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US Army recruitment poster looking for airplane mechanics
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 42nd Bomber Group Squadrons.

69th Bomber Squadron70th Bomber Squadron75th Bomber Squadron
100th Bomber Squadron390th 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.



69th BOMBER SQUADRON

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1943 in green

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

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

October 1943:
The 69th BS ends operations from Guadalcanal.

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

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1944 in green

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

August 23 1944:
The 69th BS moves to Hollandia, New Guinea.

September 14 1944:
The 69th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

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1945 in green

February 23 1945:
The 69th BS starts operations from Morotai.

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

March 22 1945:
The 69th BS ends operations from Morotai.



70th BOMBER SQUADRON

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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 70th Bomber Squadron (BS) is stationed at Guadalcanal.

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

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

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

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

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

January 20 1944:
The 70th BS moves to Stirling Island.

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

August 22 1944:
The 70th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

February 22 1945:
The 70th BS starts operations from Morotai.

March 20 1945:
The 70th BS ends operations from Morotai.

March 22 1945:
The 70th BS moves to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.



75th BOMBER SQUADRON

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1943 in green


April 18 1943:
The 75th BS moves to New Caledonia from the states.

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

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

October 21 1943:
The 75th BS moves to Russell Islands.

Thin grey divider line
1944 in green

January 20 1944:
The 75th BS moves to Stirling Island.

September 20 1944:
The 75th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

February 22 1945:
The 75th BS starts operations from Morotai.



100th BOMBER SQUADRON

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1943 in green


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

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1944 in green

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

January 25 1944:
The 100th BS moves to Sterling Island.

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

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

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

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

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

February 22 1945:
The 100th BS starts operations from Morotai.

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

March 22 1945:
The 100th BS ends operations from Morotai.



390th BOMBER SQUADRON

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1943 in green


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

April 23 1943:
The 390th BS moves to Fiji Islands.

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

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

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1944 in green

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

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

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

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

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

August 23 1944:
The 390th BS moves to Sansapor, New Guinea.

Thin grey divider line
1945 in green

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

March 20 1945:
The 390th BS ends operations from Morotai.

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



This was the 13th Army Air Force 42nd 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 10 or click on the bullet marked "Next" below.


Picture of a B-24 on an envelope

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Small early AAF insignia