1st Search Attack Group
Encyclopedia
The 1st Search Attack Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force
, based in Langley Field, Virginia
. The mission of the group was the development of equipment and tactics best suited for aerial Antisubmarine warfare.
It was inactivated on 15 October 1943
The 1st Search Attack Group tested equipment and developed techniques and tactics for aerial use against submarines and surface craft. It also helped develop an effective depth bomb with shallow fuse settings for about 25 feet. Eventually, the Americans and British developed a blunt depth bomb that sank slowly and exploded at the desired depth to destroy a submarine. This depth bomb became standard in early 1943.
Perhaps the most important task of the 1st SeaSearch Attack Group was to develop techniques for using Airborne Surface Vessel Detection (ASV) radar to find surfaced submarines. The radar that eventually went into production was 10-centimeter wave equipment, known as ASV10. By February 1943, a skilled radar operator could identify surfaced submarines at more than 40 miles (64 km) and even the conning tower of a boat running decks awash at 15 to 30 miles (24 to 48 km).
Initially the ASV10 radar sets were placed on B-18 Bolo
medium bombers flying antisubmarine patrols. Some 90 B-18's carried the equipment by the end of June 1942, but the Allies needed the microwave radar on the B-24 Liberator
, which has a much longer range than the B-18. Equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks, microwave radar, and a powerful search light, the B-24 very long range bomber was ideal for extended anti submarine patrols. The USAAF outfitted its first two microwave radar equipped B-24's in September 1942, and the 3d Search Attack Squadron
was equipped with B-24s in December 1943.
Using the B-18's and B-24's assigned to it, the 1st SeaSearch Attack Group trained combat crews in the tactical employment of new equipment. In general, the USAAF employed three broad types of anti submarine operations: (1) routine aerial patrol of waters in which an enemy threat might exist; (2) air escort or coverage of convoys within range of land based aircraft; and (3) intensive patrol of an area in which one or more submarines had been spotted, an operation the USAAF termed a "killer hunt" (in contrast to the U.S. Navy expression "hunter killer"). At various times, each of these operational tactics had its place in the antisubmarine war.
However, World War II era Radar sets were notoriously unreliable and difficult to maintain, and scientists assigned to the 1st Sea Search Attack Group found much of their time consumed by seminars in the field on basic functions and maintenance of equipment. Consequently, the USAAF established a squadron of the group to train ground personnel in its proper maintenance.
With the inactivation of the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, the group became concerned primarily with radar training for combat crews until its inactivation in April 1944.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force
First Air Force
The 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....
, based in Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The mission of the group was the development of equipment and tactics best suited for aerial Antisubmarine warfare.
It was inactivated on 15 October 1943
Lineage
- Constituted as 1st Sea-Search Attack Group (Medium) on 8 June 1942
- Activated on 17 June 1942
- Redesignated as: 1st Sea-Search Attack Group (Heavy) in June 1943
- Redesignated as: 1st Search Attack Group) in November 1943
- Disbanded on 20 April 1944
Assignments
- Headquarters, United States 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....
, 17 June 1942
- Attached to: I Bomber CommandXX Bomber CommandThe XX Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Far East Air Forces, based on Okinawa. It was inactivated on July 16, 1945.- History:...
, 17 June-15 October 1942 - Attached to: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine CommandArmy Air Forces Antisubmarine CommandThe Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was a direct reporting agency of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Its mission was to deal with the German Navy U-boat threat.-Lineage:...
, 15 October 1942-31 August 1943 - Attached to: I Bomber CommandArmy Air Forces Antisubmarine CommandThe Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was a direct reporting agency of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Its mission was to deal with the German Navy U-boat threat.-Lineage:...
, 31 August-10 November 1943- 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....
, 10 November 1943-20 April 1944
- First Air Force
Squadrons
- 2d Search Attack Squadron2d Search Attack SquadronThe 42d Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 1st Search Attack Group, based at Langley Field, Virginia. It was inactivated on 10 April 1944-History:...
: 17 June 1942-10 April 1944 - 3d Search Attack Squadron3d Search Attack SquadronThe 3d Search Attack Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 1st Search Attack Group, based at Langley Field, Virginia...
: 10 December 1942-10 April 1944 - 4th Search Attack Squadron: 23 October 1943-10 April 1944
Operations
Perhaps the most important task of the 1st SeaSearch Attack Group was to develop techniques for using Airborne Surface Vessel Detection (ASV) radar to find surfaced submarines. The radar that eventually went into production was 10-centimeter wave equipment, known as ASV10. By February 1943, a skilled radar operator could identify surfaced submarines at more than 40 miles (64 km) and even the conning tower of a boat running decks awash at 15 to 30 miles (24 to 48 km).
Initially the ASV10 radar sets were placed on B-18 Bolo
B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
medium bombers flying antisubmarine patrols. Some 90 B-18's carried the equipment by the end of June 1942, but the Allies needed the microwave radar on the B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, which has a much longer range than the B-18. Equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks, microwave radar, and a powerful search light, the B-24 very long range bomber was ideal for extended anti submarine patrols. The USAAF outfitted its first two microwave radar equipped B-24's in September 1942, and the 3d Search Attack Squadron
3d Search Attack Squadron
The 3d Search Attack Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 1st Search Attack Group, based at Langley Field, Virginia...
was equipped with B-24s in December 1943.
Using the B-18's and B-24's assigned to it, the 1st SeaSearch Attack Group trained combat crews in the tactical employment of new equipment. In general, the USAAF employed three broad types of anti submarine operations: (1) routine aerial patrol of waters in which an enemy threat might exist; (2) air escort or coverage of convoys within range of land based aircraft; and (3) intensive patrol of an area in which one or more submarines had been spotted, an operation the USAAF termed a "killer hunt" (in contrast to the U.S. Navy expression "hunter killer"). At various times, each of these operational tactics had its place in the antisubmarine war.
However, World War II era Radar sets were notoriously unreliable and difficult to maintain, and scientists assigned to the 1st Sea Search Attack Group found much of their time consumed by seminars in the field on basic functions and maintenance of equipment. Consequently, the USAAF established a squadron of the group to train ground personnel in its proper maintenance.
With the inactivation of the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, the group became concerned primarily with radar training for combat crews until its inactivation in April 1944.