 
SEE ALSO USAAF shoulder patches page AAF = Army Air Force; ADC = Air Defense Command; AF = Air Force; AFB = Air Force Base; AFR = Air Force Reserve; CAC = Continental Air Command; CBI = China-Burma-India (Theater); ETO = European Theater of Operations; FEAF = Far East Air Force; GHQ = General Headquarters; SAC = Strategic Air Command; TAC = Tactical Air Command Numbered air forces, first established during WWII as part of the USAAF, had originally the status of major commands. In the modern Air Force, they are tactical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision and have assigned subordinate units, such as wings, groups, and squadrons.
One of the original four numbered air forces formed in the US, the First AF provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units. Following WWII was involved in air defense and reserve training, and in the 1960s concentrated entirely upon air defense. Established as Northeast Air District 19 Oct 1940. Activated 18 Dec 1940 at Mitchel Field NY, assigned to Northeast (later Eastern) Defense Command, US Army. Redesignated 1st AF 9 Apr 1941 and First AF 18 Sep 1942. Assigned to USAAF 17 Sep 1943, to Continental Air Forces 16 Apr 1945, and to ADC 21 Mar 1946. To Fort Slocum (later Slocum AFB) NY 3 June 1946. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. To Mitchel AFB NY 17 Oct 1949. Discontinued 23 June 1958. Activated 20 Jan 1966, assigned to Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command, organized 1 Apr 1966 at Stewart AFB NY. Inactivated 31 Dec 1969. Assigned to TAC 14 Nov 1985; activated at Langley AFB VA 6 Dec 1985. To Tyndall AFB FL 12 Sep 1991. Relieved from assignment to TAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992.
Formed in the US to provide air defense and train personnel of newly formed units in WWII, the Second AF was briefly a part of ADC after the war. From 1949 to 1975, as part of SAC, it engaged in training for strategic warfare. Established as Northwest Air District 19 Oct 1940. Activated 18 Dec 1940 at McChord Field WA, initially assigned to Central Defense Command, US Army, and later to Western Defense Command, US Army. Redesignated 2nd AF 9 Apr 1941, and Second AF 18 Sep 1942. To Colorado Springs CO 13 June 1943. Assigned to USAAF in Sep 1943, and to Continental Air Forces (later SAC) 16 April 1945. Inactivated 30 Mar 1946. Activated 6 June 1946 at Fort Crook NB, assigned to ADC. Inactivated 1 July 1948. Activated 1 Nov 1949 at Barksdale AFB LA, assigned to SAC. Inactivated 16 Sep 1950 and organized the same day with no change in station or assignment. Inactivated 1 Jan 1975. Assigned to SAC 29 Aug 1991, and activated at Beale AFB CA 1 Sep 1991. Relieved from assignment to SAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992. Inactivated 1 July 1993. Activated the same day at Keesler AFB MI with a change in assignment to Air Education and Training Command.
Provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units in WWII. After the war it served TAC, then inactivated. The Third AF returned to active service in 1951 as one of the tactical air forces of USAF in Europe. Established as Southeast Air District 19 Oct 1940. Activated 18 Dec 1940 at MacDill Field FL, assigned to Southern Defense Command, US Army. To Tampa FL in Jan 1941. Redesignated 3rd AF 9 Apr 1941, and Third AF 18 Sep 1942. Assigned to USAAF c.Sept 1943 and to Continental Air Forces 16 Apr 1945. To Greenville AAB SC, and assigned to TAC 21 Mar 1946. Inactivated 1 Nov 1946. Organized 1 May 1951 at Victoria Park Estate (later US Air Base, South Ruislip Air Station), England, assigned to US Air Forces in Europe. To RAF Mildenhall, England, 15 Apr 1972.
