III Bomber Command

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III Bomber Command
B263 martin.jpg
B-26 Marauder in flight
Active1941-1946
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Flag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleCommand and training of bomber units
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Robert Olds

The III Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force headquarters. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command bomber units assigned to 3rd Air Force. Following the entry of the United States into World War II, it flew patrols off the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts. However, its main efforts soon began organizing and training medium bomber units and aircrews. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946 and disbanded in October 1948.

Contents

History

Background

GHQ Air Force (GHQ AF) had been established with two major combat functions, to maintain a striking force against long range targets, and the air defense of the United States. [1] In the spring of 1941, GHQ AF reorganized its Southeast Air District as 3rd Air Force. To carry out its mission of training and maintaining a strike force, 3rd Air Force organized 3rd Bomber Command at Drew Field, Florida in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The command soon moved to MacDill Field, Florida, where it was located when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Shortly afterwards, it moved to Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia, but returned to MacDill, where it spent the remainder of the war. [2]

Training

It patrolled in search of enemy submarines. [2]

The command trained medium bomber units and crews for Third Air Force, and training for this type of unit was virtually a monopoly for the command. Until August 1943, it also conducted training for dive and light bomber units and crews. However their training was transferred to III Air Support Command in August 1942. [3]

In late 1943, some heavy bomber training was moved from Second Air Force, which had been the primary command for that training, to the command in order to enable combined training between fighters and bombers. In conjunction with this transfer, the command adopted the three phase training system for its training units: Phase I (individual training); Phase II (crew training) and Phase III (unit training). [4]

Lineage

Activated on 5 September 1941
Inactivated on 8 April 1946
Disbanded on 8 October 1948 [2] [note 2]

Assignments

Components

Wings

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

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References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "III" Bomber Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. ↑ The group was transferred to the United States Air Force when it was established as a separate service in September 1947. The Air Force disbanded it a year later.
Citations
  1. ↑ Cate & Williams, p. 152
  2. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, p.439
  3. ↑ White, p. 28
  4. ↑ White, pp. 27-28
  5. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Document Detail for IRISNUM= 00106810". Air Force History Index.
  7. ↑ "Factsheet 323 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (26 June 2017). "Factsheet 3 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (26 June 2017). "Factsheet 12 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Haulman, Daniel (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 21 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 30 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  12. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (4 September 2008). "Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  13. ↑ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  15. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (29 September 2008). "Factsheet 85 Group". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Forte, Maria (4 April 2018). "Factsheet 86 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (27 May 2010). "Factsheet 90 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (28 May 2010). "Factsheet 91 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (14 July 2010). "Factsheet 92 Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (11 July 2017). "Factsheet 94 Operations Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (30 June 2010). "Factsheet 95 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Stephens, Maj Tonia (9 January 2019). "Factsheet 100 Air Refueling Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  23. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (9 August 2017). "Factsheet 310 Space Wing (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  24. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (27 December 2007). "Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group (AFMC". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  25. ↑ Ream, Margaret (25 January 2021). "Factsheet 319 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  26. ↑ Kane, Robert B. (10 May 2011). "Factsheet 322 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  27. ↑ Robinson, Patsy M. (21 June 2011). "Factsheet 336 Training Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  28. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (3 June 2018). "Factsheet 386 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  29. ↑ Lineage & Honors History of the 409th Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE), undated, Air Force Historical Research Agency
  30. ↑ Warnock, A. Timothy, Lineage & Honors History of the 410 Air Expeditionary Wing, 4 February 2003, Air Force Historical Research Agency
  31. ↑ Kane, Robert B. (24 March 2010). "Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  32. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 7
  33. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 37-38
  34. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 170
  35. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 181

Bibliography

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