I Fighter Command

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I Fighter Command
Elwood R. Quesada
Insignia
I Fighter Command emblem[note 1][1]

I Fighter Command was a

air defense of the Northeastern United States. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the command's area of responsibility extended over the entire Atlantic coast and into Canada and Iceland. As the perceived threat of attack decreased, the command's responsibnility for training units and aircrews
became its primary mission. The command continued its mission until March 1946, when it was inactivated.

History

Background

Mitchel Field to plan the air defense of the United States and develop air defense doctrine.[4][note 2]

1st Air Force activated 1st Interceptor Command at Mitchel Field on 5 June 1941, under the command of Brigadier General John C. McDonnell, drawing its personnel from Air Defense Command, which inactivated three days earlier.

7th Pursuit Wings[6][7][1]

Air Defense

Shortly after the

33d Pursuit Squadron to provide air defense in Iceland in July.[9] The command organized Detachment A to manage the 33rd, along with antiaircraft artillery and signal warning units involved in the air defense of Iceland.[10]

The command was charged with control of "active agents" for air defense in its area of responsibility, which included

Eastern Theater of Operations was impractical, and in early 1942, the command took over responsibility for air defense of the East and part of the Gulf coast.[12][note 3][13]

Along the Atlantic coast, Eastern Defense Command established a "vital air defense zone", extending from the coast approximately 150 miles (240 km) inland and 200 miles (320 km) to sea, with long range bombers from

air sea rescue.[18]

Unit and crew training

In 1942, Air Force Combat Command had established an

3d Air Forces. The system was later extended to 1st Air Force. Although it was originally intended to confine the OTU system to 2d and 3rd Air Forces, too much of the AAF's aircrew and aircraft were assigned to 1st Air Force to permit the command to forego training responsibilities entirely. In May 1942, all pursuit groups assumed Operational Training Unit (OTU) responsibility.[19] The command also trained fighter units and personnel.[1] By the end of 1942, the command's training consisted almost entirely of OTUs.[20] As units deployed overseas, the command's training mission shifted to training individuals in Replacement Training Units
(RTU).

Inactivation

After the end of the war it was inactivated on 21 March 1946.[1] After September 1947, all former Air Corps units were transferred to the United States Air Force, which disbanded the command in October 1948.[1]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 1st Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941[note 4]
Activated on 5 June 1941
Redesignated 1st Fighter Command 15 May 1942
Redesignated I Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942
Inactivated on 21 March 1946
Disbanded on 8 October 1948[1]

Assignments

Stations

  • Mitchel Field, New York, 5 June 1941
  • New York City, New York, 27 December 1941
  • Mitchel Field, New York, 9 June 1942 – 21 March 1946[1]

Components

Wings
  • 3rd Air Defense Wing, 12 December 1942 – c. 7 February 1943[22]
  • 6th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 7 December 1941[6]
  • 7th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 31 August 1941[7]
  • 301st Fighter Wing: attached 15 October 1944 – 21 May 1945[23]
  • Boston Air Defense Wing (later Boston Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 13 February 1945 (not manned after July 1944)[24]
  • New York Air Defense Wing (later New York Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)[25][16]
  • Norfolk Air Defense Wing (later Norfolk Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)[25][16]
  • Philadelphia Air Defense Wing (later Philadelphia Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)[26][16]
Groups
Squadrons
Aircraft warning units
  • Signal Aircraft Warning Service, 1 Interceptor Command (later Signal Aircraft Warning Service, I Fighter Command: c. 30 November 1941 – c. 1 May 1944
  • 502nd Signal Regiment (Aircraft Warning): c. 15 December 1941 – January 1942
Base units

Campaign

Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 7 December 1941 – 2 March 1946 1st Interceptor Command (later I Fighter Command)[1]


