Fifth Air Force OOB 1943-44

maxs75 · 06-12-2008, 05:03 PM

Following requests and http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...42-a-9974.html (RAAF OOB august 1942)
here it is the OOB for 5th air Force in late 1943 and early 1944:

9 october 1943:
a/c assigned to squadrons:
43th BG(H) - 33 B-24, 16 B-17
90th BG(H) - 45 B-24
380th BG(H) - 20 B-24
22d BG(M) - 31 B-25C/D (19th BS - 17 B-26)
38th BG(M) - 33 B-25C1/D1 (probably 71 and 405 BS only. No. 822 and 823 op. from mid. october with B-25G)
345th BG(M) - 63 B-25C1/D1
3d BG(L) - 42 B-25C1/D1, 11 A-20A/G (89th BS)

8th FG - 12 P-38 , 25 P-39, 25 P-40N (No. 80, 36, 35 FS respectively)
35th FG - 15 P-38 , 47 P-39N (No. 39 and 40,41 FS respectively)
49th FG - 19 P-38 , 39 P-40N (No. 9 and 7,8 FS respectively)
348th FG - 82 P-47D
475th FG - 65 P-38H
67th FS (from 13th USAAF) - 15 P-39
8th Photo Sqn (Light) - 3 F-4, 3 F-5, 4 P-38, 1 B-17
Det. A NF (6th NFS of 7th USAAF?) - 3 P-70

Total on hand:
157 B-25 C1/D1
54 B-25G
42 B-25C/D
25 B-26
61 A-20G

187 P-38
117 P-39
143 P-40
152 P-47

More will follow

Max

maxs75 · 06-12-2008, 05:24 PM

On 30 october :
a/c operational/assigned

97 - 139 P-38 (475 FG P-38H at Dobodura with 9 FS; 80 and 39 FS P-38 F/G/H at Pt. Moresby)
76 - 91 P-47 (348 FG at Moresby and part of 36 FS)
60 - 71 P-40N (7 FS at Dobodura, 8 FS at Gusap, 35 FS at Moresby)
40 - 47 P-39 (40, 41 at Nadzab, part of 36 at Moresby)
2 - 4 P-70 (Det. A )

93 - 118 B-24 (43, 90, both at Moresby, except 63BS at Dobodura, plus 380 BG(H) in Australia near Darwin)
174 - 204 B-25 (3d BG(L) less 89 BS, 22d BG(M) less 19th BS both at Dobodura; 38 BG(M) and 345 BG (M) both at Moresby)
38 - 48 A-20/B-26 (89th and 19th BS)

9 - 11 F-4/F-5 (8th PhS(L) at Moresby)

less than 260 C-47 (54th TC Wing)

So
P-38 are 23 per squadron,
P-47 are 24
P-40 are 23-24
P-39 are 21-22

B-24 are 9-10
B-25 are 14-15

Max

maxs75 · 06-14-2008, 05:48 AM

On 4 december :
a/c operational/assigned

73 - 100 P-38 (475 FG P-38H at Dobodura ; 80 FS P-38 F/G/H at Pt. Moresby, but soon to go to Dobodura)
77 - 95 P-47 (348 FG at Moresby, to Finschafen by the end of the month; 36 FS at Moresby, to Nadzab, 9 FS at Dobodura, to Gusap, 39 FS at Moresby, to Nadzab)
71 - 98 P-40N (7, 8 FS at Gusap, 35 FS at Moresby, to Finschafen)
29 - 33 P-39 (40 and part of 41 at Nadzab)
3 - 3 P-70 (418 NFS? at Dobodura)

116 - 141 B-24 (43, 90, both at Moresby but going to transfer at Dobodura, except 63 BS already at Dobodura, plus 380 BG(H) in Australia near Darwin)
145 - 177 B-25 (13 BS of 3d BG(L), 22d BG(M) less 19th BS both at Dobodura; 38 BG(M) and 345 BG (M) both at Moresby)
33 - 43 A-20 (3d BG(L) less 13 BS at Moresby)
18+ B-26 (19th BS at Dobodura)

8 - 12 F-4/F-5 (8th PhRS at Moresby)
28 - 30 P-39 (82d and 110th Rec. Sq. (Ftr) )

less than 306 C-47 (54th TC Wing)

