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===Operational History===
===Operational History===
====Origns====
====Origns====
In [[1947]] the [[United States Congress]] provided the necessary legislation to create a Department of the Air Force and established the United States Air Force as a separate service equal to the Army and the Navy in the nation's military establishment.
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. These were:
Earlier, on [[21 March]] [[1946]], [[Carl Andrew Spaatz|General Carl Spaatz]], Commanding General of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] had undertaken a major re-organization that had included the establishment of three new combat commands in the United States. These were:


* [[Strategic Air Command]] (soon known everywhere as SAC), to provide a long-range striking force capable of bombardment operations in any part of the world
* [[Strategic Air Command]] (soon known everywhere as 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.
⚫
* [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC), to defend the United States against attack from the air
⚫
* [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC), to support the operations of ground forces.


⚫
* [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC), to support the operations of ground forces. Ninth and Twelfth Air forces were assigned to TAC.
On [[1 December]] [[1948]] TAC and ADC were reduced from major commands to operating agencies when they were assigned to the '''Continental Air Command (ConAC)''' which assumed jurisdiction over North American continental air defense. Continental Air Command 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.


⚫
* [[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.
This move reflected an effort to concentrate all fighter forces deployed within the continental United States to strengthen the air defense of the [[North America]]n continent.

The other 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]]'''.

====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 America]]n 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.
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.


Two years later, on [[1 December]] [[1950]], the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and removed it from assignment to ConAC. Air Defense Command, inactivated on [[1 July]] [[1950]], was reestablished as a major command on [[1 January]] [[1951]] when ConAC ceased to handle the nation's air defense mission.
In practice, ConAC was unworkable and two years later, on [[1 December]] [[1950]], the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and removed it from assignment to ConAC. Air Defense Command, inactivated on [[1 July]] [[1950]], was reestablished as a major command on [[1 January]] [[1951]] when ConAC ceased to handle the nation's air defense mission.


====Reserve/National Guard Mission====
====Reserve/National Guard Mission====

Revision as of 04:42, 5 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, 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. These were:

  • Strategic Air Command (soon known everywhere as 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.
  • Tactical Air Command (TAC), to support the operations of ground forces. Ninth and Twelfth Air forces were assigned to TAC.
  • 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.

The other Army Air Forces were assigned to commands outside of the continental United States (CONUS). Fifth, Seventh, Thirteenth and Twentieth Air Forces were assigned to 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.

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.

In practice, ConAC was unworkable and two years later, on 1 December 1950, the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and removed it from assignment to ConAC. Air Defense Command, inactivated on 1 July 1950, was reestablished as a major command on 1 January 1951 when ConAC ceased to handle the nation's air defense mission.

Reserve/National Guard Mission

During the remainder of its existence, Continental Air Command was responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard tactical fighter units and 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, equipped with 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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