I Fighter Command

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1941-1946 United States Army Air Forces operational command

title: "I Fighter Command" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["intermediate-fighter-commands-of-the-united-states-army-air-forces", "military-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-1948", "military-units-and-formations-established-in-1941"] description: "1941-1946 United States Army Air Forces operational command" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Fighter_Command" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1941-1946 United States Army Air Forces operational command ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox military unit"]

FieldValue
unit_nameI Fighter Command
imageCurtiss P-40 061019-F-1234P-030.jpg
image_size300px
captionP-40 Warhawk of the command's 31st Pursuit Group
dates1941–1946
country
branch

| | role | Air defense and training of fighter units | | battles | American Theater of World War II | | notable_commanders | Glenn O. Barcus John K. Cannon Elwood R. Quesada | | identification_symbol | [[File:Emblem of I Fighter Command - World War II.png|165px]] | | identification_symbol_label | I Fighter Command emblemApproved 11 June 1943. | ::

|unit_name= I Fighter Command |image=Curtiss P-40 061019-F-1234P-030.jpg |image_size=300px |caption=P-40 Warhawk of the command's 31st Pursuit Group |dates=1941–1946 |country= |branch=

|type= |role=Air defense and training of fighter units |size = |command_structure = |current_commander= |garrison= |nickname= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles=American Theater of World War II |notable_commanders=Glenn O. Barcus John K. Cannon Elwood R. Quesada |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |identification_symbol=[[File:Emblem of I Fighter Command - World War II.png|165px]] |identification_symbol_label=I Fighter Command emblemApproved 11 June 1943. |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label=

I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II. It was initially established in June 1941 as the 1st Interceptor Command to provide 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

GHQ Air Force (GHQ AF) had been established with two major combat functions, to maintain a striking force against long range targets, and the air defense of the United States. In the spring of 1941, the War Department established four strategic defense areas and GHQ, AF reorganized its Northeast Air District as 1st Air Force with responsibility for air defense planning and organization along the eastern seaboard. Simultaneously, an Air Defense Command was established at Mitchel Field to plan the air defense of the United States and develop air defense doctrine.This command is not related to Air Defense Command established in March 1946. It was constituted on 26 February 1940 and activated on 1 March 1940 and assigned to First Army until March 1941, when it was assigned to GHQ AF. ;

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. The command's initial tactical components were the 6th and 7th Pursuit Wings

Air Defense

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the command moved its headquarters to New York City. Here, as the importance of the North Atlantic supply line grew, it assumed responsibility for planning the air defense of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. It selected radar sites in cooperation with Canadian authorities and worked to standardize aircraft warning procedures there. In June 1942, the command returned to Mitchel and would remain there until inactivated. The command dispatched the 33d Pursuit Squadron to provide air defense in Iceland in July. The command organized Detachment A to manage the 33rd, along with antiaircraft artillery and signal warning units involved in the air defense of Iceland.

The command was charged with control of "active agents" for air defense in its area of responsibility, which included interceptor aircraft, antiaircraft artillery and barrage balloons. Civilian organizations provided air raid warnings and enforced blackouts and came under the authority of the Office of Civilian Defense. Radar was initially not sufficiently developed to be included in air defense systems, There were only eight radars under construction to guard the Atlantic coast, but the command worked "feverishly" to create a ground observer corps and coastal radar net as elements of its Aircraft Warning Service. However, it soon became apparent that having two commands responsible for air defense in the 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.The area included Florida to as far west as the Apalachicola River. Southern Defense Command and 3d Interceptor Command retained responsibility for the remainder of the Gulf coast.

Along the Atlantic coast, Eastern Defense Command established a "vital air defense zone", extending from the coast approximately 150 mi inland and 200 mi to sea, with long range bombers from 1st Bomber Command flying patrols over the ocean. However, 1st Bomber Command soon focused on antisubmarine warfare. Regional air defense wings were established in August 1942 at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk. The command's mission of fighter control later expanded to providing emergency flight services to other aircraft and assisting in air sea rescue.

Unit and crew training

In 1942, Air Force Combat Command had established an Operational Training Unit (OTU) system for 2nd and 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. The command also trained fighter units and personnel. By the end of 1942, the command's training consisted almost entirely of OTUs. 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. After September 1947, all former Air Corps units were transferred to the United States Air Force, which disbanded the command in October 1948.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 1st Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "I" Interceptor Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. : 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

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

Components

; Wings

  • 3rd Air Defense Wing, 12 December 1942 – c. 7 February 1943
  • 6th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 7 December 1941
  • 7th Pursuit Wing, 5 June 1941 – 31 August 1941
  • 301st Fighter Wing: attached 15 October 1944 – 21 May 1945
  • Boston Air Defense Wing (later Boston Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 13 February 1945 (not manned after July 1944)
  • New York Air Defense Wing (later New York Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)
  • Norfolk Air Defense Wing (later Norfolk Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)
  • Philadelphia Air Defense Wing (later Philadelphia Fighter Wing): 11 August 1942 – 3 April 1946 (not manned after July 1944)

