III Tactical Air Command

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III Tactical Air Command
A-20 Boston in flight .75 right.jpg
A-20 Havoc light bomber from a training unit
Active1942-1945
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 [note 1]
RoleCommand and training of tactical units
Engagements World War II

The III Tactical Air Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. It was disbanded on 24 October 1945. The command was established in 1941 as the 3rd Air Support Command. It was responsible for training tactical units and aircrews for the Army Air Forces, except for the period from August 1943 through March 1944, when it specialized in training reconnaissance units.

Contents

History

Background

General Headquarters Air Force (GHQ AF) reorganized its four regional air districts as Numbered Air Forces in the spring of 1941. By the fall of that year, each of these had organized as a support command and three combat commands. [1] In the summer of 1941 GHQ AF decided to establish commands to direct its air support mission in each numbered air force, plus one additional command reporting directly to GHQ AF. [2] 3rd Air Force organized 3rd Air Support Command. [3] [2] However, by early 1942, most of the command's trained personnel had moved overseas, leading GHQ AF to believe it had little more than the "remnants" of the command remaining. [2] As a result, it was decided to disband the command on 16 March 1942. [4]

However, in May, the Army Air Forces (AAF) reaffirmed that each of the continental numbered air forces would have an air support command and the 3rd Air Force established a new 3rd Air Support Command at Birmingham Airport on 19 May. [5] [6]

Training tactical forces

The AAF determined that its continental air forces would specialize in their training operations and that all their air support commands would be reassigned to Third Air Force. [6] At various times, the III Tactical Air Command trained dive bombardment, light bombardment, and reconnaissance organizations and personnel; also gave air support to ground units in training and participated in air-ground maneuvers and demonstrations. In October of 1942, AAF directed that half of the observation groups assigned to the command were to be reduced to 50% strength or less with their personnel used to form new tow target squadrons, or transferred to heavy bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU)s or Replacement Training Unit (RTU)s. [7]

In the summer of 1943, the Army Air Forces had begun to act to combine tactical and photographic reconnaissance functions, and in July, directed Third Air Force to establish a reconnaissance command that would train all tactical and photographic units and operate replacement training units for the personnel of those units. As a result the command was redesignated III Reconnaissance Command and became the central training agency for reconnaissance units, with wings at Key Field and Will Rogers Field. [8]

The command was disbanded in 1945. In 1947, when the United States Air Force (USAF) became independent, the Army transferred all Army Air Forces, Air Service and Air Corps units (there were a number of Air Corps units that had never been in the Army Air Forces, and a few Air Service units) to the USAF.

Lineage

Activated on 19 May 1942.
Redesignated III Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942
Redesignated III Reconnaissance Command 18 August 1943 [8]
Redesignated III Tactical Air Command c. 10 March 1944
Disbanded on 24 October 1945 [9]

Assignments

Components

Divisions
Wings
Groups
Squadrons

Stations

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References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ In September 1947, all former Air Corps units were transferred from the Army to the Air Force, including disbanded units.
  2. ↑ Maurer and Haulman indicate the unit was constituted as the "III" Ground Air Support 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.
Citations
  1. ↑ Cate & Williams, p. 152, 155
  2. 1 2 3 Futrell, p. 13
  3. ↑ Maurer, p. 439
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 459
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 441
  6. 1 2 Futrell, p. 15
  7. ↑ White, p. 80
  8. 1 2 Futrell, p. 27
  9. ↑ Lineage information in Maurer, Combat Units, p. 441, except as noted.
  10. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (April 4, 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Factsheet 22 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  12. 1 2 See Futrell, p. 27 (establishment of training wings at Key Field and Will Rogers Field).
  13. ↑ IRIS No. 0010687
  14. ↑ Ream, Margaret (March 21, 2021). "Factsheet 318 Cyberspace Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  15. ↑ Robertson, Patsy E. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  16. ↑ Robertson, Patsy E. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  17. ↑ Ream, Margaret (March 21, 2021). "Factsheet 67 Cyberspace Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (July 10, 2017). "Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  19. ↑ Ream, Margaret (May 13, 2021). "Factsheet 75 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ Butler, William M. (January 9, 2008). "Factsheet 77 Aeronautical Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (September 29, 2008). "Factsheet 85 Group". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  22. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (December 27, 2007). "Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (November 21, 2014). "Factsheet 405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  24. ↑ Warnock, A. Tomothy, Lineage & Honors History of the 410 Air Expeditionary Wing, 4 February 2003, Air Force Historical Research Agency
  25. ↑ Kane, Robert B. (24 March 2010). "Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  26. ↑ Bailey, Carl E. (May 20, 2019). "Factsheet 1 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  27. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
  28. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (June 16, 2017). "Factsheet 2 Air Support Operations Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  29. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (February 18, 2021). "Factsheet 548 Intelligene, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (AFISRA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  30. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 13
  31. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 21
  32. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (May 16, 2019). "Factsheet 11 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  33. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (March 27, 2018). "Factsheet 13 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  34. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (March 27, 2018). "Factsheet 14 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  35. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (March 27, 2018). "Factsheet 15 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  36. ↑ Dollman, TSG Davis (August 31, 2012). "Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  37. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 108
  38. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 126
  39. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 139
  40. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 144
  41. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 150
  42. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 154
  43. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 158
  44. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 162
  45. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 165
  46. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 169
  47. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188
  48. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 330-331
  49. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 346
  50. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
  51. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 360
  52. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
  53. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 489

Bibliography

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