United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific
| United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific | |
|---|---|
| Active | June - 6 Dec 1945 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Command and Control |
| Garrison/HQ | Guam |
| Engagements |
 
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Carl Spaatz |
The United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF) was a World War II command and control authority of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific theater of World War II.
USASTAF was the Pacific counterpart of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF). Its mission was to coordinate strategic bombing of the Japanese home islands during the expected invasion of Japan.
The Joint Chiefs agreed to the established of the USASTAF on 2 July 1945, it would have a headquarters in Guam and be commanded by General Carl Andrew "Tooey" Spaatz, and consisted of the combat commands (VII Fighter Command, XXI Bomber Command) of the Twentieth Air Force and the Eighth Air Force when redeployed from the European Theater of Operations (ETO) to Okinawa. General Curtis E. Lemay was appointed Spaatz's Chief of Staff.
Guam was the headquarters of the XXI Bomber Command and until the arrival of the Eighth Air Force would provide the bulk of men and equipment of the new command. On 16 July the headquarters of the Twentieth Air Force was officially moved from Washington, DC to Harmon Field, Guam; the headquarters of the XX Bomber Command was inactivated, effective 18 July, and the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, XXI Bomber Command was redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Twentieth Air Force; thus the Bomber Commands were brought to an end as actual establishments and their wings passed to direct control of Headquarters Twentieth Air Force of which Major General Curtis E. LeMay took command on that date. On the same day the Eighth was reassigned to Okinawa, as a paper transfer as it arrived without men or equipment. Spaatz arrived in theater on 29 July and began organizing his forces—a task he had not completed by the war's end.
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