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PREFACE
This file opens with a directive from the Combined Chiefs of Staff to the Commanding General of the North African Theater of Operations. United States Army directing that the 15th Strategical Air Force will be established and activated as of November 1943 and primarily employed against targets of the Combined Bomber Offensive.
In order to facilitate the finding of information in this file, all cables and data have been classified in the following sections:
1. Section I. Organizations
Under this section is entered all information on composition of Air Force, deployment of units, redesignation of units, etc.
2. Section II. Equipment and Materiel
In this section is entered all information pertaining to unit equipment and all other equipment and materiel in the Air Force and attached units.
3. Section III. Special Operations Reports
This section contains special operational reports and summaries of Air Force action during Mediterranean campaign from Nov. 8, 1942 to present date.
4. Section IV. Personnel
Data on individual personnel (not organizations) are entered here.
5. Section V. Political
All materiel of interest to the Air Force Commander but not necessarily affecting his operational efficiency is entered here.
Within each section all data are filled according to date without further breakdown as to special type or organization. The corresponding number of each subject under the section index will be found at the bottom of the page of the relative paper, to facilitate location.
SECTION I
ORGANIZATION
NUMBER DATE SUBJECT
1 22 Oct 43 Directive from Combined Chiefs of Staff to the
Commanding General at NATOUSA for the establishment
of 15th Strategical Air Force.
2 30 Oct 43 Instructions to activate Headquarters and Headquarters
Squadron 15th Air Force from personnel already in
Theater.
3 31 Oct 43 Requesting names of commanders of the 15th and 12th Air
Forces.
4 3 Nov 43 Listing of units required with priority dates of arrival.
5 3 Nov 43 Request for Organization Table No. 1 - 787 S to be
activated.
6 5 Nov 43 Confirmation 15th Air Force was activated 1st Nov
Name of air force commanders.
7 10 Nov 43 Requesting assignment Air Depot Group from Egypt to
15th Air Force.
8 14 Nov 43 Authority for reorganization of weather stations and
sections authorized for service for 15th Air Force.
9 16 Nov 43 Unavailability of 26th Air Depot Group for transfer.
10 18 Nov 43 A list of units to be shipped from US to 15th Air Force
giving month of shipment.
11 Schedule of heavy Bomb Groups departing US for 15th
Air Force.
12 22 Nov 43 Critical Signal Troops situation in theater, request
non-transfer of 850th Signal Service Battalion.
13 23 Nov 43 Non-concurrence with proposal to withdraw 5 fighter
groups from Mediterranean area.
NUMBER DATE SUBJECT
14 24 Nov 43 Request that troops being listed for shipment to NA be so
arranged to be disembarked in Italy.
15 24 Nov 43 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron not available for
shipment. Recommendation that one be organized in the
theater.
16 24 Nov 43 Availability of other than Air Force Units such as
construction Battalion Air Base, Security Battalions M.P.
companies, aviation, etc.
17 25 Nov 43 Reply to request for Air Defense Units
18 25 Nov 43 Destination for all Flight Echelons of Heavy Bomb Groups
going to 15th Air Force.
19 25 Nov 43 List of fillers requested for activation of Headquarters and
Service Units for 15th Air Force.
20 26 Nov 43 Air Sea Rescue Squadron being dispatched from US.
21 27 Nov 43 Request that destination of Heavy Bomb Units to 15th Air
Force be changed.
22 30 Nov 43 Information on departure of Flight Echelon Heavy Bomb
Groups to 15th Air Force.
23 4 Dec 43 Port Units and car companies requested not available.
24 8 Dec 43 Assignment of Bomb Wings.
25 20 Nov 43 Movement of Troop Carrier Wing.
26 28 Dec 43 List of Units available and dates. List of new units and
new proposed troop bases for 1944. List of units requested
that are not available.
27 31 Dec 43 Decision of transfer of 5 Fighter Groups rests with CG, US
Strategic Air Forces in Europe.
28 8 Jan 44 Redesignation 12th Air Force Service Command and
location.
29 8 Jan 44 Designation of Theater Commander
NUMBER DATE SUBJECT
30 9 Jan 44 Request confirmation and dispatch of cable authorizing
reorganization of 15th Air Force.
31 Allocation of Combat Groups and Type Aircraft to North
Africa.
Transcribed from Official 15th Air Force Records, Sourced, U.S. National Archives
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