FAR EAST AIR FORCES
IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA
DURING WWII

The Fifth Air Force and the Thirteenth Air Force were combined to become the Far East Air Forces FEAF under General George C. Kenney on 15 June 1944. General Ennis C. Whitehead was appointed to command the Fifth Air Force. Major General St. Clair Street was in command of the Thirteenth Air Force. Some US Navy search squadrons from the 7th Fleet and Aircraft Northern Solomons of the US Marine Corps air units were attached to the Fifth Air Force. Far East Air Service Command was formed on the same date.

Far East Air Forces (plural) is not to be confused with the Far East Air Force (singular) which was under General Brereton in the Philippines in October 1941.

The Thirteenth Air Force had transferred from the South Pacific Area to the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) and placed under the operational control of Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area.

The Seventh Air Force was assigned to FEAF on 14 July 1945.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"The Fifth Air Force in the War Against Japan - United States Strategic Bombing Survey"

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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 1 October 2017

This page last updated 24 January 2020