San Francisco Fighter Wing Explained

Unit Name:	San Francisco Fighter Wing
Dates:	1942–1944
Branch:	^[1]
Role:	Air defense and fighter training
Battles:	World War II
Notable Commanders:	General Dean C. Strother
Identification Symbol Label:	Patch with San Francisco Fighter Wing emblem^[2] ^[3]

The San Francisco Fighter Wing is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. The wing provided air defense of the central Pacific coast and trained fighter units and pilots. It was stationed at San Francisco, California, where it was disbanded on 7 June 1944.

History

Along the Pacific coast, Western Defense Command established a "vital air defense zone", extending from the coast approximately 150miles inland and 200miles to sea.^[4] To carry out this mission, Fourth Air Force organized regional air defense wings in August 1942.^{[5] [6]} The San Francisco Air Defense Wing was organized to provide air defense for the central Pacific coast area and train fighter groups and pilots.^[3]

The Army Air Forces later found that standard military units like the wing, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were not well adapted to the training mission, even more so to the replacement mission. Accordingly, the Army Air Forces adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit, with similar flexible units established for headquarters.^[7]

In this reorganization, the wing's mission, equipment and personnel were transferred to the 411th AAF Base Unit (Fighter Wing) on 1 April 1944,^[8] The wing remained a paper unit until 7 June, when the 411th was simultaneously redescribed as the 411th AAF Base Unit (Air Defense Region). In 1946, the 411th became the 411th AAF Base Unit (San Francisco Control Group). It was discontinued on 1 January 1947.

Lineage

• Constituted as the San Francisco Air Defense Wing on 6 August 1942

Activated on 11 August 1942

Redesignated San Francisco Fighter Wing c. 2 July 1943

Disbanded on 7 June 1944^[3]

Assignments

• IV Fighter Command, 11 August 1942
• Fourth Air Force, 31 March 1944 – 7 June 1944

Components

• 328th Fighter Group: attached c. 28 October 1942, assigned 11 April 1943 – 1 March 1944^[9]
• 354th Fighter Group: attached 15 November 1942 - 2 June 1943^[10]
• 357th Fighter Group: c. April 1943 - c. 7 October 1943^[10]
• 363d Fighter Group, 12 April – 30 December 1943^[11]
• 367th Fighter Group: 15 July 1943 – c. 8 March 1944^[10]
• 369th Fighter Group: 1 August 1943 – c. 28 March 1944^[10]
• 372d Fighter Group: 28 October 1943 - c. 7 December 1943^[10]
• 478th Fighter Group: 1 December 1943 – c. 3 February 1944^[10]

Stations

• San Francisco, California, 20 August 1942 - 7 June 1944^[3]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• 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: Goss, William A.. Craven, Wesley F.. Cate, James L. . The Army Air Forces in World War II. December 17, 2016 . VI, Men & Planes. 1955. University of Chicago Press. Chicago, IL. 704158. 48003657. The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. December 17, 2016. 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. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6.
• 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. When the United States Air Force became a separate service in September 1947, all former Army Air Forces units, including disbanded units were transferred to its control.
2. Approved 5 February 1943.
3. Maurer, Combaat Units, p. 429
4. Goss, Air Defense, p. 296, map, p. 297
5. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 426-430; Goss, Air Defense, p. 296
6. White, p. 38
7. Goss, Organization & Responsibilities, p. 75
8. http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/110/395.xml Abstract, History of San Francisco Fighter Wing Apr-Jun 1944
9. Web site: Factsheet 328 Armament Systems Wing (AFMC). Butler. William M.. December 27, 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 12, 2022.
10. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 429 (year only)
11. Web site: Factsheet 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (ACC). Robertson. Patsy. July 10, 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. January 13, 2022.