II Air Support Command

General Headquarters Air Force reorganized its four regional air districts as Numbered Air Forces in the spring of 1941. By the fall of that year, each of these had organized as a support command and three combat commands.Cate & Williams, p. 152, 155

In the summer of 1941 GHQ AF had decided to establish commands to direct its air support mission in each numbered air force, plus one additional command reporting directly to GHQ AF. These commands would be manned from inactivating wings, and would initially control only observation squadrons, which would be transferred from the control of the corps and divisions, although they would remain attached to these ground units.Futrell, p. 13 2nd Air Force organized 2nd Air Support Command at Fort Douglas, Utah in September 1941, soon moving to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma where it drew cadre and equipment from the 20th Bombardment Wing, which was simultaneously inactivated.Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 433-434 New observation groups were formed, with a cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941.

However, by early 1942, the command's first commander, Hume Peabody, like two of the other commanders of air support commands had moved overseas, and similar demands led GHQ AF to believe it had little more than the "remnants" of the command remaining. However, in May, the Army Air Forces (AAF) reaffirmed that each of the continental numbered air forces would have an air support command and the command's manning was brought back up.Futrell, p. 15

The AAF determined that its continental air forces would specialize in their training operations and air support training would be assigned to Third Air Force. As a result, in October of 1942, AAF directed that all but one of the observation groups assigned to the command were to be reduced to 50% strength with their personnel used to form new tow target squadrons, or transferred to heavy bomber Operational Training Unit (OTU)s or Replacement Training Unit (RTU)s.White, p. 80 Further, the command, now titled the II Air Support Command, was reassigned to Third Air Force in January 1943.

In August 1943, the command was redesignated the II Tactical Air Division with the intent that the command would engage in combined training with army ground forces.White, p. 87

The unit participated in various air-ground maneuvers, supported ground units in training, and put on air support demonstrations.

• Constituted as 2nd Air Support Command on 21 August 1941Maurer indicates unit was constituted as the "II" Air Support Command. However, the unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. {{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433913/types-of-usaf-organizations/ |title=Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations|date=9 January 2008|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=19 September 2016}}

: Activated on 1 September 1941

: Redesignated 2nd Ground Air Support Command c. 30 April 1942

: Redesignated II Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942

: Redesignated II Tactical Air Division on 28 August 1943Futrell, p. 27

: Inactivated on 22 December 1945

: Disbanded on 8 October 1948

• Second Air Force, 21 August 1941{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432145/second-air-force-aetc/ |last=Ream|first=Margaret|title=Factsheet Second Air Force (AETC)|date=9 September 2020|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=12 December 2021}}
• Third Air Force, 25 January 1943{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433194/first-air-force-air-forces-northern-acc/ |last=Haulman|first=Daniel L.|title=Factsheet Third Air Force (USAFE)|date=4 April 2019|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=9 December 2021}}
• III Tactical Air Command, 25 October 1945 – 22 December 1945

Groups

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• 48th Bombardment Group, 1 September 1941 – 2 May 1942{{cite web|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433509/48-operations-group-usafe/ |last=Robertson|first=Patsy E.|title=Factsheet 48 Operations Group (USAFE)|date=7 July 2017|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=31 December 2021}}
• 69th Observation Group (later 69th Reconnaissance Group), 7 September 1942 – 6 August 1943{{cite web|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432093/69-reconnaissance-group-acc/ |last=Robertson|first=Patsy|title=Factsheet 69 Reconnaissance Group (ACC)|date=10 July 2017|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=7 January 2022}}
• 71st Observation Group (later 71st Reconnaissance Group), 1 October 1941 – March 1942; August 1942 – c. 7 November 1943{{cite web|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432318/71-operations-group-aetc/ |last=Robertson|first=Patsy|title=Factsheet 71 Operations Group (AETC)|date=10 June 2011|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=7 January 2022}}
• 72d Observation Group, 26 September 1941 – c. 18 January 1942{{cite web|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432882/72-air-base-wing-afmc/ |last=Stephens|first=Maj Tonia|title=Factsheet 72 Air Base Wing (AFMC)|date=23 May 2017|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=9 January 2022}} (2nd Air Service Command [sic])
• 75th Observation Group, 12 March 1942 – c. 24 May 1942{{cite web|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432881/75-air-base-wing-afmc/ |last=Ream|first=Margaret|title=Factsheet 75 Air Base Wing (AFMC)|date=13 May 2021|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=10 January 2022}}
• 77th Observation Group (later 77th Reconnaissance Group), 12 March – 24 May 1942; 7 September 1942 – 6 August 1943 (attached to III Ground Air Support Command [later, III Air Support Command] until 5 August 1943){{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433920/77-aeronautical-systems-wing-afmc/ |last=Butler|first=William M.|title=Factsheet 77 Aeronauticall Systems Wing (AFMC)|date=9 January 2008|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=12 January 2022}}
• 312th Bombardment Group, 15–16 March 1942
• 416th Bombardment Group, attached 1−22 November 1943{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432809/416-air-expeditionary-wing-acc/ |last=Kane|first=Robert B.|title=Factsheet 416 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)|date=24 March 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=17 January 2022}}

