12th Air Force

The 12th AF participated in the invasion of Algeria and French Morocco in November, 1942. Operated in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war.

Visit our 12th Air Force Honor Project with rosters of servicemen who served in the groups of the 12th.

Constituted as Twelfth AF on 20 Aug 1942 and activated the same day. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and then on to North Africa for the invasion of Algeria and French Morocco in Nov 1942. Operated in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, serving with Northwest African Air Forces from Feb to Dec 1943, and afterward with Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Inactivated in Italy on 31 Aug 1945.

Commands: XII Bomber : 1942-1944. XII Tactical Air: 1942-1944. XXII Tactical Air (formerly XII Fighter): 1942-1945.

Stations: Bolling Field, DC, 20-28 Aug 1942; England, 12 Sep-22 Oct 1942; Algeria, 9 Nov 1942; Tunisia, 10 Aug 1943; Italy, 5 Dec 1943-31 Aug 1945.

Commanders: Lt Col Roger J Browne, 26 Aug 1942; Lt Col Harold L Neely, 28 Aug 1942; Maj Gen James H Doolittle, 23 Sep 1942; Lt Gen Carl Spaatz, I Mar 1943; Lt Gen John K Cannon, 21 Dec 1943; Maj Gen Benjamin W Chidlaw, 2 Apr 1945; Brig Gen Charles T Myers, 26 May- 31 Aug 1945.

Campaigns: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; RomeArno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley.

Insigne: On an ultramarine blue equilateral triangle, one point down, a white star with a red disc in the center thereof bearing the numeral "12" in white, below a pair of stylized golden orange wings. (Approved I Dec 1943.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986

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