Allied Order of Battle for Operation Downfall
By Ryan Crierie

(Still A Work in Progress)

Sources Consulted:

Code-Name Downfall: The Secret Plan to Invade Japan...And Why Truman Dropped The Bomb by Thomas B. Allen and Norman Polmar

Third Fleet (ADM Halsey)

Fast Carrier Task Force

14 x CVs
6 x CVLs
9 x Fast Battleships
2 x CB
7 x CA
12 x CL
5 x CLAA
75 x DD

Fifth Fleet (ADM Spruance)

Amphibious support forces

12 x CVE
11 x Slow Battleships
10 x CA
15 x CL
36 x DD
6 x DE

Attack Forces (For Protection of Amphibious Ships)

10 x CVE
81 x DD
122 x DE

Follow up Forces (For Protection of Follow-Up Amphibious Ships)

16 x DD
48 x DE

Hunter Killer Groups (Offensive ASW Forces)

4 x CVE
24 x DE

Logistics Group (Protection of Oilers and Ammunition Ships)

10 x CVE
1 x CL
12 x DD
42 x DE

Amphibious Forces

95 x AKA
17 x AP
210 x APA
68 x APD
4 x APH
16 x LSD
400 x LSM
555 x LST
6 x LSV

British Pacific Fleet

Battleships

Howe
King George V
Duke of York
Anson

Seventh Fleet (ADM Kinkaid)

TBD

Unnamed Army Group (GA MacArthur)

NOTE: Underlined units have been transferred from ETO forces.

Sixth Army (Kreuger; Kyushu)

40th Infantry Division
158th Regimental Combat Team

V Marine Amphibious Corps

2nd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division
5th Marine Division

XI Corps

Americal Division (Infantry)
1st Cavalry Division
43rd Infantry Division

I Corps

25th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
41st Infantry Division

IX Corps (Afloat Reserve for X-Day)

81st Infantry Division
98th Infantry Division

Follow-Up Forces for OLYMPIC

11th Airborne Division; later available on Y+35 for Honshu
77th Infantry Division

First Army (Hodges; Honshu)

III Marine Amphibious Corps

1st Marine Division
4th Marine Division
6th Marine Division (available from Y+5)

XXIV Corps

7th Infantry Division
27th Infantry Division
96th Infantry Division (available from Y+5)

Unnamed Corps (Follow on Forces for Honshu; from Europe)

5th Infantry Division
44th Infantry Division
86th Infantry Division

Eighth Army (Eichelberger; Honshu)

X Corps

24th Infantry Division
31st Infantry Division
37th Infantry Division (available from Y+5)

XIII Corps (available from Y+10)

13th Armored Division
20th Armored Division

XIV Corps

6th Infantry Division
32nd Infantry Division
38th Infantry Division (available from Y+5)

Unnamed Corps (Follow on Forces for Honshu; from Europe)

4th Infantry Division
8th Infantry Division
87th Infantry Division

Army Forces Pacific Reserve

97th Infantry Division

Unnamed Corps

2nd Infantry Division
28th Infantry Division
35th Infantry Division

Strategic Reserve Corps (Philippines – Available Y+35 on Honshu)

91st Infantry Division
95th Infantry Division
104th Infantry Division

British Commonwealth

Tiger Force

30-36 Squadrons of Lancaster Mk VIIs; 480 to 576 bombers on Okinawa; total commitment of 90,000 men for support of it

X (Commonwealth) Corps (Lt. Gen. Sir Charles F. Kneightley) (Afloat Reserve for Coronet)

3rd British Division
6th Canadian Division
10th Australian Division
Unnamed British Division available from Y+40
Unnamed British Division available from Y+40

Far East Air Forces (FEAF)

Thirteenth Air Force

Seventh Air Force

U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)

Established 16 July 1945 with GEN Spaatz in command.

