15th USAAF

The 15th USAAF is the strategic air force which operates on MTO during the Second world war. This air force belongs to USAAF.

Its history

15th USAAF is created on October 30th 1943 and is activated on November 1st 1943, on the Mediterranean face (MTO). It is operational on November 2nd 1943, and takes part in the war until its dismantling, on September 15th 1945.

Its missions

As a strategic air force , 15th USAAF carries out primarily operations of bombardment on the countries occupied or combined to the Nazi Germany. Its bases for the majority being located in the south of Italy, it operates on the following countries: Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Hungary. Its objectives are strategic:

Oil refineries (in particular Ploieşti in Romania, target very dreaded by the aviators of 15th USAAF)
Factory S
Marshalling yards
Aerodrome S
Ports
Bases of submarine

Composition of 15th USAAF in August 1944

5th Bomb Wing (B-17 " Flying Fortress")

47th Bomb Wing (B-24 " Liberator")

49th Bomb Wing (B-24 " Liberator")

55th Bomb Wing (B-24 " Liberator")

304th Bomb Wing (B-24 " Liberator")

306th Fighter Wing *Détaché with Aghione (Corsica) from August 10th to 21st 1944 to take part in the unloading in Provence

** Remainder attached to 86th FG of the 12th USAAF. Equip with P-40, P-47 and P-51

Various

* From July 1944

** From January 1945

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INDEX OF THE INITIALS

FG : Fighter Group (Group of Hunting)
BG: Bomb Group (Group of Bombardment)
FS: Fighter Squadron (Fighter squadron)
BS: Bomb Squadron (Flotilla of Bombardment)
Wing: Administrative division gathering several groups
SGP: Special Group Provisional (Special Group Provisional; responsible for special operations, in particular the dropping of containers for resistance or leaflets)
WRS: Weather Recognition Squadron (Flotilla of Recognition Weather)

Commanders of 15th USAAF

James H. Doolittle: November 1st, 1943 - January 3rd, 1944
Nathan F. Twining: January 3rd, 1944 - May 26th, 1945
James A. Mollison: May 26th - September 15th, 1945

List missions of 15th USAAF from day to day

(to be supplemented)

November 2nd, 1943 :
November 24th, 1943 : Bombardment of the naval Base of Toulon

January 27th, 1944 : Bombardment of Montpellier (aerodrome of Montpellier-Fréjorgues)
February 4th, 1944 : Bombardment of the naval base of Toulon
March 11th, 1944 : Bombardment of the naval base of Toulon, bases 29e flotilla of Unterseeboot

April 29th, 1944 : Bombardment of the naval base of Toulon

April 30th, 1944 : Bombardment of the marshalling yard of Allessandria in Italy

May 4th, 1944 : Bombardment of the marshalling yard of Ploesti in Romania

May 6th, 1944 : Bombardment of the marshalling yard of Brasov in Romania

May 26th, 1944 : Bombardment of Chambéry, Grenoble, Lyon, St Etienne, Nice and Pont of the VAr (marshalling yards and installations railway).

May 27th, 1944 : Bombardment of Montpellier (aerodrome of Montpellier-Fréjorgues), Nimes (marshalling yard of Courbessac), Living room of Provence (aerodrome) and Marseilles (marshalling yard of St Charles).

June 25th, 1944 : Bombardment of Sète (marshalling yard), Balaruc (Oil refineries), Frontignan (Oil refineries)

July 5th, 1944 : Bombardment of Montpellier (marshalling yard), Béziers (marshalling yard), Toulon (bases naval).

July 11th, 1944 : Bombardment of the naval base of Toulon

July 12th, 1944 : Bombardment of Nimes (marshalling yard)

July 17th, 1944 : Bombardment of the bridges and railways of Avignon and Tarascon

August 6th, 1944 : Bombardment of the naval base of Toulon

May 8th, 1945 : End of the war in Europe and thus end of the operations. Missions of transport, supply and drive.

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