WW2 4th U.S.A.A.F sleeve patch.

Fourth U.S Air Force sleeve patch in great condition, 5 available all in this condition.

• Activated as the Southwest Air District of GHQ Air Force on 18 December 1940 at March Field, California, and redesignated Fourth Air Force on 26 March 1941. One of the four original continental numbered air forces.

• Headquarters moved from March Field to Riverside in January 1941, to Hamilton Field on 7 December 1941, then to San Francisco on 5 January 1942.

• Its mission was air defence of the West Coast, running two air defence wings in California, at Los Angeles and San Francisco. It also flew antisubmarine patrols along coastal areas after Pearl Harbor until October 1942.  

• Alongside defence, it gave operational training to newly formed groups and squadrons before they deployed overseas. From April 1944 that shifted to replacement training of newly commissioned fighter pilots coming out of the advanced flying schools.