UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES
DISTINGUISHING FLAGS & GUIDONS  •  FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE  •  WORLD WAR II
In June 1944 the Fifteenth Air Force was headquartered at Bari in southern Italy. Its commander was Major General Nathan F. Twining, and it was subordinated to Headquarters, US Strategic Air Force in Europe. The Fifteenth participated in the strategic air offensive against Germany, with the secondary mission of providing air support to the Allied armies fighting in Italy. The Fifteenth Air Force was organized with the XV Fighter Command (P-38, P-47 and P-51 fighters), the XV Service Command, and five bomber wings: the 5th, 47th, 49th, 55th and 304th (B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers).The bomber wings reported directly to Headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force. The 5th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) (F-4, F-5, B-25 and B-17), the 154th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (P-38), and the 2641st Special Group (Provisional) (B-17 and B-24) also reported directly to Headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force. All units down to the group level had a headquarters squadron (HHS). Because of the highly technical nature of air operations there were many specialized service and support units difficult to categorize. Such units probably had the guidon specified for "other aviation detachments," with the Air Corps branch insignia but no other markings. Units belonging to the US Army Air Corps had flags and guidons based on the colors ultramarine blue and golden orange, the Air Corps branch colors. These were used also for flags of United States Army Air Forces units, i.e. wings and above. Those units, mostly service and support, that did not belong to the Air Corps had flags and guidons of the designs authorized for their parent branches. In principle all USAAC groups were entitled to silk organizational colors but how many of these were actually issued during the enormous wartime expansion of the air forces is a doubtful question. According to Army regulations provisional units were not entitled to flags or guidons, though perhaps in some cases the unmarked Air Corps guidon was used, as depicted here for the 2641st Special Group (Provisional). This group was equipped with modified B-17s and B-24s for Carpetbagger missions (agent dropping and supply drops to partisans) in support of the Office of Strategic Services. USAAF distinguishing flags were made of wool bunting, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly. They were always carried or displayed with a National Standard, Service, made of wool bunting, 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly plus 2 1/2-inch yellow silk fringe. Guidons were made of wool bunting, 20 inches at the hoist by 27 3/4 inches on the fly with a 10-inch fork. For the USAAC, the field was ultramarine blue; numerals, letters and insignia were golden orange. Units assigned to the USAAF that belonged to other Army branches had guidons of the pattern authorized for their branch. Credits: The drawings on this page are based on the specifications given in Army Regulation 260-10 dated 25 October 1944, a copy of which was kindly provided by FOTW Mailing List member Joseph McMillan. Order of battle information was culled from Dr. Leo Niehorster’s outstanding and essential website, World War II Armed Forces: Orders of Battle and Organizations.
NATIONAL STANDARD, SERVICE & DISTINGUISHING FLAGS
FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE
XV FIGHTER COMMAND	XV SERVICE COMMAND
5th BOMBER WING (HEAVY)	47th BOMBER WING (HEAVY)
49th BOMBER WING (HEAVY)	55th BOMBER WING (HEAVY)
304th BOMBER WING (HEAVY)
HEADQUARTERS ELEMENT GUIDONS
5th PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP (RECONNAISSANCE)	154th WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON (MEDIUM) (P-38)
2641st SPECIAL GROUP (PROVISIONAL)

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