Air Force units are usually composed of the traditional flights, squadrons, groups and wings. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (AAF) also included platoons, companies and battalions. Some of the largest and most important of these "Army" units were the Signal Aircraft Warning (SAW) battalions, which used the new technology of radar to provide early warning and air defense. These battalions served in all theaters and developed somewhat differently depending on the tactical considerations of the specific theater. This article looks at the evolution and use of SAW units associated with the Fifth Force during World War II.
