mbee53
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List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
Attached is the entire list of AAF Base Units as they stood on 1 May 1945. Any missing numbers were inactivated or renumbered prior to this date.
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visalya
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Great information. I've printed the info for handy reference and saved a copy to file (just in case). Thanks for sharing.
Larry
Son of Cpl Charles Caldwell, Engineer Crewman, USAAF Crash Boat P-258, Rey Island, Panama (Pacific side)
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Kasserine Kid
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Thank you Mark,
Much appreciated. Let me track my father's assignments after being shipped back stateside. Helps a lot.
Kinda nice to know they were organized too...
Ron
Son of Ron Macdonald Flying Sgt. 59th OTU RAF (Hurris & Spits, Dieppe raid), Lt. with 346thFS/350thFG North Africa (P-39s). Shot down at Kasserine. Instructor with the 1053 BFTS Randolph, 2138 BU Craig, 2532BU Randolph, & 2543 BU Waco (AT-6s &
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Guest
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Mark,
Enjoyed reading through the unit list from '43 and the one from '45. I have a question concerning terminology though. My grandfather's records show he was temporarily assigned to the 6th, 9th, 12th, and 25th Ferrying Squadrons, 6th Ferrying Group at Long Beach AAF in the fall of 1942. He was then reassigned to the 7th Ferrying Squadron, 7th Ferrying Group, Gore Field, MT, from Oct 1942- Feb 1944. The 25th Ferrying Squadron was also reassigned about this time from the 6th FG at Long Beach to the 7th FG at Gore Field. From what I found, both the 7th and the 25th FSs were disestablished in May 1944 shortly after my grandfather left. His final assignment was flying with both the 552d, 2nd Ferrying Group and the 1596th, 2nd Foreign Transport Group out of New Castle AAF, DE, May 1944-Jan 1946.
My question is, what is an Air Base Squadron in comparison to an Air Base Unit in comparison to a regular assigned stateside flying squadron? I want to make sure I list the units correctly and understand the difference. I also noted that there was air base squarons listed at Long Beach and Gore Field in '43 (and again in '45), but my grandfather was not assigned to them, however at New Castle he was. Curious about the differences in location and time as he performed the same duties at all assignments - ferried aircraft within the States and overseas.
Thanks,
Tom
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mbee53
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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An Air Base Squadron (including Base HQ) was a permanent housekeeping unit assigned to each station. Base HQ contained the Base Commander (Colonel), Base Executive (Lieut. Colonel), Base Personnel, Intelligence, Operations, and Supply Officers (Majors), plus the Base Adjutant (Captain). The Air Base Squadron was directly assigned to Base HQ from June 1942 until mid-1944, as they became numbered by the name of the squadron (1st Base Hq and Air Base Squadron, formerly 1st Air Base Sq).
The AAF Base Unit was a hybrid unit which combined all units at a station under one commander. It did not have a fixed size or number of units. In mid-1944, the AAF inactivated all units in the Continental U. S. and assigned them to AAF Base Units that I outlined in my previous post.
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Guest
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Thanks Mark, exactly what I was looking for. I guess and Air Base Unit would be the equivalent of a Composite Squadron or Group in today's parlance. Makes sense now!
Tom
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bernies
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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An explanation for the description of the 473rd AAF Base Unit. Air Echelon WSAUTC is the Air Echelon, Western Signal Aviation Unit Training Center
Bernie Shearon Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)
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mbee53
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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In some cases, it compares more to an Air Base Wing in the current Air Force unit structure.
For instance, at Langley Field, Va. on 10 Apr 1944:
Hq, 302nd Bomb Gp (H) and it's 4 squadrons (355th, 356th, 357th and 420th) were inactivated and personnel reassigned to 111th AAF Base Unit. Also, the 2nd Base Hq and Air Base Sq with several other ground units (Aviation Sq, Guard Sq, Sub Depot and AAF Band) were also inactivated and all units were assigned to lettered squadrons in the Base Unit. From what I have gathered the Group Hq and Base Hq were merged.
In some cases like Air Transport Wings, they were broken up in to small Base Units of squadron size.
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bernies
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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I notice that the descriptions are missing for most of the AAF Base Units formed by Air Transport Command. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to review historical materials from Air Transport Command at the historian’s office for Military Airlift Command. The following information is based on those materials. For overseas units, more detailed station information was sometimes given than merely the APO information contained on the 1 May 45 Station List. Here is additional information on those units.
