List,

Was there ever a Presidential Unit Citation(s) awarded specifically to the 9th or 12th Air Forces as a whole or any of their assigned units?

Regards,

Robby Gouge
Asheville, NC

350th FG revieved a PUC in April of 1944.

I believe the 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron also recieved a PUC after the war in recognition of their efforts. 

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

Presidential Unit Citation (United States)

Presidential Unit Citation [/link]

Here is page from the Life of Major Earl Hall where this is mentioned about the quote from "Fortress Against the Sun"

Attachment(s)

PresidentialUC2.pdf (135.35 KB) - downloaded 30 times

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

Normally, a unit award would not be made to an entire numbered air force, and it would be extremely unusual for an award to be made above the wing level. (The only Distinguished Unit Citation award to a numbered air force during WW II appears to have been made to Fifth AF -- then called Far East Air Force -- in December 1941).  However some received foreigh awards. (Fifth and Thirteenth AFs both received Philippine Presidential Unit Citations).  In Ninth AF foreign awards were made to:

IX Fighter Command was cited in Orders for the Day of the Belgian Army (and Detachment B a second time, earning the Belgian Fourragerre)

IX Tactical Air Command was cited twice, earning the Belgian Fourragere.

XXIX Tactical Air Command(P) was also cited twice, earning the Belgian Fourragere.

At the group and squadron level many such awards were made.

By the way, I see that according to Army Pamphlet 672-1, the 439th Signal Bn (listed as a company) in addition to credit for participation in 9 campaigns  earned two arrowheads for assaults at Salerno and Southern France, plus it remained in theater long enough to earn the Army of Occupation Medal.

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)

"By the way, I see that according to Army Pamphlet 672-1, the 439th Signal Bn (listed as a company) in addition to credit for participation in 9 campaigns  earned two arrowheads for assaults at Salerno and Southern France, plus it remained in theater long enough to earn the Army of Occupation Medal."

You are correct.  It was listed in the pamphlet as a company (clerical error) but the 439th Signal Battalion was created with a Headquarters Detachment and two full companies (Able and Baker) of qualified signalmen, MOS 238-Lineman, Telephone & Telegraph.

The unit just missed out on being awarded a tenth campaign star and a third bronze arrowhead for an assault landing as Company B came ashore at the Anzio-Netunno Beachhead on 22 January 1944.  (The 64th Fighter Wing was charged with the air cover and protection for the landing).  Company A was never rotated in there as it stayed around the Naples and Cassino areas during that time.

An interesting unit, the 439th Signal Battalion was under the operational control of the 64th Fighter Wing, XII TAC, for much of its service in the ETO.  Their primary mission was to establish and maintain commo between the ground units of the 5th and 7th Army's and the 64th Fighter Wing, altough they were often tasked with providing communications for other unit organizations from time to time.   

Many harrowing days were spent digging trenches or splicing broken communication wire while under air, artillery, or small arms fire.  It was also uncommon for some of the men to be working 20 feet or more on a pole and get strafed by passing Luftwaffe planes.

Regards,

Robby Gouge

http://signal439.tripod.com/ 

     

The 12th Air Force had the 47th Bombardment Group in it which was made up of the 84th, 85th, 86th and 97th Bomb Squadrons which received Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citations for actions at the Kasserine Pass, 22nd Feb. 1943 and the Po Valley 21st-24th April 1945.
Bill