1st Air Force

The First Air Force was active in the North-East USA during World War Two and served mostly as a training unit. They were also responsible for the air defense however the chance of an attack was very slim. The 1st Air Force provided extra training to Air Force personnel as well as replacements to US Army Air Forces serving in various Theaters. These consisted of pilots, bombardiers, gunners and specialists.

The insignia of the 1st Air Force is the typical USAAF style patch with a star with yellow wings. On top is a 1 to resemble the 1st Air Force.

2nd Air Force

The Second Air Force was active in the North-West USA during World War Two and served mostly as a training unit. They were also responsible for the air defense and flew anti submarine missions in the early 1942 months. The 2nd Air Force provided extra training to Air Force personnel as well as replacements to US Army Air Forces serving in various Theaters. These consisted of pilots, bombardiers, gunners and specialists. 

The insignia of the 2nd Air Force is a blue square with a yellow eagle. Above the eagle is the USAAF star.

Motto: Second to None; Train, Develop, Inspire! 

3rd Air Force

The Third Air Force was active in the South-East USA during World War Two and served mostly as a training unit. They were also responsible for the air defense and flew anti submarine missions in 1942. The 3rd Air Force provided extra training to Air Force personnel as well as replacements to US Army Air Forces serving in various Theaters. These consisted of pilots, bombardiers, gunners and specialists. 

The insignia of the 3rd Air Force is a yellow round patch with a blue center and a white 3 with the USAAF star.

Motto: Develop, Defend, Deliver

4th Air Force

The Fourth Air Force was active in the South-West USA during World War Two and served mostly as a training unit. They were also responsible for the air defense and flew anti submarine missions in 1942. The 4th Air Force provided extra training to Air Force personnel as well as replacements to US Army Air Forces serving in various Theaters. These consisted of pilots, bombardiers, gunners and specialists. 

The insignia of the 4th Air Force is a shield like blue shape with a yellow border. There are 4 yellow lines from the bottom going to the top were they meet the USAAF star with white wings.

5th Air Force

The Fifth Air Force was active in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. The headquarters of the 5th was in Australia. They were reinforced after the defeats in the Philippines and East Indies. After the defeats the 5th Air Force became the aerial spearhead for MacArthur's island hopping campaign. When the war ended, Fifth Air Force had a record of 3,445 aerial victories.

The insignia of the 5th Air Force is a blue round patch with a yellow 5 in the middle. Behind the 5 is a falling star in the shape of the USAAF star.

6th Air Force

The Sixth Air Force was active South of the USA during World War Two and served mostly as a defense unit. In 1941 is was known as the Caribbean Air Force, until renamed the 6th AF in 1942. They were also flew anti submarine missions and missions to cover Allied shipping convoys in the area. From late 1942 on they were responsible for the defense of the Panama Canal.

The insignia of the 6th Air Force is a blue hexagon shape with a USAAF star with yellow wings below and above a yellow ship.

7th Air Force

The Seventh Air Force was active in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. In February 1942, the Hawaiian Air Force was renamed 7th Air Force. The 7th Air Force was responsible for the defense of the Hawaii islands. The force became the hub of the Pacific aerial network, providing aerial support, supplies and depot functions. From mid-1944 to July 1945, they fought the Japanese at Iwo Jima and other islands doing fighter sweeps and bombing runs.

The insignia of the 7th Air Force is a blue round shape with a yellow border and in the middle a yellow 7 piercing the USAAF star.

8th Air Force

The Eight Air Force was active in the European Theater of Operations during World War Two. The Air Force was mostly engaging in operations in Northern Europe, carrying out strategic bombing runs and engaging in air-to-air fighter combat. It was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. The 8th Air Force is famously depicted in the series Masters of The Air.

The insignia of the 8th Air Force is a blue round patch with in the middle an 8 with yellow wings and inside the 8 is the USAAF star.

Nickname: The Mighty Eighth
Motto: Peace Through Strength

9th Air Force

The Ninth Air Force was active in the European Theater of Operations during World War Two. The 9th was activated on 8 April 1942 and fought in Egypt, Libya, France, the Low Countries and in Nazi Germany. Between May and June 1944 the 9th Air Force flew attack and bombing missions on the french coast in preparation of D-day. On D-Day, IX Troop Carrier Command (under the 9th AF) flew over 2000 missions conducting combat parachute jumps and glider landings. They also played a significant role in the deployment of troops during Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity.

The insignia of the 9th Air Force is a blue shield shape with at the bottom a red 9 inside a yellow soldier. Above are white wings with in between the USAAF star.

10th Air Force

The Tenth Air Force was active in the China, Birma, India Theater during World War Two. They served in CBI until March 1943 when the 14th Air Force was activated in China. From then the 10th operated in India and Burma until it moved to China late in Jul 1945, before returning to the US.

The insignia of the 10th Air Force is a round blue patch with at the bottom a shield shape with a 10. The 10 has yellow wings and at the top between the wings is the USAAF star.

11th Air Force

The Eleventh Air Force was active in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. They first fought during the Aleutian Campaign in 1942 at the coast of Alaska, getting the nickname Alaskan Air Force. Although they saw combat during the Aleutian Campaign, the 11th also supported the Lend-Lease transport of aircraft from Alaska to the Soviet Union. The Air force flew mostly support missions and transportation until the war ended.

The insignia of the 11th Air Force is a blue shield shape with the USAAF white star with a single yellow wing. Above is the number 11 in red and white numbering.

12th Air Force

The Twelfth Air Force was active in the Mediterranean theater during World War Two. Members of the 12th Air Force flew missions in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France. The missions included aerial support, air to air combat, bombing runs and reconaissance missions. In may 1945 when the war ended, the 12th Air Force was deactivated.

The insignia of the 12th Air Force is a blue triangle shape with in the middle a USAAF star with the number 12. Above are two yellow wings.

13th Air Force

The Thirteenth Air Force was active in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War Two. The 13th Air Force began operations in November 1942 during the Solomon Islands campaign. From 1942 to 1945, fought during the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign; Mariana and Palau Islands campaign and the Philippines campaign.

The insignia of the 13th Air Force is a round blue patch with a yellow border and at the bottom a USAAF star with yellow wings. Between the wings is the number 13.

Nickname: Jungle Air Force

14th Air Force

The Fourteenth Air Force was active in the China, Birma, India Theater during World War Two. Despite supply problems, the 14th Air Force grew from fewer than 200 aircraft to more than 700 planes by the end of the war. At the end of the war they had destroyed and damaged more than 4,000 Japanese aircraft as well as boats, ships, trains and other vehicles.

The insignia of the 14th Air Force is a blue round shape with in the middle a tiger with wings. At the top behind the tiger is the USAAF star.

Nickname: Flying Tigers

15th Air Force

The Fifteenth Air Force was active in the European Theater of Operations during World War Two. It was deployed to Italy in 1943 and from there it flew missions bombing Europe from bases in southern Italy and engaging in air-to-air fighter combat against enemy aircraft. Due to their base being in Italy, the 15th was able to reach targets in southern France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Balkans, some of which were difficult to reach from England.

The insignia of the 15th Air Force is a blue round shape with a yellow border. At the bottom is a USAAF star with yellow wings. Between the wings is the number 15.