The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF)[1] was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army, and de facto aerial warfare service branch of the United States,[2] during and immediately after World War II (1939/41–1945), successor to the previous United States Army Air Corps, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force of today, one of the five uniformed military services. The AAF was a component of the United States Army, which on 2 March 1942[1] was divided functionally by executive order into three autonomous forces: the Army Ground Forces, the Services of Supply (which in 1943 became the Army Service Forces), and the Army Air Forces. Each of these forces had a commanding general who reported directly to the Army Chief of Staff.