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{{more footnotes|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 5th Interceptor Command
| image =
| caption =
| dates = 7 November 1941 – 9 April 1942
| country = United States
| allegiance =
| branch = [[United States Army Air Forces]]
| type = Radar Defense, Infantry
| role =
| size =
| command_structure =
| current_commander =
| garrison =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| colors =
| march =
| mascot =
| battles = [[Battle of the Philippines (1941–42)]]
| notable_commanders = Brig. Gen. [[Henry B. Clagett]]<br/>Brig. Gen. [[Harold H. George]]<br/>Col.[[Lawrence S. Churchill]]
| anniversaries =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
}}

The '''5th Interceptor Command''' was a temporary organization of the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. It was wiped out in the [[Battle of the Philippines (1941–42)]]. The survivors fought as infantry during [[Battle of Bataan]] and after their surrender, were subjected to the [[Bataan Death March]], although some did escape to Australia.

==History==
Established in November 1941 to provide [[air defense]] of [[Luzon]], [[Philippine Islands]]. After Japanese invasion on 24 December 1941, mission changed to provide ground defense of island, with ground and air echelon personnel of unequipped [[Fifth Air Force]] units on Luzon attached to fight as ground infantry units during the [[Battle 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 to [[Corregidor Island]] in [[Manila 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).

===Lineage===
* Established as '''5th Interceptor Command (Provisional)''' 7 November 1941 (date approximate){{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
: Discontinued c. May 1942 (date approximate){{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

===Assignments===
* [[Far East Air Force (United States)|Far East Air Force]] (later 5th Air Force) (attached to [[U.S. Army Forces Far East]] after 25 December 1941)

===Station===
* [[Nielson Field]], [[Luzon]], Philippines
* [[Bataan]], Luzon, Philippines 25 December 1941 – 9 April 1942

===Components===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* Air and Ground echelons of the following:
: [[24th Pursuit Group|24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor)]]*
: 2d Observation Squadron (Medium)*
: [[3d Flying Training Squadron|3d Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)]]*
: 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*
: [[20th Fighter Squadron|20th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)]]*
: 21st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*
: 34th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor)*

{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* Ground Echelons
: V Bomber Command
: [[19th Bombardment Group]] (Heavy)
: [[27th Bombardment Group]] (Light)
: [[14th Bombardment Squadron]]: ground echelon attached c. 24 December 1941 – May 1942<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 76</ref>
: [[522d Special Operations Squadron|16th Bombardment Squadron]] (Light)
: [[523d Fighter Squadron|17th Bombardment Squadron (Light)]]
: [[28th Bombardment Squadron]]: ground echelon attached c. 24 December 1941 – May 1942<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 141</ref>
: [[30th Bombardment Squadron]]: ground echelon attached c. 20 December 1941 – May 1942<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 148-149</ref>
: [[524th Fighter Squadron|91st Bombardment Squadron (Light)]]
: [[93d Bombardment Squadron]]: ground echelon attached c. 19 December 1941 – May 1942<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 311-312</ref>
{{Col-end}}

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

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist|40em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book| author=Bartsch, William H.| title=Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941–1942| publisher=Texas A&M University Press| isbn= 0-89096-679-6| year=1992}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= 17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= 17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

{{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II}}

[[Category:Intermediate fighter commands of the United States Army Air Forces|05 Command Interceptor]]

5th Interceptor Command - Revision history

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