During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces fought the Empire of Japan in the Central Pacific Area. As defined by the War Department, this consisted of most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands East Indies, the Territory of New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago) the Solomon Islands and areas to the south and east of the Solomons.

The initial USAAF combat organization in the region was Seventh Air Force, which was originally formed in Hawaii as the Army Air defense command for the islands. After the Pearl Harbor Attack on 7 December 1941, Seventh Air Force retained the mission of its predecessor of the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and until the closing months of the war it maintained its headquarters at Hickam Field. The command however, deployed most of its combat units to the Central Pacific.

As the war progressed, some Seventh Air Force units moved into the South West Pacific theatre and coordinated their activities with Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force units in New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies and Philippines during 1944 and 1945.

In 1944, Twentieth Air Force was reassigned from the China Burma India Theater to bases in the Marianas chain of islands, consisting primarily of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The Marianas airfields were considered as being ideal bases from which to launch B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan. The islands were about 1500 miles from Tokyo, a range which the B-29s could just about manage. Most important of all, they could be put on a direct supply line from western United States ports by ship.

In September 1945, just after the Surrender of Japan, a few advance elements of Eighth Air Force arrived on Tinian and Guam. Eighth Air Force was transferred from England to be a second strategic air force in the Pacific War, with a mission to carry out B-29 attacks on the Japanese Home Islands during the planned Invasion of Japan beginning in November 1945. These advance units were reassigned to other stations in December 1945.

Seventh Air Force operations focused on supporting Army and Naval forces in the tactical campaigns against Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, while Twentieth Air Force performed strategic bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands.

Airfields and unit assignments

BAKER ISLAND

Baker Island Airfield, Baker Island

45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 1 September-27 November 1943

CAROLINE ISLANDS

Angaur Airfield, Angaur, Palau Islands, Caroline Islands

Seventh Air Force 22d Bombardment Group, Heavy, 26 November 1944 – 20 January 1945 2d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 28 November 1944 – 19 January 1945 19th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 2 December 1944 – 26 January 1945 33d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 26 November 1944 – 20 January 1945 408th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 1 December 1944 – 13 January 1945 494th Bombardment Group, Heavy, 30 September 1944 – 23 June 1945 864th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 30 September 1944 – 23 June 1945 865th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 30 September 1944 – 23 June 1945 866th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 30 September 1944 – 23 June 1945 867th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 30 September 1944 – 23 June 1945

Peleliu Airfield, Peleliu, Palau Islands, Caroline Islands

Seventh Air Force 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Detachment, VII Fighter Command, 5 October 1944 – April 1945

GILBERT ISLANDS

Abemama Airfield, Abamama Atoll, Gilbert Islands

Seventh Air Force 30th Bombardment Group, Heavy 4 January–19 March 1944 27th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, operated from Abemama 26 February-14 March 1944 392d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 10 January-16 March 1944 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, Seventh Air Force, 27 March–3 August 1944 47th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 22 December 1943 – 20 April 1944 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 22 December 1943 – 23 April 1944

Bonriki Airfield (Mullinix Field). Bonriki Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands

Seventh Air Force Headquarters, VII Bomber Command, January–March 1944 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 28 January–4 April 1944 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 25 January-13 April 1944 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 20 January-2 April 1944 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 16 January-30 March 1944 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 17 December 1943 – 23 April 1944 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28 January-19 April 1944 820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 24 December 1943 – 26 April 1944

Makin Airfield, Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands

Seventh Air Force 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 24 April-13 October 1944 47th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 21 April-4 November 1944 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 24 April-13 October 1944 (operated from Saipan 23 July-21 August 1944) 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 24 December 1943 – 19 April 1944 820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 27 April-13 October 1944 38th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 30th Bombardment Group, Heavy,(operated from Makin Atoll 26 February-22 March 1944) 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron, Seventh Air Force, 18 December 1943 – 17 February 1944 531st Fighter Squadron, Seventh Air Force, 18 February–March 1944

Hawkins Field (Tarawa), Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands

Seventh Air Force Headquarters, VII Bomber Command, January 1944 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 14–27 January 1944

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

HAWAII ISLAND Seventh Air Force General Lyman Field, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands

45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 20 October-19 December 1942 46th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 16 December 1942 – 19 March 1943 72d Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 25 July-21 October 1943 86th Observation Squadron, 7th Air Force, June-17 August 1942 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 6 April-27 July 1943

