XXVI Fighter Command

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.

XXVI Fighter Command
Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra, serial 44-3866 of the 28th Fighter Squadron, XXVI Fighter Command
Active	1942–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army (1942-1947)  United States Air Force (1947-48)
Role	Command of fighter units
Part of	Sixth Air Force

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 1942^{[note 1]}

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 1948^[1]

Components

Groups

• 16th Pursuit Group (later 16th Fighter Group), 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943^[2]
• 32d Fighter Group, 6 March 1942 – 1 November 1943^[3]
• 37th Fighter Group,^[4] 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943
• 53d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group), 6 March – 26 November 1942^[5]

Squadrons

• 24th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[6]
• 28th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[7]
• 29th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^[8]
• 30th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[9]
• 31st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^[10]
• 32d Fighter Squadron, 13 March 1944 - 25 Aug 1946^[11]
• 43d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[12]
• 51st Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 25 August 1946^[13]
• 52d Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1943 – 8 April 1944^{[note 2]}

Stations

• Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, 6 March 1942 – 25 August 1946^[1]