Command Structure of the USAAF WWII

Following on from the Structure of the USAAF During the Second World War – ‘Air Force’, The next step down are the commands.

Each of the sixteen air forces has subordinate commands (sometimes called Divisions) which brought together the wings and groups of the air force. As mentioned previously, the nature of the sixteen air forces, meant that further development created  additional commands that had wider responsibilities and these would sometimes encompass two or more air forces. Further more, some air forces were created without commands and were allotted Wings or Groups.

The commands for the sixteen air forces were:

Air Force	Command and details
First	I  Bomber (later assigned to Second AF and re-designated XX Bomber Command) : 1941-1942. I Bomber (Antisubmarine Command prior to assignment to First AF) : 1943-1946. I Fighter: 1941-1946. I Ground Air Support: 1941-1942.
Second	II Air Support: 1941-1943. II Bomber: 1941-1943. II Fighter: 1941-1942. IV Air Support: 1942-1943. XX (formerly I) Bomber: 1943. XX Bomber (constituted Nov 1943) : 1943-1944. XXI Bomber: 1944. XXII Bomber: 1944-1945.
Third	II. Air Support: 1943. III Air Support: 1941-1942. III Bomber: 1941-1946. III Fighter: 1941-1946. III Reconnaissance (formerly I Ground Air Support): 1942-1946 III Tactical Air: 1942-1945
Fourth	IV Bomber: 1941-1944. IV Fighter: 1941-1944. IV Ground Air Support: 1941-1942.
Fifth	V Bomber: 1941-1946. V Fighter : 1942-1946.
Sixth	VI Bomber: 1941-1946. VI Fighter: 1941-1942. XXVI Fighter: 1942-1946. XXXVI Fighter: 1942.
Seventh	VII Bomber: 1942-1946. VII Fighter: 1942-1945.
Eighth*	Originated as the VIII Bomber Command, re-designated Eighth AF Feb 1944 and latterly the strategic Air Command 1st Bombardment Wing: 1942-43 2nd Bombardment Wing: 1942-1943. 3rd Bombardment Wing:1942-1943. 4th Bombardment Wing: 1942-1943. 12th Bombardment Wing:1942-1944. 301st Fighter Wing: 1945-1946. 316th Bombardment Wing: 1945-1946. 1st Air Division: 1943-1945. 2nd Air Division: 1943-1945. 3rd Air Division:1943-1945. VIII Fighter Command: 1944-45
Ninth	Originated as the V Air Support Command, re-designated  Ninth AF April 1942 9th Air Division (formerly IX Bomber Command): 1942-1945. IX Air Defence Command: 1944-1945. IX Fighter Command: 1942-1945. IX Tactical Air Command: 1943-1915. IX Troop Carrier Command: 1943-1944. XIX Tactical Air Command: 1944-1945. XXIX Tactical Air Command: 1945.
Tenth	3rd Combat Cargo: 1944-1945. 7th Bombardment: 1942-1945. 12th Bombardment: 1944-1945. 33rd Fighter: 1944-1945. 80th Fighter: 1943-1945. 311th Fighter: 1943-1944. 341st Bombardment: 1942-1944. 443rd Troop Carrier: 1944-1945.
Eleventh	XI Bomber: 1943-1944. XI Fighter: 1942-1944.
Twelfth	XII Bomber : 1942-1944. XII Tactical Air: 1942-1944. XXII Tactical Air (formerly XII Fighter) : 1942-1945.
Thirteenth	XII Bomber: 1943-1946. XIII Fighter: 1943-1946.
Fourteenth	Assigned first to Air Defence Command and later (1948) to Continental Air Command. Supervised reserve and national guard activities. 68th Composite Wing: 1943-1945. 69th Composite Wing: 1943-1945. 312th Fighter Wing: 1944-1945.
Fifteenth	Post War – assigned to Strategic Air Command: 5th Bombardment Wing: 1943-1945. 42nd Bombardment Wing: 1943. 47th Bombardment Wing:1944-1945. 49th Bombardment Wing: 1944-1945. 55th Bombardment Wing: 1944-1945. 304th Bombardment Wing: 1943-1945. 305th Bombardment Wing: 1943-1945. 306th Fighter Wing: 1944-1945. 307th Bombardment Wing: 1944.
Twentieth	VII Fighter: 1945. XX Bomber: 1944-1945. XXI Bomber: 1944-1945.
*US Strategic Air Forces in Europe	Originated as the Eight AF (VIII BC) on 19th Jan 1942, re-designated the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (Eighth AF) Feb 22 1944. VII Air Support: 1942-1943 VIII Bomber: 1942-1944 VIII Fighter: 1942-1944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources: Office of Air Force History Washington D.C. (1961) Maurer Maurer