United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
WWII Air Commandos
5th Air Force 10th Air Force
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020
1. WWII Air Commandos Marker
2nd Group China-Burma-India
Group HQ
Squadrons
1st-2nd Fighter 127th-155th-156th Liaison 317th Troop Carrier
327th-328th-340th-342nd Airdrome 236th Med. Disp. (Avn)
3rd Group Southwest Pacific Area
Group HQ
Squadrons
3rd-4th Fighter 157th-159th-160th Liaison 318th Troop Carrier
334th-335th-341st-343rd Airdrome 237th Med. Disp. (Avn)
Erected 1990.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.
Location. 39° 0.978′ N, 104° 51.321′ W. Memorial is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. It can be reached from Parade Loop. 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. Memorial is in this post office area: USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Colorado’s Front Range and in Pikes Peak Region. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comancherνa.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pearl Harbor Survivors Association (here, next to this marker); 357th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 474th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); P51 Mustang Pilots Association
this page online
More about this memorial. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.
Also see . . .
1. The Air Commando Tradition. Air Force Magazine, February 1, 1963 (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. 2nd Air Commando Group. Army Air Corps Library and Museum entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. 3rd Air Commando Group. Army Air Corps Library and Museum entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. Dick Barr and the Air Commandos. Georgia Southern University entry (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
5. Air Commando Association. ACA Online homepage (Submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020
2. WWII Air Commandos Marker on Memorial Wall
via AFSOC, 2019
3. Air Commandos gather for 75th anniversary of Operation Thursday
U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Conley, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, gives the closing remarks during a veteran discussion panel at Hurlburt Field, Florida, March 5, 2019. During the event, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. retired Richard Cole, U.S. Air Force retired Senior Master Sgt. William Cartwright and former U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Patt Meara spoke to Air Commandos about their roles during Operation Thursday. The breakfast was one of several events held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Thursday. Operation Thursday was an unorthodox operation in which the first Air Commandos worked alongside British Chindits to insert thousands of troops behind enemy lines during World War II.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin)
Air Force Special Operations Command website entry
Click for more information.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin)
Air Force Special Operations Command website entry
Click for more information.
via Air Force Historical Foundation, 1944
4. Operation THURSDAY
From 5 March through 11 March, 1944, allied aircraft and gliders airlifted British Army Brig. Gen. Orde C. Wingates Special Force (Chindits) with 9,000 personnel and 1,400 mules and horses from India at night to a location 200 miles behind enemy lines in Burma.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 30, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 17, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on January 29, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
