Fifth Air Force Patch
Description
In WWII, Fifth Air Force was a U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) combat air force in the Pacific Theater. Today Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) headquartered at Yokota AFB, Japan.
The WWII-era patch is embroidered in yellow, white, and red on a blue twill background.
My father was stationed in Japan and a member of the 5th Army Air Corps. He never talked about his time there. Died in ‘78, when I was only 18. I just finished his shadow box with military stuff, but I have no idea what squadron, what he did, or any of that info.
My dad was stationed in the airfield at Darwin, Australia. He was a Staff Sargeant. He was responsible for maintenance of the turret guns on the belly of bombers of the Fifth Army Air force.
As he explained it one night while he was on guard duty he was encountered by an Aboriginal trespasser and he slit the belly of the man from his navel to his heart. The look of shock on the man stayed with dad up until the day he died 50 years after the fact.
Dad said he was likely looking for food.
My father served as an airplane mechanic during WWII for the 5th Air Force (Air Corps) in New Guinea and Clark Air Base in the Philippines. I’m thankful God spared him to be my father. He was a great man, teacher, and musician.
My father also was an airplane mechanic in The 5th Air Force during WW2. Great man from a great generation
My Uncle, Walter P. Tilke, was a navigator on B-29 aircraft in WWII and a member of the 5th Air Force, “Seahawks” Squadron. Looking for information on the squadron and anything else that may be pertinent to him.
Ancestry.com may have muster reports on your uncle’s service.
My Grandfather was also a radio operator in the 5th Army Air force. He was a strong and proud man.
My father was a radio operator on a transport in the 5th Army Airforce during WWII. I will visit the museum this summer. I also believe my Uncle may have been in the 5th as well. In his latter life he worked at Dover AFB.