United States Army Air Force
|
|
| Missing image USAAF2.jpg USAAF recruitment poster. |
| Missing image USAAF.jpg USAAF recruitment poster. |
The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947.
| Contents |
History
Prior to the start of World War II, the USAAF was known as the U.S. Army Air Corps, or USAAC. The USAAC was a corps-level, subsidiary organization within the U.S. Army, and had little autonomy. Due to the efforts of several key USAAC officers and the changing political times, the Air Corps obtained greater organizational independence in 1941. Renamed the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and considered a separate arm of the Army, the new USAAF had an equal "voice" with the Army and Navy.
The sixteen Air Forces
By the end of World War II, the USAAF was divided into sixteen numbered Air Forces (First-Fifteenth and the Twentieth) distributed across all theaters of war, plus the Zone of the Interior general air force stationed in the continental United States. To these were attached an additional eight Air Divisions which were sometimes detached and served as independent units when the need arose. These Air Forces and Divisions grew out of earlier Air Corps commands; for example, the Eigth Air Force was originally called VIII Bomber Command. Several Air Forces were created de novo as the service expanded during the war. The Air Forces and Divisions were divided into a total of 91 Wings, called Bombardment, Tactical Reconnaisance, Training or Composite depending on whether their primary intended role was strategic bombing, pursuit, air support etc.. The Air Forces also had jurisdiction over a number of logistical units like the Air Transport Command, successor to the pre-war Air Corps Ferrying Command
After the war, the Eighth Air Force was merged with several other units to become the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAAFE). In 1947, the USAAFE became a component of the newly-created United States Air Force. From 1948-48, the unit was responsible for the Berlin Airlift.
The official name for the organization was the United States Army Air Forces. In colloquial speech, the old Air Corps name persisted among veteran soldiers; in addition, the singular "Air Force" often crept into popular use, possibly by analogy to the Allied Royal Air Force. This misnomer even crept onto official recruiting posters (see image on right).
List of air forces
- First Air Force
- Second Air Force
- Third Air Force
- Fourth Air Force
- Fifth Air Force
- Sixth Air Force
- Seventh Air Force
- Eighth Air Force
- Ninth Air Force
- Tenth Air Force
- Eleventh Air Force
- Twelfth Air Force
- Thirteenth Air Force
- Fourteenth Air Force
- Twentieth Air Force
Air Force independence
Following the immense buildup in aviation infrastructure and personnel during the war, and in recognition of the tremendous new importance and strength of airpower, then-President Harry S. Truman created the United States Department of the Air Force in 1947. This legislation renamed the aviation military group again to the United States Air Force, elevating it to a truly separate branch of the U.S. military.
Notable people who served in the USAAF
- Carl Albert, U.S. representative from Oklahoma and Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977
- Henry H. Arnold, commanding general of the USAAF
- Clyde Cowan, discovered existence of the neutrino
- Nathan Bedford Forrest III, brigadier general in the USAAF and great-grandson of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest.
- Clark Gable, film actor
- William Wister Haines, author, screenwriter, and playwright
- Charlton Heston, film actor and President of the National Rifle Association.
- John Hope, television meteorologist and hurricane forecaster
- George McGovern, U.S. Senator and 1972 Democratic Presidential candidate
- Walter Miller, science fiction author
- William Rehnquist, jurist and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Carl Spaatz, commanding general of the USAAF and later first Chief of Staff of the Air Force
- Aaron Spelling, film and television producer
- Jimmy Stewart, film actor - Officer in 8th Air Force.
- Joseph A. Walker, military test pilot
- Harris Wofford, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
- Kenneth N. Walker Brig. Gen., Medal of Honor recipient, airpower visionary, co-author of the Air War Plan (AWPD-I)
Badges of the Army Air Forces
To denote the special training and qualifications required for membership in USAAF, the following military badges were authorized for wear by members of the Army Air Forces:
- Aviator Badge
- Navigator Badge
- Bombardier Badge
- Gunner Badge
- Balloon Pilot Badge
- Auxiliary Pilot Badge
- Flight Surgeon Badge
- Flight Nurse Badge
- Flight Instructor Badge
- Flight Engineer Badge
- Observer Badge
- Technician Badge
Sources
- ArmyAirForces.com (http://www.armyairforces.com) — comprehensive look at the USAAF. Includes searchable databases, histories, dictionary, and forum.
- USAAF air force/division/wing histories (http://www.armyairforces.com/dborganization.asp) History of all USAAF subdivisions.
- USAAF jargon dictionary (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbterminology.asp) — contains 526 words and abbreviations.
- USAAF unit search (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbunitsearch.asp) — searchable database of groups, squadrons, squadron codes, stations, and commanders.
- USAAF missing air crew report search (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbmacr.asp) — searchable database of missing air crew reports (MACRs) by MACR number, date, serial number, and group.
- United States Army Center of Military History "Green Book" Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations. Chap. IX: The Movement Toward Air Autonomy (http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/csppp/ch09.htm)
- USSAAF.net (http://www.usaaf.net) — "Published accounts of the Army Air Forces in World War II available in the public domain."
- USSAF in WWII (http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/) — Combat chronology. Available for ZIP download.
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/usaaf1.html). 1986.
|
Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers Airports | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation |
—