Pacific Counterblow - Air Force Historical Studies Office

to clear the way. The 67th had retired from Guadalcanal for a welldeserved
rest, but pilots of the 44th, 68th, 7oth, and 3 39th Fighter
Squadrons took up the burden.
Most significant among these encouraging events was the activation
of the Thirteenth Air Force, occurring, appropriately enough, on
13 January 1943. Although operational control remained with
COMSOPAC, AAF units henceforth were trained and administered
by a theater air force, under General Twining. It was this air force,
evolved from such pioneer units as the xith Group and the 67th
Fighter Squadron, that was destined to move up through the Solomons
until it rested on the Admiralties beyond Rabaul, then to swing
along the north coast of New Guinea, through successive forward
strides, anticipating the day when its mission reports would come
in headed-Tokyo.
50
56 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945