III Bomber Command explained

Unit Name:	III Bomber Command
Dates:	1941-1946
Branch:
Role:	Command and training of bomber units
Notable Commanders:	Robert Olds

The III Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force headquarters. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command bomber units assigned to 3rd Air Force. Following the entry of the United States into World War II, it flew patrols off the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts. However, its main efforts soon began organizing and training medium bomber units and aircrews. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946 and disbanded in October 1948.

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, GHQ AF reorganized its Southeast Air District as 3rd Air Force. To carry out its mission of training and maintaining a strike force, 3rd Air Force organized 3rd Bomber Command at Drew Field, Florida in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The command soon moved to MacDill Field, Florida, where it was located when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Shortly afterwards, it moved to Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia, but returned to MacDill, where it spent the remainder of the war.^[2]

Training

It patrolled in search of enemy submarines.^[2]

The command trained medium bomber units and crews for Third Air Force, and training for this type of unit was virtually a monopoly for the command. Until August 1943, it also conducted training for dive and light bomber units and crews. However their training was transferred to III Air Support Command in August 1942.^[3]

In late 1943, some heavy bomber training was moved from Second Air Force, which had been the primary command for that training, to the command in order to enable combined training between fighters and bombers. In conjunction with this transfer, the command adopted the three phase training system for its training units: Phase I (individual training); Phase II (crew training) and Phase III (unit training).^[4]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 3rd Bomber Command on 4 September 1941^[5]

Activated on 5 September 1941

• Redesignated III Bomber Command on 18 September 1942

Inactivated on 8 April 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948^{[2] [6]}

Assignments

• Third Air Force, 5 September 1941^[7]
• Probably Tactical Air Command, 21 March 1946 – 8 April 1946

Components

Wings

• 89th Combat Crew Training Wing, from 19 June 1944^[8]
• 323d Combat Crew Training Wing, 22 February 1945 – 8 April 1946^[9]

Groups

• 3rd Bombardment Group, 8 December 1941 - 2 January 1942^[10]
• 12th Bombardment Group, 18 April – 16 August 1942^[11]
• 21st Bombardment Group, 11 March – 2 May 1942; 8 May 1942 – 10 October 1943^[12]
• 30th Bombardment Group: 15 January – 24 May 1941^[13]
• 46th Bombardment Group, 8 May – c. 8 July 1942; 6 August 1943 – 1 May 1944^[14]
• 47th Bombardment Group, 1 May – 10 August 1942 (attached to 3d Ground Air Support Command after 29 June 1942)^[15]
• 48th Bombardment Group, 8 May – 10 August 1942^[16]
• 85th Bombardment Group, 16 March - 2 May 1942; 8 May – 10 August 1942^[17]
• 86th Bombardment Group: 10 August 1942 – c. 11 May 1943 (attached to 23d Provisional Training Wing, c. September 1942 – c. March 1943)^[18]
• 90th Bombardment Group: 15 April – 12 September 1942^[19]
• 91st Bombardment Group: 15 April – c. 28 June 1942^[20]
• 92d Bombardment Group: 1 March – August 1942^[21]
• 94th Bombardment Group: 15–29 June 1942^[22]
• 95th Bombardment Group: 15–26 June 1942^[23]
• 100th Bombardment Group: 1–18 June 1942^[24]
• 310th Bombardment Group: 15 March – 2 May 1942^[25]
• 312th Bombardment Group, 16 March – 2 May 1942^[26]
• 319th Bombardment Group: 26 June – c. 12 September 1942^[27]
• 322d Bombardment Group: 17 July – c. 15 November 1942^[28]
• 335th Bombardment Group, 31 July 1942 – 1 May 1944?
• 336th Bombardment Group, c. 15 July 1942 – 1 May 1944^[29]
• 386th Bombardment Group, 1 December 1942 – c. 2 June 1943^[30]
• 409th Bombardment Group, 6 August 1943 – 7 March 1944^[31]
• 410th Bombardment Group, 6 August 1943 – 4 April 1944^[32]
• 416th Bombardment Group, 6 August 1943 – January 1944 (attached to II Tactical Air Division 1−22 November 1943)^[33]

