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In 1944, the majority of the Numbered Air Forces of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) were fighting in various parts of the world, such as the [[Eighth Air Force]] in [[Europe]] and the [[Twentieth Air Force]] in the [[Pacific]]. They were supported by four numbered air forces located within the United States (First, Second, Third and Fourth). which was known as the '''Zone of the Interior''', or "ZI".
In 1944, the majority of the Numbered Air Forces of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) were fighting in various parts of the world, such as the [[Eighth Air Force]] in [[Europe]] and the [[Twentieth Air Force]] in the [[Pacific]]. They were supported by four numbered air forces located within the United States (First, Second, Third and Fourth). which was known as the '''Zone of the Interior''', or "ZI".


On 13 December 1944, First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force were all were placed under the unified command of a Major Command, '''[[Continental Air Forces]]''', which provided command and control for USAAF forces in the ZI. Similar overseas major commands for the Pacific ([[United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific]]) and Europe ([[United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe]]) were also established.
On 13 December 1944, the USAAF established "Major Commands", in order to streamline command and control of wartime operations in the various theaters. First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force were placed under '''[[Continental Air Forces]]''' (CAF), which provided command and control for USAAF forces in the ZI. Similar overseas major commands for the [[Pacific Theater]] ([[United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific]] (USASTAF)) and [[European Theater]] ([[United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe]] (USSTAF)) were also established.


After World War II [[Carl Andrew Spaatz|General Carl Spaatz]], Commanding General of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] undertook a major re-organization of the USAAF. The reorganization of the USAAF represented a way to streamline the organization and also a rethinking of concepts of functional Air Force missions learned during the war. On 21 Mar 1946, the USAAF established three new combat commands in the United States. These were:
This organizational structure brought better command and control to the widely dispersed theaters and sub-theaters of the USAAF throughout the world, however with the peace in 1945 and the return of forces and subsequent demobilization, and new organizational pyramid was necessary. [[Carl Andrew Spaatz|General Carl Spaatz]], Commanding General of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] undertook the reorganization and in the process re-shaped the way the Air Force managed its forces based on functional concepts learned during the war. On 21 March 1946, the USAAF established a new organization of Major Commands as follows:


* [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC), to provide a long-range striking force capable of bombardment operations in any part of the world. Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces were assigned to SAC.
* [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC), to provide a long-range striking force capable of bombardment operations in any part of the world. SAC was formed from the two strategic air forces which fought in the [[European Theater]], the [[Eighth Air Force|Eighth]] and [[Fifteenth Air Force]]s.


* [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC), to support the operations of ground forces. Ninth and Twelfth Air forces were assigned to TAC.
* [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC), to support the operations of ground forces. TAC was formed from the [[Ninth Air Force|Ninth]] and [[Twelfth Air Force]]s, the primary tactical air forces in the European Theater.


* [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC), to defend the United States against attack from the air. First, Second, Fourth, Tenth and Fourteenth Air Forces were assigned to ADC.
* [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC), to defend the United States against attack from the air. ADC was created from the former Continental Air Forces [[First Air Force|First]], [[Second Air Force|Second]], and [[Fourth Air Force]]s, along with the [[Tenth Air Force]] which had returned from [[India]] and the [[Fourteenth Air Force]] which has returned from [[China]].


In addition, several overseas-based Major Commands were established to command USAAF forces outside of the Continetal United States (CONUS). These were:
With the establishment of SAC, TAC and ADC on 21 Mar 1946, Continental Air Forces (CAF) was inactivated and disestablished.


* [[PACAF|Far East Air Forces]] (FEAF), comprising of the [[Fifth Air Force|Fifth]], [[Seventh Air Force|Seventh]], [[Thirteenth Air Force|Thirteenth]] and [[Twentieth Air Force]]s in the former [[Pacific Theater]].
The other numbered Army Air Forces were assigned to commands outside of the continental United States (CONUS). Fifth, Seventh, Thirteenth and Twentieth Air Forces were assigned to [[PACAF|Far East Air Forces]] in the Pacific; Third Air Force was assigned to the [[United States Air Forces in Europe]]; Sixth Air Force was redesignated '''Caribbean Air Command''' and Eleventh Air Force was redesignated '''[[Alaskan Air Command]]'''.

* [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE), comprising of the [[Third Air Force]] in the former [[European Theater]].

* [[Sixth Air Force]] was redesignated '''Caribbean Air Command''' to command USAAF forces in Central America and various Caribbean island bases.

* [[Eleventh Air Force]] was redesignated '''Alaskan Air Command''' for USAAF forces in Alaaska and the Aleutian Islands.

With the establishment of these seven major commands, all reporting to Headquarters USAAF, the wartime Major Commands (CAF, USSTAF, USASTAF) were inactivated. Although modified and expanded , this basic organizational structure has remained in place for [[United States Air Force]] the past sixty years.


====ConAC Establishment====
====ConAC Establishment====

Revision as of 08:24, 8 October 2008

Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command emblem
Active1948 - 1968
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeMajor Command

Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948 - 1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

History

Lineage

  • Established as Continental Air Command, and organized, on December 1, 1948
Inactivated on August 1, 1968
Disestablished on September 21, 1984

Components

Agencies

Divisions

Stations

Operational History

Origns

In 1944, the majority of the Numbered Air Forces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) were fighting in various parts of the world, such as the Eighth Air Force in Europe and the Twentieth Air Force in the Pacific. They were supported by four numbered air forces located within the United States (First, Second, Third and Fourth). which was known as the Zone of the Interior, or "ZI".