References

Notes

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ Approved 11 June 1943.
  2. First Army until March 1941, when it was assigned to GHQ AF. "Abstract, History Air Defense Command, Feb 1940-Jun 1941". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.;"Abstract, History I Fighter Command, Jul 1940-Jan 1944"
    . Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  3. 3d Interceptor Command
    retained responsibility for the remainder of the Gulf coast.
  4. roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations"
    . Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maurer 1983, pp. 437–438.
  2. ^ Cate & Williams, p. 152
  3. ^ Cate & Williams, p. 154
  4. ^ "Abstract, History Air Defense Command, Feb 1940-Jun 1941". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Abstract, History I Fighter Command, Jul 1940-Jan 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Factsheet 6 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Factsheet 47 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  8. ^ Cate & Williams, p. 156
  9. ^ Cate & Williams, p. 158
  10. ^ "Abstract, History Detachment A, I Fighter Command, Jan-Dec 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  11. ^ Goss, p. 290
  12. ^ Goss, pp. 294-295
  13. ^ See map, Goss, p. 297.
  14. ^ Goss, p. 296, map, p. 297
  15. ^ "Factsheet 323 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d Maurer 1983, pp. 437–438 (years only).
  17. ^ Goss, p. 296
  18. ^ "Abstract, History 164 AAF Base Unit, May-Aug 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  19. ^ White, p. 13
  20. ^ White, p. 37
  21. ^ Kane, Robert B. (11 June 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Factsheet 64 Air Division (Defense)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  23. ^ Kane, Robert B. (23 September 2010). "Factsheet 301 Fighter Wing (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Factsheet 323 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  25. ^ a b Maurer 1983, p. 427 (dates assigned to First Air Force)).
  26. ^ Maurer 1983, p. 428 (dates assigned to First Air Force)).
  27. ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 8 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  28. ^ Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  29. ^ Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 33 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  30. ^ Robertson, Patsy (7 May 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  31. ^ Dollman, TSG David (27 July 2017). "Factsheet 56 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  32. ^ Robertson, Patsy (29 July 2009). "Factsheet 57 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  33. ^ Dollman, TSG David (8 February 2018). "Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  34. ^ Stevens, Maj Sonia (11 July 2017). "Factsheet 53 Test and Evaluation Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  35. ^ Haulman, Daniel L. (22 July 2019). "Factsheet 80 Flying Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  36. ^ Bailey, Carl E. (1 July 2017). "Factsheet 325 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  37. ^ Musser, James M. (30 March 2021). "Factsheet 355 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  38. ^ Dollman, TSG David. (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  39. ^ "Abstract, History 90 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  40. ^ "Abstract, History 91 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  41. ^ "Abstract, History 92 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr-Dec 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  42. ^ "Abstract, History 93 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.; "Abstract, History 93 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar Oct 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  43. ^ "Abstract, History 94 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr-Dec 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.; "Abstract, History 94 Fighter Control Squadron, Oct 1944-Jan 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  44. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr 1943-Aug 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  45. ^ "Abstract, History 96 Fighter Control Squadron, May 1943-Sep 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Abstract, History 302 Fighter Control Squadron, Oct 1943-May 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  47. ^ Haulman, Daniel (2 November 2016). "Factsheet 623 Air Control Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  48. ^ Robertson, Patsy (28 May 2010). "Factsheet 321 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  49. ^ Warnock, A. Timothy (2 December 2005). "Factsheet 325 Air Control Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  50. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 493
  51. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 559
  52. ^ "Abstract, Vol. 5, History Langley Field, Nov 41-Dec 1942 [sic]". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  53. ^ "Abstract, History 160 AAF Base Unit, Nov 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  54. ^ "Abstract, History Camp Springs AAB, Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  55. ^ "Abstract, History Bradley Field, Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  56. ^ "Abstract, History Bedford AAF, May-Jun 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  57. ^ "Abstract, History 164 AAF Base Unit, Jun-Nov 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 16 February 2022.

Bibliography

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

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