Squadrons

• 1st Composite Squadron: 19 November 1944 – 2 January 1945^[34]
• 3d Reconnaissance Squadron; 5 June 1941 – 25 February 1942 (attached to 13th Bombardment Group)^[35]
• 35th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter); 15 August – 1 September 1943^[36]
• 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment; 15 August – 1 September 1943^[37]

Stations

• Drew Field, Florida, 5 September 1941
• MacDill Field, Florida, c. September 1941
• Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia, c. 10 December 1941
• MacDill Field, Florida, c. 15 December 1941 – 8 April 1946^[2]

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: 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.
• Web site: Combat Crew and Unit Training in the AAF 1939-1945, USAF Historical Study No. 61. White. Jerry. August 1949. Air Historical Office, United States Air Force. January 30, 2022.

Notes and References

1. Cate & Williams, p. 152
2. Maurer, Combat Units, p.439
3. White, p. 28
4. White, pp. 27-28
5. Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "III" Bomber 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.
6. The group was transferred to the United States Air Force when it was established as a separate service in September 1947. The Air Force disbanded it a year later.
7. Web site: Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE). Haulman. Daniel L.. April 4, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 9, 2021.
8. Web site: Document Detail for IRISNUM= 00106810 . Air Force History Index.
9. Web site: Factsheet 323 Air Division . Air Force Historical Research Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030120205/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10143 . 10 May 2007. 30 October 2012 . 22 March 2014.
10. Web site: Factsheet 3 Operations Group (PACAF). Robertson. Patsy. June 26, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 27, 2021.
11. Web site: Factsheet 12 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy. June 26, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 28, 2021.
12. Web site: Factsheet 21 Operations Group (AFSPC). Haulman. Daniel. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 29, 2021.
13. Web site: Factsheet 30 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. June 27, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
14. Web site: Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC). Robertson. Patsy. September 4, 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 30, 2021.
15. Web site: Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
16. Web site: Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE). Robertson. Patsy E.. July 7, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. December 31, 2021.
17. Web site: Factsheet 85 Group. Robertson. Patsy. September 29, 2008. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
18. Web site: Factsheet 86 Operations Group (USAFE). Forte. Maria. April 4, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
19. Web site: Factsheet 90 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. May 27, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
20. Web site: Factsheet 91 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. May 28, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
21. Web site: Factsheet 92 Operations Group (AMC). Bailey. Carl E.. July 14, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
22. Web site: Factsheet 94 Operations Group (AFRC). Robertson. Patsy. July 11, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
23. Web site: Factsheet 95 Air Base Wing (AFMC). Robertson. Patsy. June 30, 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
24. Web site: Factsheet 100 Air Refueling Wing (USAFE). Stephens. Maj Tonia. January 9, 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
25. Web site: Factsheet 310 Space Wing (AFSPC). Bailey. Carl E.. August 9, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
26. Web site: Factsheet 312 Aeronautical Systems Group (AFMC. Bailey. Carl E.. December 27, 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 10, 2022.
27. Web site: Factsheet 319 Operations Group (ACC). Ream. Margaret. January 25, 2021. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 11, 2022.
28. Web site: Factsheet 322 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE). Kane. Robert B.. May 10, 2011. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 17, 2022.
29. Web site: Factsheet 336 Training Group (AETC). Robinson. Patsy M.. June 21, 2011. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 12, 2022.
30. Web site: Factsheet 386 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC). Bailey. Carl E.. June 3, 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018202548/https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1347006/386-air-expeditionary-wing-acc/ . October 18, 2020. January 17, 2022.
31. Lineage & Honors History of the 409th Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE), undated, Air Force Historical Research Agency
32. Warnock, A. Timothy, Lineage & Honors History of the 410 Air Expeditionary Wing, 4 February 2003, Air Force Historical Research Agency
33. Web site: Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC). Kane. Robert B.. 24 March 2010. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 17, 2022.
34. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 7
35. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 37-38
36. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 170
37. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 181