XXVI Fighter Command

XXVI Fighter Command
Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra, serial 44-3866 of the 28th Fighter Squadron, XXVI Fighter Command
Active	1942–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army (1942-1947)  United States Air Force (1947-48)
Role	Command of fighter units
Part of	Sixth Air Force

The XXVI Fighter Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It was assigned to Sixth Air Force throughout its existence. It was based at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1946. It engaged in antisubmarine operations from the Canal Zone.

In 1947, when the United States Air Force (USAF) became independent, the Army transferred all Army Air Forces, Air Service and Air Corps units (there were a number of Air Corps units that had never been in the Army Air Forces, and a few Air Service units) to the USAF. A year later, the newly forming USAF permanently disbanded the command.

Lineage

• Constituted as 26th Interceptor Command on 28 February 1942^{[note 1]}

Activated on 6 March 1942

Redesignated: 26th Fighter Command on 15 May 1942

Redesignated: XXVI Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 25 August 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Components

Groups

• 16th Pursuit Group (later 16th Fighter Group), 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943^[2]
• 32d Fighter Group, 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943^[3]
• 37th Fighter Group,^[4] 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943
• 53d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group), 6 March – 26 November 1942^[5]

Squadrons

• 24th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[6]
• 28th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[7]
• 29th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^[8]
• 30th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[9]
• 31st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^[10]
• 32d Fighter Squadron, 13 March 1944 - 25 Aug 1946^[11]
• 43d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[12]
• 51st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[13]
• 52d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^{[note 2]}

Stations

• Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, 6 March 1942 – 25 August 1946^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "XXVI" Interceptor Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
2. Maurer indicates the 52d Squadron was assigned to the 32d Fighter Group during this period. However, the group was disbanded on 1 November 1943. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 219. Compare Maurer, Combat Units, p. (assignment to 32d Group terminated in 1943).

Citations

1. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 454-455
2. "Factsheet 16 Special Operations Wing". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
3. Robertson, Patsy (28 April 2011). "Factsheet 32 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
4. Maurer, pp. 454-455 (year only).
5. Robertson, Patsy (7 May 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
6. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 127
7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 143
8. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 146
9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 149
10. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 153
11. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 157-158
12. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 196-197
13. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 217-21

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.