III Reconnaissance Command
| III Reconnaissance Command | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A Lockheed F-5 Lightning as used by photographic reconnaissance units training under III Reconnaissance Commband | |
| Active | 1941-1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army United States Air Force |
| Role | reconnaissance training |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | William E. Kepner |
| Insignia | |
| III Reconnaissance Command Distinctive Unit Insigne[note 1][1] |  |
The III Reconnaissance Command was a United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 8 April 1946.
The command was organized in September 1941 as the 1st Air Support Command as an element of 1st Air Force.
History
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.[2]
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.[3] 1st Air Force organized 1st Air Support Command at Mitchel Field, New York in September 1941, drawing its personnel and equipment from the 7th Pursuit Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated.[1][3]
New observation groups were formed, with a cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941.[3] During the Carolina Maneuvers of 1941, the command was attached to First Army. Unlike the opposing force, the command posts of the air and ground elements were located together, and the commander of the air support command doubled as the air staff officer of the ground force commander. The opposing force command posts were separated by sixty miles, which enabled greater freedom of action and use of airpower more aggressively.[4]
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the command came under the control of the Eastern Theater of Operations[3] and flew antisubmarine patrols off the east coast. However, by early 1942, the command's first commander William E. Kepner, 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.[3] 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.[5] Although most of the command's observation units were withdrawn form antisubmarine operations in June 1942, the command continued limited antisubmarine patrols until 15 October 1942, when Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command took over the mission.[1][5][6]
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.[5] In August 1942, the command was one of the first reassigned to Third Air Force.[7][8] 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.[9]
In August 1943, the command was redesignated the I Tactical Air Division with the intent that the command would engage in combined training with army ground forces.[10]
It trained light bombardment crews, participated in air-ground maneuvers, and demonstrated air support techniques, September 1941-May 1944. Trained reconnaissance personnel and organizations, May 1944 – 1946.[1]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 1st Air Support Command on 21 August 1941
- Activated on 4 September 1941
- Redesignated 1st Ground Air Support Command c. 30 April 1942
- Redesignated I Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942
- Redesignated I Tactical Air Division on 28 August 1943
- Redesignated III Tactical Air Division c. 15 April 1944
- Redesignated III Reconnaissance Command c. 1 June 1945
- Inactivated on 9 April 1946
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1][11][note 2]
Assignments
- 1st Air Force, 4 September 1941[7]
- 3rd Air Force (later Third Air Force), 17 August 1942 – 9 April 1946[8]
Components
Groups
- 26th Observation Group: 1 September 1941 – 17 August 1942[12]
- 45th Bombardment Group: 21 August 1941 – 5 January 1942[13]
- 48th Fighter-Bomber Group: attached 10 September 1943 – 14 January 1944[14]
- 59th Observation Group: 1 September 1941 – 21 August 1942[15]
- 69th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 18 April 1944 – 27 March 1945[16]
Squadrons
- 1st Air Support Communications Squadron, attached, c. 8 September 1943; assigned 3 November 1943 – 31 March 1944[17]
- 2d Balloon Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 3 February 1942[18]
- 3d Observation Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 12 March 1942 (attached to the Coast Artillery School)[19]
- 5th Communications Squadron, Air Support (later 5th Air Support Communications Squadron): 15 May 1942 – c. 13 June 1943[20]
- 6th Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April – 1 October 1944[21]
- 7th Reconnaissance Squadron: 8 November 1943 – 1 October 1944[22]
- 9th Communications Squadron, Air Support (later 9th Air Support Communications Squadron): 21 August 1942 – c. 21 November 1943[23]
- 14th Air Support Communications Squadron (later 14th Tactical Air Communications Squadron): 3 March 1943 – 18 April 1944[24]
- 14th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 4 April 1944[25]
- 14th Tow Target Squadron: 17 December 1942 – 4 November 1943[26]
- 18th Air Support Communications Squadron, 3 November 1943 – c. 12 February 1944[27]
- 19th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 15 April 1944[28]
- 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 29 March – c. November 1944[29]
- 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 April – 15 November 1944[30]
- 39th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 April 1944 – 6 January 1945[31]
- 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April – 3 June 1944[32]
- 41st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 24 June – 1 October 1944; 4 December 1944 – 18 April 1945[33]
- 57th Reconnaissance Squadron: 21 July 1945 – 25 January 1946[34]
- 58th Reconnaissance Squadron: 21 July 1945 – 31 March 1946[35]
- 72d Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 14 June 1944[36]
- 103d Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April 1944 – 3 June 1944[37]
- 119th Observation Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 29 March 1942 (attached to 59th Observation Group)[38]
- 115th Liaison Squadron: 18 April – 29 October 1944[39]
- 121st Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 20 March 1944[40]
- 127th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 31 April 1944[41]
- 158th Liaison Squadron: 1 March – 1 October 1944[42]
- 162nd Liaison Squadron: 15 May – 24 June 1944[43]
- 163rd Liaison Squadron: 15 May 44 – 20 January 1945[44]
Stations
- Mitchel Field, New York, 4 September 1941
- Morris Field, North Carolina, November 1942
- Key Field, Mississippi, c. 3 April 1944
- Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, November 1945-9 April 1946[1]
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Approved 23 July 1942.
- ^ The command was transferred to the United States Air Force in inactive status in September 1947. The Air Force disbanded it a year later.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441
- ^ Cate & Williams, p. 152, 155
- ^ a b c d e Futrell, p 13
- ^ Futrell, p. 19
- ^ a b c Futrell, p. 15
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 437
- ^ a b Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ a b Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ White, p. 80
- ^ White, p. 87
- ^ Some details from Futrell, Kane and Haulman.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 December 2007). "Factsheet 350 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (9 September 2008). "Factsheet 45 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (21 June 2017). "Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (10 July 2017). "Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ Bailey, Carl E. (20 May 2019). "Factsheet 1 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 11
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 24
- ^ Dollman, TSG David (15 May 2017). "Factsheet 5 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 13
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 21
- ^ Dollman, TSG David (27 March 2017). "Factsheet 9 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2018). "Factsheet 14 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 78
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 80
- ^ Dollman, TSG Davis (31 August 2012). "Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 103
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 173
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 177
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 184
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 229
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 231
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 590
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 344
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 348
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 351
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cate, James L.; Williams, E. Kathleen (1948). "Prelude to War, Chapter 4, The Air Corps Prepares for War, 1939-41". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. I, Plans and Early Operations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Futrell, Robert F. (September 1956). "Command of Observation Aviation: A Study in Control of Tactical Airpower, USAF Historical Study No. 24" (PDF). Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- White, Jerry (August 1949). "Combat Crew and Unit Training in the AAF 1939-1945, USAF Historical Study No. 61" (PDF). Air Historical Office, United States Air Force. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
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