The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947.
There were also attached quartermaster and ordnance units, as well as other "Arms and Services with the Army Air Forces" detachments.
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."
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.
Colonel Kenneth B. Hobson, the chief of the AAF Organizational Division, was the special project chairman and briefer.
During World War II numerous wings existed; some provided training in the United States, others controlled combat groups and support organizations overseas.
Operational flying Squadrons retained their historical designations and were assigned to the combat group.
[5] The service test of the Hobson Plan in 1947-1948 prompted an important change in the field structure and organization of the Air Force.
None of the subordinate organizations were permanently affiliated with the wings, or possessed similar numerical designations or standard functions.
[4] 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.
Between 1956 and 1958, the Air Force's other combat commands adopted this structure, although the organization of maintenance squadrons varied.
In 1954, after review by Headquarters USAF, it was decided to bestow the wings with the history, campaign credits, and decorations the group had earned during World War II.
[4] During the Vietnam War, Tactical Air Command transferred flight line maintenance personnel to the deploying squadrons to Southeast Asia.
Squadrons transferred to Pacific Air Forces retained this arrangement; however, in 1972, driven by budgetary considerations and the Vietnam drawdown, HQ USAF withdrew its approval for TAC's structural deviation and forced TAC to revert to the consolidated maintenance concept.
[60] In the early 1990s with the declared end of the Cold War and the continued decline in military budgets, the Air Force restructured to meet changes in strategic requirements, decreasing personnel, and a smaller infrastructure.
This major reorganization stressed elimination of unnecessary layers of authority, decentralization of decision-making, and consolidation of functions.
In addition to the realignment of support and operational squadrons, the "Tactical", "Strategic" and other descriptors of unit designations were discontinued.
"[64] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency