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III Reconnaissance Command

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This article is about the III Reconnaissance Command of 1945-1946. For the III Reconnaissance Command of 1943-1944, see III Tactical Air Command.

III Reconnaissance Command
A Lockheed F-5 Lightning as used by photographic reconnaissance units training under III Reconnaissance Commband
Active1941-1946
Country United States
Branch United States Army
 United States Air Force
RoleCommand of air support and reconnaissance training units
Commanders
Notable
commanders		William E. Kepner
Insignia
III Reconnaissance Command Distinctive Unit Insigne[note 1][1]

The III Reconnaissance Command is a disbanded United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 8 April 1946. After transferring to the United States Air Force in September 1947, it was disbanded in October 1948.

The command was organized in September 1941 as the 1st Air Support Command, an element of 1st Air Force to control light bombardment and observation units in its area of responsibility. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the command's units conducted antisubmarine warfare patrols off the Atlantic Coast. In August 1942, it transferred to 3rd Air Force, which had the responsibility to train air support units for the Army Air Forces (AAF) and assumed the mission of training units and aircrews for overseas deployment. In 1943, it became the I Tactical Air Division (later III Tactical Air Division) under III Tactical Air Command. In the final months of the war, it specialized in training reconnaissance units.

History

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Initial organization under 1st Air Force

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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.[2]

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.[3] 1st Air Force organized 1st Air Support Command at Mitchel Field, New York in September 1941, drawing its personnel and equipment from the 7th Pursuit Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated.[1][3]

North American O-47B during the 1941 war games

New observation groups were formed, with a cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941.[3] During the Carolina Maneuvers of 1941, the command was attached to First Army. Unlike the opposing force, the command posts of the air and ground elements were located together, and the commander of the air support command doubled as the air staff officer of the ground force commander. The opposing force command posts were separated by sixty miles, which enabled greater freedom of action and use of airpower more aggressively.[4]

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the command came under the control of the Eastern Theater of Operations[3] and flew antisubmarine patrols off the east coast. However, by early 1942, the command's first commander William E. Kepner, 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.[3] However, in May, the Army Air Forces (AAF) reaffirmed that each of the continental numbered air forces would have an air support command and the command's manning was brought back up.[5] Although most of the command's observation units were withdrawn from antisubmarine operations in June 1942, the command continued limited antisubmarine patrols until 15 October 1942, when Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command took over the mission.[1][5][6]

Transfer to 3rd Air Force

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The AAF determined that its continental air forces would specialize in their training operations and that all their air support commands would be reassigned to Third Air Force.[5] In August 1942, the command was one of the first reassigned to Third Air Force.[7][8] This was followed by a move to Morris Field, North Carolina, a base in the Third Air Force area in November 1942.[1]

In October 1942, AAF directed that half of the observation groups assigned to the command were to be reduced to 50% strength or less with their personnel used to form new tow target squadrons, or transferred to heavy bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU)s or Replacement Training Unit (RTU)s.[9] The command continued to train light bomber crews.[1]

In August 1943, the command was redesignated the I Tactical Air Division with the intent that the command would engage in combined training with army ground forces.[10] This included participation in maneuvers. The command became the III Tactical Air Division in the spring of 1944. In May 1944, the command began to specialize in training reconnaissance aircrews and organizations. In June 1945, this mission change was recognized by a change in name to III Reconnaissance Command.[1]

After the end of the war, the command moved to Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota in November 1945, and was inactivated there in April 1946.[1]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 1st Air Support Command on 21 August 1941
Activated on 4 September 1941
Redesignated 1st Ground Air Support Command c. 30 April 1942
Redesignated I Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942
Redesignated I Tactical Air Division on 28 August 1943
Redesignated III Tactical Air Division c. 15 April 1944
Redesignated III Reconnaissance Command c. 1 June 1945
Inactivated on 9 April 1946
Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1][11][note 2]

Assignments

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  • 1st Air Force, 4 September 1941[7]
  • 3rd Air Force (later Third Air Force), 17 August 1942[8]
  • III Tactical Air Command, c. 15 April 1944[12]
  • Third Air Force, c. 1 June 1945 – 9 April 1946[8]

