A Commemorative History of the USAAF Ninth Air Force
A book of illustrations that depict life for the men of the Ninth Air Force
This book tells the history of the Ninth Air Force through illustrations of the various goings-on by men in the Ninth Air Force. From Bomber and Fighter Groups to Intelligence Units, the illustrations tell the story of the men who fought in the Ninth Air Force from conception to V-J Day.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of Engineers from the Ninth Air Force Laying Out Hessian Strips For Runways
A special group within the Ninth Air Force was responsible for building new and temporary airfields for fighters, medium bombers, and light bombers closer to the front lines
After D-Day, and in preparation for the breakout into France, engineers from the Ninth Air Force needed to set up temporary runways for the fighters, light bombers, and medium bombers to be able to support the First Army. Hessian strips were a lightweight and effective alternative compared to the steel planks that were being used in the other theaters of war, and less dusty than their mesh counterparts that were used during the first few weeks of the Invasion at Normandy. <br />This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of Engineers from the Ninth Air Force Laying Out Mesh for Runways
A special group within the Ninth Air Force was responsible for building new and temporary airfields for fighters, medium bombers, and light bombers closer to the front lines
After D-Day, engineers from the Ninth Air Force were tasked with setting up temporary runways in France for the fighters, light bombers, and medium bombers to be able to support the First Army. Steel planks, which were used elsewhere in the war, were too heavy and cumbersome to be used. Instead, engineers would use a heavy truck called a "wobbly" to flatten and firm the ground. Then they would lay down mesh and secure it. It took less than a week to build, but it was very dusty to fly on. Mesh was replaced by Hessian strip a few weeks after D-Day. <br />This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of a Briefing of P-47 pilots in the Ninth Air Force
Before missions, pilots would enter the briefing tent to find out the who, what, where, why, and when of their missions
This illustration is of a P-47 squadron from the Ninth Air Force in Belgium during the siege of Aachen in October of 1944. This scene was common among all Air Force groups, though how many of them had this groups' sense of humor is unknown. The briefing board reads "Pilot Poop", a witty play on words for the bombs they would be dropping on the enemy.<br />This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of Isigny in Normandy After Bombing by the Ninth Air Force
Bombing was a common theme for almost all groups in the Ninth Air Force; scenes like this were what ground troops would have to walk through when they were done
As the fighters and bombers of the Ninth Air Force did their jobs, ground troops would have to clean up after them. Cleaning out rubble with bulldozers and shovels was common when Allied Forces moved into the cities that had been occupied by Germans only hours before. It was not common, however, for the airmen in the aircraft to see the destruction they had wrought, except in instances of attacking airfields that they would later take over.<br />This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of Bombs to be Loaded on P-47s for an Air Interdiction Mission
Preparing planes for missions always included ordnance, but sometimes would require extra fuel tanks to be loaded up
Grounds crews were responsible for getting extra fuel tanks loaded on the planes if the missions called for it, and they gave the aircraft a once over before the pilot came out to do the same. Ordnance men would have to prep bombs before loading them on the planes, giving them the opportunity to send a little message of their own to the enemy.
<p>This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.</p>
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Ninth Air Force Commanders with Allied Officers
Colonel Laughlin poses with other U.S. commanders from the Ninth Air Force as well as officers with the Allied Forces
According to the caption on the back, the bottom row, from left to right, is Lt. Col. Paul P. Douglas, Col. Russ Berg, Col. Joseph Laughlin, Col. Edwin S. Chickering, and an unknown commander. On the top, General Otto Weyland is top left and Brigadier General Richard Sanders is #3 or #4 from the left. The rest are unknown.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
Maps Indicating Extent of the Normandy Invasion
The 362nd Fighter Group flew hundreds of missions leading up to, taking part in, and breaking out after the Invasion of Normandy
This map shows where and how D-Day was carried out by Allied forces. It also shows the front line position right before General Patton broke through the line with his Third Army. Major successes on the ground were due in large part to their air counterparts who flew air interdiction and close-air support missions before, during, and after the Invasion at Normandy.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
General Otto Weyland and Colonel Joseph Laughlin Stand in Front of a Luftwaffe Plane
Colonel Laughlin, as Commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, reported directly to the Commander of the XIX Tactical Air Command (TAC), General Otto Weyland, under the auspices of the Ninth Air Force
Colonel Laughlin and General Weyland stand in front of a surrendered German Luftwaffe airplane, a Focke-Wulf (FW) 190 at the Frankfort Rhein Main Air Base in Germany. The plane had been flown in by the German Luftwaffe Commander to be surrendered to the 362nd Fighter Group in response to their overwhelming destruction of German planes on the ground and in the air in the month of April. General Weyland made the trip to share in the successes of his XIX TAC, 362nd Fighter Group.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
April 1945
A Destroyed German Train and Tracks
Trains and bridges were common ground targets for P-47s
Railroad lines were a common target of air interdiction missions flown by the 362nd Fighter Group. Trains, their military cargo, and bridges were common targets of opportunity. The train and railway bridge were destroyed by fighter-bombers in the Ninth Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force