Formed in the US during WWII to provide air defense and combat training for the personnel of newly formed units, the Fourth AF was assigned, in turn, to Continental Air Forces, ADC, and CAC before inactivating in 1960. Fourth AF served in the air defense program, 1966-1969, and became part of the Reserve program in 1976. Established as Southwest Air District 19 Oct 1940. Activated 18 Dec 1940 at March Field CA, initially assigned to GHQ AF, then to Western Defense Command, US Army. To Riverside CA 20 Jan 1941. Redesignated 4th AF 9 Apr 1941. To Hamilton Field CA 7 Dec 1941, and to San Francisco 5 Jan 1942. Redesignated Fourth AF 18 Sep 1942. Assigned to USAAF 16 Sep 1943, to Continental Air Forces 16 Apr 1945, to ADC 21 Mar 1946. To Hamilton Field (later AFB) CA 19 June 1946. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. Discontinued and inactivated 1 Sep 1960. Activated 20 Jan 1966, assigned to Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized 1 Apr 1966 at Hamilton AFB. Inactivated 30 Sep 1969. Redesignated Fourth AF (Reserve) 24 Sep 1976. Activated in the Reserve 8 Oct 1976 at McClellan AFB CA, assigned to AFR. Redesignated Fourth AF 1 Dec 1985.
One of the few numbered air forces never stationed in the US, this is also one of the oldest, continuously active numbered air forces. Established as Philippine Department Air Force 16 Aug 1941. Activated 20 Sep 1941 at Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, assigned to Philippine Department, US Army. Redesignated FEAF 28 Oct 1941. To Darwin, Australia, in Dec 1941 following Japanese attacks in the Philippines. Redesignated 5th AF 5 Feb 1942. To Brisbane, Australia, 3 Sep 1942. Redesignated Fifth AF 18 Sep 1942. Assigned to Southwest Pacific Area in Nov 1942. Stayed in Pacific Area, primarily New Guinea and Philippine Islands, until mid-1945. To Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 31 July 1945; to Irumagawa, Japan, c.25 Sep 1945; to Tokyo, Japan, 13 Jan 1946; to Nagoya (later Nagoya AB), Japan, 20 May 1946; to Seoul, South Korea, 1 Dec 1950; to Taegu AB, South Korea, 22 Dec 1950; to Seoul 15 June 1951; to Osan-ni, South Korea, 25 Jan 1954; to Nagoya AB (later Nagoya AS; Moriyama AS), Japan, 1 Sep 1954; to Fuchu AS, Japan, 1 July 1957; to Yokota AB, Japan, 11 Nov 1974.
USAF Southern Command.
Evolved from the Hawaiian Air Force that was originally established to control a growing number of air units arriving in the Territory of Hawaii in 1940. Following WWII it was briefly a named command before inactivating. GHQ revived the Seventh AF during the conflict in Southeast Asia as a replacement for the 2nd Air Division. Established as Hawaiian Air Force 19 Oct 1940. Activated 1 Nov 1940 at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, assigned to Hawaiian Department, US Army. To Hickam Field, Hawaii, c.12 July 1941. Redesignated 7th AF 5 Feb 1942 and Seventh AF 18 Sep 1942. Became part of US Army Forces, Central Pacific Area, c.16 Aug 1943 and assigned to USAAF, Pacific Ocean Areas, 1 Aug 1944. To Saipan, Mariana Islands, 13 Dec 1944. To Okinawa and assigned to FEAF (later Pacific Air Command, US Army) 14 July 1945. Moved without personnel or equipment to Hickam Field 1 Jan 1946. Assigned to USAAF 1 Jan 1947. Redesignated Pacific Air Command 15 Dec 1947. Discontinued 1 June 1949. Redesignated Seventh AF 10 Dec 1954. Activated at Hickam Field 5 Jan 1955, assigned to Pacific Air Force (later Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]). To Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, 24 Mar 1955. Inactivated 1 July 1957. Activated 28 Mar 1966 and assigned to PACAF. Organized 1 Apr 1966 at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, South Vietnam. To Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, 29 Mar 1973. Inactivated 30 June 1975. Assigned to Pacific Air Forces 20 Aug 1986 and activated at Osan AB, Korea, 8 Sept 1986.
