Antilles Air Command

Antilles Air Command
250px Emblem of the United States Antilles Command
Active	1943–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Command and Control

The Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. It was inactivated on 25 August 1946.

Engaged in antisubmarine operations, 1941–1945. Inactivated 1946.

On 28 July 1948, it was reactivated as the Antilles Air Division and assumed the mission of the 24th Composite Wing. It was to act as a supply organization for all U.S. Air Force Bases in the Caribbean area and to maintain operational and administrative control over these bases. The following bases were under the Division's control:

• Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico
• Vernam Air Force Base, Jamaica
• Coolidege Air Force Base, Antigua
• Beane Air Force Base, Saint Lucia
• Waller Air Force Base, Trinidad
• Atkinson Air Force Base, British Guiana

The division was inactivated on 26 May 1949 with the closure of the Caribbean bases (Ramey was reassigned to Strategic Air Command).

History

Lineage

• Established as Antilles Air Task Force on 12 February 1942

Redesigned as: Curacao Department, VI Fighter Command, Antilles Air Task Force on 21 July 1942

Redesigned as: Antilles Air Task Force, VI Fighter Command, on 4 September 1942

Redesigned as: Headquarters, Antilles Air Task Force, on 1 March 1943

Redesigned as: Antilles Air Command, on 1 June 1943

Inactivated on 25 August 1946

• Reactivated and Redesignated: Antilles Air Division on 12 January 1948

Inactivated and Disbanded on 22 January 1949

Assignments

• Sixth Air Force on 20 February 1943 – 25 August 1946
• Caribbean Air Command, 12 January 1948 – 22 January 1949

Stations

• San Juan, Puerto Rico, 11 July 1941
• Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, 1 March-25 August 1946
• Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, 12 January 1948 – 22 January 1949

Units assigned

• Trinidad Wing, October 1943-15 March 1944
• 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 11 July 1941 – 29 March 1942

Attached to Puerto Rican Department: 29 March 1942-23 March 1943

Attached to Antilles Air Task Force: 23 March-1 June 1943

Assigned to Antilles Air Command: 1 July 1943-25 August 1946

• 23d Antisubmarine Squadron:

Attached to Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command: 5 August–December 1943

• 32d Fighter Squadron: 3 August 1943 – 13 March 1944
• 59th Bombardment Squadron: 19 March-26 April 1943

Detached to 25th Bombardment Squadron: 26 April-1 August 1943

• 91st Reconnaissance Squadron

Attached: 26 July-21 October 1948

Assigned: 21 October 1948-22 January 1949

• 101st Bombardment (Photographic) Squadron

Attached to Trinidad Sector and Base Command, 6 August 1942-1 June 1943

Assigned to Antilles Air Command: 1 June 1943-15 March 1944

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.