I Fighter Command

I Fighter Command
P-40 Warhawk of the command's 31st Pursuit Group
Active	1941–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air defense and training of fighter units
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
I Fighter Command emblem[note 1][1]

I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II.

The command was responsible for air defense of the northeastern United States until mid-1944, as well as training fighter units and personnel.

History[]

Constituted on 26 May 1941 as 1st Interceptor Command, it was activated on 5 June 1941 at Mitchel Field controlling fighter operations within the First Air Force, under the command of Brigadier General . The command was based at Mitchel for the duration of its existence except for a brief stint in New York City from 27 December 1941 to 9 June 1942. Brigadier General John K. Cannon took command in March 1942. From August of that year to mid-1944 it included the Boston, New York, Norfolk, and Philadelphia Fighter Wings. Cannon was replaced by Colonel Elwood R. Quesada about 29 September; Brigadier General took command about 25 November. Between April 1943 and around 14 April 1944 it was led by Brigadier General , who was replaced around 26 May by Brigadier General , its last commander. The command provided air defense for the northeast coast of the United States until August 1944, when the prospect of air attack became remote, and also trained fighter units and personnel. After the end of the war it was inactivated on 21 March 1946 and disbanded on 8 October 1948.^[1]

Lineage[]

• Constituted as the 1st Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941^{[note 2]}

Activated on 5 June 1941

Redesignated 1st Fighter Command 15 May 1942

Redesignated I Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 21 March 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^[1]

Assignments[]

• First Air Force, 26 May 1941 – 21 March 1946^[1][2]

Stations[]

• Mitchel Field, New York, 5 June 1941
• New York City, New York, 27 December 1941
• Mitchel Field, New York, 9 June 1942 – 21 March 1946.^[1]

Components[]

Wings

• 3rd Air Defense Wing, 12 December 1942 – c. 7 February 1943^[3]
• 6th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 7 December 1941^[4]
• 7th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 31 August 1941^[5]
• Boston Air Defense Wing (later Boston Fighter Wing), 11 August 1942 – 13 February 1945^[6]
• New York Air Defense Wing (later New York Fighter Wing), 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946^[7][8]
• (later Norfolk Fighter Wing), 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946^[7][8]
• Philadelphia Air Defense Wing (later Philadelphia Fighter Wing), 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946^[9][8]

Groups

• 8th Pursuit Group, 31 August 1941 – 6 March 1942^[10]
• 31st Pursuit Group, 1 October 1941 – 18 April 1942^[11]
• 33d Pursuit Group (later 33d Fighter Group), 2 October 1941 – 11 August 1942^[12]
• 52d Pursuit Group (later 52d Fighter Group), 1 October 1941 – c. 15 June 1942^[13]
• 56th Pursuit Group (later 56th Fighter Group), 15 January – 11 August 1942^[14]
• 57th Pursuit Group (later 57th Fighter Group), 1 September 1941 – c. 16 July 1942^[15]

Squadrons

• 305th Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April – 19 December 1943^[16]
• 403d Fighter Squadron: 7 August – 15 December 1943^[17]
• 453d Fighter Squadron: 20 November – 1 December 1943^[18]

References[]

Citations[]

Explanatory notes

Citations

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.