The initial Eighth AF became the US Air Forces in Europe. The present Eighth AF began its existence as VIII Bomber Command. It engaged in combat in the ETO during WWII and moved to the Pacific Theater in the final months of the war. Eighth AF served SAC after the war, both in the US and overseas. Established as VIII Bomber Command 19 Jan 1942. Activated 1 Feb 1942 at Langley Field VA, assigned to Air Force Combat Command. To Savannah AB GA c.10 Feb 1942. To Daws Hill, England, 23 Feb 1942, joining Eighth AF. To High Wycombe, England, 15 May 1942. Redesignated Eighth AF 22 Feb 1944, when the original Eighth AF became US Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). Moved without personnel or equipment to Okinawa 16 July 1945, assigned to US Army Strategic Air Forces. Moved without personnel or equipment to MacDill Field FL 7 June 1946, joining SAC. To Fort Worth Army Air Field (later Griffiss AFB [briefly], Carswell AFB) TX 1 Nov 1946. To Westover AFB MA 13 June 1955. Moved without personnel or equipment to Andersen AFB, Guam, 1 Apr 1970, absorbing resources of 3d Air Division. Moved without personnel or equipment to Barksdale AFB LA 1 Jan 1975, absorbing resources of Second AF. Relieved from assignment to SAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992.
After beginning life as a numbered air support command, became the major tactical air force in the ETO during WWII. Ninth AF first entered combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, then moved to England in 1943. Following the war, Ninth AF served as one of the tactical air forces of TAC. Established as 5th Air Support Command 21 Aug 1941. Activated 2 Sep 1941 at Bowman Field KY, assigned to Air Force Combat Command. Tto New Orleans AAB LA 24 Jan 1942. Redesignated 9th AF 8 Apr 1942. To Bolling Field DC 22 July 1942. Redesignated Ninth AF 18 Sep 1942. To Egypt 12 Nov 1942, assigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations. To England 16 October 1943, assigned to ETO. Became part of US Strategic Air Forces (later US Air Forces in Europe) in June 1944. To France 15 Sep 1944 and to Germany 6 June 1945. Inactivated 2 Dec 1945. Activated 28 Mar 1946 at Biggs Field TX, assigned to TAC. To Greenville AAB (later AFB) SC 31 Oct 1946. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. To Langley AFB VA 14 Feb 1949, and to Pope AFB NC 1 Aug 1950. Redesignated Ninth AF (Tactical) 1 Aug 1950. Assigned to TAC 1 Dec 1950. Redesignated Ninth AF 26 June 1951. To Shaw AFB SC 20 Aug 1954. Relieved from assignment to TAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992.
Created for air combat operations in India and Burma during WWII. In the years following WWII, Tenth AF served air defense and reserve training programs. Established as 10th AF 4 Feb 1942. Activated 12 Feb 1942 at Patterson Field OH, assigned to Air Force Combat Command. To New Delhi, India, 5 Mar 1942 and assigned to US Army Forces in CBI. Redesignated Tenth AF 18 Sep 1942. Assigned to USAAF, India-Burma Sector, 21 Aug 1943. To Barrackpore, India, 16 Oct 1943; to Belvedere Palace, Calcutta, India, 8 Jan 1944; to Kanjikoah, India, 20 June 1944. Assigned to USAAF, India-Burma Theater, 27 Oct 1944. To Myitkyina, Burma, 2 Nov 1944; to Bhama, Burma, 7 Feb 1945; to Piardoba, India, 15 May 1945; to Kunming, China, 23 June 1945. Assigned to USAAF, China Theater, 6 July 1945. To Liuchow, China, 9 Aug 1945; to Kunming, China, 25 Aug 1945; to Shanghai, China, 18 Oct 1945; to Fort Lawton WA 5 Jan 1946. Inactivated 6 Jan 1946. Activated 24 May 1946 at Brooks Field (later AFB) TX, assigned to ADC. To Offutt AFB NB 1 July 1948; Fort Benjamin Harrison (later Benjamin Harrison AFB) IN 25 Sep 1948. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. To Selfridge AFB MI 16 Jan 1950. Discontinued and inactivated 1 Sep 1960. Activated 20 Jan 1966, assigned to Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized 1 Apr 1966 at Richards-Gebaur AFB MO. Inactivated 31 Dec 1969. Redesignated Tenth AF (Reserve) 24 Sep 1976. Activated in the Reserve 8 Oct 1976 at Bergstrom AFB TX, assigned to AFR. Redesignated Tenth AF 1 Dec 1985.
