The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States Army Air Forces (AAF), the predecessor organization of the USAF, which used separate chains of command for combat and support units. The plan made the wing the basic combat unit of the AAF, rather than the group and placed all support elements on a base under the command of the wing commander in addition to combat elements.
Background
United States Army Air Forces As part of the United States Army, the operational units of the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) operated from facilities known as army air fields. They consisted of a ground station, which consisted of streets, buildings, barracks and the support facilities and organizations. The airfield consisted of the runways, taxiways, hangars, and other facilities used to support flight operations at the airfield. The station commander commanded the station organizations and was responsible for the facilities. From 1940 to 1942, this responsibility fell to the commander of an "Air Base Group", consisting of an air base squadron and one or two materiel squadrons. There were also attached quartermaster and ordnance units, as well as other "Arms and Services with the Army Air Forces" detachments. Although these units supported one or two combat groups, they reported to different headquarters. In 1942, the air base groups became "service groups" designed to support deployed combat groups, while in the United States, the air base squadrons were expanded into "base headquarters and air base squadrons" and assumed the responsibilities of the former air base groups.War Department Adjutant General Letter AG 320.2 (6-10-40) M-Ret-MC Subject: Air Base Groups, August 22, 1940 In a reorganization of units in the United States by Army Air Forces, in the spring of 1944 the support units were reorganized into "Army Air Force Base Units" (AAFBU).Goss, p. 75
Creation of the United States Air Force On September 16, 1947, the United States Air Force was established as a separate and equal element of the United States armed forces.
Rapid demobilization after September 1945 meant that a new Air Force had to be built with the remnants of the wartime Army Air Forces. Initially, the Army Air Fields retained as permanent bases were assumed by the USAF were renamed as "Air Force Bases", and the Army's organizational structure was carried over into the new service with "Air Force Base Units" replacing the AAFBU. This resulted, however, into an awkward circumstance where the Combat Group commander was reporting to a Base Commander who may or may not have had flying experience. Once the United States Air Force became operational as a separate department, Carl Andrew Spaatz, the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force established a policy where, "No tactical commander should be subordinate to the station commander."
Spaatz's policy meant that a new solution would have to be found. Major General Charles Born proposed the creation of the Provisional Wing Plan, which basically reversed the USAAF organization and placed the wing commander over the base commander, although this idea was eventually discarded as it was viewed to be too complex.
The Wing-Base plan Under the "Wing-Base" plan, the operational combat squadrons were assigned to a combat group. The support squadrons on the station were assigned to a "Maintenance and Supply Group", an "Airdrome Group", and a "Station Medical Group." The four groups were assigned to a wing, a changed level of command which unified all of the components, flying and support under a single command. The group commanders were subordinate to the wing commander who was an experienced combat flying leader. The wing would assume the historical numerical designation of the assigned combat group. A base commander was established to handle the administrative duties of the wing commander and to coordinate with the various group commanders. In this plan, known as the "Hobson Plan," the support groups and the operational flying combat group and the wing became one unit. Colonel Kenneth B. Hobson, the chief of the AAF Organizational Division, was the special project chairman and briefer.Conrad & Bullock, p. 26 The Wing-Base Organization was formalized in Air Force Regulation 20–15, Organization Principles and Policies for the US Air Force.
Organizations known as "wings" had existed in the Air Force and its predecessors since 1918, and new wings were created in the 1920s and 1930s. During World War II numerous wings existed; some provided training in the United States, others controlled combat groups and support organizations overseas.Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors, p. 2 However, the USAF wings established in 1947 were new organizations and few shared lineage or honors with the wings formed under the Army. In 1948 and afterward, some existing AAF wings were redesignated as air divisions, and placed immediately above the USAF Wings and below the Numbered Air Forces in the USAF organizational pyramid.Ravenstein, Combat Wings
Another major change implemented by the Hobson Plan was the standardization of designations. For example, the 1st Fighter Wing, established at March Air Force Base would consist of the 1st Fighter Group (its combat group); the 1st Maintenance and Supply Group, the 1st Air Base Group (to operate base facilities and services), and the 1st Station Medical Group. Subordinate to the groups were the 1st Maintenance Squadron, 1st Supply Squadron, 1st Motor Vehicle Squadron, 1st Air Police Squadron, and so on. Operational flying Squadrons retained their historical designations and were assigned to the combat group. Tenant units stationed at the base, under the command of other commands, would also retain their designations.
