I Bomber Command
| I Bomber Command | |
|---|---|
Antisubmarine (American Theater) | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Robert F. Travis |
| Insignia | |
| I Bomber Command emblem (approved 24 April 1942)[1] | _Emblem.jpg) |
The I Bomber Command (later XX Bomber Command) was an intermediate command of the
antisubmarine warfare
off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
The command was activated again for a brief period in 1943, again as a bomber training command, located in the southwestern United States. It was disbanded in October 1943.
History
Initial activation and involvement in antisubmarine warfare
2d Bombardment Wing, which was inactivated the same day, and whose subordinate units were reassigned to the command.[3] Shortly after the attack, The best trained units in the command moved to critical defense areas or were identified for early shipment overseas.[4]
In November 1941, an increase in German
49th Bombardment Squadron to meet the Navy request.[5] Then the command's headquarters moved to New York City, New York.[1]
Within a month after the declaration of war by the United States against Germany,
Army Air Forces (AAF), which had available long range and very long range aircraft,[note 2] but whose crews had not been trained for the mission. Moreover, the AAF's long range planes were armed with bombs, rather than depth charges.[7]
As a result, the Commander of the North Atlantic Naval Coastal Frontier requested the Army's
I Air Support Command. However, although I Bomber Command was primarily involved in conducting ASW, it was doing so on an emergency basis, and was subject to withdrawal from these duties to perform its primary bombardment function.[8] The command used Douglas B-18 Bolo and North American B-25 Mitchells to patrol as far out as 300 miles, and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses to patrol to 600 miles from shore, but in early operations was only able to maintain six aircraft on patrol. For patrols closer to the shore, the command relied on the civilian pilots of the new Civil Air Patrol.[9]
In March 1942, the command received its first planes equipped with radar.[10] It soon became apparent that if the AAF were to continue with the ASW mission, its units would have to be organized under a specially trained and equipped command.[11] The personnel and assets of I Bomber Command were transferred to the newly created Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command on 15 October 1942.[1]
Return to bomber training
The command was reactivated as a bomber training command at
Lineage
- Constituted as the 1st Bomber Command on 4 September 1941
- Activated on 5 September 1941
- Redesignated I Bomber Command on 18 September 1942
- Inactivated on 15 October 1942
- Activated on 1 May 1943
Assignments
- First Air Force, 5 September 1941 – 15 October 1942[13]
- Second Air Force, 1 May – 6 October 1943[1][14]
Components
Groups
- 1st Pursuit Group, 5 September – 9 December 1941[4]
- 13th Bombardment Group: 5 September 1941 – 15 October 1942[16]
- 22d Bombardment Group, 5 September 1941 – February 1942[17]
- 34th Bombardment Group, 5 September 1941 – 27 January 1942[18]
- 43d Bombardment Group, c. 5 September 1941 – c. 28 March 1942[19]
- 45th Bombardment Group: 5 January – 15 October 1942[20]
- 46th Bombardment Group, 15 May – 6 October 1943[21]
Squadron
- 124th Observation Squadron: attached 3 July – 15 October 1942[22]
Stations
- Langley Field, Virginia, 5 September 1941
- New York City, New York, 12 December 1941 – 15 October 1942
- El Paso, Texas, 1 May – 16 October 1943[1]
Campaign
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Antisubmarine | 7 December 1941–15 October 1942 | I Bomber Command[1] |
References
Notes
- ^ Both organizations were established with arabic numerals in their names. In September 1942, the Army established that Numbered Air Forces would be identified with spelled out numbers and commands with roman numerals. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ At the time, 600 miles was considered "long range" and 1000 miles was "very long range." Warnock, p. 2
- ^ When the United States Air Force became a separate service in September 1947, former Air Corps units were transferred to it, including units like the command, that had been disbanded.
- ^ Haulman says transfer occurred on 13 October 1942, but AAF Antisubmarine Command was not activated until 15 October.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Maurer, p. 452
- ^ Cate & Williams, p. 152
- ^ Maurer, pp. 374-375
- ^ a b Haulman, Daniel (7 November 2017). "Factsheet 1 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Cate & Williams, p. 157
- ^ Ferguson, p. 1-2
- ^ Ferguson, p. 4
- ^ Ferguson, pp. 5-8
- ^ Warnock, pp. 8-9
- ^ Warnock, p. 9
- ^ Ferguson, p. 11
- ^ Maurer, p. 437
- ^ Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ Ream, Margaret (9 September 2020). "Factsheet Second Air Force (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ Haulman, Daniel (28 September 2017). "Factsheet 2 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Maurer, pp. 56-57
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 22 Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021. Robertson says assignment began 4 September 1941, but 1st Bomber Command was not activated until 5 September.
- ^ Warnock, A. Timothy (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 34 Training Wing (USAFA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Beiley, Carl E. (25 August 2017). "Factsheet 43 Air Mobility Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (4 September 2008). "Factsheet 46 Operations Group (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 349
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cate, James L.; Williams, E. Kathleen (1948). "Prelude to War, Chapter 4, The Air Corps Prepares for War, 1939-41". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. I, Plans and Early Operations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. OCLC 704158. Archived from the original(PDF) on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ferguson, Arthur B. (April 1945). "The Antisubmarine Command, USAF Historical Study No. 107" (PDF). Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence Historical Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 December 2016.
- Warnock, Timothy. "The Battle Against the U-Boat in the American Theater" (PDF). Bolling AFB, DC: Air Force History Support Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2015.