5th Interceptor Command

The 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) was a temporary command organization of the United States Army Air Forces. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). 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.

History

Established in November 1941 to provide RADAR defense 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 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, 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 (USAFFE), 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

Station

• Nielson Field, Luzon, Philippines
• Bataan, Luzon, Philippines 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

Components

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

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

USAAF Fifth Air Force in World War II Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) Airfields Pacific USAAF in Australia USAAF in the Southwest Pacific USAAF in Okinawa Units Commands V Bomber V Fighter 5th Interceptor (Provisional) Wings 54th Troop Carrier 85th Fighter 86th Fighter 91st Reconnaissance 308th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment Groups Air Commando 3d Air Commando Bombardment 3d Bombardment 7th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 27th Bombardment 38th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 90th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 380th Bombardment 417th Bombardment Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 24th Pursuit 35th Fighter 49th Fighter 58th Fighter 348th Fighter 475th Fighter Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 374th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier Squadrons Bombardment 31st Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter 421st Night Fighter 547th Intelligence Reconnaissance 2d Observation 8th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 21st Troop Carrier 22d Troop Carrier 65th Troop Carrier 66th Troop Carrier United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth