The IV Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at San Francisco, California. It was inactivated on 31 March 1944. It trained bombardment organizations and personnel. Also flew antisubmarine patrols along the west coast.
| IV Bomber Command | |
|---|---|
 Douglas B-18s of the 19th Bombardment Group | |
| Active | 1941-1944 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Role | Command of Bombardment Units |
| Part of | Fourth Air Force |
| Engagements | Antisubmarine Campaign[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Frank D. Lackland Barney M. Giles[1] |
| Insignia | |
| IV Bomber Command emblem (approved 4 December 1941)[1] |  |
History
In early 1941, the Army Air Forces (AAF) redesignated its geographical air districts in the United States as Air Forces. In the fall of that year, the new air forces were organized into commands, which typically included a bomber command, an interceptor command, an air support command and an air base command. In this reorganization IV Bomber Command was formed at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona to control the bombardment units of Fourth Air Force in September.[1] The new command drew much of its initial cadre from the 1st Bombardment Wing, which had been stationed there since May.
Shortly after the command became organized, the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the command to relocate to move to Hamilton Field and concentrate its efforts on antisubmarine patrols off the southern Pacific coast, reinforcing units of the Western and Northwestern Sea Frontiers of the United States Navy.[2] However, it shortly became apparent that there was little threat from Japanese submarines. and the command shifted its focus to the training of bomber units and crews. Simultaneously, the AAF moved almost all its heavy bomber training in Second Air Force, while Fourth Air Force focused on fighter aircraft, training, so the command did not grow.
In the spring of 1944, the AAF reorganized its training units to provide more flexibility in manning, rather than continuing to use rigid table of organization units.[3] In this reorganization, the command was disbanded on 31 March 1944 and its personnel absorbed into the 400th AAF Base Unit (Headquarters, Fourth Air Force).[1][4]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 4th Bomber Command on 1 September 1941[note 1]
- Redesignated IV Bomber Command on 18 September 1942[note 2]
- Activated on 19 September 1941
- Disbanded on 31 March 1944[1]
Assignments
- Fourth Air Force, 1 September 1941 – 31 March 1944[1]
Components
- 14th Pursuit Group, 19 September 1941 – 26 January 1942 (attached to 4th Interceptor Command, 17 October – December 1941)[5][note 3]
- 19th Bombardment Group, 19 September– c. 23 October 1941[6]
- 30th Bombardment Group, 20 January 1942 – 11 October 1943[7]
- 41st Bombardment Group, 19 September 1941 – October 1943
- 42d Bombardment Group, 25 January 1942 – 14 March 1943[8]
- 47th Bombardment Group, attached 17 December 1941 – 15 February 1942[9]
- 399th Bombardment Group, 3 December 1943 – 31 March 1944[10]
- 456th Bombardment Group, c. 2 October 1943 – January 1944
- 470th Bombardment Group, 6 January–31 March 1944[11]
- 483d Bombardment Group, 20 September–7 November 1943
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 19 September 1941
- Hamilton Field, California, c. 8 December 1941
- San Francisco, California, 5 January 1942 – 31 March 1944[1]
References
- Notes
- ^ This command is not related to a previous Bomber Command, 4th Air Force, apparently a provisional organization, that was organized at March Field from the 1st Bombardment Wing on 11 April 1941 and discontinued on 19 September 1941. "Abstract, History 4 Bomber Command Apr 1941-December 1942". Air Force History Index. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ In September 1942, the AAF changed to using roman numerals in the designations of its numbered commands.
- ^ Robertson says assignment began on 1 September. The command was not activated until the 19th of the month.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, pp. 441-442
- ^ "Abstract, History 4 Bomber Command Apr 1941-December 1942". Air Force History Index. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Goss, p. 75
- ^ "Abstract, History Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, 4 Bomber Command 1941-1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 14 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 19 Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (June 27, 2017). "Factsheet 30 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Stephens, Maj Tonia (May 25, 2017). "Factsheet 42 Air Base Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (July 7, 2017). "Factsheet 47 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ See Maurer, p. 285 (assignment to Fourth Air Force)
- ^ See Maurer, pp. 344-345 (assignment to Fourth Air Force)
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved December 17, 2016.