16th USAAF

[Zemke Fan]

Gents... here's a trivia quiz for ya'll.

In late 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a secret Executive Order creating the 16th U.S. Army Air Force. Please answer the following questions:

1. Where was the 16th AAF headquartered?
2. What was their principal assignment?
3. Who was their first CO?

An original 16th AAF patch to the person who can correctly answer all of these questions. (NB: I have to FIND such a patch before I can send it... But I WILL keep looking!)

ZF

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Here's my best try:

1. Where was the 16th AAF headquartered?

Dalhart AAFld, TX---1 Apr 1944
Fairmont AAFld, N---15 Aug 1944-7 Mar 1945
Northwest Field, Guam---14 Apr 1945-15 Apr 1946​

2. What was their principal assignment?

Constituted as 16th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on 28 Mar 1944. Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Trained for combat with B-29's. Moved to Guam, Mar-Apr 1945, and assigned to Twentieth AF. Entered combat on 16 Jun 1945 with a bombing raid against an airfield on Moen. Flew first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 Jun 1945 and afterwards operated principally against the enemy's petroleum industry. Flying unescorted in the face of severe enemy attack, the 16th bombed the oil refinery at Shimotsu, the Mitsubishi refinery and oil installations at Kawasaki, and the coal liquefaction plants at Ube, Jul-Aug 1945, and was awarded a DUC for the missions. After the war the group dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners of war in Japan, Manchuria, and Korea, and participated in several show-of-force missions over Japan. Inactivated on Guam on 15 Apr 1946.​

3. Who was their first CO?

Capt William W Hosler Jr---24 Jun 1944
Maj Richard W Lavin---1 Jul 1944
Col Samuel C Gurney Jr---11 Jul 1944
Lt Col Andre F Castellotti---11 Jul 1945-1946​

Zemke Fan, How did I do with my first try at this?

 

[Zemke Fan]

Afraid you "bombed" WJ

You've listed the basic stats for the 16th Bombardment Group... Looking for info on the 16th AAF!

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Talk to this outfit:

http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/wwwroot/rso/rso_index.html

 

[Zemke Fan]

Sorry, Absinthe, but I am CERTAIN they can't be helpful...

Can't diviluge the reason or I would lose my "top secret" FL clearance!

 

[Absinthe_1900]

I know where I could pull the info in person, but I'm not doing a research trip until later this year.

Unit history is not really my thing, I specialize in one obscure segment of aviation history.

 

[jake431]

Just a guess

Was the 16th AF to operate from the Japanese home island, Kyushu (I think) after the first of the invasions of the home islands secured it? If my fanciful theory is right, then I imagine it would have functioned much like the 8th and 15th did, with strategic bombing and fighter groups. First commander - Either Arnold or Doolittle.

Like I said, TOTALLY just a guess. Can't find reference of it in my (many) books, or on the web, so, guess it will have to be, and I want this thread to continue so I figured I should post something.

-Jake

 

[Zemke Fan]

Jakey...

Warmer... warmer... no colder... colder... hmm...

 

[boomerchop]

Hmmmmm

Late war, secret, what was going on? Possibly an AAF to prepare for war with Russia? Or defend against Russia? But the 8th could have done that.

First fully "atomic" Air Force?

Too early to have been the AAF to "take over the Navy" which the AF considered obsolete.

Nothing on google. Good question, I'll be interested to see the answer.

 

[boomerchop]

Come on people, someone else jump in here and figure it out. Or at least try so we can get Zemke Fan to spill the beans.

 

[Zemke Fan]

On business so can't spend TOO much time on this...

Let me give you an additional clue or two:

1. A duke figures prominently in the story (but I'm not sure WHICH little principality he hailed from).

2. There was -- of course -- also a dame involved. A real femme fatale from what I've been led to believe.

That's it for now, boys and girls...

 

[locobuster]

I've always thought the 16th AF was a creation of Hollywood for the 1957 movie Jet Pilot with John Wayne and Janet Leigh...

 

[boomerchop]

The mystery deepens....

 

[Zemke Fan]

FINALLY!

I've always thought the 16th AF was a creation of Hollywood for the 1957 movie Jet Pilot with John Wayne and Janet Leigh...

Indeed it was... Locobuster wins the 16th AAF patch! Of course, I lost this one on eBay to some lunatic who was willing to pay $100.00! But, I thought it was a fun little exercise! (See post #1 for revised rules!)

 

[locobuster]

woo hoo! I won...well, kinda' sorta, LOL!:cheers1:

 

[PADDY]

Well done Loco..!!

:beer: Great morale booster there Zemke! a real sticky/tricky challenge, but worth it in the end. Nice one!!