Air War WW2 Portal 
9th Air Force Europe in May 1945
TUESDAY, 1 MAY 1945
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
During May, the 303d, 305th and 306th Troop Carrier Squadrons, 442d Troop Carrier Group, based at St-Andre-de-L'Eure, France with C-47, begins operating from Metz, France.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
9 A-26s bomb an ammunition plant at Stod, Czechoslovakia. The IX Tactical Air Command escorts the bombers, flies airfield cover, and patrols the Leipzig-Schwarzenberg, Germany area.
The XIX Tactical Air Command flies patrols and armed reconnaissance over E Germany, W Czechoslovakia, and Austria, dive-bombs Berchtesgaden, and operates with the US XII Corps which is advancing SE between the Danube River and the Czech border and N into Czechoslovakia N of Passau, Germany, and with the XX Corps whose advance elements speed toward the Inn River at Wasserburg, Germany;
- the 353d and 355th Fighter Squadrons, 354th Fighter Group, move from Ober Olm to Ansbach, Germany with P-47s.
WEDNESDAY, 2 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Weather cancels 9th Bombardment Division operations.
In Germany, fighters fly airfield cover, defensive-freelance patrols, a sweep over the Dessau area, and patrol the Straubing-Ingolstadt area and the US Third Army front in Austria and Czechoslovakia;
unit moves:
HQ 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Niergnies Airfield, Cambrai, France to Venlo, the Netherlands;
- 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group) from Erlangen to Regensburg with L-5s;
- 72d Liaison Squadron, Ninth AF (attached to Sixth Army Group), from Gmund to Augsburg;
- 377th and 378th Fighter Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, and 425th Night Fighter Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command, from Frankfurt to Furth with P-47s and P-61s respectively.
THURSDAY, 3 MAY 1945
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
P-47 unit moves in Germany:
- 314th, 315th and 316th Fighter Squadrons, 324th Fighter Group, from Luneville, France to Stuttgart;
- 406th Fighter Squadron, 371st Fighter Group, from Eschborn Airfield, Frankfurt to Furth.
Ninth Air Force:
132 A-26s (on the final 9th Bombardment Division raid) bomb the Stod, Czechoslovakia ammunition plant.
The IX Tactical Air Command escorts the A-26s and C-47s and flies airfield cover;
the XIX Tactical Air Command patrols the US Third Army front, flies armed reconnaissance over Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia in the frontline areas and around Kiel and Lubeck, Germany, and escorts the A-26s;
the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) escorts C-47s, flies sweeps, and hits shipping in the Kiel-Lubeck area.
Unit moves:
- HQ 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (Medium) from Havrincourt, France to Venlo, the Netherlands;
- HQ 362d Fighter Group from Furth to Illesheim, Germany.
FRIDAY, 4 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
No bomber operations.
In Germany, the IX Tactical Air Command flies patrols and armed reconnaissance, the XIX Tactical Air Command flies patrols and armed reconnaissance and operates in concert with the XII Corps assault on Linz, Austria, and with the XX Corps which crosses the Inn River and pushes E and SE;
the XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) sweeps the Dessau and Wittenberg areas and attacks shipping in the Kiel and Flensburg areas;
German forces in the Netherlands, NW Germany and Denmark surrender.
Unit moves:
- 377th, 378th and 379th Fighter Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, from Furth to Illesheim, Germany with P-47s;
- 556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 387th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Clastres, France to Beek, the Netherlands with B-26s.
SATURDAY, 5 MAY 1945
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
HQ 371st Fighter Group and 404th and 405th Fighter Squadrons move from Eschborn to Furth, Germany with P-47s.
Ninth Air Force:
No Ninth AF operations except tactical and photo reconnaissance in forward areas.
- The 584th and 585th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Niergniew Airfield, Cambrai, France to Venlo, the Netherlands with B-26s.
SUNDAY, 6 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
No operations by the 9th Bombardment Division and the IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands.
The XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) flies a demonstration mission in the Klotze, Germany area.
MONDAY, 7 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The XIX Tactical Air Command flies sweeps over E Germany and W Czechoslovakia and carries out demonstration flights over prisoner of war (POW) camps.
- The 586th and 587th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 394th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Niergnies Airfield, Cambrai, France to Venlo, the Netherlands with B-26s.
TUESDAY, 8 MAY 1945 (V-E Day)
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional):
- HQ 324th Fighter Group moves form Luneville, France to Stuttgart, Germany.
Ninth Air Force:
The IX and XIX Tactical Air Commands patrol the Leipzig, Chemnitz, and Adorf, Germany and Linz, Austria areas, and fly sweeps and demonstration missions.
Unit moves in Germany:
- HQ 405th Fighter Group and 509th Fighter Squadron from Kitzingen to Straubing with P-47s;
- 455th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 323d Bombardment Group (Medium), from Prouvy Airfield, Leon, France to Gablingen with B-26s.
WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 1945
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
During late May, the following C-47 units begin a movement to Waller Field, Trinidad, British West Indies:
- HQ 315th Troop Carrier Group and 34th, 43d, 309th and 310th Troop Carrier Squadrons from Amiens, France;
- HQ 316th Troop Carrier Squadron and 36th, 37th, 44th and 45th Troop Carrier Squadrons from Cottesmore, England.
- During May, HQ 438th Troop Carrier Group and 84th, 88th, 89th and 90th Troop Carrier Squadrons move form Prosnes to Glisy Airfield, Amiens, France with C-47s.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The XIX Tactical Air Command patrols the Linz, Austria-Klatovy, Czechoslovakia areas and carries out further demonstration flights.
