Fifteenth Air Force History

On October 9, 1943, USAAF commander “Hap” Arnold proposed to the Joint Chief of Staff that a new air force be created and based in Southern Italy. Approval was quick and on November 1 the new Fifteenth Air Force was created under the command of Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle. Jimmy Doolittle had led the famous 1942 raid on Tokyo and had commanded the Twelfth Air Force and North African Strategic Air Forces. Operating from North Africa, the Fifteenth launched its first heavy bomber mission on November 2, 1943, attacking the Messerschmitt factory at Weiner Neustadt, Austria. By the end of November, the 15th had moved to Southern Italy with headquarters established at Bari.

Engaging in strategic bombardment operations from bases in southern Italy, the Fifteenth reached as far north as Regensburg and Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, as far east as Ploesti, Romania, and as far west as southern France.

TThe first U.S. bombing raid in Europe occurred July 12, 1942, when 13 B-24 Liberators took off from Fayid, Egypt to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti. It is not clear if any of the planes actually hit Ploesti which was obscured by clouds and little if any damage was done. The B-24’s recovered at bases in Turkey and Iraq.

The Eighth Air Force operating from England flew its first heavy bomber mission on August 17, 1942. Strategic bombing in Europe would remain the 8th’s domain until late 1943. However, poor weather common in England and Northern Europe limited operations and many targets in Southeastern Europe were beyond the range of the 8th AF.

By November ’43 American and British forces had cleared North Africa, taken Sicily and had advanced through southern Italy to the Gustav Line south of Rome. The area controlled by the Allies included Foggia, Bari and the many airfields in the region. The prospect of better flying weather in “sunny” Italy, the ability to reach targets in Southeastern Europe and the Balkans and the prospect of a second front in the air war against Germany were highly appealing.

The Fifteenth AF was tasked with four primary objectives: 1) Destroy the German Air Force, 2) participate in the land battle in Italy, 3) continue POINTBLANK operations, and 4) weaken the German position in the Balkans. POINTBLANK was the code name for the Combined Bomber Offensive against German industry, aircraft production, oil, and armament production.

The Fifteenth AF initially consisted of 4 B-17 groups (2nd, 93rd, 97th and 301st), two B-24 groups (98th and 376th), 1 P-47 Fighter group (325th) and 3 P-38 groups (1st, 14th and 82nd). These were veteran groups that had been part of the “Desert Airforce” of the 9th and later 12th Air Forces in North Africa. The first reinforcements from Stateside were the 449th and

(Continued on Page 11)