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NINTH AIRFORCE

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES

Formed initially as the headquarters unit for the United States Army Airforce units in the Middle East, the Ninth enjoyed a second and distinct existence as the American Tactical Air Force for the invasion and liberation of North West Europe in 1944/45. Although a cadre of the old Ninth Airforce moved to the United Kingdom in 1943, in effect the Ninth Airforce in England was an entirely new organisation.

The Ninth Air Force was charged with the support of ground forces. It took on this role in order that United States Eighth Air Force could concentrate on its strategic bombing role. The Eighth Tactical Command formed the nucleus of the Ninth Air Force, but eventually over 100 units were reassigned to the Ninth together with all their installations, including 30 airfields. Ninth Air Force operations included fighter and fighter bomber operations, light and medium bombing missions, reconnaissance and troop transporting. TheNinth rarely enjoyed much permanence in its organisation and structure as it moved through Europe in 1944 and 1945. It remained in a permanent state of managed flux for much of its European existence.

Principal aircraft types of the Ninth were the B26 Marauder and A20 Havoc twin engined bombers; P38 Lightnings, P47 Thunderbolts and P51 Mustang fighter bombers. Photo reconnaissance versons of the P38 and P51 also flew with the Ninth. Transport aircraft included C47 Skytrains and C46 Commandos as well as a multitude of utility types and communications aircraft such as the L4 Grasshopper and the UC78 Bobcat.

Twelve of the Ninth's airfields in central Southern England were temporary airfields - advanced landing grounds. Four of them were in the valley of the Hampshire Avon or in other parts of South West Hampshire. One of them was Station 414, Winkton Advanced Landing Ground