III Fighter Command
| III Fighter Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941-1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army United States Air Force |
| Role | Command and training of fighter units |
The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.
The command trained fighter organizations and personnel. It also served in the defense of the southeastern United States.
Lineage[]
- Constituted as the 3rd Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941[note 1]
- Activated on: 17 June 1941
- Redesignated: 3rd Fighter Command on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated: III Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942
- Inactivated on 8 April 1946
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]
Assignments[]
- 3rd Air Force (later Third Air Force), 17 June 1941[2]
- Fifteenth Air Force 21 March 1946 – 8 April 1946
Components[]
- Wings
- 8th Pursuit Wing (later 8th Fighter Wing), assigned c. 1 July – 1 November 1941; attached 28 July – c. 28 October 1942[3]
- 19th Bombardment Wing, attached 24 July 1942 – 28 September 1942[4]
- 22d Bombardment Training Wing, 6 August – 15 August 1943[5]
- Groups
- 31st Pursuit Group (later 31st Fighter Group), 18 April – 9 June 1942[6]
- 48th Bombardment Group (later 48th Fighter-Bomber Group), 6 August 1943 – 31 March 1944 (attached to I Tactical Air Division 10 September 1943 – 14 January 1944)[7][note 2]
- 49th Pursuit Group, attached 9 August 1941, assigned 2 October 1941 – February 1942[8]
- 50th Pursuit Group (later 50th Fighter Group), 2 October 1941 – 28 May 1942[9]
- 52nd Fighter Group, 26 November 1942 – 1 May 1944[10]
- 54th Pursuit Group (later 54th Fighter Group), 18 April 1942 – 1 May 1944[11]
- 56th Pursuit Group, attached 17 June 1941, assigned 2 October 1941 – 15 January 1942[12]
- 58th Pursuit Group (later 58th Fighter Group), 2 October 1941 – 17 October 1942[13]
- 59th Fighter Group: by September 1943 – 1 May 1944[14]
- Squadrons
- 32d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter): 15 August – 1 September 1943[15]
- 34th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter): 15 August – 1 September 1943[16]
- 99th Fighter Squadron: attached 19 August 1942 – 24 April 1943[17]
- 403d Fighter Squadron: 15 March – 7 August 1943[18]
- : 22 February 1943 – 1 March 1944[19]
Stations[]
- Drew Field, Florida, 17 June 1941
- MacDill Field, Florida, c. 1 December 1945 – 8 April 1946[1]
References[]
Notes[]
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "III" Interceptor 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.
- ^ Robertson says attachment was to I Ground Air Support Command, but the command had been redesignated a division by this time. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441
- Citations
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Units, p. 440
- ^ Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Factsheet 57 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ "Factsheet 19 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Factsheet 22 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 49 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (10 July 2017). "Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (7 May 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Haulman, Daniel (25 November 2018). "Factsheet 54 Fighter Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Dollman, TSG David (27 July 2017). "Factsheet 56 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ Dollman, TSG David (8 February 2018). "Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (21 June 2017). "Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 159
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 166
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 329
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 493
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 544
Bibliography[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- 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.
- 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.
Categories:
- Intermediate fighter commands of the United States Army Air Forces
- Military units and formations established in 1941
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1948