Military aircraft began to deploy to Alaska during the last half of 1940. To coordinate air activities there, the Alaskan Defense Command established the Air Field Forces (AFF), Alaskan Defense Command 29 May 1941. Under authority from Western Defense Command, the Alaskan Defense Command replaced the AFF, Alaskan Defense Command, with the Air Force, Alaskan Defense Command, 17 Oct 1941. Neither the AFF nor the Air Force, Alaskan Defense Command, were legitimate War Department establishments and must be classified in the same category as provisional units, although the term "provisional" was never used in connection with them. The War Department activated the Alaskan Air Force 15 Jan 1942, replacing the Air Force, Alaskan Defense Command. Established as Alaskan Air Force 28 Dec 1941. Activated 15 Jan 1942. Redesignated 11th AF 5 Feb 1942; Eleventh AF 18 Sep 1942; Alaskan Air Command 18 Dec 1945; Eleventh AF 9 Aug 1990. Concurrently, status changed from a major command of the USAF to a subordinate organization of the Pacific Air Forces.
Established in the US, Twelfth AF moved to England for training and participated in the invasion of North Africa. It engaged in tactical operations for the remainder of the war in the Mediterranean. Twelfth AF has subsequently served both in the US and in Europe. Established as Twelfth AF and activated 20 Aug 1942 at Bolling Field DC, assigned to USAAF. To England 12 Sep 1942, attached to Eighth AF. To Algeria 9 Nov 1942, assigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations. To Tunisia 10 Aug 1943 and to Italy 5 Dec 1943. Inactivated at Florence, Italy, 31 Aug 1945. Activated 17 May 1946 at March Field CA, assigned to TAC. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. To Brooks AFB TX 21 Jan 1949. Discontinued 1 July 1950. Organized 21 Jan 1951 at Wiesbaden, Germany, assigned to US Air Forces in Europe. To Ramstein (later Ramstein AB), Germany, 27 Apr 1953. Moved without personnel or equipment to Waco TX 1 Jan 1958, absorbing resources of Eighteenth AF. Assigned to TAC. To Bergstrom AFB TX 30 Aug 1968. Relieved from assignment to TAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992. To Davis-Monthan AFB AZ 1 Oct 1992.
Like Fifth AF, Thirteenth AF has never been stationed in the US; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active numbered air forces. Since WWII it has provided air defense in the Far East, primarily the Philippines, although it operated for a short period (1948-1949) in the Ryukyu Islands. Numerous Thirteenth AF organizations participated in Southeast Asia combat operations in the '60s and '70s. Established as Thirteenth AF 14 Dec 1942. Activated 13 Jan 1943 on New Caledonia Islands. To Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides, 21 Jan 1943 as part of US Army Forces in the Far East. To Guadalcanal 13 Jan 1944, and to Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, 15 June 1944. Assigned to FEAFs 15 June 1944. To Hollandia, New Guinea, 13 Sept 1944. Stayed in Pacific Area, primarily New Guinea, Indonesia, and Philippine Islands, until late 1948. To Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1 Dec 1948 (without personnel or equipment); and Clark AFB (later AB), Philippine Islands, 16 May 1949. Assigned to Pacific AF (later, Pacific AF/FEAF [Rear]), 17 May 1955. Assigned to Pacific Air Forces, 1 July 1957. To Anderson AFB, Guam, 2 Dec 1991.
Operated primarily in China during WWII, and subsequently served ADC, CAC, and the AFR. Established as Fourteenth AF 5 Mar 1943. Activated 10 Mar 1943 at Kunming, China, assigned to US Army Forces, China-Burma-India Theater. Assigned to US Forces, China Theater, c.24 Oct 1944. To Peishyi, China, 7 Aug 1945 and to Fort Lawton WA 5 Jan 1946. Inactivated 6 Jan 1946. Activated 24 May 1946 at Orlando AAB (later AFB) FL, assigned to ADC. Assigned to CAC 1 Dec 1948. To Robins AFB GA 28 Oct 1949. Inactivated 1 Sept 1960. Activated 20 Jan 1966, assigned to Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized 1 April 1966 at Gunter AFB AL. Moved without personnel or equipment to Colorado Springs CO 1 July 1968, absorbing resources of 9th Aerospace Defense Division. Redesignated Fourteenth Aerospace Force 1 July 1968. Inactivated 1 Oct 1976. Redesignated Fourteenth AF (Reserve), and activated in the Reserve 8 Oct 1976, at Dobbins AFB GA, assigned to AFR. Redesignated Fourteenth AF 1 Dec 1985. Inactivated 1 July 1993. Activated the same day at Vandenberg AFB CA with a change in assignment to Air Force Space Command.