1947 Service Test The service test of the Hobson Plan in 1947-1948 prompted an important change in the field structure and organization of the Air Force. The AAF (and previous Army Air Corps) wing organizations supervised a mixture of combat groups and support organizations. None of the subordinate organizations were permanently affiliated with the wings, or possessed similar numerical designations or standard functions.
The USAF wings organized for the service test of the Hobson Plan featured standard functions. Each wing had its support squadrons organized into the four prescribed groups, all with identical numerical designations.
Typical Service Test Organization 1st Fighter Wing 1st Fighter Group 27th Fighter Squadron 71st Fighter Squadron 94th Fighter Squadron 1st Airdrome Group Squadron A, 1st Airdrome Group Squadron B, 1st Airdrome Group Squadron C, 1st Airdrome Group Squadron D, 1st Airdrome Group Squadron E, 1st Airdrome Group 1st Maintenance & Supply Group Maintenance Squadron, 1st Maintenance & Supply Group Supply Squadron, 1st Maintenance & Supply Group 1st Station Medical Group
The temporary service test Combat Wings were:
Wing DesignationExperimental Wing OrganizedExperimental Wing DiscontinuedPermanent Wing Activated1st Fighter Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 52d Bombardment Wing5 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 74th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 127th Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 1810th Reconnaissance Wing3 December 194727 Aug 194825 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 24.The permanent wing was redesignated the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing14th Fighter Wing15 August 194726 July 194826 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 2920th Fighter Wing15 August 194726 August 194824 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 3827th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), pp. 49-5028th Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 5231st Fighter Wing20 November 194725 August 194823 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 5433d Fighter Wing5 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 5843d Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 7047th Bombardment Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 7556th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 9062d Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 9867th Reconnaissance Wing25 November 194724 August 194822 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 105. The permanent wing was redesignated 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing82d Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), pp. 117-11892d Bombardment Wing17 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 12893d Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 13097th Bombardment Wing1 December 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 13698th Bombardment Wing10 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 138301st Bombardment Wing5 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 144307th Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 154313th Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194726 August 194823 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 160316th Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194725 August 194823 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 165332d Fighter Wing15 August 194728 August 194826 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 178363d Reconnaissance Wing15 August 194727 Aug 194827 Aug 1948Ravenstein (1984), p. 191The permanent wing was redesignated 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing509th Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948Ravenstein (1984), pp. 275-276
Additional combat wings organized under the permanent plan In the spring of 1948, the Hobson Plan was judged to be successful, and all other combat wings (mostly stationed overseas) were reorganized and established and the Hobson Plan was made permanent.
Typical Permanent Organization 1st Fighter Wing 1st Fighter Group 27th Fighter Squadron 71st Fighter Squadron 94th Fighter Squadron 1st Air Base Group 1st Air Police Squadron 1st Base Services Squadron (disbanded and function merged into Air Base Group headquarters in 1949) 1st Communications Squadron 1st Food Services Squadron 1st Installations Squadron 1st Motor Vehicle Squadron (transferred to Maintenance & Supply Group in 1949) 1st Finance Disbursing Unit (disbanded and function merged into Air Base Group headquarters in 1949) 1st Maintenance & Supply Group 1st Maintenance Squadron 1st Supply Squadron 1st Station Medical Group (renamed 1st Medical Group in 1949)
The wings organized under the permanent wing-base plan were: