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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 13th AAF and Fighter Groups.

13th AAF18th Fighter Group347th Fighter Group

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.



13th AAF HEADQUARTERS

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1943 in green


January 21 1943:
The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo.


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1944 in green

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

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.

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

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

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


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1945 in green

March 1 1945:
The 13th AAF Headquarters moves to Leyte, Philippines.




18th FIGHTER GROUP

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1943 in green


March 11 1943:
The 18th FG joins the 13th AAF and moves to Espiritu Santo.

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


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1944 in green

August 23 1944:
The 18th FG moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.


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1945 in green

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

March 1 1945:
The 18th FG moves to San Jose, Mindoro.

May 4 1945:
The 18th FG moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.



347th FIGHTER GROUP

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1943 in green


January 21 1943:
The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following unit:
The 347th Fighter Group (FG) (had been operating out of New Caledonia since Oct. 3 1942).


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1944 in green

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

August 15 1944:
The 347th FG moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

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


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1945 in green

February 22 1945:
The 347th FG moves to San Jose, Mindoro.

March 1945:
The 347th FG moves to Palawan.


This was the 13th Army Air Force and Fighter Group travels and bases during the war. For a
time-line of changes for Fighter Squadrons as they occurred throughout the war continue to
page 5 or click on the bullet marked "Next" below.


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Small early AAF insignia