IV Bomber Command explained

Unit Name:IV Bomber Command
Dates:1941-1944
Branch:
Role:Command and training of bombardment units
Battles:Antisubmarine Campaign[1]
Notable Commanders:Frank D. Lackland Barney M. Giles
Identification Symbol Label:IV Bomber Command emblem[2]

The IV 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 4th Air Force. Following the entry of the United States into World War II, it flew patrols off the Pacific coast. However, its main efforts soon began organizing and training bomber units and aircrews. It was disbanded at San Francisco, California on 31 March 1944.

History

Background and organization

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.[3] In the spring of 1941, GHQ, AF reorganized its Southwest Air District as 4th Air Force. To carry out its mission of training and maintaining a strike force, 4th Air Force organized a provisional Bomber Command, 4th Air Force at March Field by April 1941. In September, the provisional command was replaced by 4th Bomber Command at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in September 1941. The command moved to Hamilton Field, California, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.[1] The new command drew much of its initial cadre from the 1st Bombardment Wing, which had been stationed at Davis-Monthan since May.[4]

Operations

Shortly after the command became organized, the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the command to relocate to move to Hamilton Field and concentrate its efforts on antisubmarine patrols off the southern Pacific coast, reinforcing units of the Western and Northwestern Sea Frontiers of the United States Navy.[5] However, it shortly became apparent that there was little threat from Japanese submarines. and the command shifted its focus to the training of bomber units and crews. Simultaneously, the AAF moved almost all its heavy bomber training in Second Air Force, while Fourth Air Force focused on fighter aircraft, training, so the command did not grow.

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).[6]

In the spring of 1944, the AAF reorganized its training units to provide more flexibility in manning, rather than continuing to use rigid table of organization units.[7] In this reorganization, the command was disbanded on 31 March 1944 and its personnel absorbed into the 400th AAF Base Unit (Headquarters, Fourth Air Force).[1] [8]

Lineage

Activated on 19 September 1941

Redesignated IV Bomber Command on 18 September 1942

Disbanded on 31 March 1944[1]

Assignments

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 441-442
  2. Approved 4 December 1941.
  3. Cate & Williams, p. 152
  4. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 373-374
  5. Web site: Abstract, History 4 Bomber Command Apr 1941-December 1942 . Air Force History Index. 26 August 2017.
  6. White, pp. 27-28
  7. Goss, p. 75
  8. Web site: Abstract, History Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, 4 Bomber Command 1941-1944. Air Force History Index. 26 August 2017.
  9. This command is not related to a previous Bomber Command, 4th Air Force, apparently a provisional organization, that was organized at March Field from the 1st Bombardment Wing on 11 April 1941 and discontinued on 19 September 1941. Web site: Abstract, History 4 Bomber Command Apr 1941-December 1942 . Air Force History Index. 26 August 2017.
  10. Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "IV" 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.
  11. Web site: Factsheet 14 Operations Group (AETC). Haulman. Daniel. 3 June 2019. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 26 August 2017.
  12. Haulman says assignment began on 5 September. According to Maurer, the command was not activated until the 19th of the month. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 441-442
  13. Web site: Factsheet 19 Operations Group (AMC). Robertson. Patsy. 27 June 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 26 August 2017.
  14. Web site: Factsheet 30 Operations Group (AFSPC). Robertson. Patsy. 27 June 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 26 August 2017.
  15. Web site: Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC). Haulman. Daniel. 13 June 2018. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 30 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC). Robertson. Patsy. 7 July 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 26 August 2017.
  17. Web site: Factsheet 51 Operations Group (PACAF). Haulman. Daniel. 10 July 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 1 January 2022.
  18. See Maurer, p. 285 (assignment to Fourth Air Force)
  19. See Maurer, pp. 344-345 (assignment to Fourth Air Force)
  20. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 156
  21. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 524

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