Tactical Air Force
Encyclopedia
The term Tactical Air Force was used by the air force
s of the British Commonwealth
during the later stages of World War II
, for formations of more than one fighter group
. A tactical air force was intended to achieve air supremacy
and perform ground attack
missions. Unlike the numbered air forces of the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF), the Tactical Air Forces did not include strategic bombing
/heavy bomber
capability. The USAAF situation changed in late 1943 when the 12th Air Force transferred its heavy bombers to the newly formed 15th Air Force. Thus, the 12th Air Force became a tactical air force and the 15th Air Force became a strategic air force. Later, when the Allied
air forces in the MTO
were reorganized into the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
(MAAF), the US 12th Air Force and the RAF Desert Air Force
became part of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force and the US 15th Air Force and No. 205 Group RAF
became part of the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force. A Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force was also part of MAAF. The organization, implementation, and coordination of strategic, tactical, and coastal air forces throughout the latter stages of WWII was based on the successful practice of an original tri-force model pioneered primarily by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
and Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham
during the Western Desert Campaign
of WWII. This original tri-force consisted of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group
, Air Headquarters Western Desert
, and No. 201 (Naval Cooperation) Group
as the strategic, tactical, and coastal components, respectively. Coningham commanded Air Headquarters Western Desert and in support of army ground forces, he and Tedder developed some of the key features of Close air support
still practiced by modern air forces.
The four tactical air forces were:
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
s of the British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
during the later stages of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, for formations of more than one fighter group
Group (air force)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
. A tactical air force was intended to achieve air supremacy
Air supremacy
Air supremacy is the complete dominance of the air power of one side's air forces over the other side's, during a military campaign. It is the most favorable state of control of the air...
and perform ground attack
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
missions. Unlike the numbered air forces of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The 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), the Tactical Air Forces did not include strategic bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
/heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
capability. The USAAF situation changed in late 1943 when the 12th Air Force transferred its heavy bombers to the newly formed 15th Air Force. Thus, the 12th Air Force became a tactical air force and the 15th Air Force became a strategic air force. Later, when the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air forces in the MTO
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The 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...
were reorganized into the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
(MAAF), the US 12th Air Force and the RAF Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
became part of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force and the US 15th Air Force and No. 205 Group RAF
No. 205 Group RAF
No. 205 Group was a long-range, heavy bomber group of the Royal Air Force established on October 23, 1941 by boosting No. 257 Wing to Group status....
became part of the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force. A Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force was also part of MAAF. The organization, implementation, and coordination of strategic, tactical, and coastal air forces throughout the latter stages of WWII was based on the successful practice of an original tri-force model pioneered primarily by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder
Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder, GCB was a senior British air force commander. During the First World War, he was a pilot and squadron commander in the Royal Flying Corps and he went on to serve as a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during the inter-war...
and Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham
Arthur Coningham (RAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Arthur "Mary" Coningham KCB, KBE, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. During the First World War, he was at Gallipoli with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, where he became a flying ace...
during the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
of WWII. This original tri-force consisted of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group
No. 205 Group RAF
No. 205 Group was a long-range, heavy bomber group of the Royal Air Force established on October 23, 1941 by boosting No. 257 Wing to Group status....
, Air Headquarters Western Desert
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
, and No. 201 (Naval Cooperation) Group
No. 201 Group RAF
No. 201 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 201 Group RAF was formed on 18 September 1939 from General Reconnaissance Group, Middle East of the Royal Air Force . The group was initially commanded by Group Captain H.W.G. Penderel. On May 11, 1940, Group...
as the strategic, tactical, and coastal components, respectively. Coningham commanded Air Headquarters Western Desert and in support of army ground forces, he and Tedder developed some of the key features of Close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
still practiced by modern air forces.
The four tactical air forces were:
- Australian First Tactical Air ForceAustralian First Tactical Air ForceThe Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force . Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area...
- Desert Air ForceDesert Air ForceThe Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
(later known as the First Tactical Air Force) - North Africa and later Italy - RAF Second Tactical Air ForceRAF Second Tactical Air ForceThe former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War...
- Northern Europe - RAF Third Tactical Air ForceRAF Third Tactical Air ForceThe RAF Third Tactical Air Force , which was formed in South Asia in December 1943, was one of three tactical air forces formed by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was made up of squadrons and personnel from the RAF and the air forces of the British Commonwealth...
- South Asia