List of major U.S. Commands of World War II
Encyclopedia
The List of major U.S. Commands of World War II includes major military
commands of the United States
. These are units above corps
level.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
commands of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. These are units above corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
level.
Major Army Commands
- Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF): Formed 9 March 1942. - Army Ground ForcesArmy Ground ForcesThe Army Ground Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. Throughout their existence, Army Ground Forces were the largest training organization ever established in the United...
(AGF): Formed 9 March 1942. - Army Service ForcesArmy Service ForcesThe Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces. They were created on February 28, 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department"...
(ASF): Formed 9 March 1942 as Services of SupplyServices of SupplyThe Services Of Supply or "SOS" branch of the Army of the USA was created on 28 February 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department" and War Department Circular No. 59, dated 2 March 1942. Services of Supply became one of the three autonomous components of the...
(USASOS); renamed on 12 March 1943.
Theater commands
- European Theater of OperationsEuropean Theater of OperationsThe European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
(ETO): Formed 8 June 1942. - North African Theater of OperationsMediterranean Theater of OperationsThe Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
(NATO): Formed 4 February 1943. Redesignated Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) on 1 November 1944. - Central Pacific Area (COMCENPAC): Primary subordinate command of Pacific Ocean Areas, also commanded by Chester W. Nimitz through the war.
- North Pacific Area (COMNORPAC): Formed in April 1942 as a subordinate command of Pacific Ocean Areas, commanded by Robert A. Theobald to January 1943, Thomas C. KinkaidThomas C. KinkaidThomas Cassin Kinkaid was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded the Allied forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign...
to October 1943, and Frank J. Fletcher through the end of the war. - Pacific Ocean AreasPacific Ocean AreasPacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, and one of two United States commands in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of the U.S...
(CINCPOA): Formed in April 1942 as primarily Navy command in the Pacific, consisting of Central Pacific Area, South Pacific Area, and North Pacific Area. Commanded by Chester W. Nimitz through the war. - South Pacific AreaSouth Pacific AreaThe South Pacific Area was a multinational U.S.-led military command active during World War II. It was a part of the U.S. Pacific Ocean Areas under Admiral Chester Nimitz.Instructions to the senior U.S...
(COMSOPAC): Formed in April 1942 as a subordinate command of Pacific Ocean Areas, commanded by Robert L. GhormleyRobert L. GhormleyVice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley was an admiral in the United States Navy, serving as Commander, South Pacific Area, during the Second World War.-Biography:...
through October 1942, William Halsey, Jr.William Halsey, Jr.Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr., United States Navy, , was a U.S. Naval officer. He commanded the South Pacific Area during the early stages of the Pacific War against Japan...
to June 1944, John H. Newton to March 1945, and Admiral William L. Calhoun to the end of the war. - South East Pacific Area (COMSOEASPAC): Formed in April 1942. Never became an active theater of war. Commanded by Ernest KingErnest KingFleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. As COMINCH, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the U.S...
throughout the war. - South West Pacific Area (COMSOWESPAC): Formed on 30 March 1942. Commanded by Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthurGeneral of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
throughout the war. - China Burma India TheaterChina Burma India Theater of World War IIChina Burma India Theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II...
(CBI): Formed February 1944. Commanded by Joseph W. StilwellJoseph StilwellGeneral Joseph Warren Stilwell was a United States Army four-star General known for service in the China Burma India Theater. His caustic personality was reflected in the nickname "Vinegar Joe"...
. Split into China Theater under Albert Coady WedemeyerAlbert Coady WedemeyerGeneral Albert Coady Wedemeyer was a United States Army commander who served primarily in Asia during World War II. His most notable command was the China theater in the South-East Asia Theater. During the Cold War, Wedemeyer was a chief supporter of the Berlin Airlift.-Early Life and military...
and India Burma Theater under Daniel I. Sultan on 24 October 1944.
Army groups
- First United States Army Group
- Sixth United States Army Group
- Twelfth United States Army Group
- Fifteenth Army Group
Armies
- U.S. First ArmyU.S. First ArmyThe First United States Army is a field army of the United States Army. It now serves a mobilization, readiness and training command.- Establishment and World War I :...
: Existed prior to the war, shipped to England in October 1943. Landed at NormandyNormandyNormandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and was in North-West Europe through the end of the war. Commanded by Omar BradleyOmar BradleyOmar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...
from October 1943 to August 1944. - U.S. Second ArmyU.S. Second ArmySecond United States Army was formed 15 October 1918 during World War I. It functioned as a training and administrative headquarters until being inactivated 15 April 1919....
: Remained in the United States through the war. - U.S. Third Army: Existed prior to the war, shipped to England in January 1944. Shipped to France in July 1944 and remained in North-West Europe through the end of the war. Commanded by George S. PattonGeorge S. PattonGeorge Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
from January 1944 to the end of the war. - U.S. Fourth ArmyU.S. Fourth Army- History :The Fourth United States Army was organized as Fourth Army in the Organized Reserves in 1922 at New York City, NY. It was withdrawn from the Organized Reserves on 9 August 1932 and allotted to the Regular Army as an inactive unit. It was activated 1 October 1933 and headquartered at the...
