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A drawing showing how American fighter pilots use a weave tactic to shoot down Japanese planes
A diagram showing the weave tactic used by American combat pilots.
From a war period magazine advertisement by Shell Oil Company ©.

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 18th Fighter Group Squadrons.

12th Fighter Squadron44th Fighter Squadron70th Fighter 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.



12th FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green

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


Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

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

August 23 1944:
The 12th FS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

November 8 1944:
The 12th FS moves to Morotai.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

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

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

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

May 4 1945:
The 12th FS moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.




44th FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green

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.

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

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

March 20 1944:
The 44th FS moves to Treasury Island.

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

August 23 1944:
The 44th FS moves to Cape Opmarai, New Guinea.

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

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

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

March 1 1945:
The 44th FS moves to San Jose, Mindoro.

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

May 4 1945:
The 44th FS moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.





70th FIGHTER SQUADRON

Thin grey divider line
1943 in green


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

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

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

August 23 1944:
The 70th FS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

November 9 1944:
The 70th FS moves to Morotai.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

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

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

May 4 1945:
The 70th FS moves to Zamboanga, Mindanao.




This was the 13th Army Air Force 18th Fighter Group Squadrons travels and bases during
the war. For a time-line of changes for Fighter Squadrons as they occurred throughout the
war continue to page 6 or click on the bullet marked "Next" below.


Picture of the Air Medal
Air Medal

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Small early AAF insignia