5th Air Force.
Worn from: 25 March 1943 - Mid 1950's.
This air force lost most of its men and equipment in the defense of the Philippines after 7 December 1941. In January 1942, reequipped, they were sent to Java to help delay Japanese advances in the Netherlands Indies. The Fifth participated in operations that stopped the Japanese drive in Papua, recovered New Guinea, neutralized islands in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Netherlands east Indies, and liberated the Philippines. The five small stars form the Southern Cross constellation under which the unit fought in the Pacific theater. The army air force star is encompassed in a comet taken from the unit's aircraft markings. The three tails represent bombers, fighters, and troop carriers. Activated 5 February 1942 in the Dutch East Indies.
Campaigns: World War II (Philippine Islands; East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua, New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leytel Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive), Korean War (UN Defensive, UN Offensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counter Offensive, CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, Summer-Fall 1953).
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations (Philippine Islands, 8 - 22 December 1941; Philippine Islands, 7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942; Papua, September 1942 - 23 January 1943), Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
