00244484 7524-21 UNCLASSIFIED 2431091 01-01-1944 2431457 01-01-1945

ARMY AIR FORCES SERVICE COMMAND, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS

636.956-2 8479 A6159 1058 1066 43 2447293 05-11-1988 THE ITALIAN LIAISON SECTION WAS ORGANIZED ON 15 JUN 44 AS A RESULT OF A MEETING HELD AT CASERTA, ITALY. THE ARMY AIR FORCES SERVICE COMMAND, MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (AAFSC/MTO) WAS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF ITALIAN MILITARY UNITS FOR ALL COMMANDS OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES MTO. AAFSC/MTO AND THE BRITISH ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF) ESTABLISHED A CEILING FOR THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE AT 31 THOUSAND TROOPS WITH 22 THOUSAND ALLOCATED FOR ACTUAL COMBAT FLYING WITH THE BALKAN AIR FORCE. INCLUDED IN THE TROOPS ARRIVING FROM SARDINIA WAS AN ITALIAN DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS COMMANDED BY AN ITALIAN GENERAL. THE 12 THOUSAND ITALIAN TROOPS ALLOTTED TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES WERE ORGANIZED UNDER THIS DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AND THIS COMMAND ESTABLISHED THE ITALIAN DIVISION HEADQUARTERS IN NAPLES, ITALY. THE ITALIAN SERVICE UNITS COMPOSED OF PRISONER OF WAR PERSONNEL PROVIDED LABOR FOR THE 1 AIR SERVICE AREA COMMAND (ASAC) IN NORTH AFRICA. NONE HISTORY OF ITALIAN LIAISON SECTION