bigpigeon.us webpage WWII - Japan > US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force, updated by RAC 17 May 2022.

The Thirteenth Air Force WWII History:
  • activated Jan. 1943 in New Caledonia. 
  • 1943 - supported the US Navy led South Pacific campaign through the Solomon Islands. 
  • late 1943 & early 1944 - supported the US Navy led Central Pacific campaign. 
  • June 1944 - assigned to US Army control as part of the Far East Air Forces (FEAF). 
  • late 1944 - Aug 1945 - conducted bombing operations from western New Guinea against the Dutch Indies.
  • relocated to Clark AFB, Luzon, Philippines after WW II ended.
Pottawattamie County, Iowa Area WWII Dead - Thirteenth Air Force:03-03 - US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force: (four dead, updated 21 Oct 2021)
† Garrett, Elmer Earl "Bud", SN O-763195, USAAF, Fremont Co.
  • 67th Fighter Sqdn., 347th Fighter Gp., Thirteenth Air Force, based on Middleburg Is., near Sansapor, extreme western Dutch New Guinea; Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilot; KIA 3 Dec 1944 over southern Celebes; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force; BNR.
† Hetrick, Jacob Alvin, SN O-733132, USAAF, Pott. Co.
  • 75th Bomb. Sqdn., 42th Bomb Gp., Thirteenth Air Force, based at Mar Drome, NE of Sansapor, Vogelkop Peninsula, Netherlands New Guinea as of 14 Sep 1944; North American B-25J Mitchell # xx-xx965 co-pilot (full tail number unknown) w/ pilot John F. Wolfe; KIA 16 Feb 1945 ten miles E of Kendari, SE Celebes, Dutch Indies; downed by Japanese AA during low-level attack on Kendari airfield; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force.
† Tague, Harold Fremont, SN 37-111-602, USAAF, Pott. & Mills Cos.
  • 390th Bomb. Sqdn., 42nd Bomb Gp., Thirteenth Air Force, based on Banika, Russell Is., NW of Guadalcanal, staging from Stirling Airfield, Treasury Is. S of Bougainville, Solomon Is.; North American B-25C Mitchell #42-64570 Skilla engineer-gunner w/ pilot Earl Swartzfader; KIA 20 Jan 1944 S of Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago; plane damaged by AA fire while attacking Vunakanau Airfield, later lost control and crashed followed by a fireball; all six dead; Operation Cartwheel - US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force.
† Trobough, Jerome Carroll, SN 37-034-015, USAAF, Pott. Co. & Douglas Co., NE
  • 72nd Bomb. Sqdn., 5th Bomb Gp., Thirteenth Air Force, based at Momote, Admiralty Is; Consolidated B-24H Liberator #42-73458 flight engineer w/ pilot John H. Smith; KIA 9 Aug 1944 near Momote; plane lost engine power and ditched near base returning from mission over Yap, Caroline Is., nine died, two lived; US Air Force War w/ Japan > Thirteenth Air Force; BNR.