Army Air Forces Statistical Digest,
World War II
Table 1 -- Combat Groups Overseas by Location and in Continental US by State of Training, By Type of Group: Dec 1941 to Aug 1945
(Figures are as of end of month.)
| Location and Type of Group |
1943 | |||||||||
| Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Total | 194 1/2 | 204 5/6 | 216 7/12 | 234 1/2 | 238 11/12 | 247 7/12 | 255 1/2 | 262 1/3 | 265 | 269 1/4 |
| Very Heavy Bomb |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Heavy Bomb | 58 1/2 | 59 1/4 | 67 1/2 | 78 1/2 | 76 1/2 | 80 1/2 | 86 1/2 | 91 7/12 | 95 | 95 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
31 | 32 1/2 | 31 3/4 | 34 1/2 | 34 1/2 | 35 1/2 | 35 1/2 | 34 1/4 | 34 | 35 |
| Fighter | 66 1/4 | 68 5/6 | 71 5/6 | 75 | 79 1/4 | 83 1/12 | 84 | 88 | 87 3/4 | 86 1/4 |
| Troop Carrier | 19 1/2 | 19 1/2 | 19 1/2 | 22 1/2 | 22 1/2 | 23 1/2 | 24 1/2 | 25 1/2 | 26 1/2 | 27 |
| Reconnaissance | 18 1/4 | 23 3/4 | 25 | 23 | 23 1/6 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 16 3/4 | 17 |
| Overseas Total | 78 | 86 3/4 | 93 1/12 | 103 7/12 | 109 | 113 5/12 | 113 2/3 | 119 | 123 1/12 | 135 2/3 |
| Heavy Bomb | 21 3/4 | 28 1/2 | 29 3/4 | 33 3/4 | 34 3/4 | 35 3/4 | 35 1/4 | 36 7/12 | 83 1/2 | 43 1/2 |
| Medium & Light Bomb | 15 1/4 | 15 1/4 | 16 3/4 | 18 3/4 | 19 3/4 | 19 3/4 | 19 1/4 | 20 1/4 | 21 | 21 |
| Fighter | 30 1/4 | 31 1/4 | 31 7/12 | 34 1/4 | 37 1/2 | 39 3/4 | 41 | 43 | 43 | 49 |
| Troop Carrier | 6 1/2 | 6 1/2 | 9 1/2 | 11 | 11 | 12 1/2 | 12 1/2 | 13 1/2 | 14 1/4 | 15 1/4 |
| Reconnaissance | 4 1/4 | 5 1/4 | 5 1/2 | 5 5/6 | 6 | 5 2/3 | 5 2/3 | 5 2/3 | 6 1/2 | 6 11/12 |
| Versus Germany - Total | 44 1/4 | 50 1/4 | 56 5/6 | 65 1/6 | 68 1/3 | 70 1/2 | 72 1/2 | 76 | 79 1/4 | 89 3/4 |
| Heavy Bomb | 21 3/4 | 28 1/2 | 29 3/4 | 33 3/4 | 34 3/4 | 35 3/4 | 35 1/4 | 36 7/12 | 38 1/2 | 43 1/2 |
| Medium & Light Bomb | 15 1/4 | 15 1/4 | 16 3/4 | 18 3/4 | 19 3/4 | 19 3/4 | 19 1/4 | 20 1/4 | 21 | 21 |
| Fighter | 30 1/4 | 31 1/4 | 31 7/12 | 34 1/4 | 37 1/2 | 39 3/4 | 41 | 43 | 43 | 49 |
| Troop Carrier | 6 1/2 | 6 1/2 | 9 1/2 | 11 | 11 | 12 1/2 | 12 1/2 | 13 1/2 | 14 1/2 | 15 1/4 |
| Reconnaissance | 4 1/4 | 5 1/4 | 5 1/2 | 5 5/6 | 6 | 5 2/3 | 5 2/3 | 5 2/3 | 6 1/12 | 6 11/12 |
| Versus Japan - Total |
25 3/4 | 27 1/2 | 28 3/4 | 31 5/12 | 33 2/3 | 35 11/12 | 34 1/6 | 37 | 38 5/6 | 40 11/12 |
| Heavy Bomb | 7 3/4 | 8 3/4 | 8 3/4 | 8 3/4 | 8 3/4 | 8 3/4 | 8 1/4 | 9 1/4 | 9 | 9 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
5 1/4 | 5 1/4 | 6 3/4 | 6 3/4 | 6 3/4 | 6 3/4 | 6 1/4 | 7 1/4 | 8 | 8 |
| Fighter | 10 1/4 | 10 1/4 | 10 1/4 | 11 1/4 | 13 1/2 | 14 3/4 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
| Troop Carrier | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 1/2 | 3 1/2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 1/2 | 5 3/4 |
| Reconnaissance | 1/2 | 1 1/4 | 1 | 1 1/6 | 1 1/6 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 1/2 | 2 1/3 | 3 1/6 |
| Latin America & Atlantic Bases -
Total |
8 | 9 | 7 1/2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Heavy Bomb | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fighter | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Reconnaissance | 1 | 1 | 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Continental US - Total | 116 1/2 | 118 1/2 | 123 1/2 | 130 11/12 | 129 11/12 | 134 1/6 | 141 5/6 | 143 1/3 | 141 11/12 | 133 7/12 |
