WWII ARMY COMMANDS
Source:
The Army Almanac
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, U. S. ARMY (GHQ)
Primary mission: Primary mission of GHQ, United States Army was to "facilitate and speed up the process of mobilization by taking over the direct supervision of the...task of organizing and training the field forces within the continental United States." On 3 July 1941, mission was expanded to include the planning and command of military operations.
Commander: Gen. George O. Marshall, 26 July 1940-9 March 1942.
Chronology of events: General Headquarters, United States Army, was activated on 26 July 1940, per OCS 21152-2 OCS-OW to TAG, GHQ, 25 July 1940. On 9 March 1942, General Headquarters. United States Army was superseded by the Army Ground Forces, which inherited its training function's planning and operational responsibilities were transferred to other agencies of the War Department (per Executive order of the President, 2 February 1942).
Remarks: Although the commanding general of GHQ was the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George C. Marshall, the actual work of directing GHQ fell to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. (later Lt. Gen.) Lesley J. McNair.
ARMY GROUND FORCES
Primary mission: The mission of the Army Ground Forces, as stated by War Department Circular 59 (2 March 1942) was "to provide ground force units properly organized, trained and equipped for combat operations."
Commanders: Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, March 1942-June 1944. Lt. Gen. Ben Lear, July 1944-December 1944. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, January 1945-May 1945, Gen. Jacob L. Devers, June 1945-.
Chronology of events: The Army Ground Forces was established on 9 March 1942 as the successor to General Headquarters, United States Army (which see), pursuant to an Executive order of the President of 28 February 1942. On 10 March 1948 it wag redesignated the Army Field Forces, per Circular 64, Department of the Army, dated 10 March 1948, and is still active.
ANTIAIRCRAFT COMMAND
Primary mission: To instruct and train officers and enlisted men for duty with antiaircraft artillery and barrage balloon units, and to activate, organize, equip, and train efficiently such units for combat service.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Green, 9 March 1942-27 October 1944. Brig. Gen. Frank C. McConnell, 28 October 1944-10 February 1945. Maj. Gen. George R. Meyer, 11 February 1945-8 October 1945.
Chronology of events: Activated 9 March 1942 per AG 320.2/2 AGF (3-7-42) 9 March 1942. Headquarters at Washington, D. C. Headquarters moved to Richmond, Va. 23 March 1942 and to Fort Bliss, Tex. 13 October 1944. Discontinued 30 October 1945 per General Orders 51, Hq, AA Cmd., Fort Bliss, Tex., dated 26 October 1945.
USF, INDIA-BURMA THEATER
Primary mission: To support the China Theater in carrying out its mission. This includes the establishment, maintenance, operation, and security of the land line of communication to China, and the security of the air route to China. Responsibility "for the logistic and administrative support of all United States Army Forces in the India-Burma Theater."
Commanders: Lt. Gen. Daniel I. Sultan, 27 October 1944-23 June 1945.
Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler, 23 June 1945-29 September 1945. Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Terry, 29 September 1945-17 February 1946. Maj. Gen. Vernon Evans, 17 February 1946-31 May 1946.
Chronology of events: The United States Forces, India-Burma Theater, was established 24 October 1944 per Radio War Department, OPD, 25 October 1944 Created by dividing the USAF, CBI into two separate theaters-the China Theater and the India-Burma Theater. Headquarters located at New Delhi. Moved to Calcutta 15 April 1946 per General Orders 125, Headquarters, USF, IBT, New Delhi, India, 11 April 1946. India-Burma Theater inactivated 31 May 1946 per India radio, COMGENIB, dated 2 May 1946 CM-IN-51414 (3 May 1946). The Detachment, United States Army in India was organized 19 April 1946 per letter from Headquarters, USF, India-Burma.
Theater APO 885 dated 19 April 1946 to carry out the residual tasks of the India-Burma Theater upon the theater's inactivation. It was discontinued 30 September 1946 per radio from New Delhi, India, CM-IN-5832, dated 30 September 1946.
USAF, CHINA-BURMA-INDIA
Primary mission: Increase the effectiveness of United States assistance to the Chinese Government for the prosecution of the war and to assist in improving the combat efficiency of the Chinese Army. On 27 May 1944 the mission became "the conduct of such military operations in China as would most effectively support an effort directed against enemy forces in the Pacific" and the exploitation of the development of overland communications to China.
Commanders: Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, 4 March 1942-24 April 1943. Maj. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler, 24 April 1943-8 June 1943. Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, 8 June 1943-19 November 1943. Maj. Gen. T. G. Hearn, 19 November 1943-9 December 1943. Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, 9 December 1943-24 October 1944.
Chronology of events: Activated as American Army Forces in China-Burma-India with headquarters at Chungking, China, 4 March 1942 per General Orders 1, Headquarters, AAF, CBI, Chungking, 4 March 1942 as quoted in CBI Theater of Operations, 21 May 1942 to 24 October 1944, page 45. All American troops on Asiatic mainland designated USAF, CBI by War Department 15 March 1942 per History of IBT, 24 June to 31 May 1946, Vol. 3, Chronology. Headquarters at New Delhi named Headquarters USAF, CBI and echelon at Chungking became Forward Echelon, USAF, CBI 1 April 1944 per same source. CBI Theater divided into India-Burma Theater and China Theater, 24 October 1944 per radio OPD, 25 October 1944, CM-OUT-52150 (25 October 1944).
