III Fighter Command explained

Unit Name:	III Fighter Command
Dates:	1941-1946
Branch:
Role:	Command and training of fighter units
Notable Commanders:	Clarence L. Tinker Ralph Royce

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.

History

Background

GHQ Air Force (GHQ,AF) had been established with two major combat functions, to maintain a striking force against long range targets, and the air defense of the United States.^[1] In the spring of 1941, the War Department established four strategic defense areas and GHQ, AF reorganized its Southeast Air District as 3rd Air Force with responsibility for air defense planning and organization in the southeastern.^[2] 3rd Air Force activated 3rd Interceptor Command at Drew Field, Florida in 1941, under the command of Major General Walter H. Frank.^[3] The command's initial tactical component was the 8th Pursuit Wing.^[4]

Air defense

The attack on Pearl Harbor put all units on heightened alert.^[5] The command was charged with control of "active agents" for air defense in its area of responsibility, which included interceptor aircraft, antiaircraft artillery and barrage balloons. Civilian organizations provided air raid warnings and enforced blackouts and came under the authority of the Office of Civilian Defense and the command worked "feverishly" to create a ground observer corps as elements of its Aircraft Warning Service.^[6] However, it soon became apparent that having two commands responsible for air defense in the Eastern Theater of Operations was impractical. 1st Interceptor Command was given the mission of defending the East and Gulf coasts, while 3rd concentrated on the training mission starting early in 1942.^[7] Although the command retained responsibility for air defense on the Gulf coast west of the Apalachicola River, no "vital air defense zone" was established for this area, as it was for the Pacific and East coasts.^[8]

Unit and crew training

The command trained fighter organizations and personnel.^[3] By the end of 1942, the command's training consisted almost entirely of Replacement Training Units (RTU).^[9]

The command was inactivated in April 1946. It was transferred in inactive status to the newly-independent United States Air Force in September 1947, and was disbanded in October 1948.^[3]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 3rd Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941^[10]

Activated 17 June 1941^[11]

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^[3]

Assignments

• 3rd Air Force (later Third Air Force), 17 June 1941^[12]
• 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^[4]
• 19th Bombardment Wing, attached 24 July 1942 – 28 September 1942^[13]
• 22d Bombardment Training Wing, 6 August – 15 August 1943^[14]

Groups

• 2nd Air Commando Group: 22 April – c. 12 November 1944^[15]
• 3rd Air Commando Group: 1 May – c. 1 December 1944^[16]
• 31st Pursuit Group (later 31st Fighter Group): 18 April – 9 June 1942^[17]
• 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)^{[18] [19]}
• 49th Pursuit Group: attached 9 August 1941, assigned 2 October 1941 – February 1942^[20]
• 50th Pursuit Group (later 50th Fighter Group): 2 October 1941 – 28 May 1942^[21]
• 52nd Fighter Group: 26 November 1942 – 1 May 1944^[22]
• 54th Pursuit Group (later 54th Fighter Group), 18 April 1942 – 1 May 1944^[23]
• 56th Pursuit Group: attached 17 June 1941, assigned 2 October 1941 – 15 January 1942^[24]
• 58th Pursuit Group (later 58th Fighter Group): 2 October 1941 – 17 October 1942^[25]
• 59th Fighter Group: by September 1943 – 1 May 1944^[26]
• 80th Pursuit Group (later 80th Fighter Group): 9 February – 20 June 1942^[27]
• 85th Bombardment Group (later 85th Fighter-Bomber Group), 6 August 1943 – 1 May 1944^[28]
• 405th Fighter-Bomber Group, 15 August 1943 – 6 March 1944^[29]
• 408th Fighter-Bomber Group, 15 August – 10 November 1943, 12 February – 24 March 1944^[30]

Squadrons

• 32d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter): 15 August – 1 September 1943^[31]
• 34th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter): 15 August – 1 September 1943^[32]
• 99th Fighter Squadron: attached 19 August 1942 – 24 April 1943^[33]
• 403d Fighter Squadron: 15 March – 7 August 1943^[34]
• 439th Fighter Squadron: 22 February 1943 – 1 March 1944^[35]

Other

• 555th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion: 4 July – 8 October 1942^[36]

Stations

• Drew Field, Florida, 17 June 1941
• MacDill Field, Florida, c. 1 December 1945 – 8 April 1946^[3]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Cate. James L. . Williams. E. Kathleen . Craven, Wesley F . Cate, James L. The Army Air Forces in World War II. December 17, 2016. I, Plans and Early Operations. 1948. University of Chicago Press. Chicago, IL. 704158. 48003657. Prelude to War, Chapter 4, The Air Corps Prepares for War, 1939-41.
• Book: Goss, William A.. Craven, Wesley F . Cate, James L. The Army Air Forces in World War II. December 17, 2016. I, Plans and Early Operations. 1955. University of Chicago Press. Chicago, IL. 48003657. Tactical Demands, Chapter 8, Air Defense of the Western Hemisphere.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. December 17, 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.

Notes and References

1. Cate & Williams, p. 152
2. Cate & Williams, p. 154
3. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 440
4. Web site: Factsheet 57 Air Division . Staff Historian. 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121013204459/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10111 . 13 October 2012. 2 April 2014.
5. Goss, p. 278
6. Goss, p. 290
7. Goss, pp. 294-295
8. Goss, p. 295, map p. 297
9. White, p. 37
10. 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. Web site: Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations. 9 January 2008. Air Force History Index. 19 September 2016.
11. Maurer indicates that there is a question whether the command was activated on this date or not until about 14 July. Maurer, p. 440.
12. Web site: Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE). Haulman. Daniel L.. April 4, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 9, 2021.
13. Web site: Factsheet 19 Air Division . Staff historian. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022082746/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10072 . 4 October 2007. 22 October 2012 . 6 April 2014.
14. Web site: Factsheet 22 Air Division . Staff historian. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024010334/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10075 . 5 October 2007. 24 October 2012. 6 April 2014.
15. Web site: Factsheet 352 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC). Haulman. Daniel L.. May 18, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
16. Web site: Factsheet 353 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC). Musser. James. October 14, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.
17. Web site: Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 27, 2021.
18. Web site: Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
19. 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
20. Web site: Factsheet 49 Operations Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
21. Web site: Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
22. Web site: Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy. May 7, 2013. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 1, 2022.
23. Web site: Factsheet 54 Fighter Group (AETC). Haulman. Daniel. November 25, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 1, 2022.
24. Web site: Factsheet 56 Operations Group (AETC). Dollman. TSG David. July 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 1, 2022.
25. Web site: Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC). Dollman. TSG David. February 8, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 6, 2022.
26. Web site: Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC). Robertson. Patsy E.. June 21, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
27. Web site: Factsheet 80 Flying Training Wing (AETC). Haulman. Daniel L.. July 22, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
28. Web site: Factsheet 85 Group. Robertson. Patsy. September 29, 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
29. Web site: Factsheet 405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC). Hauman. Daniel L.. November 21, 2014. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 17, 2022.
30. Lineage & Honors History of the 408 Armament Systems Group (AFMC), 15 May 2006, Air Force Historical Research Agency
31. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 159
32. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 166
33. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 329
34. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 493
35. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 544
36. Web site: Factsheet 521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC). Lacomia. John M.. April 29, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 16, 2022.