This article is about the 3d Air Support Command disbanded in March 1942. For the 3rd Air Support Command organized in May 1942, see III Tactical Air Command.
The 3rd Air Support Command was a United States Army Air Forces command, assigned to the 3rd Air Force throughout its existence. It was organized at Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia. By early 1942, most of its trained personnel had been lost to overseas theaters. It moved to Drew Field, Florida, where it was disbanded on 16 March 1942.
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]
North American O-47B during the 1941 war games
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]3rd Air Force organized 3rd Air Support Command at Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia in September 1941, where it drew its cadre and equipment from the 17th Bombardment Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated.[3][2] New observation groups were formed and assigned, with cadres drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941.[2]
The command trained air force organizations for support operations and assisted in training ground forces.[3] During the Carolina Maneuvers of 1941, the command was attached to IV Corps. Unlike the opposing force, the command's headquarters were located about sixty miles distant from that of the ground forces it supported, giving it greater freedom of action. As a result, its forces were used more aggressively and more frequently in an offensive role, than those of the opposing force.[4] After the attack on Pearl Harbor it also conducted antisubmarine patrols.[3]
However, by early 1942, the command's first commander, Asa N. Duncan, 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.[2] As a result, it was decided to disband the command. Its headquarters were moved to Drew Field, Florida on 1 March and it was disbanded there on 16 March 1942.[3]
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 3rd Air Support Command on 21 August 1941[note 2]
^In September 1947, when the United States Air Force became an independent service, all former Air Corps units were put under its control, including disbanded units.
^Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "III" 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.
^Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^Robertson, Patsy (26 June 2017). "Factsheet 3 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^Haulman, Daniel L. (23 July 2019). "Factsheet 27 Special Operations Group (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^Ream, Margaret (21 March 2021). "Factsheet 67 Cyberspace Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^Stephens, Maj Tonia (19 June 2017). "Factsheet 53 Electronic Warfare Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^Robertson, Patsy (29 September 2008). "Factsheet 85 Group". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
^Bailey, Carl E. (27 December 2007). "Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group (AFMC". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
March 14, 2024
support, command, this, article, about, support, command, disbanded, march, 1942, organized, 1942, tactical, command, united, states, army, forces, command, assigned, force, throughout, existence, organized, army, base, savannah, georgia, early, 1942, most, tr. This article is about the 3d Air Support Command disbanded in March 1942 For the 3rd Air Support Command organized in May 1942 see III Tactical Air Command The 3rd Air Support Command was a United States Army Air Forces command assigned to the 3rd Air Force throughout its existence It was organized at Army Air Base Savannah Georgia By early 1942 most of its trained personnel had been lost to overseas theaters It moved to Drew Field Florida where it was disbanded on 16 March 1942 3rd Air Support CommandB 18A Bolo of the command s 3d Bombardment GroupActive1941 1942Country United StatesBranch United States Army United States Air Force note 1 RoleCommand and training of reconnaissance and light bomber forcesEngagementsAntisubmarine campaign American Theater Contents 1 History 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Components 2 3 Stations 2 4 Campaigns 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory editGeneral 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 nbsp North American O 47B during the 1941 war gamesIn 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 3rd Air Force organized 3rd Air Support Command at Army Air Base Savannah Georgia in September 1941 where it drew its cadre and equipment from the 17th Bombardment Wing which was simultaneously inactivated 3 2 New observation groups were formed and assigned with cadres drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941 2 The command trained air force organizations for support operations and assisted in training ground forces 3 During the Carolina Maneuvers of 1941 the command was attached to IV Corps Unlike the opposing force the command s headquarters were located about sixty miles distant from that of the ground forces it supported giving it greater freedom of action As a result its forces were used more aggressively and more frequently in an offensive role than those of the opposing force 4 After the attack on Pearl Harbor it also conducted antisubmarine patrols 3 However by early 1942 the command s first commander Asa N Duncan 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 2 As a result it was decided to disband the command Its headquarters were moved to Drew Field Florida on 1 March and it was disbanded there on 16 March 1942 3 Lineage editConstituted as the 3rd Air Support Command on 21 August 1941 note 2 Activated on 1 September 1941 Disbanded on 16 March 1942 3 Assignments edit 3rd Air Force 1 September 1941 16 March 1942 3 5 Components edit 3rd Bombardment Group 1 September 8 December 1941 2 January February 1942 6 27th Bombardment Group 1 September c 20 November 1941 7 67th Observation Group 1 September 1941 16 March 1942 8 68th Observation Group 1 September 1941 16 March 1942 9 85th Bombardment Group 10 February 16 March 1942 10 312th Bombardment Group 15 16 March 1942 11 Stations edit Army Air Base Savannah Georgia 1 September 1941 Drew Field Florida 1 16 March 1942 3 Campaigns edit Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes nbsp Antisubmarine 7 December 1941 16 March 1942 3 References editNotes edit Explanatory notes In September 1947 when the United States Air Force became an independent service all former Air Corps units were put under its control including disbanded units Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the III 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 Cate amp Williams pp 152 155 a b c d Futrell p 13 a b c d e f g h Maurer p 439 Futrell p 19 Haulman Daniel L 4 April 2019 Factsheet Third Air Force USAFE Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 9 December 2021 Robertson Patsy 26 June 2017 Factsheet 3 Operations Group PACAF Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 27 December 2021 Haulman Daniel L 23 July 2019 Factsheet 27 Special Operations Group AFSOC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 29 December 2021 Ream Margaret 21 March 2021 Factsheet 67 Cyberspace Operations Group AFSPC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 29 December 2021 Stephens Maj Tonia 19 June 2017 Factsheet 53 Electronic Warfare Group ACC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 29 December 2021 Robertson Patsy 29 September 2008 Factsheet 85 Group Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 10 January 2022 Bailey Carl E 27 December 2007 Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group AFMC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 10 January 2022 Bibliography edit nbsp 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 from https en wikipedia org w index php title 3rd Air Support Command amp oldid 1204386905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