U.S. FORCES, CHINA THEATER
Primary mission: With respect to Chinese troops, to "advise and assist the Generalissimo in the conduct of military operations against the Japanese." With respect to American troops, to "carry out air operations from China" and to "continue to assist the Chinese air and ground forces in operations, training and logistical support."
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, 24 October 1944-31 October 1944. Maj. Gen. (later Lt. Gen.) Albert C. Wedemeyer, 31 October 1944-1 May 1946.
Chronology of events: Established 24 October 1944 per radio OPD, 25 October 1944, CM-OUT-52150 (25 October 1944). Headquarters at Chungking, China. Headquarters, USF, CT moved to Shanghai 14 October 1945 per Chronology, History of IBT, Vol. 3. Discontinued 1 May 1946 by WARX 82100, 26 March 1946 per radio from China Theater, 17 April 1946, CM-IN-3634 (18 April 1946).
ARMY AIR FORCES SUPPORTING COMMANDS IN WORLD WAR II
Source:
The Army Almanac
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950
AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND
Headquarters: Washington, D. C.
Remarks: Commenced operations 29 May 1941. Preliminary mission was delivering combat aircraft to the fighting fronts. Later expanded to 11 component divisions delivering to almost every part of the world.
On VJ-day a peak number of 3,354 aircraft was assigned to ATC transport operations, and its planes were crossing the Atlantic on an average of one every 13 minutes and the Pacific one every 90 minutes. Its annual lift included more than a billion pounds of high priority cargo, passengers and mail. The outstanding single lift was in the CBI theater in an effort to supply the isolated 14th and 20th Air Forces across the Himalaya Mountains. By VJ-day, ATC was flying planes over the "Hump" at an average of one every 1.3 minutes.
AIR TRAINING COMMAND
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Tex.
Remarks: This command originally consisted of two subcommands-the Technical Training Command, organized 26 March 1941, and the Flying Training Command, activated 23 January 1942. They were combined into a unified Training Command with headquarters at Fort Worth, Tex., on 7 July 1943, with a coordinated curriculum providing training for both aircrewmen and ground technicians. It was also responsible for the Officer Candidate School for air officers and for basic training for draftees.
TROOP CARRIER COMMAND
Headquarters: Indianapolis, Ind.
Remarks: The Troop Carrier Command was dissociated from Air Transport Command, its parent organization, on 20 June 1942. It coordinated the organization and training of troop carrier, glider, medical air evacuation, and other airborne units. Also it was responsible for developing joint airborne combat tactics in conjunction with Army Ground Forces.
AIR MATERIEL COMMAND
Headquarters: Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.
Remarks: The Air Corps Materiel Command which was established in 1926 was redesignated Air Materiel Command on 9 March 1942, and served as the aeronautical Research and Development Center for the AAF. It was responsible for procurement, and contracting for purchase of all aircraft and related equipment used by the War Department.
AIR SERVICE COMMAND
Headquarters: Patterson Field, Ohio.
Remarks: This command was organized as the Air Corps Provisional Maintenance Command, 15 March 1941, with headquarters at Patterson Field, Ohio; then reorganized as Air Service Command. After the war started it became Air Technical Service Command with considerably expanded functions. It was "housekeeper" for the combat elements overseas, and was responsible for the distribution and installation of newer-type mechanical airborne equipment. ASC technicians served on all fronts repairing and modifying aircraft.
PROVING GROUND COMMAND
Headquarters: Eglin Field, Fla.
Remarks: Originally organized as the Air Corps Proving Ground, 15 May 1941, with headquarters at Eglin Field, Fla., it was redesignated Proving Ground Command, 1 April 1942. It conducted operational tests and studies of aircraft and airborne equipment.
PERSONNEL DISTRIBUTION COMMAND
Headquarters: Atlantic City, N. J.
Remarks: Individual redistribution centers, with headquarters at Atlantic City, N. J., were organized 15 August 1943 to provide rest and recreation for combat returnees, and to reassign returned personnel. The centers were consolidated 1 June 1944 in accordance with new rotation policy, with three major subdivisions; (1) Redistribution Stations, (2) Convalescent Hospitals, and (3) Overseas Replacement Depots.
MINOR COMMANDS AND SERVICES
Source:
The Army Almanac
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950
ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Headquarters: Asheville, N. C.
Remarks: It provided a world-wide system of communications along military airways, including radio stations, airbase control towers, beacons, radio ranges and other communications facilities,
AIR WEATHER SERVICE
Headquarters: Asheville, N. C.
Remarks: This service provided scientific information about weather to AAF and other interested agencies.
SCHOOL OF AVIATION MEDICINE
Headquarters: Randolph Field, Tex.
Remarks: It trained air surgeons and conducted research and development in the science of aviation medicine.
AERONAUTICAL CHART SERVICE
Headquarters: Washington, D. C.
Remarks: The map reproduction plant was in St. Louis. It developed the Tri-metrogen System of aerial photography which revolutionized aerial reconnaissance. They replaced the time-worn Mercator system of maps with conic projections more suitable to air operations.
FIRST MOTION PICTURE UNIT
Headquarters: Culver City, Calif.
Remarks: Produced motion pictures as training aids for AAF personnel, making it possible to teach large groups of men the intricate lessons far more rapidly than by formalized courses.
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