Components

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Groups
Squadrons
Base Units
  • 321st AAF Base Unit (Headquarters, III Tactical Air Division [later Headquarters, III Reconnaissance Command]): 1 May 1944 – c. 1 November 1945
  • 322nd AAF Base Unit (56th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, Light): 1 May 1944 – c. 1 November 1945
  • 333rd AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light, Bombardment [later Combat Crew Training Station, Light Bombardment]):[46][47] 1 May 1944 – 31 January 1945http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/854.xml
  • 334th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Light, Bombardment [later Combat Crew Training Station, Light Bombardment]):[48][49] 1 May – 1 October 1944[50]
  • 347th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Tactical Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – c. 28 March 1946
  • 348th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Photographic Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – 29 December 1944
  • 349th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Liaison):[51] c. 1 June 1945 – c. 7 November 1945
  • 353rd AAF Base Unit (Maneuver Station):[52] 1 May 1944 – c. 31 January 1946
  • 379th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Tactical Reconnaissance): c. 1 June 1945 – 1945

Stations

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  • Mitchel Field, New York, 4 September 1941
  • Morris Field, North Carolina, c. 10 November 1942
  • Key Field, Mississippi, c. 3 April 1944
  • Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, November 1945 – 9 April 1946[1]

Campaign

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Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Antisubmarine 7 December 1941 – 1 August 1943 1st Air Support Command (later 1st Ground Air Support Command, I Air Support Command)[1]
American Theater without inscription 1 August 1943 – 2 March 1946 I Air Support Command (later I Tactical Air Division, III Tactical Air Division, III Reconnaissance Command)[1]

References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 23 July 1942.
  2. ^ The command was transferred to the United States Air Force in inactive status in September 1947. The Air Force disbanded it a year later.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 440-441
  2. ^ Cate & Williams, p. 152, 155
  3. ^ a b c d e Futrell, p 13
  4. ^ Futrell, p. 19
  5. ^ a b c Futrell, p. 15
  6. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 437
  7. ^ a b Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Haulman, Daniel L. (4 April 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  9. ^ White, p. 80
  10. ^ White, p. 87
  11. ^ Some details from Futrell, Kane and Haulman.
  12. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 441 (year only). However, Haulman indicates assignment to Third Air Force during this period.
  13. ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 December 2007). "Factsheet 350 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  14. ^ Robertson, Patsy (9 September 2008). "Factsheet 45 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  15. ^ Robertson, Patsy (22 September 2008). "Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  16. ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (7 July 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  17. ^ Robertson, Patsy E. (21 June 2017). "Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  18. ^ Robertson, Patsy (10 July 2017). "Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  19. ^ Bailey, Carl E. (20 May 2019). "Factsheet 1 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  20. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 11
  21. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 24
  22. ^ Dollman, TSG David (15 May 2017). "Factsheet 5 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  23. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 13
  24. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 21
  25. ^ Dollman, TSG David (27 March 2017). "Factsheet 9 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  26. ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2018). "Factsheet 14 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  27. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 78
  28. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 80
  29. ^ Dollman, TSG Davis (31 August 2012). "Factsheet 18 Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  30. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 103
  31. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 173
  32. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 177
  33. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 184
  34. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 188
  35. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
  36. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 229
  37. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 231
  38. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266
  39. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 590
  40. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 344
  41. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 348
  42. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 351
  43. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
  44. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
  45. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363
  46. ^ "Abstract, History, Morris Field, Jul 1944-Jan 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Abstract, History, Morris Field, Feb-Apr 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Abstract, History, Florence AAF, Dec 1944". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Mar-May 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Abstract, History Florence AAF, Mav 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Abstract, History Florence AAF Dec 1928-Dec 1944". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  51. ^ "Abstract, History Muskogee AAF Oct 1943-May 1945". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  52. ^ "Abstract, History Esler Field Jan 1946". Air Force History Index, Florence AAF, Dec 1944. Retrieved 21 February 2022.

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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