WWII was well underway when the Fifteenth AF was established in the Mediterranean theater as a strategic air force. The new air force drew its operational forces from existing air forces in the European and Mediterranean theaters, and commenced combat operations the day after it was formed. In the postwar years it became one of SAC's primary numbered air forces. Established as Fifteenth AF 30 Oct 1943. Activated 1 Nov 1943 at Tunis, Tunisia, assigned to Mediterranean Theater of Operations. To Bari, Italy, 1 Dec 1943. Assigned to US Strategic Air Forces c.Feb 1944. Inactivated 15 Sep 1945. Activated 31 Mar 1946 at Colorado Springs CO, assigned to SAC. To March AFB CA 7 Nov 1949. Relieved from assignment to SAC and assigned to Air Mobility Command 1 Jan 1992. To Travis AFB CA 1 July 1993.
Originating as a separate operating agency, this postwar numbered air force served both AC and US Air Forces in Europe. Established as Joint United States Military Group, Air Administration (Spain), 20 May 1954. Activated 20 May 1954 at Madrid, Spain, as a separate operating agency of the USAF. Redesignated Sixteenth AF 15 July 1956. Assigned to SAC 1 July 1957. To Torrejon AB, Spain, 1 Feb 1958. Assigned to US Air Forces in Europe 15 Apr 1966. To Aviano AB, Italy, 10 Aug 1992.
Another postwar numbered air force, served US Air Forces in Europe after its establishment in 1953. Established as Seventeenth AF 17 Apr 1953. Organized 25 Apr 1953 at Rabat-Sale, Morocco, assigned to US Air Forces in Europe. To Wheelus AB, Libya, 1 Aug 1956. Moved without personnel or equipment to Ramstein AB, West Germany, 15 Nov 1959 and remanned. To Sembach AB, West Germany 5 Oct 1972.
Extensive troop-carrier operations within TAC called for some intermediate echelon of command, and HQ USAF created a new numbered air force for this purpose in Mar 1951. Later, Eighteenth AF received other combat units in addition to troop carrier wings. Twelfth AF absorbed all of its resources 1 Jan 1958. Established as Eighteenth AF (Troop Carrier) 7 Mar 1951. Organized 28 Mar 1951 at Donaldson AFB SC, assigned to TAC. Redesignated Eighteenth Air Force 26 June 1951. To Waco TX 1 Septr 1957. Inactivated 1 Jan 1958.
Formed after World War II, during its years of active service served TAC. Established as Nineteenth AF 1 July 1955. Activated 8 July 1955 at Foster AFB TX, assigned to TAC. To Seymour Johnson AFB NC 1 Sept 1958. Inactivated 2 July 1973. Assigned to Air Education and Training Command 8 June 1993. Activated at Randolph AFB TX 1 July 1993.
Twentieth Air Force was formed exclusively as a heavy strategic bombardment organization. Headquartered in the United States, under command of General H H Arnold with direction from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, its B-29 components operated in the CBI and Pacific theaters, carrying the air war to the Japanese. Operations climaxed with atomic attacks on Japan in Aug 1945. Following the war, Twentieth AF remained in the Pacific and served in combat for a short time during the Korean war. Later it was involved primarily in air defense of the Ryukyu Islands. Established as Twentieth AF and activated 4 April 1944 at Washington DC, assigned to USAAF. To Harmon Field, Guam, 16 July 1945 and assigned to US Army Strategic Air Forces. Assigned to Pacific Air Command, US Army (later FEAF), 6 Dec 1945. To Kadena AB, Ryukyu Islands, 16 May 1949. Inactivated 1 Mar 1955. Assigned to SAC 29 Mar 1991. Activated at Vandenberg AFB CA 1 Sept 1991. Relieved from assignment to SAC and assigned to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992. Relieved from assignment to Air Combat Command and assigned to Air Force Space Command 1 July 1993. To Warren AFB WY 1 Oct 1993.