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Squadrons

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• 1st Observation Squadron (later 1st Reconnaissance Squadron), 1–26 Sep 1941; 24 May – 24 June 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 191
• 2d Communications Squadron, Air Support: 1–31 May 1942{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/862247/2-air-support-operations-squadron-usafe/ |last=Dollman|first=TSG David|title=Factsheet 2 Air Support Operations Squadron (USAFE)|date=16 June 2017|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=17 July 2018}}
• 2d Composite Squadron, 8 November 1943 – 18 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 40
• 3rd Observation Squadron, attached 12 August – 23 September 1942Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 24
• 5th Liaison Squadron, 12 October 1943 – 28 March 1944
• 6th Photographic Squadron, 29 March – 7 May 1942
• 15th Air Support Communications Squadron (later 15th Tactical Air Communications Squadron): 23 August 1943 – 20 April 1944{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/431993/15-air-support-operations-squadron-acc/ |last=Haulman|first=Daniel L.|title=Factsheet 15 Air Support Operations Squadron (ACC)|date=27 March 2018|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=15 January 2022}}
• 25th Liaison Squadron, 11 August – 19 November 1943 (attached to 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group after 15 August 1943)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 131
• 30th Army Reconnaissance Squadron (later 30th Observation Squadron), 1 September 1941 – 12 March 1942Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 151
• 37th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 29 March – 12 Apr 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 177
• 47th Liaison Squadron, 11 August 1943 – 4 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 207
• 72d Liaison Squadron, 11 August 1943 – c. 14 June 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 266
• 102d Observation Squadron, 1 September – 1 October 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 334
• 108th Observation Squadron, 1–26 September 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 337
• 110th Observation Squadron, 1 September – 1 October 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 339
• 112th Observation Squadron, 1 September – 1 October 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 342
• 115th Liaison Squadron, 11 August 1943 – 18 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 344
• 124th Observation Squadron, 15–26 September 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 349
• 125th Liaison Squadron, 11 August – c. 11 October 1943Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 350
• 128th Observation Squadron, 15 September – 1 October 1941Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 777
• 157th Liaison Squadron, 10 February – 18 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 357
• 159th Liaison Squadron, 1 March – 18 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 358
• 160th Liaison Squadron, 1–18 April 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 358
• 162nd Liaison Squadron, 24 June 1944 – 1 September 1945Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 361-362
• 398th Fighter Squadron, 10 August – 1 September 1945Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 489

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• Fort Douglas, Utah, 1 September 1941
• Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, c. October 1941
• Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, c. 1 April 1942
• Geiger Field, Washington, 26 May 1942
• Reno Army Air Base, Nevada, 27 May 1942
• Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colorado, July 1942

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• Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 15 March 1943
• DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana, c. 31 March 1944
• Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas, February 1945
• Barksdale Field, Louisiana, c. 12 November 1945
• Biggs Field, Texas, c. 23 November-22 December 1945

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; Explanatory notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

• {{cite book|last1=Cate|first1=James L.|last2=Williams|first2=E. Kathleen|editor1=Craven, Wesley F.|editor2=Cate, James L.|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329898/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-005.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170218064307/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329898/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-005.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 18 February 2017 |access-date=17 December 2016| title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=I, Plans and Early Operations|year=1948|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|oclc=704158|lccn=48003657|chapter=Prelude to War, Chapter 4, The Air Corps Prepares for War, 1939-41}}
• {{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/1-50/AFD-090602-049.pdf |last=Futrell|first=Robert F.|title=Command of Observation Aviation: A Study in Control of Tactical Airpower, USAF Historical Study No. 24|date=September 1956|publisher=Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University |access-date=23 January 2022}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-date=1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date=17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
• {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-date=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date=17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
• {{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-030.pdf |last1=White|first1=Jerry|title=Combat Crew and Unit Training in the AAF 1939-1945, USAF Historical Study No. 61|date=August 1949|publisher=Air Historical Office, United States Air Force|access-date=30 January 2022}}

{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}

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