The Ninth Air Force Service Command in the European Theatre of Operations: A Pictorial Review

The Ninth Air Force Service Command in the European Theatre of Operations: A Pictorial Review

William A. Savin, Captain, Air Corps, Public Relations Officer, IX Air Force Service Command, 7 May 1945

Army Air Forces Aid Society, 1945

The American soldier, in spite of his avowed desire to forget all about the Army after he has finished his war job, is the greatest souvenir collector in the world. Particularly is he fond of gathering photographs of his activities, his friends, and his wartime experiences. Censorship regulations prohibit him from taking many of the pictures he would like to. This, then, is one of the main reasons for publishing this book—to give the IX Air Force Service Command soldier a record of what his Command and he himself have done toward the defeat of Germany.

I hope that after the war, in the safety of our homes, when we are enjoying what we fervently wish to be a permanent peace, soldiers of our Command will be able to look through this book with a feeling of pride in their accomplishments. They have done a great job. Their families will be interested in seeing photographs of some of the spots in England and France we knew so well, in addition to reading about and looking at pictures of some of the troubles we encountered.

Obviously, it has been impossible to picture and write about every unit in the Command, but I hope we have given you a good overall picture of our organization.

My sincere thanks to all those Public Relations Officers of the Command who provided material for this publication, and to Major Edward P. Shaw of Chicago, Illinois and Sgt. Richard S. Cotterman of Parkersburg, West Virginia, who gave me much helpful and needed assistance in the early preparation of this book.

To the publishers of Air News and Air Tech (Phillip Andrews Publishing Company) goes the credit for the layout, artwork and publication. Their whole-hearted cooperation at all times made the compilation of this

book an interesting assignment.

100 pages

400 photos

Contents

• Why This Book?
• What is the IX AFSC?
• Brief Review of the Command
• Scenic England
• Aircraft Assembly
• Maintenance & Repair
• Transport Group
• 1st Intransit Depot Group
• Tactical Air Power— Mobility
• 461st Signal Heavy Construction Bn.
• Movement to France
• Scenic France
• Here and There
• Awards