503rd AAFBU (26 Transport Gp, Washington National Apt)
504th and 505th AAFBU Camp Luna was at Las Vegas NM, not Las Vegas NV
509th AAFBU (Casual Squadron) should be (Casuals & Returnees)
559th AAFBU (Training Squadron)
568th AAFBU (Operational Training Unit) should be (4th Operational Training Unit)
1103rd AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1105th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1106th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) I show this unit at Coolidge Fld, St John’s Antigua
1107th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1108th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) This unit may have been at Le Gallion Fld, Cayenne, French Guiana
1151st AAFBU (South Atlantic Division Reserve) at Parnamirim Fld
1152nd (Foreign Transport Station) at Fernando de Noronha Afld
1153rd (Foreign Transport Station)
1154th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Tirirical Afld
1155th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Adjiacento Afld
1159th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Wideawake Fld
1160th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1201st AAFBU (Central African Division Reserve)
1203rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1205th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Kano Apt
1206th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Apt -- I have a different spelling of this location
1207th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at El Geneina Apt
1208th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at El Fasher Apt
1209th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1211th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Sheik Oman Apt
1213th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1251st (North African Division Reserve)
1252nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Cazes Fld
1254th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Mallard Fld
1255th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Atar Airdrome
1256th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Tindouf Fld
1257th AAFBU (7 Operational Training Unit)
1258th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at La Senia Afld
1259th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Maison Blanche Apt
1260th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at El Aouina Afld
1262nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Castel Benito Afld
1263rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Merrifield Fld
1264th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1265th AAFBU at Camp Amiribad
1266th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1271st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1301st AAFBU (India China Division Reserve)
1302nd AAFBU (Hq, India Wing, ATC)
1303rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1304th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1305th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Dum Dum Apt
1306th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Karachi Apt
1307th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Wellington Apt
1309th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1311th AAFBU At Gaya Apt
1325th AAFBU (Hq,Assam Wing,ATC)
1326th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1327th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Tezpur Apt
1328th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1329th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1330th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1332nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1333rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1337th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Sookerating Apt
1338th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1339th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1340th AAFBU (4 Air Transport Squadron, Mobile) at Kunming Apt
1341st AAFBU (Foreign Service Station) at Yankai Apt
1342nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Chanyi Apt
1343rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1344th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1345th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1346th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1347th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1348th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Myitkyina South Afld
1349th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1350th AAFBU (Hq, China Wing, ATC)
1351st AAFBU (Hq, Bengal Wing, ATC)
1352nd AAFBU (Search & Rescue)
1353rd AAFBU (Foreign Service Station) I have location at Chuinglungp'o
1354th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station) I have location at Ch'angan
1355th AAFBU (Foreign Service Station) at Kalaikunda Apt
1377th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station - Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1378th AAFBU (Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1379th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1380th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1382nd AAFBU (Search & Rescue) at Mingan Apt
1383rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1384th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station - Search & Rescue)
1385th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1386th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1387th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Gander Apt
1388th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1389th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1390th AAFBU at Lagens Fld (now Lajes -- this was the spelling at the time)
1391st AAFBU (Hq,Central Atlantic Wing, ATC)
1401st AAFBU (European Division Reserve)
1402nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1403rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Prestwick Apt
1404th (Foreign Transport Station?) at Nutts Corner Adme
1406th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1407th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1408th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) I have location at Orly Fld
1409th AAFBU I have at RAF Leuchars or Metfield Adme (date of move unknown)
1410th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) at Evere Afld
1411th (Foreign Transport Station?) at Istres Apt
1412th AAFBU discontinued when 1402 AAFBU moved from RAF Hendon (exact date in 1945 unknown)
1413th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Merignac Afld
1414th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) Berlin, Germany (not on list)
1415th (Foreign Transport Station?) at Stockholm Sweden. Because Sweden was officially neutral, I guess Bungay was a cover location to hide the fact that there was an AAF unit there.
1417th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) assigned to European Div, ATC (was 1261 AAFBU under North African Div) at Cappodichino Apt
1418th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) assigned to European Div, ATC (was 1269 AAFBU under North African Div)
1419th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?) assigned to European Div, ATC (was 1270 AAFBU under North African Div) at Ciampino Apt
1451st AAFBU (Alaskan Division Reserve)
1454th AAFBU (Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1455th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1456th AAFBU (Service Station)
1457th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1458th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1459th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1460th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1461st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1462nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1463rd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1464th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1465th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1466th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1468th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1469th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1470th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1501st AAFBU (Pacific Division Reserve)
1503rd AAFBU (Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1504th AAFBU (Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1505th AAFBU (Port of Aerial Embarkation)
1508th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) I show this unit in San Francisco, but at Mills Fld
1520th AAFBU (Hq, Central Pacific Wing, ATC)
1521st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1522nd AAFBU (Foreign Service Station)
1525th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Casady Fld
1530th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Nandi Apt
1531st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Topham Fld
1532nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Hawkins Fld
1534th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Johnston NAS
1535th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1536th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1537th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Northwest Fld, Guam
1538th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1539 AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) Tinian
1550th AAFBU (Hq, Southwest Pacific Wing, ATC)
1551st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Henderson Fld
1552nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station?)
