III Reconnaissance Command

This article is about the III Reconnaissance Command of 1945-1946. For the III Reconnaissance Command of 1943-1944, see III Tactical Air Command.

III Reconnaissance Command
Active	1941-1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Force
Type	Command and Control
Part of	Third Air Force
Engagements	World War II

The III Reconnaissance Command was a United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.

History

Lineage

• Constituted as: I Air Support Command on 21 August 1941

Activated on 4 September 1941

Redesignated as: I Ground Air Support Command in April 1942

Redesignated as: I Air Support Command in September 1942

Redesignated as: I Tactical Air Division in August 1943

Redesignated as: III Tactical Air Division in April 1944

Redesignated as: III Reconnaissance Command in June 1945

Inactivated on 9 April 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Assignments

• First Air Force, 4 September 1941-April 1944
• Third Air Force, April 1944-9 April 1946

Components

• 127th Liaison Squadron, 11 August 1943-31 April 1944
• Other observation and light bombardment organizations

Stations

• Mitchel Field, New York, 1 September 1941
• Morris Field, North Carolina, November 1942
• Key Field, Mississippi, c. 3 April 1944
• Rapid City AAB, South Dakota, November 1945-9 April 1946.

Operations

Flew antisubmarine patrols off the east coast, 7 December 1941 – 15 October 1942. Trained light bombardment crews, participated in air-ground maneuvers, and demonstrated air support techniques, September 1941-May 1944. Trained reconnaissance personnel and organizations, May 1944 – 1946.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.