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Initial organization under 1st Air Force

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 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 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.³⁴

New observation groups were formed, with a cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941.⁵ 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.⁶

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the command came under the control of the Eastern Theater of Operations⁷ 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.⁸ 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support command and the command's manning was brought back up.⁹ Although most of the command's observation units were withdrawn from antisubmarine operations in June 1942, the command continued limited antisubmarine patrols until 15 October 1942, when Army Air Forces Antisubmarine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.¹⁰¹¹¹²

Transfer to 3rd Air Force

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.¹³ In August 1942, the command was one of the first reassigned to Third Air Force.¹⁴¹⁵ This was followed by a move to Morris Field, North Carolina, a base in the Third Air Force area in November 1942.¹⁶

In October 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.¹⁷ The command continued to train light bomber crews.¹⁸

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.¹⁹ This included participation in maneuvers. The command became the III Tactical Air Division in the spring of 1944. In May 1944, the command began to specialize in training reconnaissance aircrews and organizations. In June 1945, this mission change was recognized by a change in name to III Reconnaissance Command.²⁰

After the end of the war, the command moved to Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota in November 1945, and was inactivated there in April 1946.²¹

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 1948²²²³²⁴

Assignments

• 1st Air Force, 4 September 1941²⁵
• 3rd Air Force (later Third Air Force), 17 August 1942²⁶
• III Tactical Air Command, c. 15 April 1944²⁷
• Third Air Force, c. 1 June 1945 – 9 April 1946²⁸

Components

Groups

• 26th Observation Group: 1 September 1941 – 17 August 1942²⁹
• 45th Bombardment Group: 21 August 1941 – 5 January 1942³⁰
• 46th Bombardment Group: 10 November 1942 – 25 January 1943³¹
• 48th Fighter-Bomber Group: attached 10 September 1943 – 14 January 1944³²
• 59th Observation Group: 1 September 1941 – 21 August 1942³³
• 69th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 18 April 1944 – 27 March 1945³⁴
• 411th Bombardment Group: c. 15 August 1943 – 1 May 1944

Squadrons

• 1st Air Support Communications Squadron, attached, c. 8 September 1943; assigned 3 November 1943 – 31 March 1944³⁵
• 2d Balloon Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 3 February 1942 (thereafter disbanded)³⁶
• 3d Observation Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 12 March 1942 (attached to the Coast Artillery School)³⁷
• 5th Communications Squadron, Air Support (later 5th Air Support Communications Squadron): 15 May 1942 – c. 13 June 1943³⁸
• 6th Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April – 1 October 1944³⁹
• 7th Reconnaissance Squadron: 8 November 1943 – 1 October 1944⁴⁰
• 9th Communications Squadron, Air Support (later 9th Air Support Communications Squadron): 21 August 1942 – c. 21 November 1943⁴¹
• 14th Air Support Communications Squadron (later 14th Tactical Air Communications Squadron): 3 March 1943 – 18 April 1944⁴²
• 14th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 4 April 1944⁴³
• 14th Tow Target Squadron: 17 December 1942 – 4 November 1943⁴⁴
• 18th Air Support Communications Squadron, 3 November 1943 – c. 12 February 1944⁴⁵
• 19th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 15 April 1944⁴⁶
• 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 29 March – c. November 1944⁴⁷
• 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 April – 15 November 1944⁴⁸
• 39th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 April 1944 – 6 January 1945⁴⁹
• 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April – 3 June 1944⁵⁰
• 41st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 24 June – 1 October 1944; 4 December 1944 – 18 April 1945⁵¹
• 57th Reconnaissance Squadron: 21 July 1945 – 25 January 1946⁵²
• 58th Reconnaissance Squadron: 21 July 1945 – 31 March 1946⁵³
• 72d Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 14 June 1944⁵⁴
• 103d Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 April 1944 – 3 June 1944⁵⁵
• 119th Observation Squadron: 1 September 1941 – 29 March 1942 (attached to 59th Observation Group)⁵⁶
• 115th Liaison Squadron: 18 April – 29 October 1944⁵⁷
• 121st Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 20 March 1944⁵⁸
• 127th Liaison Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 31 April 1944⁵⁹
• 158th Liaison Squadron: 1 March – 1 October 1944⁶⁰
• 162nd Liaison Squadron: 15 May – 24 June 1944⁶¹
• 163rd Liaison Squadron: 15 May 44 – 20 January 1945⁶²