20th Air Force (formerly XXI Bomber Command) (B-29s - Marianas) -- MG LeMay

73rd Bomb Wing (VH) -- (Saipan, Isley Field) -- BG O'Donnell

497th Bomb Group (VH) (A Square)

869^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
870^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
871^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)

498th Bomb Group (VH) (T Square)

873^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
874^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
875^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

499th Bomb Group (VH) (V Square)

877^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
878^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
879^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

500th Bomb Group (VH) (Z Square)

881^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
882^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
883^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

58th Bomb Wing (VH) -- (Tinian, West Field) -- BG Ramey

40th Bombardment Group (Triangle S)

25^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
44^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
45^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
395^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

444th Bombardment Group (Triangle N)

676^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
677^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
678^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
679^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

462d Bombardment Group (Triangle U)

345^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
768^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
769^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
770^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

468th Bombardment Group (Triangle I)

792^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
793^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
794^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
795^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

313th Bomb Wing (VH) -- (Tinian, North Field) -- BG Davies

6th Bombardment Group (Circle R)

24^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
39^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
40^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

9th Bombardment Group (Circle X)

1^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
5^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
99^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

504th Bombardment Group (Circle E)

398^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
421^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
680^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

505th Bombardment Group (Circle W)

482^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
483^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
484^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

509th Composite Group (Various Tail Markings)

393^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
320^th Troop Carrier Squadron (C-54)

314th Bomb Wing (VH) -- (Guam) -- BG Armstrong

19th Bombardment Group (Square M)

28^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
30^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
93^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

29th Bombardment Group (Square O)

6^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
43^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
52^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

39th Bombardment Group (Square P)

60^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
61^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
62^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

330th Bombardment Group (Square K)

457^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
485^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
459^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

315th Bomb Wing (VH) -- (Guam, Northwest Field) -- BG Power

16th Bombardment Group (Diamond B)

15^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
16^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
17^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

331st Bombardment Group (Diamond L)

355^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
356^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
357^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

501st Bombardment Group (Diamond Y)

21^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
41^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
485^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

502d Bombardment Group (Diamond H)

402^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
411^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
430^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

VII Fighter Command (Saipan, East Field) -- BG Moore

6^th Night Fighter Squadron (P-61D)
548^th Night Fighter Squadron (P-61D)
549^th Night Fighter Squadron (P-61D)

15th Fighter Group (Iwo Jima)

45^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
47^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
78^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)

21st Fighter Group (Iwo Jima)

46^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
72^nd Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
531^st Fighter Squadron (P-51D)

318^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

19^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
73^rd Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
333^rd Fighter Squadron (P-47N)

8th Air Force (B-17s - Okiwana) -- Doolittle. (Full Strength to be reached Feb 1946)

NOTES: Originally, it had been planned apparently to bring the entire 8^th Air Force over from Europe, with their B-17s and B-24s. However it was eventually decided to convert the 8^th to B-29s; with B-17 and B-24 crews transitioning after six weeks of training in B-29s in the United States. During the conversion to Very Heavy Bomb Groups, the number of squadrons per group dropped from four to three.

316th Bomb Wing

333^rd Bomb Group

435^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
436^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
507th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

346^th Bomb Group

461^st Bomb Squadron (B-29)
462^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)
463^rd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

382^nd Bomb Group

420^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
464^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
872^nd Bomb Squadron (B-29)

383^rd Bomb Group

876^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
880^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)
884^th Bomb Squadron (B-29)

Unspecified B-29 Wing (War ended)

Unspecified B-29 Wing (War ended)

301st Fighter Wing

413^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

1^st Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
21^st Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
34^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)

414^th Fighter Group (Iwo Jima) (NOTE: 30 P-80A sent on aircraft carrier for the 414th; but lacked wingtip tank and batteries; so were not used before end of war)

413^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
437^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
456^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)

506^th Fighter Group (Iwo Jima)

457^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
458^th Fighter Squadron (P-51D)
462^nd Fighter Squadron (P-51D)

507^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

463^rd Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
464^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)
465^th Fighter Squadron (P-47N)

Fifth Air Force

V Fighter Command

3^rd Air Commando Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

3^rd Fighter (Commando) Squadron (P-51D)
4^th Fighter (Commando) Squadron (P-51D)
157^th Liaison Squadron (L-5)
158^th Liaison Squadron (L-5)
160^th Liaison Squadron (L-5)
318^th Troop Carrier Squadron (C-47)

