III Reconnaissance Command

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.

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

 * Various 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.