1557th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Amberley Apt
1558th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Garbutt Fld
1559th AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1562nd AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station)
1565th AAFBU (Mobile Construction Unit) Hickam Fld (moving to Guam)
1566th AAFBU (Mobile Construction Unit)
1571st AAFBU (Foreign Transport Station) at Nichols Fld
1572nd AAFBU (Overseas Airways Traffic Control) I show still at Hickam Fld until Nov 45?
1596th AAFBU (2nd Foreign Transport Group)
Comments or corrections are, of course, welcome
Bernie Shearon Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)
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bernies
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Order of Battle Lists tend to take a while to catch up, but for two AACS units on the 1 May 45 list, the 76th and 77th AAF Base Units, I believe it is 6 months out of date. In November 1944, AACS moved its two Overseas Processing Sqs (the 76th and 77th AAF Base Units) from Smyrna AAF, TN and McClellan Fld, CA and the AACS Screening & Processing Center (78th AAF Base Unit) from Selfridge Fld, MI all to Sheppard Fld, TX. the 78th absorbed the 76th and 77th on 20 Nov 44, when they were discontinued, and on 1 Dec 44, changed its name to the AACS Overseas Screening & Processing Center). Somebody at AACS probably forgot to send the right report to Hq AAF.
Bernie Shearon Push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. Pull the stick back, the houses get smaller (unless you keep pulling -- then they get bigger again)
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mbee53
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Bernie,
You really know your stuff. If we ever get the AAF Historical Preservation thing going, you are on my list for information. I also include Phil Marchase, Gary Goldblatt and a couple others I can't think of.
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garyg
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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It's certainly turning into a huge community effort, eh, Mark?! You and Bernie have both been HUGE helps to me in getting info for my web site. I'm envious of you guys who have had the change to dig thru the records at AFHRA, AFHSO, MAJCOM History Offices, etc.
The Research Center here at the AF Museum has been closed since 9/11, and the base history office isn't keen on contractors (aka, "scum-sucking bottom feeders") getting access to their stuff. So, I have to rely on your expertise and willingness to share your research, old books (Craven & Cate, Maurer, etc), info from many vets., along w/ the good ol' internet for the majority of my stuff.
Thanx to everyone on this site for your assistance!!! You're the best!
Gary
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k9iua
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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ORIGINAL: garyg
It's certainly turning into a huge community effort, eh, Mark?! You and Bernie have both been HUGE helps to me in getting info for my web site. I'm envious of you guys who have had the change to dig thru the records at AFHRA, AFHSO, MAJCOM History Offices, etc.
I second the thanks to Mark, Bernie, Phil, amongst others, who seem to have spent the time to sort so much out of the records and willingly share their information on this forum! I'm only still "cutting my teeth" compared to you guys. Thanks! Kevin Dubuque, Iowa
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mbee53
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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You are welcome. I do what I can.
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jimrader
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Jim Rader son-in-law Milton R Tucker 0677918
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garyg
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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YES!!! This is great stuff, Jim. I've been hunting for nav. maps of the CBI for my site. Are you planning on leaving these posted there? If so, I'll just add a link from my site to yours. If yours is a temporary thing, then could I get these images from you and I'll add them to my site. Please let me know. Thanx...
Gary
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jimrader
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Yes I will leave them on my web
And I will improve them also
They are currently too large at 300 dpi
I think they will be better at 150 dpi ?
Today I added another 40 pages http://www.rader.org/Ellington/class43D/index.html Ellington Field Gradating class of Bobmer pilots Class 43-d April 23, 1943 It includes pictures and addresses of every pilot
Jim Rader son-in-law Milton R Tucker 0677918
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mbee53
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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I fail to see how these navigation charts are relevant to AAF Base Units. Shouldn't they be in a separate post?
Sometimes these threads go way off the beaten path.
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garyg
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Jim,
Yea, they are a little too big, IMHO. Perhaps zooming out a little would be easier to view. But, it's your call... I will add a link to your site from mine. Thanx!
Gary
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F5G6
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RE: List of AAF Base Units on 1 May 1945
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Jim:
Great map.
There is a place in Virgina where they make duplicate sectionals back to about 1945.
Mike
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