8^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

35^th Fighter Squadron “Black Panthers” (P-38)
36^th Fighter Squadron “Flying Fiends” (P-38)
68^th Fighter Squadron “Lightning Lancers” (P-38)
80^th Fighter Squadron “Headhunters” (P-38)

35^th Fighter Group (Okinawa)

39^th Fighter Squadron “The Cobra Squadron” (P-51)
40^th Fighter Squadron “Fightin' Red Devils” (P-51)
41^st Fighter Squadron (P-51)

49^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

7^th Fighter Squadron “Bunyap” (P-38J or L; probably L)
8^th Fighter Squadron “The Black Sheep” (P-38J or L; probably L)
9^th Fighter Squadron “The Flying Knights” (P-38J or L; probably L)

58^th Fighter Group (Okinawa)

69^th Fighter Squadron “Werewolves” (P-47)
310^th Fighter Squadron (P-47)
311^th Fighter Squadron (P-47)
201^st Mexican Fighter Squadron (Escuadron Aereo de Pelea 201) “Aguilas Aztecas” or “Aztec Eagles” (P-47D-30-RA)

348^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

340^th Fighter Squadron (P-51)
341^st Fighter Squadron (P-51)
342^nd Fighter Squadron (P-51)
460^th Fighter Squadron (P-51)

475^th Fighter Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

431^st Fighter Squadron (P-38)
432^nd Fighter Squadron (P-38)
433^rd Fighter Squadron “Satan's Angels” (P-38)

V Bomber Command

3^rd Bomb Group (in process of transitioning to all A-26s)

8^th Bomb Squadron (B-26)
13^th Bomb Squadron (A-26B)
89^th Bomb Squadron (A-26B)
90^th Bomb Squadron (A-26B)

22^nd Bomb Group

2^nd Bomb Squadron (B-24)
19^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
33^rd Bomb Squadron (B-24)
408^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)

38^th Bomb Group (M) “The Sunsetters” (Okinawa)

71^st Bomb Squadron (M) (B-25)
405^th Bomb Squadron (M) (B-25)
822^nd Bomb Squadron (M) (B-25)
823^rd Bomb Squadron (M) (B-25)

43^rd Bomb Group

63^rd Bomb Squadron “The Sea Hawks” (B-24)
64^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
65^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
403^rd Bomb Squadron (B-24)

90^th Bomb Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

319^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
320^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
321^st Bomb Squadron (B-24)
400^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)

312^nd Bomb Group (H) (Was in process of conversion to B-32 when war ended; causing cancellation of B-32 orders)

386^th Bomb Squadron (H) (B-32)
387^th Bomb Squadron (H) (B-32)
388^th Bomb Squadron (H) (B-32)
389^th Bomb Squadron (H) (B-32)

345^th Bomb Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

498^th Bomb Squadron (B-25)
499^th Bomb Squadron (B-25)
500^th Bomb Squadron (B-25)
501^st Bomb Squadron (B-25)

380^th Bomb Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

328^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
329^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
330^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)
331^th Bomb Squadron (B-24)

417^th Bomb Group (Ie Shima, Okinawa)

672^nd Bomb Squadron (A-20)
673^rd Bomb Squadron (A-20)
674^th Bomb Squadron (A-20)
675^th Bomb Squadron (A-20)

Reinforcement Groups

412^th Fighter Group (Was working up for Deployment to PTO when war ended)

29^th Fighter Squadron (P-80A)
31^st Fighter Squadron (P-80A)
445^th Fighter Squadron (P-80A)

Miscellaneous Thingys

• Two Bases Available in Soviet Far East for B-29 Operations (Agreed to by Stalin at Yalta)

• P-80N (1,000 P-80As to be produced by NAA at it's Dallas Plant. Cancelled after V-E Day, so none produced.)

• US Army Wants 5,000 JB-2 Loons a month, and wants to bombard Japan with 500 missiles a day by 1946; from South Korea and LSTs.

• USN wants JB-2 Loons as well for launch from CVEs and LSTs.

• After the capture of Kyushu, it can provide space for 40 more Air Groups, and allow B-17s to bomb Honshu.

• Each VHB Wing has about 12,000~ men and 180 aircraft.