The V Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Irumagawa AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946. During World War IIthe unit initially controlled Fifth Air Force bomber units in the Philippines. It was largely destroyed in the Battle of the Philippines, and withdrew to Australia at the end of December 1941, although elements of some units remained in the Philippines until April 1942. Re-equipped, the command provided command and control authority of Army Air Force bombardment organizations within the Fifth Air Force Area of Responsibility. Afterward, served with the occupation force in Japan before being inactivated in 1946.
History
Lineage
Constituted as V Bomber Command on 28 October 1941
3d Bombardment Group: 5 September 1942 – 31 May 1946
6th Reconnaissance Group: 10 October 1943 – 1 March 1944
7th Bombardment Group: 22 December 1941 – March 1942
8th Fighter Group: September–November 1942
19th Bombardment Group*: 16 November 1941 – September 1942
22d Bombardment Group*: 5 September 1942 – November 1945
27th Bombardment Group: c. 20 November 1941 – 4 May 1942
35th Fighter Group*: 10 November 1945 – 25 May 1946
38th Bombardment Group*: 18 January – 1 August 1942
43d Bombardment Group: 5 September 1942 – 3 December 1945
49th Fighter Group: 10 November 1945 – 1 June 1946
71st Reconnaissance Group*: November 1943-1 March 1944
90th Bombardment Group*: November 1942-23 November 1945
312th Bombardment Group*: 16 January 1944 – 18 October 1945.
345th Bombardment Group*: 5 June 1943 – 10 December 1945
380th Bombardment Group*: May 1943-20 February 1946
417th Bombardment Group*: 28 January 1944 – 1 November 1945.
Note; Does not include periods detached to combat wings
Operational history
Participated in the defense of the Philippines in December 1941. Late in December the remaining bombers and some men were evacuated to Australia, and in January 1942 they were moved to Java to help delay the Japanese advance in the Netherlands Indies. The command ceased to function in March 1942. Headquarters was remanned in September 1942 and shortly afterward it assumed control of AAF bombardment groups in Australia and New Guinea. The command served in combat with Fifth Air Force until the end of the war. Brigadier General Kenneth N. Walker, who was killed during a mission over Rabaul on 5 January 1943, was awarded the Medal of Honor; he had repeatedly taken part in combat missions and had developed an effective technique for bombing when opposed by enemy interceptors and antiaircraft fire. After the war the command became part of the occupation force for Japan. Inactivated on 31 May 1946. Disbanded on 8 October 1948.