KAUAI ISLAND Seventh Air Force Barking Sands Field, Kauai, Hawaiian Islands

494th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 15 June-29 September 1944 864th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 15 June-29 September 1944 865th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 15 June-29 September 1944 866th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 15 June-29 September 1944 867th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 15 June-29 September 1944 47th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 29 July-7 November 1942 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 23 April-30 July 1943 392d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 20 October-9 November 1943 819th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 22 October-11 November 1943

MOLOKAI ISLAND Seventh Air Force Homestead Field, Molokai, Hawaiian Islands

OAHU ISLAND Bellows Field, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

318th Fighter Group, 9 February 1943-Jun 1944 19th Fighter Squadron, 18 April-19 June 1944 44th Fighter Squadron, 15–23 October 1942 19th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 18th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), 20 February-14 May 1942 19th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group 15–21 May 1942 and 20 October 1942 – 8 February 1943 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8 April-10 May 1943 44th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 18th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), 7 November-11 December 1941 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, 23 June-14 October 1942 45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 14–31 August 1943 and 19 June 1944 – 5 February 1945 47th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter), 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter), 22 February-24 March 1942 47th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 8 June 1944 – 27 January 1945 58th Bombardment Squadron, (Light), Hawaiian Air Force, 18 March-29 April 1941 and 11–18 December 1941 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 11 December 1941 – 18 September 1942 73d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 22 May-16 June 1942 and 8 November 1943 – 22 June 1944 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 8 June 1944 – 24 January 1945 86th Observation Squadron, Hawaiian Air Force, 15 March 1941 – 2 February 1942 86th Observation Squadron, 7th Air Force, 3 February–June 1942 333d Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, 23 August-10 September 1942 333d Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 28 July 1943 – 5 July 1944 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 30 May-23 July 1942 and 28 September-17 November 1942 531st Fighter Squadron, Seventh Air Force, March-20 April 1944

Fort Kamehameha, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

Seventh Air Force Headquarters, VII Fighter Command, 18 January–March 1945

Fort Shafter, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

Headquarters Hawaiian Air Force, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, 1 November 1940 – 4 February 1942 Headquarters 7th Air Force, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, 5 February-17 September 1942 Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, 18 September 1942 – 15 August 1943; U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area, c. 16 Aug 1943 – 31 July 1944; and Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, 1 Aug 1944 – 18 December 1944 Headquarters, VII Interceptor Command, 2 February-14 May 1942 Headquarters, VII Fighter Command, 15 May 1942 – 19 October 1944 Headquarters, 7th Fighter Wing, 21 April 1944 – 17 November 1946

Haleiwa Field, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

45th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter), 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter), 21–26 December 1941 47th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter), 15th Pursuit Group Fighter). 25 March-15 May 1942 47th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 15 May 1942 – 29 July 1943 72d Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 23 April-7 June 1943 78th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, 31 July 1943 – 5 January 1944

Hickam Field, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands

Seventh Air Force Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, 1 August 1944 – 31 January 1945 Headquarters, Hawaiian Air Force, 1 November 1940 – 2 February 1942 Headquarters, 7th Air Force, 3 February-17 September 1942 Headquarters, Seventh Air Force, 18 September 1942 – 12 December 1944 Headquarters, VII Bomber Command, 29 January 1942-November 1943 Headquarters, VII Fighter Command, 20 October 1944 – 17 January 1945 Headquarters, 18th Wing, 30 October 1937 – 18 October 1940 Headquarters, 18th Bombardment Wing, 19 October 1940 – 29 January 1942 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1 January 1939 – 30 November 1942 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 1 January 1939 – 21 April 1942 23d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1 January 1939 – 23 March 1942 31st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 8 February 1938 – 22 May 1942 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 4 January 1939 – 10 December 1941 394th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22 April-29 May 1942 and 24 July-27 September 1942 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1 February 1940 – 21 July 1942 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1 February 1940 – 19 December 1941 42d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 1 February 1940 – 4 June 1942 50th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy), 9 October 1939 – 21 April 1942 98th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 16 December 1941 – 10 August 1942 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22 April-23 July 1942 and 8 April-10 November 1943 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 20 October-11 November 1943 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), 16 October-16 December 1943 47th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 26 October-21 December 1943 48th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 20 October-21 December 1943 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 20 October-23 December 1943 820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 20 October-23 December 1943 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1 November 1942-February 1943 318th Fighter Group, 15 October 1942 – 8 February 1943 19th Transport Squadron, Hawaiian Air Force, 1 January 1941 – 2 February 1942 19th Transport Squadron, 7th Air Force, 3 February-28 May 1942