It became the overall command and control authority of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific theater of World War II.

USASTAF was the Pacific counterpart of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF).

Its mission was to coordinate strategic bombing of the Japanese home islands during the expected invasion of Japan.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were carried out by direct order of USAAF Chief of Staff General Henry "Hap" Arnold" through the 509th Composite Group.

[citation needed] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency