United States Air Forces Southern Command

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=United States Air Forces Southern Command


caption=USAF Southern Command emblem
dates= 1940 - 1976
country= United States of America
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branch= United States Air Force
type= Major Command
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* World War II: American Campaign (1941-1945)
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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.

History

Lineage

Established as Panama Canal Air Force 19 Oct 1940: Activated as a major command on 20 Nov 1940: Redesignated: Caribbean Air Force. 5 Aug 1941: Redesignated: 6th Air Force, 18 Sep 1942: Redesignated: Caribbean Air Command, 31 Jul 1946: Redesignated: United States Air Forces Southern Command 8 Jul 1963: Inactivated 1 Jan 1976

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 (later 830th Air Division; Air Forces Panama) as the major organization in the area.

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.

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 Canal Zone: Albrook Field:: HQ Caribbean Air Force:: HQ VI Bomber Command:: 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) (28th, 31st Pursuit Sq, P-26, P-40):: 16th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) (24th, 29th, 43d Pursuit Sq, P-36, P-40): France Field:: 6th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (3d, 25th Bomb Sq, B-18)
20th Transport Squadron (C-39, C-47, C-49):: 39th Observation Squadron (O-47, O-49): Howard Field:: 7th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) (B-17, B-18):: 16th Fighter Group (24th, 29th, 43d Fighter Sq., P-40):: 59th Bombardment Squadron (Light) (A-20):: 72nd Reconnaissance Group (1st, 108th, 124th Recon Sq., B-18, P-39):: Detachment, 20th Transport Squadron (C-39, C-47, C-49):: 53 Fighter Group
* 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)

* Puerto Rico
** Borinquen Field, Punta Borinquen
HQ VI Interceptor Command
25th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (10th Bomb Sq, 27th Recon Sq., B-18)
40th Bombardment Group (Medium) (5th, 29th, 44th, 45th Bomb Sq., B-18)
** Losey Field, Ponce
36th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) (22d, 23d, 32d Pursuit Sq., P-36)
4th Observation Squadron (O-47, O-52)

* United States Virgin Islands
** Benedict Field, St Croix
12th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (B-18)
(Deployed from 25th Bomb Group (Heavy), Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico)
* 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)

See also

* Martin B-10
* B-18 Bolo
* P-26 Peashooter
* P-36 Hawk
* Curtiss P-40
* Douglas DC-2
* Douglas DB-7
* Douglas DC-3
* North American O-47
* O-52 Owl

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* [http://www.armyairforces.com] ArmyAirforces.Com
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/major_commands.html#usafsc] United States Air Forces Southern Command at US Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links