Velitelství letectva na Guadalcanalu [1942-?]

On Guadalcanal were all the aviation units of the marine corps, navy and air force subordinate to air force on Guadalcanal (Commander, Aircraft, Guadalcanal or abbreviated ComAirGuadal), which was commonly referred to also as ComAirCactus or completely unofficially as the Airline grouping of Cactus (Cactus Air Force), which was based on the cover designation of the Cactus for the island. The original designation for the command element on the island was the Senior highest maritime air commander on Guadalcanal (a Senior Naval Aviator, Guadalcanal), which was the highest ranking commander of the air force the marine corps, specifically the commander of the Air group marine corps 23 (MAG-23), whose executive officer of the group lieutenant-colonel Charles L. Fike landed on henderson's airport 20. August 1942. Group on Guadalcanal was subordinated to the Headquarters of the ground force Jihopacifického clusters (Land-Based Aircraft, South Pacific Force), which was known also as Task force 63 (Task Force 63, TF 63). 30. August 1942 arrived the commander of MAG-23 lieutenant colonel William J. Wallace, who for a short time took over command of the group, as they already have 3. September he landed on the island the commander of the 1. wings of the marine corps brigadier general Roy S. Gieger, who only that day, officially established the Headquarters of the air force on Guadalcanal (ComAirGuadal), while staff functions headquarters provided the members of the staff of MAG-23.

At the end of October 1942 was replaced by MAG-23 new arrivals Air group marine corps 14 (MAG-14). With the arrival of more and more squadrons, it was necessary to command to compartmentalize. To 16. October 1942 it was as a subordinate command established the Air search and attack command (the Air Search and Attack Command) and to 28. December 1942 Fighter command (Fighter Command). Air search and attack command in April 1943 renamed the Search and attack command (Search and Strike Command) and in July 1943, at the Strike headquarters (Strike Command). Meanwhile, it was in April 1943 established yet Bomber command (Bomber Command). The function of the commander of Bomber command at Headquarters air force on Guadalcanal performed the commander of the XIII. bomber command 13. the air army.

When he arrived rear admiral Charles Mason and occurred 15. February 1943 to the establishment of the Headquarters of the air force in the Solomon islands (Commander, Aircraft, Solomons, ComAirSols), became the Headquarters of the air force on Guadalcanal, its subordinate element (together with five other similar hqs), whose main task was no longer to control combat operations. ComAirGuadal since it performed the function of the command element over the american and new zealand units, which operated from five airfields on Guadalcanal and the island of Florida and also from other auxiliary and emergency areas in favor of ComAirSols.


Source:
Rottman, Gordon L.: In.With. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945, Greenwood Press, 2002.