On 13 December 1944, the USAAF established "Major Commands", in order to streamline command and control of wartime operations in the various theaters. First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force were placed under Continental Air Forces (CAF), which provided command and control for USAAF forces in the ZI. Similar overseas major commands for the Pacific Theater (United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)) and European Theater (United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF)) were also established.

This organizational structure brought better command and control to the widely dispersed theaters and sub-theaters of the USAAF throughout the world, however with the peace in 1945 and the return of forces and subsequent demobilization, and new organizational pyramid was necessary. General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General of the United States Army Air Forces undertook the reorganization and in the process re-shaped the way the Air Force managed its forces based on functional concepts learned during the war. On 21 March 1946, the USAAF established a new organization of Major Commands as follows:

In addition, several overseas-based Major Commands were established to command USAAF forces outside of the Continetal United States (CONUS). These were:

  • Sixth Air Force was redesignated Caribbean Air Command to command USAAF forces in Central America and various Caribbean island bases.
  • Eleventh Air Force was redesignated Alaskan Air Command for USAAF forces in Alaaska and the Aleutian Islands.

With the establishment of these seven major commands, all reporting to Headquarters USAAF, the wartime Major Commands (CAF, USSTAF, USASTAF) were inactivated. Although modified and expanded , this basic organizational structure has remained in place for United States Air Force the past sixty years.

ConAC Establishment

In 1947 the United States Congress provided the necessary legislation to create a Department of Defense and established the United States Air Force as a separate service equal to the Army and the Navy in the nation's military establishment.

Continental Air Command (ConAC) was established on 1 December 1948 as a new major command. ConAC was the result of an effort by the new USAF to concentrate all fighter forces deployed within the continental United States to strengthen the air defense of the North American continent. With the establishment of ConAC, TAC and ADC were reduced from major commands to operating agencies under ConAC. ConAC also had charge of all Air Force Reserve units because most of these forces were to be used in either air defense or tactical operations.

The creation of ConAC was largely an administrative convenience, as the units assigned to ConAC were dual-trained and in case of war, were expected to revert to their primary roles after the North American air defense battle was won. ConAC was also in large part a budgetary move, as there was precious little money in the Defense Budget during the postwar years (1945-1950). During World War II there was massive deficit expenditures, however with the peace, the Truman Administration was determined to bring the Federal budget back into balance. The little money the Air Force received was going to SAC for B-50 Superfortress and B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental bombers and F-82 Twin Mustang fighter escorts. F-80 Shooting Star and F-84 Thunderjet jets were replacing the obsolete F-51D and F-47D prop-driven tactical fighters for TAC. ADC received primarily the hand-me-downs from TAC and low-hour returned aircraft from the Pacific and Europe, although the unneeded long distance F-51H and P-47N aircraft, designed for the invasion of Japan, were turned over to ADC units.

In practice, ConAC was unworkable as the tactical air support mission was fundamentally different than the air defense mission. With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, it was necessary to deploy large numbers of tactical aircraft to Japan and South Korea. In addition, the need to support the new NATO alliance meant that entire wings of aircraft would be deployed to Europe for tactical air defense. On 1 Dec 1950, the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and relieved it from assignment to ConAC.

The air defense mission, relegated to a secondary status in the postwar years, recieved much more attention as Cold War tensions heightened. Air Defense Command, inactivated on 1 July 1950, was reestablished as a major command on 1 Jan 1951 to counter the perceived Soviet threat of air attacks on the CONUS.

Reserve/National Guard Mission

With the reestablishment of TAC and ADC as major commands, ConAC's misson became one of administering Air Force Reserve Troop Carrier units. Beginning in the mid-1950s and lasting through the 1960s, all Continental Air Command flying units were Air Force Reserve troop carrier units were upgraded from the C-47/C-54 to either C-118 Cargomaster, C-119 Flying Boxcar, C-123 Provider, or C-124 Globemaster aircraft.

Several major re-organizations occurred to Continental troop carrier wings. Their original Table of Organization was a wing headquarters, a troop carrier group, an Air Base Group, a maintenance and supply group, and a medical group. In 1957, the troop carrier group and maintenance and supply groups were inactivated, with their squadrons reassigned directly to the wing headquarters - despite the fact that many wings had squadrons spread out over several bases due to centers of population.

Following a series of mobilizations in 1961 and 1962 for the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Continental Air Command realized that it was unwieldy to mobilize an entire wing unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, in 1963, the wings were again reorganized. Troop Carrier Groups were activated at every base that held a CONAC troop carrier squadron, with each group comprising a material squadron, a troop carrier squadron, a tactical hospital or dispensary, and a combat support squadron. Each troop carrier wing consisted of 3 or 4 of these groups. By doing so, CONAC could facilitate the mobilization of either aircraft and aircrews alone, aircraft and minimum support personnel (one troop carrier group), or the entire troop carrier wing.

While these troop carrier groups have been redesignated several times through the decades with changes in missions and aircraft (the Air Force Reserve Command now operates several different types of aircraft, not all of which are transports), many still exist and today are designated as Wings.

Continental Air Command was inactivated on 1 August 1968 and was replaced by the Air Force Reserve (AFRES). AFRES was initially a field operating agency, later redesignated Air Force Reserve Command on 17 February 1997 and status changed from a field operating agency to a major command of the United States Air Force.

Continental Air Command was disestablished on 21 September 1984. CONAC installations, many of which are still active today as Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard installations, included:

References

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

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