| 4th Composite Group | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the 4th Composite Group |
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| Active | 1920-1941 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Air Defense |
The 4th Composite Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last was assigned to the United States Army Philippine Department, stationed at Nichols Field, Commonwealth of the Philippines. It was inactivated on 1 November 1941.
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The 4th Composite Group was the primary command and control organization in the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1920 until the eve of World War II in November 1941. The unit was formed from the World War I 2d, 3d and 28th Aero Squadrons in 1920, all of which served on the western front in France (it's emblem represents the three combat squadrons with Maltese crosses).
In the Philippines, the group largely received second-line aircraft from the United States, its mission being tactical training for coastal defense. Exercises and maneuvers with Army ground forces and Naval forces were a regular and important part of its mission. Another mission of the 4th Composite Group during the 1920s was aerial mapping, largely carried out by the 2d Observation Squadron.
In 1940, political relations between the United States and the Japanese Empire reached a crisis with the Japanese occupation of French Indochina. With war clouds forming, a reinforcement effort was made to the Air Corps units in the Philippines. With the large number of units being deployed, the Group organization was disbanded and it's elements were assigned to the new Philippine Department Air Force.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.