Created as a wing during WWII, gradually evolved into its modern designation. Established as 23rd AAF Ferrying Wing 12 June 1942. Activated 18 June 1942 at Presque Isle ME, assigned to AAF Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport Command). Redesignated North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, 11 Feb 1944. Redesignated North Atlantic Division, ATC, 27 June 1944. To Fort Totten NY and redesignated Atlantic Division, ATC, 20 Sep 1945. Attached to Air Transport Service (Provisional), 5 Sep to 14 Oct 1947. Assigned to Air Transport Service 15 October 1947. To Westover Field (later AFB) MA 24 Octr 1947. Redesignated Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command (MAC)), 1 June 1948. To McGuire AFB NJ 1 June 1955. Redesignated Eastern Transport AF 1 July 1958, and Twenty-First AF 3 Jan 1966. Relieved from assignment to MAC and assigned to Air Mobility Command 1 June 1992.
Origins traced to WWII through an official consolidation of two organizations in 1979. Established as Domestic Division, Air Corps Ferrying Command, and activated 28 Dec 1941 in Washington DC, assigned to Air Corps Ferrying Command. Redesignated Domestic Wing, Air Corps Ferrying Command 26 February 1942; Domestic Wing, AAF Ferry Command, 9 Mar 1942; Domestic Wing, AAF Ferrying Command, 31 Mar 1942; Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command (ATC) 20 June 1942. To Cincinnati OH 10 Feb 1943. Redesignated Continental Division, ATC, 28 Feb 1946. Discontinued 31 Oct 1946. Consolidated 29 Mar 1979 with the organization established as Continental Division, Military Air Transport Service (MATS), and organized at Kelly AFB TX 1 July 1948, assigned to MATS (later Military Airlift Command (MAC)); moved to Travis AFB CA 25 June 1958; redesignated Western Transport AF 1 July 1958, and Twenty-Second AF 8 Jan 1966. Relieved from assignment to MAC and assigned to Air Mobility Command 1 June 1992. Inactivated 1 July 1993. Activated the same day at Dobbins AFB GA with a change in assignment to the AFR.
See USAF Special Operations Force.
The first named air force of the US Army's air arm began in 1935. GHQ AF became the Air Force Combat Command in 1941. Several of the numbered air forces began as named air forces. Since WWII other named air forces have existed in both operational and support commands. Air Forces Iceland, and the Central, Eastern, Japan, and Western Air Defense Forces, have provided air defense capability. The USAF Special Operations Force controlled operational special forces. The Crew, Flying, and Technical Training Air Forces served Air Training Command both in the air and on the ground. Pacific Air Force/FEAF (Rear) controlled both operational and support forces of FEAF. Air Materiel Force, European Area, and Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area, on the other hand, served primarily as logistical support establishments. The following brief history and lineage of each named Air Force illustrates the varied origins of these establishments.
The smallest of the named forces and operated in a tiny geographical area, this was established as Iceland Air Defense Force and organized 1 Apr 1952 at Keflavik Airport, Iceland, assigned to Military Air Transport Service. Redesignated Air Forces Iceland 1 Jan 1960. Assigned to ADC, and further to 64th Air Division (Defense), 1 July 1962. Assigned to 26th Air Division 1 July 1963; to Goose Air Defense Sector 4 Sep 1963; to 37th Air Division 1 Apr 1966; to 21st Air Division 31 Dec 1969; to Aerospace Defense Command 1 Oct 1975; to TAC 1 Oct 1979; and to Air Combat Command 1 June 1992. Inactivated 31 May 1993. Consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing 29 Sep 1994, redesignated 85th Wing and assigned to Air Combat Command for activation. Activated at Keflavik NAS, Iceland, and assigned to Eighth Air Force 1 Oct 1994.
From 1954 to 1962 this force served as the primary USAF logistical organization in Europe. Established as Air Materiel Force, Europe, 1 Feb 1954. Organized 1 Mar 1954 at Wiesbaden, West Germany, assigned to USAF in Europe. Redesignated Air Materiel Force, European Area, and assigned to Air Materiel Command (later Air Force Logistics Command), 1 Jan 1956. To Chateaurox AS, France, 15 May 1958. Discontinued and inactivated 1 July 1962.
