Air Service Squadrons at Debden
During World War II units that provided third echelon aircraft maintenance and a variety of other services was a distinct chain of command separate from the fighter group they were assigned to. Each Service Group consisted of two Service Squadrons. In January 1943 the 45th Service Squadron was assigned to Debden and was subordinate to the 33rd Service Group. The second squadron, the 41st was assigned to Horsham supporting the 56th Fighter Group. Headquarters for the 33rd Service Group was also housed at Horsham. When the 56th moved to Halesworth, the 33rd Service Group headquarters went with it. In April 1944 the 56th moved to Boxted and once again the 33rd moved as well.
33rd Service Group Table of Organization:
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron
2 Service Squadrons
2 Material Squadrons
1 Finance Detachment
1 Medical Detachment
1 Military Police Company (Avn)
2 Ordnance Companies (Supply & Maint)
2 Quartermaster Truck Companies (Avn)
1 Quartermaster Company (Serv Gp) (Avn)
1 Signal Company (Serv Gp) (Avn)
Nothing in the official designation of the Service Group indicates that it is aviation related. On 4 November 1944 there was an army wide change in aviation support group designations. Some sources indicated that the name change resulted from some confusion in operational theaters where a “service company” was a general labor unit.
After November 1944 the 45th Service Squadron became the 864 Air Engineering Squadron. The 33rd Service Group became the 438 Air Service Group.
As a practical matter, service squadrons had to develop an ad hoc working relationship with the fighter group they were to support. From its arrival in January 1943 to the end of the war, the 33rd / 438th was organized according to the following Table of Organization:
Service Squadron / Air Engineering Squadron Organization
Administrative:
Headquarters Section
Mess Section
Supply Section
Transportation Section
Shop Administration:
Maintenance Control Section
Inspection Section
Shop Supply Section
Maintenance:
Armament Shop
Communications Shop
Electrical Shop
Fabric and Dope Shop
Flight and Reclamation Shop
Instrument Shop
Machine Shop
Office Repair Shop
Parachute Shop
Propeller Shop
Sheet Metal Shop
Vehicle Shop
Welding Shop
Woodworking Shop
3 Mobile Repair Units
Material Squadron / Air Material Squadron Organization
Administrative:
Headquarters Section
Mess Section
Supply Section
Transportation Section
Stock Control:
Administration Section
Air Corps Supplies Section
Communications Supplies Section
Ordnance Supplies Section
Quartermaster Supplies Section
Technical Coordination Section
Warehouse:
Air Corps Section
Communications Section
Ordnance Section
Quartermaster Section
Armament Section
Service Group Headquarters and Base Services Squadron / Command Section, Headquarters Base Service Squadron
Mess Section
Supply Section
Transportation Section
Deputy for Services Section
Chaplain Section
Chemical Section
Communications Section
Finance Section
Fire Fighting Section
Guard Section
Medical Section
Photographic Section
Transportation Administration Section
Transportation Truck Section
Utilities Section
Sources:
"The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces" by John M. Coleman, 1950.
864 AES Shop Activity Reports, January 1943 to October 1945.
Personal V-Mail correspondence from CWO Edward B. Richie, 864 AES, 1943-1945