Fifth Air Force
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The Fifth Air Force (5AF), with headquarters currently located at Yokota Air Base,Japan, is one of very few numbered air forces of the United States Air Force never to have been based in the United States itself. It is also one of the oldest and continuously active US air forces.
The 5AF had its origins as part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF), which was formed in The Philippines in September 1941 under Major General Lewis H. Brereton. Immediately after the outbreak of the Pacific War in December, Brereton sought permission from theater commander Gen Douglas MacArthur to conduct air raids against Japanese forces in Formosa, but was refused. As a consequence, FEAF was largely destroyed on the ground by Japanese air attacks. Following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the remnants of FEAF relocated southwards to bases in the Dutch East Indies. After those islands also fell to Japanese forces early in 1942, FEAF headquarters moved to Australia.
United States Army Air Forces units in Australia, including FEAF, were eventually reinforced and re-organised following their inital defeats in the Philippines and the East Indies. In August 1942, under the command of Major General George Kenney, the new Fifth Air Force was organized as a component of the FEAF, with headquarters in Brisbane, Australia. The 5AF, along with the Thirteenth Air Force (the other main combat command of the FEAF) devastated Japan's air, land, and sea forces in the South West Pacific Area for the remainder of World War II. Using General Kenney's innovative and devastating low-level parafrag, strafing, and skip-bombing tactics, the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces played a major role in pushing the Japanese back to their home islands by 1945. Shortly after World War II ended in August, the 5AF relocated to Japan as part of the Allied occupation forces.
In 1950, from headquarters still in Japan, the 5AF became the main United Nations combat air command during the Korean War, and was instrumental in bringing about the cease-fire that formally ended that conflict in 1953.
Commands During World War II
- V Bomber Command 1941-46
- V Fighter Command 1942-46