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 5th Bomber Group Squadrons. 23rd Bomber Squadron31st Bomber Squadron72nd Bomber Squadron 394th 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. 23rd BOMBER SQUADRON January 21 1943: The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following unit. The 23rd Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo. March 31 1943: The 23rd BS operates from Guadalcanal until Aug. 24 1943 but retains it's base at Espiritu Santo. October 21 1943: The 23rd BS resumes operations from Guadalcanal but retains it's base at Espiritu Santo. December 7 1943: The 23rd BS ends operations from Guadalcanal. January 9 1944: The 23rd BS moves to Munda, New Georgia. April 16 1944: The 23rd BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros. August 19 1944: The 23rd BS moves to Wakde. September 30 1944: The 23rd BS moves to Noemfoor. October 16 1944: The 23rd BS moves to Morotai. February 20 1945: The 23rd BS moves to Samar. 31st BOMBER SQUADRON January 17 1943: The 31st BS moves to Guadalcanal. January 21 1943: The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following unit. The 31st Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo. February 2 1944: The 31st BS starts operations from Munda, New Georgia. March 13 1944: The 31st BS ends operations from Munda, New Georgia. April 20 1944: The 31st BS moves to Momote Airfield, Los Negros. September 26 1944: The 31st BS moves to Noemfoor. October 16 1944: The 31st BS moves to Morotai. March 17 1945: The 31st BS moves to Samar. 72nd BOMBER SQUADRON January 21 1943: The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following unit. The 72nd Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Espiritu Santo (had been operating out of    Guadalcanal since Oct. 4 1942). August 8 1943: The 72nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal. October 7 1943: The 72nd BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal. November 15 1943: The 72nd BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal. December 13 1943: The 72nd BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal. January 9 1944: The 72nd BS moves to Munda, New Georgia. September 27 1944: The 72nd BS moves to Noemfoor. October 24 1944: The 72nd BS moves to Morotai. March 20 1945: The 72nd BS moves to Samar. 394th BOMBER SQUADRON January 19 1943: The 394th BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal. January 21 1943: The 13th AAF sets up original headquarters base on Espiritu Santo with the following unit. The 394th Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Fiji (had been operating out of Espiritu    Santo and Guadalcanal since Jan. 3 1943). April 25 1943: The 394th BS resumes operations out of Guadalcanal. June 5 1943: The 394th BS ends operations out of Guadalcanal. June 28 1943: The 394th BS moves to Guadalcanal. February 28 1944: The 394th BS starts operations out of Munda, New Georgia. 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. August 25 1944: The 394th BS moves to Wakde. September 27 1944: The 394th BS moves to Noemfoor. November 1 1944: The 394th BS moves to Morotai. March 2 1945: The 394th BS moves to Samar. This was the 13th Army Air Force 5th Bomber 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 9 or click on the bullet marked "Next" below.

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