CHINA-BURMA-INDIA

Image of US CBI Forces Patch

TENTH AIR FORCE OVERVIEW

10 March 1942 - December 1945

Created for air combat operations in India and Burma during WWII. In the years following WWII, Tenth AF served air defense and reserve training programs.

Constituted as 10th AF 4 Feb 1942 and activated 12 February at Patterson Field, near Dayton, OH, and assigned to Air Force Combat Command. Almost immediately the staff and personnel began move to India. Headquarters was established at New Delhi on 5 Mar 1942, under the command of Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton and built up around a nucleus of air force personnel newly arrived from the disastrous Java defense or halted on their way to the Philippines. The Tenth Air Force initially provided control of all USAAF combat operations in the China Burma India Theater under theater commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Stillwell.

Tenth AF was responsible for creating, operating and safeguarding the India-China Ferry, more commonly known as the Hump airlift, between 8 April and 1 December 1942, first with its Assam-Burma-China Command until 16 July, then the India-China Ferry Command until 1 December, when jurisdiction for the airlift passed to the Air Transport Command.

Aerial Ferry flights over the Himalyas mountains began in April 1942 when the Army flew gasoline and oil to air bases in Eastern China for planned use by Gen. Doolittle's Raiders following America's first offensive on to the Japanese homeland.

At dawn on April 18, 1942, a U.S. Navy task force was heading through rough Pacific seas toward Japan. One of the ships in the flotilla was the aircraft carrier USS Hornet with sixteen of the Army Air Forces' North American B-25 "Mitchell" bombers on deck. Plans called for the B-25's to take off from the carrier when within 450 to 650 miles of Japan, bomb selected targets at such locations as Yokohama and Tokyo and then fly another 1,200 miles to friendly airfields on mainland China. There, they would meet with more planes and crews to form a Bombardment Group planned to attack Japan and Japanese shipping from airbases in Eastern China.

Unfortunately, an enemy patrol boat was sighted and, although it was sunk by U.S. gunfire, it was decided to launch the planes at once in case the patrol boat had been able to radio a warning to Japan. The 16 B-25s were launched while the task force was 800 miles from Japan rather than the desired 450 to 650 miles. They all reached the Japanese islands, dropped their bombs on oil stores, factory areas, and military installations, and then headed out across the East China Sea. However, night was approaching, the planes began running low on fuel, and the weather was rapidly becoming worse. The crews realized they could not reach the Chinese airfields and had the choice of either bailing out, ditching at sea, or crash-landing, although one plane was able to divert to Vladivostok where its crew was interned by the Russians.

When the news of the raid was released, American morale zoomed from the depths to which it had plunged following Japan's successes. It also caused the Japanese to transfer back to the home islands many fighter units which could have been used against the Allies. In comparison to the B-29 attacks against Japan two years later, the Tokyo Raid was barely a token effort. However, it was an example of brilliant tactics.

Twenty-seven of the Raiders would remain in CBI and take on roles in the Tenth Air Forces's efforts to assist China and support ground forces in Burma.

The Tenth's initial combat resources consisted of only a small segment of 7th Bombardment Group (H), six B-17s on which Brereton and his staff arrived from Australia. More components for the Tenth arrived in India over a three-month period from March to May 1942. During which time 10th AF gained ground personnel of the 188th Reconnaissance Squadron (H) (soon to be redesignated 436th Bombardment Squadron), the air cadre of the 23rd Fighter Group , the 51st Fighter Group with a handful of P-40 Warhawk fighters, 9th Photo Reconnaissance Group with eight F-5 recon planes, and air echelons of the 11th and 22nd Bombardment Squadrons (M) with less than two dozen B-25 Mitchell bombers, as well as another handful of P-40 Warhawk fighters which had been slated to replace the American Volunteer Group's war weary planes.

Tenth Air Force units, comprised of 23rd Fighter Group and 11th Bomb Squadron (M) on Detached Service, were based in China under control of the China Air Task Force of the Tenth Air Force, created 4 July 1942, and commanded by Brig. Gen. Claire Chennault. Later, combat units based in India, 51st Fighter Group and 341st Bombardment Group (M) were controlled by the India Air Task Force, created 8 October 1942, commanded by Brigadier General Caleb V. Haynes who had commanded the CATF Bomber Command prior to then.

Major General Clayton Bissell had been promoted to brigadier general with one day's seniority to Chennault in order to command all American air units in CBI as Stillwell's Air Commander. When Tenth Air Force commanding general Lewis Brereton was transferred to Egypt on 26 June, Bissell became Commander of the 10th, and Stillwell used the occasion to issue an announcement that Chennault would continue to command all air operations in China.

Tenth Air Force conducted offensive strategic bombing operations in Burma and Thailand and supported Allied ground efforts with close air support and operations against Japanese communications and supply installations.

Following successful completion of the Central Burma Offensive campaign, in late spring 1944, Tenth Air Force moved to Kunming, China.

reference: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/IV/AAF-IV-12.html

  • Commanders:

    • Col Harry Halverson, 17 Feb 1942;
    • Maj Gen Lewis H Breeton, 5 Mar 1942;
    • Brig Gen Earl L. Naiden, 26 Jun 1942;
    • Maj Gen Clayton L. Bissel, 18 Aug 1942;
    • Maj Gen Howard C. Davidson, 19 Aug 1943,
    • Maj Gen Albert F Hegenberger, 1 Aug 1945-unk.

