Siteadmin, Check users, Administrators
12,071
edits
Changes
→Two Years of Inaction
For the first two and a half years of its existence, SAC virtually languished from inaction, inattention, and lack of funding. Ten days after SAC's establishment, the Second Air Force was deactivated. The Fifteenth Air Force with its ten [[group (air)|groups]] replaced it, but eight of the ten groups would be deactivated before the year was out.<ref name=Broyhill/>
For the first two and a half years of its existence, SAC virtually languished from inaction, inattention, and lack of funding. Ten days after SAC's establishment, the Second Air Force was deactivated. The Fifteenth Air Force with its ten [[group (air)|groups]] replaced it, but eight of the ten groups would be deactivated before the year was out.<ref name=Broyhill/>
On June 7, 1946, the Eighth Air Force, which had distinguished itself in the European theater during World War II, was assigned to SAC. Technically its base was to be MacDill Field (the future [[MacDill Air Force Base]]), but in fact no physical movement of assets occurred at that time. For the rest of the year, several new bombardment groups were added to the Fifteenth and Eighth Air Forces. But at the close of 1946, SAC had in all only 148 B-29 bombers, nearly all of which were equipped to drop conventional bombs only.<ref name=Broyhill/>
On June 7, 1946, the Eighth Air Force, which had distinguished itself in the European theater during World War II, was assigned to SAC. Technically its base was to be MacDill Field (the future [[MacDill Air Force Base]]), but in fact no physical movement of assets occurred at that time. For the rest of the year, several new bombardment groups were added to the Fifteenth and Eighth Air Forces. But at the close of 1946, SAC had in all only 148 [[B-29 Superfortress]] bombers, nearly all of which were equipped to drop conventional bombs only.<ref name=Broyhill/>
On [[September 16, 1947]] the Army Air Forces gained a separate identity as the present [[United States Air Force]]. The uniforms, insignia, and facility names all changed, but command structure, organization, and operations remained the same.<ref name=Broyhill/>
On [[September 16, 1947]] the Army Air Forces gained a separate identity as the present [[United States Air Force]]. The uniforms, insignia, and facility names all changed, but command structure, organization, and operations remained the same.<ref name=Broyhill/>