VI Bomber Command

The VI Bomber Command was a military formation of the United States Army Air Forces. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force. It was based throughout its service at Albrook Field, in the Panama Canal Zone. It was inactivated on 1 November 1946.

VI Bomber Command
VI Bomber Command B-18 Bolo on Trinidad in 1942
Active	1941–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States
Role	Command of bombardment units
Motto(s)	Alae Supra Canalem Latin Wings Over the Canal[1]
Engagements	Antisubmarine Campaign (American Theater)[1]
Insignia
VI Bomber Command emblem[note 1][1]

It engaged in antisubmarine operations from the Canal Zone. It was credited with two submarines sunk and shared two others.^[2]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 6th Bomber Command on 17 October 1941^{[note 2]}

Activated on 25 October 1941^[3]

• Res\designated VI Bomber Command c. 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 1 November 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Assignments

• Caribbean Air Force (later 6th Air Force, Sixth Air Force), 25 October 1941 – 1 November 1946^[1]

Components

Groups

• 6th Bombardment Group, 25 October 1941 – 1 November 1943^[4]
• 9th Bombardment Group, 25 October 1941 – 31 October 1942 (attached to VI Fighter Command after 28 January 1942)^[5]
• 25th Bombardment Group, 25 October 1941 – 6 April 1944^[6]
• 40th Bombardment Group, 25 October 1941 – 6 April 1942 (attached to 6th Interceptor Command after 15 January 1942); 22 June 1942 – 9 July 1943^[7]

Squadrons

• 3d Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 1 November 1946^[8]
• 10th Bombardment Squadron, attached 13 December 1943, assigned 17 December 1943 - c. 9 May 44^[9]
• 29th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 1 November 1946^[10]
• 59th Bombardment Squadron, 25 October 1941 – 19 March 1943 (attached to Trinidad Detachment, VI Fighter Command after 21 July 1942)^[11]
• 74th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 1 November 1946^[12]
• 397th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 1 November 1946^[13]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 18 March 1942.
2. Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "VI" Bomber 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.

Citations

1. Maurer, pp. 444-445
2. Conaway, William. "Confirmed Sinkings of German U-Boats by VI Bomber Command Bombardment Aircraft". VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45.
3. Conaway, William. "VI Bombardment Command History". VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45.
4. Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2012). "Factsheet 6 Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
5. Musser, James M. (6 August 2019). "Factsheet 9 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
6. Haulman, Daniel L. (26 March 2018). "Factsheet 25 Attack Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
7. Haulman, Daniel L. "Lineage and Honors History of the 40 Air Expeditionary Wing (PACAF)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
8. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 19
9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 54-55
10. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 145
11. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 232-233
12. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 270-271
13. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 486-487

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.
• Conaway, William. "VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45". Planes and Pilots Of World War Two.