Base Units

• 321st AAF Base Unit (Headquarters, III Tactical Air Division [later Headquarters, III Reconnaissance Command]): 1 May 1944 – c. 1 November 1945
• 322nd AAF Base Unit (56th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, Light): 1 May 1944 – c. 1 November 1945
• 333rd AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light, Bombardment [later Combat Crew Training Station, Light Bombardment]):⁶³⁶⁴ 1 May 1944 – 31 January 1945http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/854.xml
• 334th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light, Bombardment [later Combat Crew Training Station, Light Bombardment]):⁶⁵⁶⁶ 1 May – 1 October 1944⁶⁷
• 347th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Tactical Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – c. 28 March 1946
• 348th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Photographic Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – 29 December 1944
• 349th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Liaison):⁶⁸ c. 1 June 1945 – c. 7 November 1945
• 353rd AAF Base Unit (Maneuver Station):⁶⁹ 1 May 1944 – c. 31 January 1946
• 379th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Tactical Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – 1945

Stations

• Mitchel Field, New York, 4 September 1941
• Morris Field, North Carolina, c. 10 November 1942
• Key Field, Mississippi, c. 3 April 1944
• Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, November 1945 – 9 April 1946⁷⁰

Campaign

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Antisubmarine	7 December 1941 – 1 August 1943	1st Air Support Command (later 1st Ground Air Support Command, I Air Support Command)71
	American Theater without inscription	1 August 1943 – 2 March 1946	I Air Support Command (later I Tactical Air Division, III Tactical Air Division, III Reconnaissance Command)72

Notes

Explanatory notes Citations

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.[dead link]
• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2023. 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.

References

1. Cate & Williams, p. 152, 155 ↩

2. Futrell, p 13 ↩

3. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

4. Futrell, p 13 ↩

5. Futrell, p 13 ↩

6. Futrell, p. 19 ↩

7. Futrell, p 13 ↩

8. Futrell, p 13 ↩

9. Futrell, p. 15 ↩

10. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

11. Futrell, p. 15 ↩

12. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 437 ↩

13. Futrell, p. 15 ↩

14. Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ ↩

15. Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ ↩

16. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

17. White, p. 80 ↩

18. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

19. White, p. 87 ↩

20. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

21. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

22. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

23. Some details from Futrell, Kane and Haulman. ↩

24. The command was transferred to the United States Air Force in inactive status in September 1947. The Air Force disbanded it a year later. /wiki/United_States_Air_Force ↩

25. Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ ↩

26. Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ ↩

27. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 441 (year only). However, Haulman indicates assignment to Third Air Force during this period. ↩

28. Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ ↩

29. Robertson, Patsy (27 December 2007). "Factsheet 350 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434007/350-electronic-systems-wing-afmc/ ↩

30. 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929005519/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9693 ↩

31. Robertson, Patsy (22 September 2008). "Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130104183212/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9694 ↩

32. Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433509/48-operations-group-usafe/ ↩

33. Robertson, Patsy E. (21 June 2017). "Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433071/59-medical-wing-aetc/ ↩

34. Robertson, Patsy (10 July 2017). "Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2022. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432093/69-reconnaissance-group-acc/ ↩

35. Bailey, Carl E. (20 May 2019). "Factsheet 1 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433541/1-air-support-operations-group-acc/ ↩

36. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 11 ↩

37. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 24 ↩

38. Dollman, TSG David (15 May 2017). "Factsheet 5 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 July 2018. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/969564/5-air-support-operations-sq-acc/ ↩

39. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 13 ↩

40. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 21 ↩

41. Dollman, TSG David (27 March 2017). "Factsheet 9 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2021. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/986095/9-air-support-operations-sq-acc/ ↩

42. Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2018). "Factsheet 14 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2022. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432014/14-air-support-operations-squadron-acc/ ↩

43. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 78 ↩

44. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 80 ↩

45. Dollman, TSG Davis (31 August 2012). "Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432011/18-air-support-operations-group-acc/ ↩

46. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 103 ↩

47. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 173 ↩

48. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 177 ↩

49. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 184 ↩

50. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188 ↩

51. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191 ↩

52. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 229 ↩

53. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 231 ↩

54. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266 ↩

55. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188 ↩

56. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 590 ↩

57. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 344 ↩

58. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 348 ↩

59. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 351 ↩

60. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357 ↩

61. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362 ↩

62. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363 ↩

63. "Abstract, History, Morris Field, Jul 1944-Jan 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/844.xml ↩

64. "Abstract, History, Morris Field, Feb-Apr 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/854.xml ↩

65. "Abstract, History, Florence AAF, Dec 1944". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Mar-May 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/172/006.xml ↩

66. "Abstract, History Florence AAF, Mav 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/172/027.xml ↩

67. "Abstract, History Florence AAF Dec 1928-Dec 1944". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/172/000.xml ↩

68. "Abstract, History Muskogee AAF Oct 1943-May 1945". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/978.xml ↩

69. "Abstract, History Esler Field Jan 1946". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/171/931.xml ↩

70. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

71. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩

72. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441 ↩