XXVI Fighter Command
| XXVI Fighter Command | |
|---|---|
 XXVI Fighter Command P-39 Airacobra[note 1]]] | |
| Active | 1942–1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Command of fighter units |
The XXVI Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was assigned to Sixth Air Force throughout its existence. It was based at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1946. It engaged in antisubmarine operations from the Canal Zone.
History[]
Lineage[]
- Constituted as 26th Interceptor Command on 28 February 1942[note 2]
- Activated on 6 March 1942
- Redesignated: 26th Fighter Command on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated: XXVI Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942
- Inactivated on 25 August 1946
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]
Components[]
- Groups
- 16th Pursuit Group (later 16th Fighter Group), 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943[2]
- 32d Fighter Group, 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943[3]
- 37th Fighter Group,[4] 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943
- 53d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group), 6 March – 26 November 1942[5]
- Squadrons
- 24th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946
- 28th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946
- 29th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944
- 30th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946
- 31st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944
- 32d Fighter Squadron, 13 March 1944 - 25 Aug 1946
- 43d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946
- 51st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946
Stations[]
- Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, 6 March 1942 – 25 August 1946[1]
References[]
Notes[]
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Aircraft is Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra, serial 44-3866 of the 28th Fighter Squadron.
- ^ Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "XXVI" Interceptor Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- Citations
- ^ a b Maurer, pp. 454-455
- ^ "Factsheet 16 Special Operations Wing". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (28 April 2011). "Factsheet 32 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Maurer, pp. 454-455 (year only).
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (7 May 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
Bibliography[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Previously: Panama Canal Air Force (1940-1941); Caribbean Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||||||||
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Categories:
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
- Intermediate combat commands of the United States Army Air Forces