13th Air Force USAAF Embroidered Patch

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The Thirteenth Air Force (USAAF) was constituted on 14 December 1942 and activated on 13 January 1943 in New Caledonia, becoming a key force in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Operating under the Far East Air Forces, it supported the Allied island-hopping campaign from the Solomon Islands to the Philippines. The Thirteenth Air Force utilised a diverse fleet of aircraft, including B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, P-38 Lightnings, P-39 Airacobras, P-40 Warhawks, P-61 Black Widows, and various transport and reconnaissance planes.

Its missions ranged from strategic bombing and close air support to air superiority and transport, targeting Japanese supply lines, airfields, and shipping in campaigns across New Guinea, the Solomons, and the Philippines. Nicknamed the "Jungle Air Force," it adapted to the challenging Pacific environment, contributing significantly to the neutralisation of Japanese forces and the success of Allied ground and naval operations. After the war, the Thirteenth Air Force remained in the Philippines as part of the Far East Air Forces, cementing its legacy in U.S. military aviation history.