadalcanal but retains it's base at Espiritu Santo.
The 75th BS moves to Russell Islands.

October 22 1943:
The 70th BS moves to Russell Islands.
The 390th BS moves to Russell Islands.

October 25 1943:
The 372nd BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal.

October 28 1943:
The 67th FS moves to New Georgia.

November 10 1943:
The 69th BS moves to Russell Islands.

November 15 1943:
The 72nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.
The 419th Night Fighter Squadron (NFS) is assigned to the XIII Fighter Command and moves
   to Guadalcanal.

November 19 1943:
The 100th BS joins the 13th AAF as unassigned.

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

November 24 1943:
The 371st BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal.

November 25 1943:
The 44th FS moves to Espiritu Santo.

December 3 1943:
The 372nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.

December 7 1943:
The 23rd BS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

December 13 1943:
The 72nd BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal.

December 29 1943:
The 339th FS, stationed in New Caledonia since Oct. 3 1942, moves to Guadalcanal.
   Detachments had been flying out of Guadalcanal since Oct. 3 1942.

December 31 1943:
The 371st BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal.


Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

January 1944:
The 100th BS is officially attached to the 13th AAF, 42nd BG.

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

January 9 1944:
The 23rd BS moves to Munda, New Georgia.
The 72nd BS moves to Munda, New Georgia.
The 371st BS moves to Munda, New Georgia.
The 372nd BS moves to Munda, New Georgia.

January 13 1944:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Guadalcanal.

January 15 1944:
The 347th FG moves to Stirling, Treasury Islands.
The 339th FS moves to Stirling, Treasury Islands.

January 20 1944:
The 42nd BG moves to Sterling, Solomon Islands.
The 70th BS moves to Stirling Island.
The 75th BS moves to Stirling Island.

January 23 1944:
The 67th FS moves to Russell Islands.

January 25 1944:
The 100th BS moves to Sterling Island.
One detachment of the 419th NFS starts operations from Bouganville.

January 28 1944:
The 307th BG moves to New Georgia.
The 424th BS starts operations out of Munda, New Georgia.

February 4 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Munda, New Georgia.
The 68th FS moves to Bougainville.

February 1 1944:
The 100th BS is assigned to the 42nd BG.

February 2 1944:
The 31st BS starts operations from Munda, New Georgia.

February 15 1944:
The 424th BS ends operations out of Munda, New Georgia.

February 19 1944:
The 12th FS moves to Treasury Island.
The 69th BS moves to Stirling Island.

February 22 1944:
The 370th BS moves to Munda, New Georgia.

February 28 1944:
The 394th BS starts operations out of Munda, New Georgia.

March 2 1944:
The 67th FS moves to Bougainville.

March 8 1944:
The 390th BS starts operations from Stirling Island.

March 13 1944:
The 31st BS ends operations from Munda, New Georgia.

March 20 1944:
The 44th FS moves to Treasury Island.
The 868th BS moves to Los Negros.

April 3 1944:
The 67th FS moves back to Russell Islands.

April 7 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros.

April 9 1944:
The 394th BS ends operations out of Munda, New Georgia.

April 13 1944:
The 394th BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros.

April 15 1944:
The 72nd BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros.

April 16 1944:
The 23rd BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros.

April 20 1944:
The 31st BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros.

April 29 1944:
The 307th BG moves to Los Negros.

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

May 8 1944:
The 390th BS ends operations from Stirling Island.

May 11 1944:
The 44th FS moves back to Guadalcanal.

May 13 1944:
The 370th BS moves to Los Negros.
The 371st BS moves to Los Negros.
The 372nd BS moves to Los Negros.
The 424th BS moves to Los Negros.

June 1944:
The 13th AAF combines with the 5th AAF to form the Far East Air Force (FEAF) with
   Gen. George C. Kenney as overall commander.

June 15 1944:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Los Negros.

June 17 1944:
The 390th BS starts operations from Stirling Island.

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 24 1944:
The 390th BS ends operations from Stirling Island.

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 1944:
The 42nd BG moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

August 6 1944:
The 100th BS starts operations from Hollandia, New Guinea.

August 7 1944:
The 390th BS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

August 14 1944:
The 70th BS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

August 15 1944:
The 347th FG moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 67th FS moves to Middleburg Island.
The 339th FS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

August 17 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Wakde.
The 68th FS moves to Middleburg Island.

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

August 19 1944:
The 23rd BS moves to Wakde.

August 20 1944:
The 31st BS moves to Wakde.

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

August 22 1944:
The 70th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 370th BS moves to Wakde.
The 371st BS moves to Wakde.
The 372nd BS moves to Wakde.
The 424th BS moves to Wakde.