; Groups

; Squadrons

  • 52nd Interceptor Control Squadron: c. 30 November 1941 – c. 1 January 1942
  • 90th Fighter Control Squadron: 15 March 1943 – 10 April 1944
  • 91st Fighter Control Squadron: 15 March 1943 – 10 April 1944
  • 92nd Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April 1943 – 10 April 1944
  • 93rd Fighter Control Squadron: c. 1 June 1943 – 10 April 1944, 1 October 1944 – 31 March 1945
  • 94th Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April 1943 – 10 April 1944, 1 October 1944 – March 1945
  • 95th Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April 1943 – c. 31 March 1944
  • 96th Fighter Control Squadron: 15 May 1943 – 1944
  • 302nd Fighter Control Squadron: 20 January 1944 – c. 31 March 1944
  • 305th Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April – 19 December 1943
  • 321st Fighter Control Squadron: 15 May 1943 – 8 January 1944
  • 325th Fighter Control Squadron: 1 April – c. 15 December 1943
  • 403d Fighter Squadron: 7 August – 15 December 1943
  • 453d Fighter Squadron: 20 November – 1 December 1943

; 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

  • 102nd AAF Base Unit (Headquarters, I Fighter Command): c 10 April 1944 – 21 March 1946
  • 103rd AAF Base Unit (Boston Fighter Wing): c 10 April 1944 – c. 31 July 1944
  • 104th AAF Base Unit (New York Fighter Wing): c 10 April 1944 – c. 31 July 1944
  • 105th AAF Base Unit (Philadelphia Fighter Wing): c 10 April 1944 – c. 31 July 1944
  • 106th AAF Base Unit (Norfolk Fighter Wing): c 10 April 1944 – c. 31 July 1944
  • 160th AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – 15 November 1945
  • 161st AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – c. 1 September 1945
  • 162nd AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – c. 31 July 1944
  • 163rd AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – c. 30 June 1944
  • 164th AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – c. 1 December 1945
  • 165th AAF Base Unit (Fighter Control) 10 April 1944 – c. 23 October 1944

Campaign

::data[format=table]

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
[[Image:Streamer AC.PNG200px]]American Theater without inscription7 December 1941 – 2 March 1946
::

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. Cate & Williams, p. 152
  2. Cate & Williams, p. 154
  3. "Abstract, History Air Defense Command, Feb 1940-Jun 1941". Air Force History Index.
  4. "Abstract, History I Fighter Command, Jul 1940-Jan 1944". Air Force History Index.
  5. (4 October 2007). "Factsheet 6 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  6. (5 October 2007). "Factsheet 47 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  7. Cate & Williams, p. 156
  8. Cate & Williams, p. 158
  9. "Abstract, History Detachment A, I Fighter Command, Jan-Dec 1944". Air Force History Index.
  10. Goss, p. 290
  11. Goss, pp. 294-295
  12. ''See'' map, Goss, p. 297.
  13. Goss, p. 296, map, p. 297
  14. (10 May 2007). "Factsheet 323 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  15. Goss, p. 296
  16. "Abstract, History 164 AAF Base Unit, May-Aug 1945". Air Force History Index.
  17. White, p. 13
  18. White, p. 37
  19. (June 11, 2009). "Factsheet First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  20. (5 October 2007). "Factsheet 64 Air Division (Defense)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  21. Kane, Robert B.. (September 23, 2010). "Factsheet 301 Fighter Wing (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  22. (10 May 2007). "Factsheet 323 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  23. (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 8 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  24. (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  25. (October 18, 2016). "Factsheet 33 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  26. (May 7, 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  27. (July 27, 2017). "Factsheet 56 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  28. (July 29, 2009). "Factsheet 57 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  29. (February 8, 2018). "Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  30. (July 11, 2017). "Factsheet 53 Test and Evaluation Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  31. (July 22, 2019). "Factsheet 80 Flying Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  32. (July 1, 2017). "Factsheet 325 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  33. (March 30, 2021). "Factsheet 355 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  34. (October 18, 2016). "Factsheet 366 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  35. "Abstract, History 90 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index.
  36. "Abstract, History 91 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index.
  37. "Abstract, History 92 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr-Dec 1943". Air Force History Index.
  38. "Abstract, History 93 Fighter Control Squadron, Mar 1943-Apr 1944". Air Force History Index.
  39. "Abstract, History 94 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr-Dec 1943". Air Force History Index.
  40. "Abstract, History 95 Fighter Control Squadron, Apr 1943-Aug 1945". Air Force History Index.
  41. "Abstract, History 96 Fighter Control Squadron, May 1943-Sep 1944". Air Force History Index.
  42. "Abstract, History 302 Fighter Control Squadron, Oct 1943-May 1944". Air Force History Index.
  43. (November 2, 2016). "Factsheet 623 Air Control Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  44. (May 28, 2010). "Factsheet 321 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  45. (December 2, 2005). "Factsheet 325 Air Control Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  46. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 493
  47. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 559
  48. "Abstract, Vol. 5, History Langley Field, Nov 41-Dec 1942 [sic]". Air Force History Index.
  49. "Abstract, History 160 AAF Base Unit, Nov 1945". Air Force History Index.
  50. "Abstract, History Camp Springs AAB, Apr 1944". Air Force History Index.
  51. "Abstract, History Bradley Field, Apr 1944". Air Force History Index.
  52. "Abstract, History Bedford AAF, May-Jun 1944". Air Force History Index.
  53. "Abstract, History 164 AAF Base Unit, Jun-Nov 1944". Air Force History Index.

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intermediate-fighter-commands-of-the-united-states-army-air-forcesmilitary-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-1948military-units-and-formations-established-in-1941