II Air Support Command

Last updated
II Air Support Command
Active1941-1945
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
RoleCommand of tactical air support units

The II Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Third Air Force at Biggs Field, Texas, as the II Tactical Air Division, where it was inactivated on 22 December 1945.

Contents

The command was organized in September 1941 as the 2nd Air Support Command to control the tactical units of 2d Air Force.

History

General Headquarters Air Force 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 had decided to establish commands to direct its air support mission in each numbered air force, plus one additional command reporting directly to GHQ AF. These commands would be manned from inactivating wings, and would initially control only observation squadrons, which would be transferred from the control of the corps and divisions, although they would remain attached to these ground units. [2] 2nd Air Force organized 2nd Air Support Command at Fort Douglas, Utah in September 1941, soon moving to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma where it drew cadre and equipment from the 20th Bombardment Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated. [3] [2] New observation groups were formed, with a cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941. [2]

However, by early 1942, the command's first commander, Hume Peabody, like two of the other commanders of air support commands had moved overseas, and similar demands led GHQ AF to believe it had little more than the "remnants" of the command remaining. [2] 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 command's manning was brought back up. [4]

The AAF determined that its continental air forces would specialize in their training operations and air support training would be assigned to Third Air Force. [4] As a result, in October of 1942, AAF directed that all but one of the observation groups assigned to the command were to be reduced to 50% strength 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. [5] Further, the command, now titled the II Air Support Command, was reassigned to Third Air Force in January 1943. [3]

In August 1943, the command was redesignated the II Tactical Air Division with the intent that the command would engage in combined training with army ground forces. [6]

The unit participated in various air-ground maneuvers, supported ground units in training, and put on air support demonstrations.

Lineage

Activated on 1 September 1941
Redesignated 2nd Ground Air Support Command c. 30 April 1942
Redesignated II Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942
Redesignated II Tactical Air Division on 28 August 1943 [7]
Inactivated on 22 December 1945
Disbanded on 8 October 1948 [3]

Assignments

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

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References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "II" 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 4 Futrell, p. 13
  3. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 433-434
  4. 1 2 Futrell, p. 15
  5. ↑ White, p. 80
  6. ↑ White, p. 87
  7. ↑ Futrell, p. 27
  8. ↑ Ream, Margaret (September 9, 2020). "Factsheet Second Air Force (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (April 4, 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  10. ↑ Robertson, Patsy E. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (July 10, 2017). "Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (June 10, 2011). "Factsheet 71 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  13. ↑ Stephens, Maj Tonia (May 23, 2017). "Factsheet 72 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 9, 2022. (2nd Air Service Command [sic])
  14. ↑ Ream, Margaret (May 13, 2021). "Factsheet 75 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  15. ↑ Butler, William M. (January 9, 2008). "Factsheet 77 Aeronauticall Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ↑ Kane, Robert B. (24 March 2010). "Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  17. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
  18. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (June 16, 2017). "Factsheet 2 Air Support Operations Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 17, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 40
  20. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 24
  21. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (March 27, 2018). "Factsheet 15 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 131
  23. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 151
  24. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 177
  25. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 207
  26. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266
  27. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 334
  28. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 337
  29. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 339
  30. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 342
  31. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 344
  32. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 349
  33. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 350
  34. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 777
  35. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
  36. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 358
  37. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
  38. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 489

Bibliography

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