Wildcat · 06-14-2008, 06:09 AM

Great info Max, thanks for posting.

maxs75 · 06-14-2008, 06:14 AM

And now, 6 march, 1944 :
a/c operational/assigned

83 - 126 P-38
(475 FG P-38H at Dobodura, to Nadzab by the end of month; 80 FS at Cape Gloucester, but soon to go to Nadzab too; 9 FS at Gusap)

198 - 257 P-47 (348 FG at Finschafen, to Saidor by the end of the month; 58th FG at Dobodura; 35th FG at Gusap, 36 FS at Nadzab)

66 - 78 P-40N (7, 8 FS at Gusap, 35 FS at Nadzab)

no P-39 as fighters

3 - 10 P-70 (418 NFS at Dobodura)

87 - 184 B-24 (22d, 43d, 90th BG (H) at, or going to, Nadzab, plus 380 BG(H) in Australia near Darwin)

104 - 161 B-25 (38 BG(M) at Moresby, to Nadzab; 345 BG (M) already at Nadzab, probably some in 3d and 312th BG)

78 - 126 A-20 (3d and 312th BG(L) at Nadzab and Gusap respectively; 417th BG(L) not op. at Dobodura)

no more B-26 as frontline bombers.

18 - 31 F-4/F-5 (8th PhRS at Moresby, 25 PhRS at Nadzab, 26 PhRS at Finschafen)

46 - 56 P-39 (82d and 110th Rec. Sq. (Ftr) at Dobodura/Finschafen and Gusap)

14 - 16 B-25 (17th Rec. Sq. (Bomb) at Dobodura )

215 - 268 C-47 (54th TC Wing)
317th and 375th TCG at Moresby
433d TCG at Nadzab
374th TCG at Townsville

Planes per squadron:
P-38: 25
P-47: 25-26
P-40: 26
P-70: 10

B-24: 11-12
B-25: 20 ??
A-20: 15-16

F-5: 10
P-39: 28
B-25: 16

C-47: 15

Assuming that the 417th BG had no A-20, the only high number is the B-25 bomber, that should be about 14-16 per squadron.

Max

syscom3 · 06-14-2008, 01:14 PM

Whats the OOB?

Vincenzo · 06-14-2008, 01:39 PM

order of battle

maxs75 · 06-20-2008, 01:18 PM

On 1 february 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 17 B-25, 16 A-20 (Port Moresby)
22d BG(M): 4 B-26 (Australia near Townsville)
38th BG(M): 17 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 17 B-17 (Port Moresby, less 403d BS at Mareeba)
90th BG(H): 11 B-24 (Iron Range)

8th FG: 27 P-400, 27 P-39 (Milne Bay)
35th FG: 16 P-38, 13 P-400, 14 P-39 (Port Moresby)
49th FG: 46 P-40E/K (Port Moresby)
8th PhRS: 4 F-4 (Port Moresby)

Max

maxs75 · 06-21-2008, 01:00 PM

On 30 april 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 6 B-25, 11 A-20 (Port Moresby, less 8th BS with A-20 at Dobodura)
22d BG(M): 9 B-26 (Australia near Townsville)
38th BG(M): 6 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 26 B-17 (Port Moresby, less 403d BS at Mareeba)
90th BG(H): 34 B-24 (Port Moresby, less 319th BS at Darwin)

8th FG: 8 P-38 (80th FS at Port Moresby), 8 P-400, 14 P-39 (35th and 36th FS at Mareeba)
35th FG: 20 P-38, 14 P-400, 28 P-39 (Port Moresby)
49th FG: 21 P-38, 42 P-40E/K (Dobodura)
8th PhS(L): 6 F-4 (Port Moresby)
Det A (6th NFS): 4 P-70

Max

maxs75 · 06-21-2008, 01:06 PM

On 31 may 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 12 B-25, 13 A-20 (Dobodura)
22d BG(M): 10 B-26 (Australia near Townsville)
38th BG(M): 16 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 19 B-17, 2 B-24 (Port Moresby)
90th BG(H): 36 B-24 (Port Moresby, less 319th BS at Darwin)
380th BG(H): 5 B-24 (Fenton, near Darwin)