THURSDAY, 10 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The 9th Bombardment Division is redesignated the 9th Air Division. There are no operations for the Tactical Air Commands and the 9th Air Division.
SATURDAY, 12 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
The XIX Tactical Air Command flies demonstration missions.
- HQ 362d Fighter Group moves from Illesheim to Straubing, Germany.
SUNDAY, 13 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
P-47 unit moves in Germany:
- HQ 368th Fighter Group and 395th and 396th Fighter Squadrons from Frankfurt-am-Main to Buchschwabach;
- 511th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, from Kitzingen to Straubing.
MONDAY, 14 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 510th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, moves from Kitzingen to Straubing, Germany with P-47s.
TUESDAY, 15 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Unit moves in Germany:
- HQ 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) and 453d, 454th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons from Prouvy Airfield, Denain, France to Gablingen with B-26s;
- HQ 354th Fighter Group and 353d and 355th Fighter Squadrons from Ansbach to Herzogenaurach with P-51s;
- 377th, 378th and 379th Fighter Squadrons, 362d Fighter Group, from Illesheim to Straubing with P-47s.
WEDNESDAY, 16 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 397th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group, moves from Frankfurt-am-Main to Buchschwabach, Germany with P-47s.
THURSDAY, 17 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves from Brunswick to Eschwege, Germany with F-5s.
FRIDAY, 18 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, moves from Ansbach to Herzogenaurach, Germany with P-51s.
SATURDAY, 19 MAY 1945
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
- HQ 61st Troop Carrier Group and 14th and 15th Troop Carrier Squadrons begin a movement from Abbeville, France to Waller Field, Trinidad, British West Indies with C-47s.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, moves Brunswick to Wiesbaden, Germany with F-6s.
SUNDAY, 20 MAY 1945
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
- The 301st Troop Carrier Squadron, 442d Troop Carrier Group, moves from Dreux to St-Andre-de L'Eure, France with C-47s.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Unit moves in Germany:
- HQ 373d Fighter Group and 411th and 412th Fighter Squadrons from Lippstadt to Illesheim with P-47s;
- 153th Liaison Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group), from Weimar to Brunswick with L-5s;
- HQ 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group and 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, from Brunswick to Wiesbaden with F-6s;
- 456th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 323d Bombardment Group (Medium), from Gablingen to Kempten, Germany with B-26s.
MONDAY, 21 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Unit moves:
- HQ 71st Fighter Wing from Heidelberg, Germany to Nancy, France;
- HQ 50th Fighter Group and 10th, 81st and 313th Fighter Squadrons from Giebelstadt to Mannheim, Germany with P-47s;
- 410th Fighter Squadron, 373d Fighter Group, from Lippstadt to Illesheim, Germany with P-47s;
- 417th Night Fighter Squadron, XII Tactical Air Command, from Giebelstadt to Biblis, Germany with Beaufighters.
TUESDAY, 22 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- HQ 410th Bombardment Group (Light) and 644th, 645th, 646th and 647th Bombardment Squadrons (Light) move from Juvincourt to Beaumont-sur-Oise, France with A-20s and A-26s.
WEDNESDAY, 23 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Major General Otto P Weyland assumes command of the Ninth AF and Brigadier General Homer L Sanders becomes Commanding General XIX Tactical Air Command.
The XIX Tactical Air Command flies a navigational patrol to Gmunden, Liezen, Radstadt, and Innsbruck, Austria.
Unit moves in Germany:
- 14th Liaison Squadron, XIX Tactical Air Command (attached to Twelfth Army Group), from Regensburg to Holzkirchen with L-5s;
- 455th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 323d Bombardment Group (Medium), from Gablingen to Leipheim with B-26s.
THURSDAY, 24 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Brigadier General Richard C Sanders becomes Commanding General 9th Air Division.
Unit moves:
- HQ IX Air Defense Command from Paris, France to Neustadt, Germany;
- HQ 97th Combat Bombardment Wing (Light) from Arrancy to Sandricourt, France;
- HQ 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Beek, the Netherlands to Rosieres-en-Santerre, France;
- HQ 397th Bombardment Group (Medium) from Venlo, the Netherlands to Peronne, France.
FRIDAY, 25 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- HQ 416th Bombardment Group (Light) and 668th, 669th, 670th and 671st Bombardment Squadrons (Light) move from Athies Airfield, Laon to Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France with A-26s.
SATURDAY, 26 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 422d Night Fighter Squadron, IX Tactical Air Command, moves from Langensalza to Rothwesten Airfield, Kassel, Germany with P-61s.
SUNDAY, 27 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- HQ 391st Bombardment Group (Medium) and 573d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) move from Assche, Belgium to Vitry-en-Artois, France with B-26s.
MONDAY, 28 MAY 1945
AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):
- The 302d Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group, moves from Dreux to Poix, France with C-47s.
WEDNESDAY, 30 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
Unit moves:
- HQ 70th Fighter Wing from Bruhl to Bad Wildungen, Germany; - 556th, 557th, 558th and 559th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 387th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Beek, the Netherlands to Rosieres-en-Santerre, France with B-26s;
- 596th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 397th Bombardment Group (Medium), from Venlo, the Netherlands to Peronne, France with B-26s.
THURSDAY, 31 MAY 1945
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force):
- The 597th, 598th and 599th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium), 397th Bombardment Group (Medium), move from Venlo, the Netherlands to Peronne, France with B-26s.
Source:
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59
used sources by McKillop:
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
