11th Air Force
Remembering Warriors of the Forgotten Front
— 1940 — 1945 —
The 11th Air Force became active in the North Pacific with the arrival of a B-10 aircraft at Elmendorf AFB in 1940. During World War II aerial combat extended from the American continent to Japan, a vast expanse of the worst flying weather in the world. In June 1942 U.S. bombers and fighters repelled a Japanese task force attack on Dutch Harbor. The enemy retreated to the western Aleutians, where they occupied Kiska and Attu Islands. This was the first occupation of American soil since the War of 1812. For the next 15 months squadrons of the 28th Composite Group bombed and strafed Kiska and Attu, culminating in reoccupation by American and Canadian troops of Attu in May and Kiska in August 1943. Strike missions against Japan, already being flown prior to the fall of Kiska, were intensified with flights of more than 2000 miles in adverse weather, against strong enemy fire, with heavy loss of life and aircraft.
6 Distinguished Unit Citations
The 28th Composite Group comprised of
7 Pursuit/Fighter Squadrons:
11th, 18th, 42nd, 54th, 56th, 57th, and 344th
flying P-36's, 38's, 39's, and 40's
6 Bomber Squadrons:
21st, 36th, 73rd, 77th, 404th and 406th
flying B-10's, 17's, 18's, 24's, 25's, 26's, and A-29's
2 Troop Carrier Squadrons:
42nd and 54th flying C-47's
and the 10th Emergency Rescue
this page online
Dedicated 5 Oct. 1990
50th Anniversary
Erected 1990 by the 11th Air Force Association.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.
Location. 39° 0.978′ N, 104° 51.3′ W. Marker is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. Marker is in the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, on Parade Loop west of Stadium Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 21st Bombardment Squadron (H) (here, next to this marker); 11th Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); 344th Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); 73rd Bomb Squadron (M) (here, next to this marker); 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron (here, next to this marker); 18th Pursuit and Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); 54th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 507th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in United States Air Force Academy.
More about this marker. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.
Also see . . .
1. 11th Air Force. Army Air Corps Library and Museum entry (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Guide to the Eleventh Air Force Reunion. World War II History Project records. University of Alaska Anchorage Archives and Special Collections at the Consortium Library (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Military in Alaska: WWII. Alaska State Library, Museum and Library Services (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area Alaska: Photo Galleries. National Park Service site (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 286 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on July 28, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on December 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on February 13, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
