Hobson Plan


The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force 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, 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 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. 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".

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. 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. 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.
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 ; the 1st Maintenance and Supply Group, the 1st Air Base Group, and the 1st Station Medical Group. Subordinate to the groups were the 1st Field Maintenance Squadron, 1st Supply Squadron, 1st Engine 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 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
The temporary service test Combat Wings were:
Wing DesignationExperimental Wing OrganizedExperimental Wing DiscontinuedPermanent Wing Activated-
1st Fighter Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948-
2d Bombardment Wing5 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948
4th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948
7th Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948
10th Reconnaissance Wing3 December 194727 Aug 194825 August 1948
14th Fighter Wing15 August 194726 July 194826 July 1948
20th Fighter Wing15 August 194726 August 194824 August 1948
27th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948
28th Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948
31st Fighter Wing20 November 194725 August 194823 August 1948
33d Fighter Wing5 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948
43d Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948
47th Bombardment Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948
56th Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948
62d Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194724 August 194822 August 1948
67th Reconnaissance Wing25 November 194724 August 194822 August 1948
82d Fighter Wing15 August 19471 August 19481 August 1948
92d Bombardment Wing17 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948
93d Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948
97th Bombardment Wing1 December 194712 July 194812 July 1948
98th Bombardment Wing10 November 194712 July 194812 July 1948
301st Bombardment Wing5 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948
307th Bombardment Wing15 August 194712 July 194812 July 1948
313th Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194726 August 194823 August 1948
316th Troop Carrier Wing15 August 194725 August 194823 August 1948
332d Fighter Wing15 August 194728 August 194826 August 1948
363d Reconnaissance Wing15 August 194727 Aug 194827 Aug 1948
509th Bombardment Wing17 November 19471 August 19481 August 1948

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 were reorganized and established and the Hobson Plan was made permanent.
; Typical Permanent Organization
  • 1st Fighter Wing
The wings organized under the permanent wing-base plan were:
Wing DesignationWing OrganizedMajor Command-
3d Bombardment Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces-
8th Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
18th Fighter Wing14 August 1948Far East Air Forces
19th Bombardment Wing17 August 1948Far East Air Forces
22d Bombardment Wing1 August 1948Strategic Air Command
23d Fighter Wing16 August 1948Far East Air Forces
32d Composite Wing24 August 1948Far East Air Forces
35th Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
36th Fighter Wing2 July 1948Caribbean Air Command
38th Bombardment Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Force
49th Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
51st Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
52d Fighter Wing9 June 1948Air Defense Command
55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing19 July 1948Strategic Air Command
57th Fighter Wing20 Apr 1948Alaskan Air Command
60th Troop Carrier Wing1 July 1948United States Air Forces Europe
61st Troop Carrier Wing1 July 1948United States Air Forces Europe
71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
81st Fighter Wing1 May 1948Pacific Air Command
86th Fighter Wing1 July 1948United States Air Forces Europe
317th Troop Carrier Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
325th Fighter Wing9 June 1948Air Defense Command
347th Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces
374th Troop Carrier Wing17 August 1948Far East Air Forces
475th Fighter Wing18 August 1948Far East Air Forces