| Very Heavy Bomb |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Heavy Bomb | 36 3/4 | 30 3/4 | 37 3/4 | 44 3/4 | 41 3/4 | 44 3/4 | 51 1/4 | 55 | 56 1/2 | 51 1/2 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
15 3/4 | 17 1/4 | 15 | 15 3/4 | 14 3/4 | 15 3/4 | 16 1/4 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| Fighter | 36 | 37 7/12 | 40 1/4 | 40 3/4 | 41 3/4 | 43 1/3 | 43 | 45 | 44 3/4 | 37 1/4 |
| Troop Carrier | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 1/2 | 11 1/2 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 3/4 |
| Reconnaissance | 14 | 18 1/2 | 19 1/2 | 17 1/6 | 17 1/6 | 14 1/3 | 14 1/3 | 12 1/3 | 10 2/3 | 10 1/12 |
| Operational Training - Total b | 44 | 47 1/3 | 42 3/4 | 38 2/3 | 47 2/3 | 47 1/3 | 58 1/6 | 62 5/6 | 66 3/4 | 58 5/6 |
| Very Heavy Bomb |
- | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Heavy Bomb | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 3/4 | 17 | 21 1/2 | 22 1/2 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 3/4 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Fighter | 8 | 14 1/3 | 12 | 10 1/2 | 17 1/2 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 22 3/4 | 14 3/4 |
| Troop Carrier | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 1/2 | 5 1/2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 1/2 | 7 1/4 |
| Reconnaissance | 12 | 10 | 11 3/4 | 9 2/3 | 9 2/3 | 10 1/3 | 10 2/3 | 6 5/6 | 4 | 2 1/3 |
| Manning Phase - Total | 28 | 25 1/2 | 33 | 39 | 27 | 34 1/3 | 32 | 28 | 20 1/2 | 18 1/2 |
| Very Heavy Bomb |
1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Heavy Bomb | 9 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 6 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| Fighter | 10 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 11 1/3 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Troop Carrier | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 1/2 | 1 1/2 |
| Reconnaissance | - | 3 1/2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Strategic Reserve - Total c | 44 1/2 | 45 1/4 | 47 3/4 | 53 1/4 | 55 1/4 | 52 1/2 | 51 2/3 | 52 1/2 | 54 2/3 | 56 1/4 |
| Very Heavy Bomb |
- | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Heavy Bomb | 14 3/4 | 13 3/4 | 13 3/4 | 18 3/4 | 22 3/4 | 21 3/4 | 22 1/2 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
| Medium & Light Bomb |
18 | 16 1/4 | 17 1/4 | 17 1/4 | 15 1/4 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 1/2 |
| Fighter | 18 | 16 1/4 | 17 1/4 | 17 1/4 | 15 1/4 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 1/2 |
| Troop Carrier | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Reconnaissance | 2 | 5 | 5 3/4 | 6 1/2 | 6 1/2 | 4 | 3 2/3 | 5 1/2 | 6 2/3 | 7 3/4 |
| NOTES: | ||||||||||
| a - Includes groups enroute to Continental US. | ||||||||||
| b - Includes groups returned to Continental US for redeployment training and those enroute to overseas theaters. | ||||||||||
| c - Includes groups in Continental Defense, replacement training units, and parent operational training units. | ||||||||||
