United States Air Forces Southern Command

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Air Forces Southern Command

Emblem of USAF Southern Command
Active 1940 - 1976
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Major Command

United States Air Forces Southern Command (1963 - 1976) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for USAF activities in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

It was headquartered at Albrook Air Force Base, Canal Zone.

Contents

[edit] Lineage

  • Established as Panama Canal Air Force on October 19, 1940.
  • Activated as a major command on November 20, 1940.
  • Redesignated: Caribbean Air Force on August 5, 1941.
  • Redesignated: Sixth Air Force on September 18, 1942.
  • Redesignated: Caribbean Air Command on July 31, 1946.
  • Redesignated: United States Air Forces Southern Command on July 8, 1963.

Inactivated on January 1, 1976.

[edit] History

The first United States air units arrived in the Canal Zone in February 1917. By 1940, a rapid increase in the number of units warranted a new organization, and the Panama Canal Air Force was created as a major command.

During World War II its primary function was conducting anti-submarine warfare over the Caribbean and air defense of the Panama Canal.

When the command inactivated in 1976, most of its functions and resources passed to the Tactical Air Command, which established the USAF Southern Air Division as the major organization in the area.

[edit] Commands During World War II

  • VI Bomber Command 1941-46
    Albrook Field, CZ, 25 Oct 1941-1 Nov 1946.
  • VI Fighter Command 1941-42
    (Redesignated Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command 1943-44)
    Borinquen Field, PR, 25 Oct 1941
    Henry Barracks, PR, 20 Mar 1943
    Waller Field, Trinidad, 15 May 1943-15 Mar 1944.
  • XXVI Fighter Command 1942-46
    Albrook Field, CZ, 6 Mar 1942-25 Aug 1946
  • XXXVI Fighter Command 1942-43
    Waller Field, Trinidad, 21 Aug 1942-30 Apr 1943.

[edit] Known Units During World War II

  • British West Indies
    • Antigua, Coolidge Field
      35th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-18)
      (Deployed from 25th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico)
    • St. Lucia, Beane Field
      5th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-18)
      (Deployed from 9th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Waller Field, Trinidad)
    • Trinidad, Waller Field
      9th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
      1st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-18)
  • Panama
    • Aguadulce Field
      74th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-18)
      (Deployed from 6th Bombardment Group (Heavy), France Field, Canal Zone)
    • Chorrera Field
      30th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (P-40)
      (Deployed from 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), Albrook Field, Canal Zone)
    • Rio Hato Field
      3d Observation Group (B-10, B-18)
      32d Pursuit Group (Fighter) (51st, 52d, 53d Pursuit Sq., P-36)
  • Other Units:
    • 60th Troop Carrier Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, 4 Jun-31 Jul 1945
      (Administrativley assigned w/o/p/e prior to inactivation)
    • 61st Troop Carrier Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, 29 May-31 Jul 1945
      (C-47)
    • 64th Troop Carrier Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, 4 Jun-31 Jul 1945
      (Administrativley assigned w/o/p/e prior to inactivation)
    • 315th Troop Carrier Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, May-31 Jul 1945
      (C-47)
    • 464th Bombardment Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, Jun-31 Jul 1945
      (Administrativley assigned w/o/p/e prior to inactivation)
    • 465th Bombardment Group,
      Waller Field, Trinidad, Jun-31 Jul 1945
      (Administrativley assigned w/o/p/e prior to inactivation)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • [1] ArmyAirforces.Com
  • [2] United States Air Forces Southern Command at US Air Force Historical Research Agency

[edit] External links