This logistical organization, which eventually became the Pacific counterpart of the preceding unit, began during WWII. Established as Far East Air Service Command 14 July 1944. Activated 18 Aug 1944 at Brisbane, Australia, replacing the Far East Air Service Command (Provisional), formed 15 June 1944 at the same location. Assigned to FEAF. To Hollandia, New Guinea, 16 Nov 1944 and to Manila 7 Aug 1945. Redesignated Pacific Air Service Command, US Army, in Jan 1946, and Far East Air Materiel Command 1 Jan 1947. To Fuchu, Japan, 20 Jan 1947. To FEAMC AB, Japan, 1 July 1949. Inactivated 1 Feb 1952, but immediately organized the same day at FEAMC AB (later Tachikawa AB), Japan, assigned to FEAF. Redesignated Far East Air Logistics Force 1 July 1952. Assigned to Air Materiel Command (later Air Force Logistics Command) 1 Oct 1955 and redesignated Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area, the same day. To Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, 1 June 1957 and back to Tachikawa AB 1 Apr 1960. Discontinued and i nactivated 1 July 1962.
This short-lived force controlled aviation engineer organizations of the Army on duty with the USAF. Established as Aviation Engineer Force 28 Mar 1951. Organized 10 Apr 1951 at Wolters AFB TX, assigned to CAC. Discontinued 25 May 1956.
Became the third of three air defense forces established within the contiguous USA to supervise and control numerous organizations involved in air defense. It was created to assume parts of the geographic areas of Eastern and Western Air Defense Forces. Established as Central Air Defense Force 5 Feb 1951. Organized 1 Mar 1951 at Kansas City MO, assigned to ADC. To Grandview (later Richards-Gebaur) AFB MO 24 Feb 1954. Inactivated 1 Jan 1960.
Air defense of the eastern portion of the United States was the primary mission of this named air force. Established as Eastern Air Defense Force and organized 1 Sep 1949 at Mitchel AFB NY, assigned to CAC. To Stewart AFB NY 1 Aug 1950. Assigned to ADC 1 Jan 1951. Inactivated 1 Jan 1960.
Served Air Training Command and provided flying training for combat crews, including pilot, navigator, bombardier, and gunner training. Like the Crew Training Air Force, it existed during and shortly after the Korean War. Established as Flying Training Air Force 4 Apr 1951. Organized 1 May 1951 at Waco TX, assigned to Air Training Command. To Randolph AFB TX 31 July 1957. Discontinued 1 Apr 1958.
Established to replace the 314th Air Division in 1952. Established as Japan Air Defense Force 3 Jan 1952. Organized 1 Mar 1952 at Nagoya AB, Japan, assigned to FEAF. Discontinued 1 Sep 1954.
Established to control USAF operations in the Pacific and Far East during the move of the FEAF from Japan to Hawaii, this named air force inactivated when FEAF completed its movement. Established as Pacific Air Force and activated 1 July 1954 at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, assigned to FEAF. Redesignated Pacific Air Force/FEAF 1 July 1956. Inactivated 1 July 1957.
The third of the named air forces under Air Training Command during the Korean war years, provided officer candidate training, indoctrination (basic) training, and technical training to Air Force personnel. Established as Technical Training Air Force 4 Apr 1951. Organized 16 July 1951 at Gulfport MS, assigned to Air Training Command. Discontinued 1 June 1958.
When the USAF Special Air Warfare Center became too large and cumbersome for Center status, it was elevated to a named air force (23rd AF). Established as USAF Special Air Warfare Center and activated 19 Apr 1962, assigned to TAC. Organized 27 Apr 1962 at Eglin AFB FL. Redesignated USAF Special Operations Force 8 July 1968. Inactivated 1 July 1974.
Air Defense of the western portion of the USA was the primary mission of this named air force. Established as Western Air Defense Force and organized 1 Sep 1949 at Hamilton AFB CA, assigned to CAC. Assigned to ADC 1 Jan 1951. Discontinued 1 July 1960. |