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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 Bomber Groups.

5th Bomber Group11th Bomber Group42nd Bomber Group
307th Bomber 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.



5th BOMBER 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 5th Bomber Group (BG) (had been operating out of Espiritu Santo since Dec. 1 1942).

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

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1944 in green

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

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

August 17 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Wakde.

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

October 1944:
The 5th BG moves to Morotai.

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1945 in green

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



11th BOMBER 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 11th Bomber Group (BG) (had been operating out of New Hebrides since Feb. 1942).

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



42nd BOMBER GROUP

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1943 in green

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

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

October 1943:
The 42nd BG moves to Russell Islands.

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1944 in green

January 20 1944:
The 42nd BG moves to Sterling, Solomon Islands.

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

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

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1945 in green

February 1945:
The 42nd BG moves to Morotai.

March 1945:
The 42nd BG moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.



307th BOMBER GROUP

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1943 in green


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

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1944 in green

January 28 1944:
The 307th BG moves to New Georgia.

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

August 24 1944:
The 307th BG moves to Wakde.

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

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1945 in green




This was the 13th Army Air Force Bomber Groups travels and bases during the war. For
a time-line of changes for Fighter Squadrons as they occurred throughout the war continue to
page 8 or click on the bullet marked "Next" below.


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Small early AAF insignia