  • 10th Air Force Units

    • 7th Bombardment Group (H); assigned Mar 42, ceased combat operations Jul 45 and hauled gas in support of USAAF operations in China. Returned to the US in Dec 1945, inactivated on 6 Jan 1946.
      • 9th Bombardment Squadron (H)
      • 436th Bombardment Squadron (H)
      • 492nd Bombardment Squadron (H)
      • 493rd Bombardment Squadron (H)
      • temporarily assigned in India until activation of 341st Bm Grp (M)
        • 11th Bombardment Squadron (M); attached to CATF May 42 - Sep 43
        • 22nd Bombardment Squadron (M)
    • 51st Fighter Group; assigned Mar 42, transferred to 14th AF Oct 43.
      • 16th Fighter Squadron
        • (attached to 23d Fighter Group in China, Jul 1942-Oct 1943)
      • 25th Fighter Squadron
      • 26th Fighter Squadron
      • 449th Fighter Squadron
    • 341st Bombardment Group (M) (activated 15 Sep 42, transferred to 14th AF, Dec 43)
      • 11th Bombardment Squadron (M); (attached 68th Comp Wing, Sep 43 - Jan 45)
      • 22nd Bombardment Squadron (M)
      • 490th Bombardment Squadron (M) (attached to 10th AF, Sep 43 - Apr 45)
      • 491st Bombardment Squadron (M)
    • 80th Fighter Group; assigned 28 Jun 43, transferred to USAAF IBT, 1 Aug 45.
      • 88th Fighter Squadron, 1942-1945
      • 89th Fighter Squadron, 1942-1945
      • 90th Fighter Squadron, 1942-1945
      • 459th Fighter Squadron, 1943-1944
      Constituted as 80th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942.
      Activated on Feb 1942. Redesignated 80th Fighter Group in May 1942. Used P-47's to train for combat and to serve as part of the defense force for the northeastern US. Sailed for India, via Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, and Ceylon, in May 1943. Assigned to Tenth AF. Began operations in Sep 1943 with P-38 and P-40 aircraft; later used P-47's. Supported Allied ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the push southward to Rangoon, bombing and strafing troop concentrations, supply dumps, lines of communication, artillery positions, and other objectives. Defended the Indian terminus of the Hump route by striking Japanese airfields and by patrolling Allied airfields to safeguard them from attack. Received a DUC for intercepting a formation of enemy planes and preventing its attack on a large oil refinery in Assam, India, on 27 Mar 1944. Departed for the US in Oct 1945, inactivated at Newark, NJ, on 3 Nov 1945.
      Stations:
      Selfridge Field, Mich, 9 Feb 1942; Farmingdale, NY, 5 Jul 1942; Mitchel Field, NY, 9 Mar-30 Apr 1943; Karachi, India, 28 Jun 1943; Nagaghuli, India, Oct 1943; Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 29 Aug 1944; Myitkyina, Burma, 20 Jan 1945; Dudhkundi, India, 24 Maya Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 1-3 Nov 1945.
      Commanders:
      Unkn, Feb-May 1942; Col John C Crosthwaite, c. 20 May 1942; Maj Albert L Evans Jr, 1 Jul 1942; Col Ivan W McElroy, 14 Jul 1943; Col Albert L Evans Jr, 13 Apr 1944; Col Sydney D Grubbs Jr, 1 Feb 1945; Col Hiette S Williams Jr, c. 29 Apr 1945-unkn.
      Campaigns:
      American Theater; India-Burma; Central Burma.
      Decorations:
      Distinguished Unit Citation: Assam, India, 27 Mar 1944.
      Insigne
      Shield: Per bend azure and sable a bend raguly or. Motto: Angels On Our Wings. (Approved 14 Oct 1942.)
    • 311th Fighter Group; 14 Sep 43 - 27 Aug 44, transferred to 14th Air Force.
      • 385th Fighter Squadron
      • 528th Fighter Squadron
      • 529th Fighter Squadron
      • 530th Fighter Squadron
    • 443rd Troop Carrier Group; 15 Feb 44 - Dec 45.
      • 1st Troop Carrier Squadron
      • 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron
      • 27th Troop Carrier Squadron
        • (attached to 14th AF)
      • 309th Troop Carrier Squadron
      • 310th Troop Carrier Squadron
      • 315th Troop Carrier Squadron

    • 33rd Fighter Group; assigned 20 Feb 44 (attached to CBI Air Forces Training Command, 5 Mar-14 Apr 1944), transferred 14th Air Force, 15 Apr 1944.
      • 58th Fighter Squadron
      • 59th Fighter Squadron
      • 60th Fighter Squadron
    • 12th Bombardment Group (M); 21 Mar 44 - Dec 45.
      • 81st Bombardment Squadron (M)
      • 82nd Bombardment Squadron (M)
      • 83rd Bombardment Squadron (M)
      • 434th Bombardment Squadron (M)
    • 1st Combat Cargo Group; Sep 44 - Aug 45,
      redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group, Sep 1945; returned to US and inactivated 24 Dec 1945.
      • 1st Combat Cargo Squadron with 344th Airdrome Squadron attached.
      • 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron with 345th Airdrome Squadron attached.
      • 3rd Combat Cargo Squadron with 346th Airdrome Squadron attached.
      • 4th Combat Cargo Squadron with 347th Airdrome Squadron attached.
  • Stations:
    • Patterson Field, Ohio; 12 Feb-8 Mar 1942
    • New Delhi, India; 16 May 1942
    • Barrackpore, Calcutta, India; 16 Oct 1943
    • Belvedere Park, Calcutta; 8 Jan 1944
    • Kanjikoah, Assam, India; 20 Jun 1944
    • Mytikyina, Burma; 2 Nov 1944;
    • Bhamo, Burma; 7 Feb 1945
    • Piardoba, India; 15 May 1945;
    • Kunming, China; 23 Jul 1945;
    • Liuchow, China; 9 Aug 1945
    • Shanghai, China; 18 0ct-15 Dec 1945
    • Ft Lawson, Wash., 5-6 Jan 1945.