8th FG: 9 P-38, 7 P-400, 9 P-39 (Port Moresby)
35th FG: 18 P-38, 8 P-400, 24 P-39 (Port Moresby)
49th FG: 18 P-38, 39 P-40E/K (Dobodura)
8th PhS(L): 5 F-4 (Port Moresby)
Det A (6th NFS): 3 P-70

Max

maxs75 · 06-21-2008, 01:15 PM

On 31 july 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 21 B-25, 10 A-20 (Dobodura)
22d BG(M): 5 B-26, 12 B-25 (Australia near Townsville, less 19th BS at Dobodura)
38th BG(M): 19 B-25 (Port Moresby)
345th BG(M): 45 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 12 B-17, 9 B-24 (Port Moresby)
90th BG(H): 30 B-24 (Port Moresby)
380th BG(H): 11 B-24 (Fenton, near Darwin)

8th FG: 18 P-38, 15 P-400, 14 P-39 (Port Moresby)
35th FG: 18 P-38, 42 P-39 (Port Moresby)
49th FG: 13 P-38, 30 P-40E/K (Dobodura)
348th FG: 56 P-47 (Port Moresby)
67th FS (13th AF): 20 P-39 (Woodlark Island)

8th PhS(L): 7 F-4/F-5 (Port Moresby)
Det. 18th PhS(H): 3 B-25 (location?)
Det A (6th NFS): 2 P-70

Max

maxs75 · 06-21-2008, 01:23 PM

On 31 august 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 40 B-25, 8 A-20 (Dobodura)
22d BG(M): 16 B-25 (Australia near Townsville, less 19th BS at Dobodura)
38th BG(M): 25 B-25 (Port Moresby)
345th BG(M): 41 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 14 B-17, 17 B-24 (Port Moresby)
90th BG(H): 34 B-24 (Port Moresby)
380th BG(H): 20 B-24 (Fenton, near Darwin)

8th FG: 12 P-38, 15 P-39 (Port Moresby)
35th FG: 18 P-38 (39th FS at Port Moresby), 44 P-39 (40th and 41st FS at Tsili Tsili)
49th FG: 11 P-38, 46 P-40E/K (Dobodura, less 8th FS at Tsili Tsili with P-40)
348th FG: 74 P-47 (Port Moresby)
475th FG: 54 P-38 (Dobodura)
67th FS (13th AF): 8 P-39 (Woodlark Island)

8th PhS(L): 6 F-4/F-5 (Port Moresby)
Det. 18th PhS(H): 3 B-25 (location?)
Det A (6th NFS): 2 P-70

Max

maxs75 · 06-21-2008, 01:28 PM

On 27 september 1943 :
a/c operational only

3d BG(D): 32 B-25, 8 A-20 (Dobodura)
22d BG(M): 22 B-25 (Australia near Townsville, less 19th BS at Dobodura)
38th BG(M): 26 B-25 (Port Moresby)
345th BG(M): 48 B-25 (Port Moresby)
43d BG(H): 10 B-17, 32 B-24 (Port Moresby)
90th BG(H): - B-24 (Port Moresby)
380th BG(H): 15 B-24 (Fenton, near Darwin)

8th FG: 22 P-38, 24 P-39, 19 P-40 (Port Moresby, 80th , 36th, 35th FS)
35th FG: 20 P-38 (39th FS at Port Moresby), 46 P-39 (40th and 41st FS at Tsili Tsili)
49th FG: 14 P-38, 36 P-40E/K (Dobodura, less 8th FS at Tsili Tsili with P-40)
348th FG: 75 P-47 (Port Moresby)
475th FG: 45 P-38 (Dobodura)
67th FS (13th AF): 14 P-39 (Woodlark Island)

8th PhS(L): 5 F-4/F-5 (Port Moresby)
Det. 18th PhS(H): 2 B-25 (location?)
Det A (6th NFS): 4 P-70

Max

syscom3 · 06-21-2008, 03:02 PM

I'm surprised the 380th only had 15 B24's operational in Sept.

But then again, they were quite remote from the depots, and had to make do with a lack of spares.

Wildcat · 06-21-2008, 06:49 PM

And 5 in May for the whole group! Great info Max.