THE
HISTORY OF THE | |
& the
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The Air Commandos were formed in 1943 and consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Commando Group. They trained extensively in Florida in 1944 and arrived in New Guinea in mid November 1944. In January 1945, they moved to Nadzab, New Guinea and finally on Jan. 7, 1945, they went to Tanuan airstrip on Leyte, P.I. and they flew combat missions from that strip. Most of what they did was in support of ground troops, escort duty for Navy PBYs on rescue missions, bomber escort and target of opportunity fighter sweeps.They also supported the 32nd Infantry Division as they advanced on the Villa Verde Trail. I believe this was on the way to Luzon, P.I.
On September 20, 1945, the unit took
off for Ie Shima and then landed in Japan at Atsugi Airfield in Tokyo.
This was after the 2 nukes were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In October 1945, the unit then went to the island of Hokkaido as an
occupation force.
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