XII Tactical Air Command


The XII Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe at Bad Kissingen, Germany, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1947.

History

The 12th Ground Air Support Command was activated on 17 September 1942 at Birmingham Army Air Field, Alabama, where it drew its initial cadre from the 3d Ground Air Support Command. Within a week, it had moved to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, to prepare for the invasion of North Africa and changed its name to XII Air Support Command.
The command participated in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. However, it confined itself to administering air affairs in French Morocco until January 1943. On 6 January 1943, it was attached to the Satin Task Force, primarily composed of elements of the II Corps and after 13 January was fully engaged with support of II Corps in its attack through central Tunisia. This campaign proved to be a test for United States air support doctrine and tactics. No pilots or planes trained for night reconnaissance were available, and photographic reconnaissance with Douglas A-20 Havocs was only available late in the campaign. Tying the command to a single corps also kept it from supporting other organizations participating in the campaign, such as the French XIX Corps, even when resources were available.
The XII Tactical Air Command then shifted its focus from North Africa to the Mediterranean, where it provided fighter and bomber support for the invasion of Italy and later combat along the southern coast of France. In August 1944, the command relocated from Italy to France to continue aerial support for advancing ground forces.
Its composition evolved over time, with various fighter and bomber wings being assigned or detached as operational needs dictated. The 64th Fighter Wing had the longest continuous service with XII Tactical Air Command, from March 1943 to June 1947. By 1944, the Command was controlling five former Twelfth and Ninth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt groups through its 64th Fighter Wing.
For the final seven months of World War II in Europe, from November 1944 to May 1945, XII Tactical Air Command was assigned to the First Tactical Air Force. This newly formed air command was rapidly assembled in southeastern France to provide air support and coordination for the Franco-American Sixth [United States Army Group|Sixth Army Group], which consisted of the U.S. Seventh Army and the French First Army.
After the Allied victory it remained in Europe as part of the occupation force.
Colonel Demas T. Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco: when the Allies landed on 8 November 1942, Col Craw volunteered to negotiate an armistice; while trying to pass through the lines near Port Lyautey, he was killed by machine-gun fire.

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