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The5th Interceptor Command was a temporary organization of theUnited States Army Air Forces. It was wiped out in theBattle of the Philippines (1941–42). The survivors fought as infantry duringBattle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to theBataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia.

Established in November 1941 to provideair defense ofLuzon,Philippine Islands. After Japanese invasion on 24 December 1941, mission changed to provide ground defense of island, with ground and air echelon personnel of unequippedFifth Air Force units on Luzon attached to fight as ground infantry units during theBattle of the Philippines (1941–42) after their aircraft were destroyed or evacuated to locations away from Luzon.

Most members of the command surrendered on 9 April 1942 after the Battle of Bataan. Some survivors escaped toCorregidor Island inManila Bay, Philippine Islands and surrendered on 6 May 1942, ending all US organized resistance to the Japanese in the Philippines. Some survivors possibly fought afterwards on Luzon as unorganized resistance (May 1942 – January 1945).

• Established as5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) 7 November 1941 (date approximate)^{[citation needed]}

Discontinued c. May 1942 (date approximate)^{[citation needed]}

• Far East Air Force (later 5th Air Force) (attached toU.S. Army Forces Far East after 25 December 1941)

• Nielson Field,Luzon, Philippines
• Bataan, Luzon, Philippines 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

Notes: All units in attached status. *Unit not manned or equipped, carried as active unit (non-operational) 9 April 1942 – 2 April 1946.

 This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Bartsch, William H. (1992).Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941–1942. Texas A&M University Press.ISBN 0-89096-679-6.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961].Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-912799-02-1.LCCN 61060979. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-405-12194-6.LCCN 70605402.OCLC 72556. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved17 December 2016.

• Intermediate fighter commands of the United States Army Air Forces

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