Formed from the Philippine Department Air Force, the 5th US Army Air Force was officially created on 5 February 1942 in the urgency following the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. At the outset, with limited means and equipped with obsolete materiel, its various fighter and bomner units were tasked with defending Australia, a country that was seriously threatened by the Japanese advance in the south-west Pacific. Commended by the charismatic Major-General George Kenney, it was progressively reinforced by new squadrons arriving from the United States. Better armed, the 5th Air Force often fought alongside the Royal Australian Air Force in the long and ferocious New-Guinea campaign. It then took part in the step by step allied conques of various south west Paciac island and it was here, in its sphere of influence, that it became General MacArthur's spearhead in his drive towards Japan.<BR><BR>Its tally of kills at the end of the war is indicative of its performance, with notably an un-equalled record of more than 3,400 serial victories and the presence within its ranks of the two greatest Americanaces of all time, Majors Bong and McGuire.