III Tactical Air Command
| III Tactical Air Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Role | Command and training of tactical units |
| Engagements | World War II |
The III Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. It was inactivated on 24 October 1945.
History[]
At various times, 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
Lineage[]
- Constituted as the 3rd Ground Air Support Command on 15 May 1942[note 1]
- Activated on 19 May 1942.
- Redesignated III Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942
- Redesignated III Reconnaissance Command c. 18 August 1943
- Redesignated III Tactical Air Command c. 10 March 1944
- Disbanded on 24 October 1945[1]
Assignments[]
- Third Air Force, 19 May 1942 – 24 October 1945[1][2]
Components[]
- Divisions
- I Tactical Air Division (formerly III Tactical Air Division): 1944-1945[1]
- II Tactical Air Division: 1944-1945[1]
- III Tactical Air Division(formerly I Tactical Air Division): 1944[1]
- Wing
- 22d Bombardment Training Wing, 5 December 1942 – 6 August 1943[3]
- Groups
- 47th Bombardment Group, attached 29 June 1942, assigned 10 August – 27 September 1942[4]
- 48th Bombardment Group, 10 August 1942 – 6 August 1943[5]
- Squadrons
- 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (Special) (later 41st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron): 1 October – 4 December 1944[6]
- 2d Composite Squadron (see 6th Reconnaissance Squadron)
- 3d Composite Squadron (see 7th Reconnaissance Squadron)
- 6th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special) (later ): 20 August – 8 November 1943; 1 October 1944 – 25 October 1945[7]
- 7th Reconnaissance Squadron (Special) (later 3d Composite Squadron): 20 August – 8 November 1943; 1 October 1944 – 25 October 1945[8]
- 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 23 August – 26 December 1943[9]
- 24th Combat Mapping Squadron: 12 October – 26 December 1943[10]
- 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 October – c. 4 November 1943[11]
- 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 August – 27 September 1943[12]
- 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 October 1943 – 4 February 1944[13]
- 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 31 March 1944[14]
- 32d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 11 August 1943 – c. 20 April 1944[15]
- 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 11 August 1943 – 1 May 1944[16]
- 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 11 August – 9 October 1943[17]
- 35th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 30 November 1943 – 5 May 1944[18]
- 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 21 October 1943 – 18 April 1944[19]
- 41st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (see 1st Reconnaissance Squadron)
- 106th Reconnaissance Squadron, 23 August – 19 November 1943[20]
- 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, c. 25 October 1943 – c. 16 February 1944[21]
- 158th Liaison Squadron, 1 October – 13 December 1944[22]
- 161st Liaison Squadron, 15 May – 24 June 1944; 1 September – 25 October 1945[23]
- 162nd Liaison Squadron, 1 September – 25 October 1945[24]
- 398th Fighter Squadron, 1 September – 25 October 1945 (attached to 372d Fighter Group after 2 October 1945)[25]
Stations[]
- Birmingham Airport, Alabama, 19 May 1942
- Barksdale Field, Louisiana, c. 1 April 1944 – 24 October 1945[1]
References[]
Notes[]
- Explanatory notes
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f Maurer, Combat Units, p. 441
- ^ Haulman, Daniel L. (April 4, 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "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 E. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 13
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 21
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 108
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 126
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 139
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 144
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 150
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 154
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 158
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 162
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 165
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 169
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 330-331
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 346
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 360
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 489
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 December 17, 2016.
Categories:
- Intermediate combat commands of the United States Army Air Forces
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1945