August 23 1944:
The 18th FG moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 12th FS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 44th FS moves to Cape Opmarai, New Guinea.
The 70th FS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 69th BS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.
The 390th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

August 24 1944:
The 307th BG moves to Wakde.
The 100th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

August 25 1944:
The 394th BS moves to Wakde.
The 419th NFS is re-assigned to the XIII Fighter Command.

August 27 1944:
The 75th BS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

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

September 1944:
The 42nd BG moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

September 13 1944:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

September 14 1944:
The 69th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 100th BS ends operations from Hollandia, New Guinea.

September 18 1944:
The 371st BS starts operations out of Noemfoor.

September 19 1944:
The 347th FG moves to Middleburg, New Guinea.
The 339th FS moves to Middleburg, New Guinea.

September 20 1944:
The 75th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.
The 370th BS starts operations from Noemfoor.
The 372nd BS starts operations from Noemfoor.

September 22 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Noemfoor.

September 23 1944:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Noemfoor.

September 26 1944:
The 31st BS moves to Noemfoor.
The 424th BS starts operations out of Noemfoor.

September 27 1944:
The 72nd BS moves to Noemfoor.
The 394th BS moves to Noemfoor.

September 30 1944:
The 23rd BS moves to Noemfoor.

October 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Morotai.

October 16 1944:
The 23rd BS moves to Morotai.
The 31st BS moves to Morotai.

October 18 1944:
The 307th BG moves to Morotai.

October 24 1944:
The 72nd BS moves to Morotai.

October 29 1944:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Morotai.

November 1 1944:
The 394th BS moves to Morotai.

November 7 1944:
The 44th FS moves to Morotai.

November 8 1944:
The 12th FS moves to Morotai.
The 424th BS ends operations out of Noemfoor.

November 9 1944:
The 70th FS moves to Morotai.
The 372nd BS ends operations from Noemfoor.

November 10 1944:
The 371st BS moves to Morotai.
The 372nd BS moves to Morotai.
The 424th BS moves to Morotai.

November 14 1944:
The 370th BS moves to Morotai and ends operations out of Noemfoor.

November 20 1944:
The 371st BS ends operations out of Noemfoor.

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

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

January 13 1945:
The 18th FG moves to Lingayen, Luzon.
The 12th FS moves to Lingayen, Luzon.
The 44th FS moves to Lingayen, Luzon.

January 19 1945:
The 70th FS moves to Lingayen, Luzon.

February 1945:
The 42nd BG moves to Morotai.

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.

February 20 1945:
The 23rd BS moves to Samar.

February 22 1945:
The 347th FG moves to San Jose, Mindoro.
The 67th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro with some operations out of Morotai.
The 339th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro with some operations out of Morotai.
The 100th BS starts operations from Morotai.
The 70th BS starts operations from Morotai.
The 75th BS starts operations from Morotai.

February 23 1945:
The 68th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro.
The 69th BS starts operations from Morotai.

February 24 1945:
The 390th BS starts operations from Morotai.

February 26 1945:
The 70th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro.

February 27 1945:
The 12th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro.

March 1945:
The 42nd BG moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The 347th FG moves to Palawan.
The 70th BS ends operations from Morotai.

March 1 1945:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Leyte, Philippines.
The 18th FG moves to San Jose, Mindoro.
The 44th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro.
The 67th FS leaves the 347th FG and joins the 18th FG.

March 2 1945:
The 394th BS moves to Samar.

March 5 1945:
The 5th BG moves to Samar.

March 6 1945:
The 67th FS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The 68th FS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The 339th FS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The 419th NFS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

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

March 12 1945:
The 69th BS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

March 15 1945:
The 100th BS moves to Palawan.

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

March 17 1945:
The 31st BS moves to Samar.

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

March 20 1945:
The 72nd BS moves to Samar.
The 390th BS ends operations from Morotai.

March 21 1945:
The 390th BS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

March 22 1945:
The 69th BS ends operations from Morotai.
The 70th BS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The 100th BS ends operations from Morotai.
The 868th BS moves to Morotai.

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

April 26 1945:
The 12th FS moves to Palawan.
The 44th FS moves to Palawan.

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

May 4 1945:
The 18th FG moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.
The 12th FS moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.
The 44th FS moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.
The 70th FS moves to 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.

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

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

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.

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

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


This was the 13th Army Air Force combat unit travels and bases during the war. For a time-
line of changes for support units as they occurred throughout the war continue to page 3 or
click on the bullet marked "Next" below.


Far East Air Force patch
"Far East Air Force" patch - see June 1944 above.
Worn by Headquarters and units not directly attached to either air force.

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Small early AAF insignia