Constituted as Fifteenth AF on 30 Oct 1943. Activated in the Mediterranean theater on 1 Nov 1943. Began operations on 2 Nov and engaged primarily in strategic bombardment of targets in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans until the end of the war. Inactivated in Italy on 15 Sep 1945. Activated in the US on 31 Mar 1946. Assigned to Strategic Air Command.
Wings
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5th Bombardment: 1943-1945.
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42d Bombardment: 1943.
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47th Bombardment: 1944-1945.
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49th Bombardment: 1944-1945.
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55th Bombardment: 1944-1945.
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304th Bombardment: 1943-1945.
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305th Bombardment: 1943-1945.
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306th Fighter: 1944-1945.
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307th Bombardment: 1944.
Stations
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Tunis, Tunisia, 1 Nov 1943
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Bari, Italy, 1 Dec 1943-15 Sep 1945
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Colorado Springs, Colo, 31 Mar 1946
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March AFB, Calif, 7 Nov 1949-.
Commanders
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Maj Gen James H Doolittle, 1 Nov 1943
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Maj Gen Nathan F Twining, 3 Jan 1944
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Brig Gen James A Mollison, 26 May 1945
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Brig Gen William L Lee, 3 Aug 1945
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Col Elmer J Rogers Jr, 31 Aug-15 Sep 1945
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Maj Gen Charles F Born, 31 Mar 1946
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Brig Gen Leon W Johnson, 24 Apr 1947
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Maj Gen Emmett O’Donnell Jr, 6 Oct 1948
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Maj Gen Walter C Sweeney Jr, 20 Apr 1953
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Maj Gen Archie J Old Jr, c. 20 Aug 1955
Campaigns
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Air Combat, EAME Theater
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Air Offensive, Europe
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Naples-Foggia
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Anzio
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Rome-Arno
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Normandy
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Northern France
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Southern France
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North Apennines
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Rhineland
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Central Europe
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Po Valley.
Decorations. None
Insigne. On a blue disc a white star charged with a red disc in the center and with golden orange stylized wings below a golden orange Arabic numeral "15", all within a golden orange annulet. (Approved 19 Feb 1944.)
