Air Training Command - History - Operational History - Postwar Era, 1940s

Postwar Era, 1940s

On July 1, 1946, Army Air Forces redesignated Training Command command as Air Training Command (ATC), and designated ATC as one of the new major commands of the postwar AAF organizational structure.

As part of this reorganization, the "command" echelon was eliminated, being replaced by the "division". For that reason on 1 November 1946 Air Training Command adopted a three-division organizational structure – Flying Division, Technical Division, and Indoctrination Division. And in September 1947, the National Defense Act established the United States Air Force as a separate service.

Once the victory in World War II had been gained, the United States plunged into demobilization, just as it had done at the end of the First World War. Officers and men were sent home. Bases were closed. Airplanes were stored or sold. This rapid demobilization led to a massive reduction of ATC installations being declared surplus or being placed in inactive status; leading to a much smaller command than its wartime predecessor. At the beginning of 1945, AAF Training Command had 170 primary installations. At the end of 1946, the new Air Training Command consisted of the following fourteen major units and bases:

Indoctrination Division

• San Antonio, Texas

AAF Basic Military School, established 1 February 1946

AAF Officer Candidate School, established 11 July 1947

In 1946 AAF Training Command began its first jet fighter transition course at Williams. However, by early 1947 the AAF had sped up its conversion to jet aircraft. The only way training needs could be met was by limiting course quotas to commands already using jet aircraft. Also, the training program was handicapped by the fact that no dual jet trainer aircraft existed

By 1947 AAF personnel shortages were critical. The Army Air Forces had set a post-war goal of building its strength to 70 groups, however organizing, equipping and manning 55 groups was difficult. Many of the major commands felt their personnel cupboards had been stripped clean in order to accomplish this goal.

In 1948 Air Training Command began rebuilding its training complex. The command was still reeling from the heavy losses it sustained in its instructor force in 1947. Then the personnel withdrawals that had to be made in support of the Berlin Airlift and the expansion of Strategic Air Command combined to handicap even more the training bases just at the time pilot production increased.

Plans called for ATC to add five additional flying stations. By year's end, the command had already activated four: Perrin AFB, Texas; Enid AFB, Oklahoma; Waco AFB, Texas; and Las Vegas AFB, Nevada. In a 17 September letter to the field, Headquarters USAF directed all commands to release many highly experienced personnel in support of the Berlin Airlift. Officials in Air Training Command were so concerned about the effect this loss of personnel would have on mission accomplishment that a return letter was sent to Washington asking which of the new flying training bases—Waco or Enid—was to be written off. The only way ATC was able to provide personnel for these schools was by taking individuals from other bases.

When the Berlin Blockade ended in 1949, the Air Force was again hit with reductions that resulted in forced reorganizations and reduced training. In November 1949, Defense Department directives targeting intermediate levels of command compelled ATC to abolish its three-division organizational structure and take over direct administration of the entire training program.

ATC implemented the Hobson organization plan in 1949. Known as the Wing-Base organization, the wing commander would control both the base and the operating units on that base. General organization of the wing included an air base group, a tactical group, a maintenance and supply group, and a medical group. In ATC a training group replaced the tactical group. This new plan made organizations uniform throughout the Air Force.

The last half of 1949 was an exercise in austerity. President Harry S. Truman decided that the country could only afford a 48-group Air Force. By this time, the Air Force had activated 59 groups. With the new announcement, the Air Force had to shift quickly from expansion to contraction. ATC had to cut flying hours and separate large numbers of reserve officers, as well as convert rated officers to non-rated status. Even with the abolishment of the three divisional headquarters—Flying, Technical, and Indoctrination, ATC operations remained crippled by a lack of funding. Also, because the long runways at Barksdale AFB were better suited to strategic bombers than trainer aircraft, Air Force transferred Barksdale to Strategic Air Command in September 1949. Headquarters ATC consequently was moved to Scott AFB, Illinois, effective October 17, 1949.

The reorganized Air Training Command at the end of the decade began to take the form of the modern Air Education and Training Command of today's Air Force. Its major subordinate units were: