U.S. Army Air Forces
6th Air Force
Formerly the Panama Canal Air Force, the 6th Air Force defended the Panama Canal — America's most vital strategic asset linking the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Flew antisubmarine patrols across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, hunted German U-boats threatening Allied shipping, and maintained the defensive perimeter from the Galapagos Islands to Guatemala. Stationed at Albrook Field, Canal Zone.
6th Air Force — Bomb Groups
CARIBBEAN · 1942–1945
Bombardment Group
B-18/B-17/B-24
Bolo
One of the original pre-war Army Air Corps groups, the 6th defended the Panama Canal from 1939. Flew B-18 Bolos, B-17 Fortresses, and B-24 Liberators on antisubmarine patrols across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Squadrons
Bombardment Group
B-18/B-24/B-25
Bolo
Stationed in the Canal Zone alongside the 6th BG. Flew antisubmarine patrols and Canal defense missions with B-18s and later B-24 Liberators. Operated across the Caribbean from Panama to Trinidad.
Squadrons
6th Air Force — Fighter Groups
CARIBBEAN · 1942–1945
Fighter Group
P-63
Kingcobra
Primary fighter defense unit for the Panama Canal Zone. Flew P-36s, P-40 Warhawks, and P-39 Airacobras providing air defense across the Canal Zone and Caribbean from 1940 through the end of the war.
Squadrons
Fighter Group
P-40
Warhawk
Activated for Canal Zone defense in 1940. Flew P-39 Airacobras and P-40 Warhawks defending the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal. Squadrons were dispersed to bases across Panama and Central America.
Squadrons
Fighter Group (6th AF)
P-39
Airacobra
Provided fighter defense for the Canal Zone and surrounding region. Detachments deployed to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Guatemala to cover the extended defensive perimeter around the Canal.
Squadrons
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Bomb Groups
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Fighter Groups
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Squadrons