XXVI Fighter Command

{{Short description|Former formation of the United States Army Air Forces}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=XXVI Fighter Command

|image=28th Fighter Squadron Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra 44-3866.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|caption = Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra, serial 44-3866 of the 28th Fighter Squadron, XXVI Fighter Command

|dates= 1942–1946

|country ={{USA}}

|branch={{army|USA}} (1942-1947)
{{air force|USA}} (1947-48)

|type =

|role =Command of fighter units

|size =

|command_structure= Sixth Air Force

|current_commander=

|garrison=

|motto=

|colors=

|march=

|mascot=

|battles =

|notable_commanders=

|anniversaries=

}}

The XXVI Fighter Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It was assigned to Sixth Air Force throughout its existence. It was based at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1946. It engaged in antisubmarine operations from the Canal Zone.

In 1947, when the United States Air Force (USAF) became independent, the Army transferred all Army Air Forces, Air Service and Air Corps units (there were a number of Air Corps units that had never been in the Army Air Forces, and a few Air Service units) to the USAF. A year later, the newly forming USAF permanently disbanded the command.

Lineage

Constituted as 26th Interceptor Command on 28 February 1942Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "XXVI" Interceptor 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. {{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433913/types-of-usaf-organizations/ |title=Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations|date=9 January 2008|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=19 September 2016}}

: Activated on 6 March 1942

: Redesignated: 26th Fighter Command on 15 May 1942

: Redesignated: XXVI Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942

: Inactivated on 25 August 1946

: Disbanded on 8 October 1948Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 454-455

=Components=

; Groups

16th Pursuit Group (later 16th Fighter Group), 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433949/16-special-operations-wing/ |last1=|first1=|title=Factsheet 16 Special Operations Wing|date=January 4, 2008|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=December 29, 2021}}
32d Fighter Group, 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432382/32-air-expeditionary-group-usafe/ |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 32 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)|date=April 28, 2011|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=December 30, 2021}}
37th Fighter Group,Maurer, pp. 454-455 (year only). 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943
53d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group), 6 March – 26 November 1942{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/431941/52-operations-group-usafe/ |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)|date=May 7, 2013|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=January 1, 2022}}

; Squadrons

24th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 127
28th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 143
29th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 146
30th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 149
31st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 153
32d Fighter Squadron, 13 March 1944 - 25 Aug 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 157-158
43d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 196-197
51st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 217-21
52d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944Maurer indicates the 52d Squadron was assigned to the 32d Fighter Group during this period. However, the group was disbanded on 1 November 1943. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 219. Compare Maurer, Combat Units, p. (assignment to 32d Group terminated in 1943).

=Stations=

Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, 6 March 1942 – 25 August 1946

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

=Bibliography=

{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210115181723/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 15 January 2021|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
{{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946