: Remained in the United States. - U.S. Fifth Army: Activated in August 1943 at Algiers. Landed at SalernoSalernoSalerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
in September 1943 and remained in Italy through the war. Commanded by Mark W. Clark to November 1944 and Lucian TruscottLucian TruscottLucian King Truscott, Jr. was a U.S. Army General, who successively commanded the 3rd Infantry Division, VI Corps, U.S. Fifteenth Army and U.S. Fifth Army during World War II.-Early life:...
through the end of the war. - U.S. Sixth ArmyU.S. Sixth ArmyThe Sixth United States Army is a field army of the United States Army.-History:It was first activated in January 1943, commanded by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger. Under the code name Alamo Force, it assumed control of the majority of US Army units involved in Operation Cartwheel, the campaign...
- U.S. Seventh Army
- U.S. Eighth ArmyU.S. Eighth ArmyThe Eighth United States Army – often unofficially abbreviated EUSA – is the commanding formation of all US Army troops in South Korea.-World War II:...
- U.S. Ninth ArmyU.S. Ninth ArmyThe Ninth United States Army was one of the main U.S. Army combat commands used during the campaign in Northwest Europe in 1944 and 1945. It was commanded from its inception by Lieutenant General William Simpson...
- U.S. Tenth ArmyU.S. Tenth ArmyThe Tenth United States Army was the last army level command established in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. It was commanded by Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. until he was killed by enemy artillery fire on Okinawa on 18 June 1945...
- U.S. Fifteenth ArmyU.S. Fifteenth ArmyThe Fifteenth United States Army was the last field army to see service in northwest Europe during World War II and was the final command of General George S. Patton. The Fifteenth Army served two separate missions while assigned to the area. During the later stages of World War II its mission was...
Fleets
- U.S. Asiatic Fleet
- U.S. Atlantic FleetU.S. Atlantic FleetThe United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
- U.S. Pacific Fleet
- U.S. 3rd Fleet
- U.S. 4th Fleet
- U.S. 5th Fleet
- U.S. 7th Fleet
- U.S. 8th Fleet
- U.S. 9th Fleet
- U.S. 10th Fleet
- U.S. 12th Fleet
- U.S. 16th Fleet
Seaboards
- Alaska Sea Frontier
- Caribbean Sea Frontier
- Eastern Sea FrontierEastern Sea FrontierThe Eastern Sea Frontier was a United States Navy operational command during World War II, that was responsible for the coastal waters from Canada to Jacksonville, Florida, extending out for a nominal distance of two hundred miles....
- Gulf Sea Frontier
- Hawaiian Sea FrontierHawaiian Sea FrontierThe Hawaiian Sea Frontier was a formation of the United States Navy established during World War II. It was organized to defend the island of Oahu. Vice Admiral David W. Bagley served as COMHAWSEAFRON from 4 April 1942 until July 1943....
- Moroccan Sea Frontier
- Northwest Sea Frontier
- Panama Sea FrontierPanama Sea FrontierThe Panama Sea Frontier was responsible, during World War II, for the defense of the Pacific and Atlantic sea approaches to the Panama Canal and for naval shore facilities in the Central America region...
- Philippine Sea FrontierPhilippine Sea FrontierThe Philippine Sea Frontier was a United States Navy Sea Frontier active in 1941, and reformed in 1944.On 8 December 1941 it was part of the 16th Naval District, a component of the United States Asiatic Fleet....
- Western Sea FrontierWestern Sea FrontierThe Western Sea Frontier, headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA, was responsible for the sea defense of the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico during World War II. The Western Sea Frontier was composed of many forces and commands, including the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth...
Naval Forces (Misc,)
- Naval Forces Europe
- Naval Forces France
- Naval Forces Germany
- Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet
- Amphibious Force North Pacific
- Amphibious Force South Pacific
- Amphibious Force South-West Pacific
- Amphibious Training Command
- III Amphibious Force
- V Amphibious Force
- VII Amphibious Force
- IX Amphibious Force
- XI Amphibious Force
Marine commands
- Fleet Marine Force, PacificFleet Marine Force, PacificThe United States Fleet Marine Force, Pacific is the largest maritime landing force in the world. Its units are spread across the Pacific Ocean and reports to the United States Pacific Command. It is headquartered at MCB Camp H. M...
(FMFPac) - III Amphibious Corps (III AC)
- V Amphibious CorpsV Amphibious CorpsThe V Amphibious Corps was a formation of the United States Marine Corps and was composed of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions during World War II. They were the amphibious landing force for the United States Fifth Fleet and were notably involved in the battles for Tarawa and Saipan in 1944...
(VAC)
Air Forces
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
- Sixth Air Force
- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
- Twelfth Air Force
- Thirteenth Air ForceThirteenth Air ForceThe Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
- Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
- Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
- Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...