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In September of 1941, the Philippine Department Air Force was created; one month later, its name was changed to the Far East Air Force. It was under this name in which the Fifth Air Force saw its first combat action. Within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces attacked US bases in the Philippines, destroying most of the aircraft while they were still on the ground. The remaining aircraft allowed the far east air force to become the first U.S. Army Air Force unit to take part in combat, conducting defensive operations allowing United States and allied forces to retreat to Australia's northern coast. While in Australia, the Far East Air Force was redesignated Fifth Air Force in 1942 and placed under the command of Major General George Kenney. Kenney was General Douglas MacArthur's component commander for all allied air services. Under his leadership, Fifth Air Force provided the aerial spearhead for MacArthur's island hopping campaign.