XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional)

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XXIX Tactical Air Command
36fg-p47-uk-1944.jpg
Republic P-47Ds of the 22d Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group
Active1944-1945
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Branch United States Army Air Forces
RoleCommand of ground support units
Part of Ninth Air Force
Engagements European Theater of Operations [1] 35
Decorations Belgian Fourragère [1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Richard E. Nugent [2]

The XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional) was a provisional United States Army Air Forces unit, primarily formed from units of IX Fighter Command. Its last assignment was with Ninth Air Force at Weimar, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945. The command was formed as a counterpart to IX Tactical Air Command and XIX Tactical Air Command to support the United States Ninth Army throughout its easterly advance from its formation on 15 September 1944, until VE-Day. Following the end of the war, the unit was converted from a provisional unit to a regular unit.

Contents

History

The unit was formed in France in the fall of 1944 as XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional), drawing its cadre from the 84th and 303d Fighter Wings. [3] The two wings served as task force headquarters for the command, with groups and squadrons attached to them as needed. [4] [5] The command's commanding general throughout its existence was Brigadier General Richard E. Nugent [2]

The primary mission of the command was to provide tactical close air support of the United States Ninth Army ground forces to interdict concentration of enemy forces, attack communications and ammunition dumps, and harass the enemy's retreat as well as providing reconnaissance to bombing support. It initially attacked enemy forces in occupied France and the Low Countries Targets included bridges, roads, railroads and enemy interceptor aircraft both on the ground as well as in air-to-air combat. The command provided tactical air support in the final reduction of the German forces holding out in the French port of Brest. After the surrender of the town fifteen days later, Ninth Army was sent east to take its place in the line. It came into the line in between Third and First Army.

In November, Ninth Army undertook offensive attacks in the Roer River sector to the left flank of 12th Army Group. On December 16 the enemy opened the last great offensive of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. During the fierce combat, the XXIX attacked enemy targets in the Northern Rhineland during the Rhineland Campaign and supported Operation Grenade, which was the southern prong of a pincer attack coordinated with Canadian First Army's Operation Veritable. These operations had the objective of closing the front up to the Rhine River. By 10 March, the Rhine had been reached in all sectors of Ninth Army's front, and after 20 March that Ninth Army units first crossed the Rhine itself.

XXIX Tactical Air Command attacked ground targets in the Ruhr, providing air support as Allied ground forces encircled enemy forces in the Ruhr pocket, essentially ending organized enemy resistance in Western Germany. Ninth Army halted its advance at the Elbe River in late April 1945, the Command engaging targets of opportunity in enemy-controlled areas until combat was ended in May 1945. The command was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for the periods 1 October 1944 – 17 December 1944 and 18 December 1944 – 15 January 1945, for which it was awarded the Belgian Fourragère. [1]

The unit remained in Europe after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe, performing occupation duty and the destruction or shipment to the United States of captured enemy combat equipment. It was demobilized in Germany and the organization was inactivated on 20 November 1945.

Lineage

Redesignated XXIX Tactical Air Command and converted to regular status on 8 June 1945
Inactivated 25 October 1945
Disbanded on 8 October 1948

Assignments

Components

Wings
Groups
Squadrons
Other

Stations

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References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 155
  2. 1 2 "United States Air Force biographies: Lieutenant General Richard E. Nugent". United States Air Force. August 31, 1951. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Abstract, History 84 Fighter Wing Mar-Sep 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 407-408
  5. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 416
  6. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (January 2, 2013). "Factsheet United States Air Forces Central Command (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 4, 2018. (assignment)
  7. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (July 5, 2017). "Factsheet 36 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  8. ↑ Musser, James (October 20, 2019). "Factsheet 55 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  9. ↑ Musser, James M. (March 30, 2021). "Factsheet 355 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (July 10, 2017). "Factsheet 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ Dollman, David (October 18, 2016). "Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  12. ↑ Hauman, Daniel L. (November 21, 2014). "Factsheet 405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  13. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (July 31, 2009). "Factsheet 6 Combat Training Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ Dollman, TSG Davis (August 31, 2012). "Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 161-162
  16. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 184-185
  17. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 350
  18. ↑ Lacomia, John M. (April 29, 2018). "Factsheet 521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  19. ↑ Kane, Robert B. (August 26, 2009). "Factsheet 9 Intelligence Squadron (AFISRA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ Station number in Johnson.
  21. ↑ Stations through April 1945 based on stations of 84th and 303d Fighter Wing headquarters and 6th Tactical Air Communications Squadron. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 407-408, p. 416; Robertson, Factsheet: 6th Tactical Air Communications Squadron.
  22. ↑ Based on station of 6th Tactical Air Communications Squadron. Robertson, Factsheet: 6th Tactical Air Communications Squadron.

Bibliography

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