Contents

V Bomber Command

V Bomber Command
Active	1941–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Command of tactical aviation
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brig. Gen. Kenneth Walker (KIA) Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey (MIA)

The V Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Irumagawa AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946.

During World War II the unit initially controlled Fifth Air Force bomber units in the Philippines. It was largely destroyed in the Battle of the Philippines, and withdrew to Australia at the end of December 1941, although elements of some units remained in the Philippines until April 1942. Re-equipped, the command provided command and control authority of Army Air Force bombardment organizations within the Fifth Air Force Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Afterward, served with the occupation force in Japan before being inactivated in 1946.

History[edit]

Participated in the defense of the Philippines in December 1941. Late in December the remaining bombers and some men were evacuated to Australia, and in January 1942 they were moved to Java to help delay the Japanese advance in the Netherlands Indies.

The command ceased to function in March 1942 (the AAF bombardment organizations in the Southwest Pacific being under the control of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDA) and later Allied Air Forces). Headquarters was remanned in September 1942 and shortly afterward it assumed control of AAF bombardment groups in Australia and New Guinea.

The command served in combat with Fifth Air Force until the end of the war. Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker, who was killed during a mission over Rabaul on 5 January 1943, was awarded the Medal of Honor; he had repeatedly taken part in combat missions and had developed an effective technique for bombing when opposed by enemy interceptors and antiaircraft fire. After the war the command became part of the occupation force for Japan. Inactivated on 31 May 1946. Disbanded on 8 October 1948.^[1]

Lineage[edit]

• Constituted as the 5th Bomber Command on 28 October 1941^{[note 1]}

Activated on 14 November 1941

• Redesignated V Bomber Command c. 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 31 May 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[2]

Assignments[edit]

• Fifth Air Force, 14 November 1941 – 31 May 1946^[2][3]

Stations[edit]

Units[edit]

Wings

• 314th Bombardment Wing: 30 May 1946 – 31 May 1946^[4]

*Note; Does not include periods detached to combat wings

Squadrons

• 2d Emergency Rescue Squadron, 5 September – 7 October 1944^[15]
• 3d Emergency Rescue Squadron: operational control 26 August – 2 October 1944; assigned 21 November 1945 − 31 May 1946^[16]
• 8th Photographic Squadron (later 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron): assigned 5 September 1942 – 13 November 1943; attached c. 10 December 1945, assigned c 27 April 1946 – 31 May 1946^[17]
• 20th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 December 1945 – 31 May 1946^[18]
• 25th Liaison Squadron: 24 November – 13 December 1943^[19]
• 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 February – 31 May 1946^[20]
• 157th Liaison Squadron: attached 25 November 1945, assigned 25 March – 1 June 1946^[21]
• 418th Night Fighter Squadron: attached 10 November 1945 – 20 March 1946^[22]
• 547th Night Fighter Squadron: attached 10 November 1945 – 20 February 1946^[23]

See also[edit]

• United States Army Air Forces in Australia (World War II)

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography[edit]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Bell, Walter F. (1999). The Philippines in World War II, 1941–1945. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-30614-1.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.