XII Tactical Air Command

XII Tactical Air Command
Emblem of the XII Tactical Air Command
Active	1942-1947
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Type	Command and Control
Engagements	World War II

The XII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Bad Kissingen, Germany. It was inactivated on 10 November 1947.

Formed in United States in early 1942. Moved to North Africa, October–November 1942. Col Demas T Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco: when the Allies landed on 8 November 1942, Col Craw volunteered to negotiate an armistice; while trying to pass through the lines near Port Lyautey, he was killed by machine-gun fire.

The command served in combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters until May 1945. Afterward, remained in Europe as part of the occupation force.

Lineage

• Constituted as XII Ground Air Support Command on 10 September 1942

Activated on 17 September 1942

Redesignated XII Air Support Command in September 1942

Redesignated XII Tactical Air Command in April 1944

Inactivated in Germany on 10 November 1947

Disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Assignments

• Third Air Force, 17 September 1942

First Air Force (Attached), 25 September 1942

• Twelfth Air Force, 9 November 1942
• Mediterranean Air Command/Northwest African Air Forces/Northwest African Tactical Air Force February 18 - December 10, 1943
• Mediterranean Allied Air Forces/Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force/12th Air Force 1944-45
• United States Air Forces in Europe, July 1945-10 November 1947

Stations

• Birmingham Army Airfield, Alabama, 17 September 1942
• Bolling Field, DC, 25 September-18 October 1942
• French Morocco, 9 November 1942
• Algeria, January 1943
• Tunisia, 13 March 1943
• Sicily, c. 12 July 1943

• Italy, c. 9 September 1943
• France, 18 August 1944
• Germany, 27 March 1945
• Erlangen, Germany, July 1945
• Bad Kissingen, Germany, 1 November 1945 – 10 November 1947

Wings

• 5th Bombardment Wing: 13 October 1942 – 1 November 1943
• 7th Fighter Wing: 1942 (Never activated)
• 42d Bombardment Wing: 21 May-26 July 1945
• 57th Bombardment Wing: 31 August 1943 – 1 January 1944
• 63d Fighter Wing: 14 June–December 1945
• 64th Fighter (formerly 3d Air Defense) Division: 9 March 1943 – 5 June 1947
• 70th Fighter Wing: 2 December 1945 – 25 September 1947
• 71st Fighter Wing: 25 September–November 1945
• 87th Fighter Wing: 11 January-22 September 1944

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.