III Fighter Command

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title: "III 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"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/III_Fighter_Command" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

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

FieldValue
unit_nameIII Fighter Command
imageFile:P-51B 42d Fighter Squadron Hillsborough Army Airfield FL 1944.jpg
image_size300px
captionP-51 Mustang of the command's 42d Fighter Squadron at Hillsborough Army Air Field in 1944Aircraft is North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang, serial 43-12252. The squadron was part of the 54th Fighter Group.
dates1941-1946
country
branch

| | role | Command and training of fighter units | | notable_commanders | Clarence L. Tinker Ralph Royce | ::

|unit_name=III Fighter Command |image=File:P-51B 42d Fighter Squadron Hillsborough Army Airfield FL 1944.jpg |image_size=300px |caption=P-51 Mustang of the command's 42d Fighter Squadron at Hillsborough Army Air Field in 1944Aircraft is North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang, serial 43-12252. The squadron was part of the 54th Fighter Group. |dates=1941-1946 |country= |allegiance= |branch=

|type= |role=Command and training of fighter units |size= |command_structure= |current_commander= |garrison= |nickname= |motto= |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders=Clarence L. Tinker Ralph Royce |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=

The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.

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 Southeast Air District as 3rd Air Force with responsibility for air defense planning and organization in the southeastern. 3rd Air Force activated 3rd Interceptor Command at Drew Field, Florida in 1941, under the command of Major General Walter H. Frank. The command's initial tactical component was the 8th Pursuit Wing.

Air defense

The attack on Pearl Harbor put all units on heightened alert. 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 and the command worked "feverishly" to create a ground observer corps 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. 1st Interceptor Command was given the mission of defending the East and Gulf coasts, while 3rd concentrated on the training mission starting early in 1942. Although the command retained responsibility for air defense on the Gulf coast west of the Apalachicola River, no "vital air defense zone" was established for this area, as it was for the Pacific and East coasts.

Unit and crew training

The command trained fighter organizations and personnel.

The command was inactivated in April 1946. It was transferred in inactive status to the newly-independent United States Air Force in September 1947, and was disbanded in October 1948.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 3rd Interceptor Command on 26 May 1941Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "III" 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 17 June 1941Maurer indicates that there is a question whether the command was activated on this date or not until about 14 July. Maurer, p. 440. : Redesignated 3rd Fighter Command on 15 May 1942 : Redesignated III Fighter Command c. 18 September 1942 : Inactivated on 8 April 1946 : Disbanded on 8 October 1948

Assignments

Components

Wings

Groups

Squadrons

Other

Stations

  • Drew Field, Florida, 17 June 1941
  • MacDill Field, Florida, c. 1 December 1945 – 8 April 1946

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. Cate & Williams, p. 152
  2. Cate & Williams, p. 154
  3. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 440
  4. Staff Historian. (5 October 2007). "Factsheet 57 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  5. Goss, p. 278
  6. Goss, p. 290
  7. Goss, pp. 294-295
  8. Goss, p. 295, map p. 297
  9. By the end of 1942, the command's training consisted almost entirely of [[Operational - Replacement Training Units#Replacement Training Units. Replacement Training Unit]]s (RTU).White, p. 37
  10. (April 4, 2019). "Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  11. Staff historian. (4 October 2007). "Factsheet 19 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  12. Staff historian. (5 October 2007). "Factsheet 22 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  13. (May 18, 2017). "Factsheet 352 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  14. (October 14, 2021). "Factsheet 353 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  15. (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 31 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  16. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  17. (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 49 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  18. (July 10, 2017). "Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  19. (May 7, 2013). "Factsheet 52 Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  20. (November 25, 2018). "Factsheet 54 Fighter Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  21. (July 27, 2017). "Factsheet 56 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  22. (February 8, 2018). "Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  23. (June 21, 2017). "Factsheet 59 Medical Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  24. (July 22, 2019). "Factsheet 80 Flying Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  25. (September 29, 2008). "Factsheet 85 Group". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  26. (November 21, 2014). "Factsheet 405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  27. Lineage & Honors History of the 408 Armament Systems Group (AFMC), 15 May 2006, Air Force Historical Research Agency
  28. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 159
  29. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 166
  30. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 329
  31. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 493
  32. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 544
  33. (April 29, 2018). "Factsheet 521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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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