This patch was worn by those in Officers Candidate School --
one of several avenues to a Commission.
Submitted by Ann Whelan O'Connor, 3/00
This is the WWII Army Air Corps patch, representing the
derivation of the current Air Force.
Submitted by Ann Whelan O'Connor, 3/00
The 8th Air Force patch is an embroidered circular patch approximately 2 1/2 inches in diameter,
featuring the featuring the WWII Air Force Star (a white star with red disc in the center) in
the lower loop of a winged numeral 8 on an ultramarine blue background.
The War Department authorized the wearing of such insignia on the left sleeve below the shoulder.
There were many variations on the 8th Air Force patch worn during the war. Note the 8 feathers on
each wing and two open loops at the lower edge of the wing which distinguish this patch design
from others.
Special thanks to John Wiley, pilot with the 487th BG, 8th AF for this patch. Submitted by Lorin
McCleary, 4/96.
Twelfth Air Force Insignia, History and Chronology in World War II:
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
1st December l943.)
CONSTITUTED as Twelfth AF on 20 August l942 and activated the same day.
Moved to England, August-September l942, and then on to North Africa for
the invasion of Algeria and French Morocco in November l942. Operated
in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, serving with
Northwest African Air Forces from February to December l943, and
afterward with Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Inactivated in Italy on
31 August l945.
COMMANDS: XII Bomber: l942-l944. XII Tactical Air: l942-l944. XXII
Tactical Air (formerly XII Fighter): l942-l945.
STATIONS: Bolling Field, DC, 20 to 28 August l942; England, 12
September to 22 October l942; Algeria, 9 November l942; Tunisia, 10
August l943; Italy, 5 December l943 to 31 August l945.
COMMANDERS: Lt. Col. Roger J. Browne, 26 August l942; Lt. Col. Harold
L. Neely, 28 August l942; Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle, 23 September
l942; Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, 1 March l943; Lt. Gen. John K. Cannon, 21
December l943; Maj. Gen. Benjamin W. Chidlaw, 2 April l945; Brig. Gen.
Charles T. Myers, 26 May to 31 August l945.
CAMPAIGNS: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia;
Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; southern France; North
Apennines; Po Valley.
Here are quotes from Kenn Rust in the Twelfth Air Force World War II Chronology,
edited by Robert B. Sligh:
"Its major achievements will always be remembered, for the 12th Air
Force was instrumental in the final victories in North Africa, Sicily,
southern France and Italy."
"From November l942 to V-E Day, the 12th Air Force had flown 430,681
sorties, dropped 217,l56 tons of bombs, claimed destruction of 2,857
enemy aircraft, and lost 2,667 of its own planes - the latter two
figures clearly showing the emphasis on tactical, support operations
with which the Twelfth was normally charged."
The insignia description, history and quote were submitted by Ann Whelan O'Connor, 3/01
The 15th Air Force patch consists of a blue disc and a white star charged with a red disc in the
center and with golden orange stylized wings below a golden orange Arabic numeral "I5", all within
a golden orange amulet. (Approved 19 Feb 1944.)
Constituted as the Fifteenth Air Force on 30 Oct 1943, and activated in the Mediterranean theater
on 1 Nov 1943, the 15th began operations on 2 Nov 1943 and engaged primarily in strategic
bombardment of targets in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and
the Balkans until the end of the war.
The 15th was deactivated in Italy on 15 Sep 1945, and activated again in the US on 31 Mar 1946.
Assigned to Strategic Air Command.
WINGS include 5th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 42d Bombardment: 1943. 47th Bombardment: 1944-1945.
49th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 55th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 304th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 305th
Bombardment: 1943-1945. 306th Fighter: 1944-1945. 307th Bombardment: 1944.
STATIONS have included Tunis, Tunisia, 1 Nov 1943; Bari, Italy, 1 Dec 1943-15 Sep 1945. Colorado
Springs, Colo, 31 Mar 1946; March AFB, Calif, 7 Nov 1949-.
COMMANDERS have included Maj Gen James H Doolittle, 1 Nov 1943; Maj Gen Nathan F Twining, 3 Jan 1944;
Brig Gen James A Mollison, 26 May 1945; Brig Gen William L Lee, 3 Aug 1945; Col Elmer J Rogers Jr,
31 Aug-15 Sep 1945. Maj Gen Charles F Born, 31 Mar 1946; Brig Gen Leon W Johnson, 24 Apr 1947;
Maj Gen Emmett O'Donnell, Jr, 6 Oct 1948; Maj Gen Walter C Sweeney Jr, 20 Apr 1953; Maj Gen Archie
J Old Jr, c. 20 Aug 1955-.
CAMPAIGNS have included Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio;
Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe;
Po Valley.
Special thanks for this patch, submitted by Doni Troglio, 2/00.
Click Here for a larger
sized picture and the whole story.
Just remember to hit your "Back" button to return.
A B-24 Liberator bomber of 487th BG, 8th AF in heavy flak on bombing mission over Germany.
The aircraft, nicknamed "Gashouse Gus", (SN 41-29476) has just dropped six one thousand pound bombs
on a factory near Russelsheim. Black puffs of smoke are exploding 88mm and 105mm shells from
anti-aircraft flak batteries. The 487th BG aircraft identifier (a black, square letter P in a
white rectangle) can be clearly seen on the vertical stabilizer of the aircraft.
The 487th BG was based in Lavenham, England and began flying bombing missions over Europe on May 7,
1944. The Group flew 185 missions, dropping over 28 million pounds of bombs, while losing 48 aircraft.
The Group led the largest bombing mission of the War on Dec. 24, 1944 and led the 3rd Air Division I
bombing accuracy from January, 1945 to the end of the War. Submitted by Lorin McCleary, 4/96
Click Here to go to an independent B-24 website
that includes a 58-Minute movie (with sound). It provides a comprehensive walk-through of the basic operation
of the B-24 Liberator. Just remember to hit your "Back" button to return. This link thanks to Doni Troglio, 2/00
Click Here
to see a CITATION for a SILVER STAR
that was written for B-17 Pilot 1LT Gerard J. Flannick
by our own historian and researcher, Jack Forgy.
Watch this section for more Air Force memorabilia. If you
have Air Force memorabilia you feel might be of interest, E-Mail AWON.
