The 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) was a temporary command organization of the United States Army Air Forces

United States Army Air Forces

The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....

. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan

Battle of Bataan

The Battle of Bataan represented the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines during World War II. The capture of the Philippine Islands was crucial to Japan's effort to control the Southwest Pacific, seize the resource-rich Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast...

 and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March

Bataan Death March

The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...

, although some did escape to Australia.

History

Established in November 1941 to provide RADAR defense of Luzon

Luzon

Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...

, Philippine Islands. After Japanese invasion on 24 December 1941, mission changed to provide ground defense of island, with ground and air echelon personnel of unequipped Fifth Air Force

Fifth Air Force

The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....

 units on Luzon attached to fight as ground infantry units during the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42) after their aircraft were destroyed or evacuated to locations away from Luzon.

Most members of the unit surrendered on 9 April 1942 after the Battle of Bataan. Some survivors escaped to Corregidor Island in Manila Bay

Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...

, Philippine Islands and surrendered on 6 May 1942, ending all US organized resistance to the Japanese in the Philippines. Some survivors possibly fought afterwards on Luzon as unorganized resistance (May 1942 – January 1945).

Lineage

• Established as 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) 7 November 1941 (date approximate)

Inactivated 9 April 1942 (date approximate)

Assignments

• Far East Air Force, 7 November 1941

Resesignated: 5 Air Force on 5 February 1942 – 6 April 1942

Attached to: U.S. Army Forces Far East

U.S. Army Forces Far East

USAFFE included the Philippine Department, Philippine Army , and the Far East Air Force. USAFFE Headquarters was created on July 26, 1941, at No.1, Calle Victoria, Manila, Luzon, the Philippines, with Major General MacArthur as commander. The Chief of Staff was Lieutenant General Richard K...

 (USAFFE), 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

Station

• Nielson Field
  Nielson Field
  Nielson Field was the location of the Far East Air Force headquarters. Most of the aircraft of the FEAF were based at either Clark Field or Nichols Field.- Laurie Reuben Nielson :...
  
  , Luzon
  Luzon
  Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
  
  , Philippines
• Bataan
  Bataan
  Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
  
  , Luzon
  Luzon
  Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
  
  , Philippines 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

Components

• Air and Ground echelons of the following:

24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor)

24th Pursuit Group

The 24th Pursuit Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines . The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was...

*

14th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)

14th Bombardment Squadron

The 14th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The 14th Bomb Squadron fought in the Battle of the Philippines , much of its aircraft being destroyed in combat against the Japanese...

*

2d Observation Squadron (Medium)*

3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)

3d Flying Training Squadron

The 3d Fighter Training Squadron is part of the 71st Operations Group under the 71st Flying Training Wing. It operates the T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.-Mission:...

*

17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*

20th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)

20th Fighter Squadron

The 20th Fighter Squadron was most recently part of the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operated the F-4 Phantom II aircraft conducting air superiority missions...

*

21st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*

34th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*

• Ground Echelons

V Bomber Command

19th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

27th Bombardment Group (Light)

16th Bombardment Squadron (Light)

17th Bombardment Squadron (Light)

523d Fighter Squadron

The 523d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 27th Operations Group stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico....

28th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)

28th Bomb Squadron

The 28th Bomb Squadron is part of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It operates B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability...

30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force , based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft...

91st Bombardment Squadron (Light)

524th Fighter Squadron

The 524th Special Operations Squadron is a Special Operations squadron of the United States Air Force, based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, with the 27th Special Operations Wing.It is nicknamed the “Hounds of Heaven”.-History:...

93d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)

93d Bomb Squadron

The 93d Bomb Squadron is part of the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operates B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing strategic bombing capability. It is one of two reserve bomber units in the United States Air Force.-History:Established as the 93d Aero Squadron in the...

Notes: All units in attached status. *Unit not manned or equipped, carried as active unit (non-operational) 9 April 1942 – 2 April 1946.

External links