The XII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Bad Kissingen, Germany. It was inactivated on 10 November 1947.
Formed in United States in early 1942. Moved to North Africa, October–November 1942.
The command served in combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters until May 1945. Afterward, remained in Europe as part of the occupation force.
Constituted as XII Ground Air Support Command on 10 September 1942Activated on 17 September 1942Redesignated
XII Air Support Command in September 1942Redesignated
XII Tactical Air Command in April 1944Inactivated in Germany on 10 November 1947Disbanded on 8 October 1948.
Third Air Force, 17 September 1942First Air Force (Attached), 25 September 1942
Twelfth Air Force, 9 November 1942Mediterranean Air Command/Northwest African Air Forces/Northwest African Tactical Air Force February 18 - December 10, 1943Mediterranean Allied Air Forces/Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force/12th Air Force 1944-45United States Air Forces in Europe, July 1945-10 November 1947Forces and Wings
5th Bombardment Wing: 13 October 1942 – 1 November 19437th Fighter Wing: 1942 (Never activated)42d Bombardment Wing: 21 May-26 July 194557th Bombardment Wing: 31 August 1943 – 1 January 194463d Fighter Wing: 14 June–December 194564th Fighter (formerly 3d Air Defense) Division: 9 March 1943 – 5 June 194770th Fighter Wing: 2 December 1945 – 25 September 194771st Fighter Wing: 25 September–November 194587th Fighter Wing: 11 January-22 September 194436th Fighter GroupFürstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany, August 1948 – 17 November 1952
60th Troop Carrier GroupKaufbeuren Air Base, Germany, 1 July 1948RAF Fassberg, Germany, 20 January 1949 – 1 October 1949
Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany, 1 October 1949 – 2 June 195161st Troop Carrier Group
86th Fighter GroupNeubiberg Air Base, Germany (Later: West Germany), 1 July 1948 – 21 August 1952
XII TAC operated bomb ranges at Trendelsberg; Fresland Islands; Lechfeld and Nordholz
Operations
Col Demas T Craw was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco: when the Allies landed on 8 November 1942, Col Craw volunteered to negotiate an armistice; while trying to pass through the lines near Port Lyautey, he was killed by machine-gun fire.
