Lineages of those organizations that are currently or have been numbered air forces are given below.

First Air Force


One of the original four numbered air forces formed in the United States in 1940, the First Air Force provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units. Following World War II this air force was involved in air defense and reserve training and concentrated entirely upon air defense in the latter 1960s and again after 1985.

Lineage

Established as Northeast Air District on October 19, 1940. Activated on December 18, 1940 at Mitchel Field, New York, assigned to Northeast (later, Eastern) Defense Command, U.S. Army. Redesignated 1st Air Force on April 9, 1941 and First Air Force on September 18, 1942. Assigned to Army Air Forces on September 17, 1943; Continental Air Forces on April 16, 1945; and Air Defense Command on March 21, 1946. Moved to Fort Slocum (later, Slocum AFB), New York, in June 1946. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Moved to Mitchel AFB, New York, in October 1949. Discontinued on June 23, 1958. Activated on January 20, 1966, assigned to Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command, and organized on April 1, 1966, at Stewart AFB, New York. Inactivated on December 31, 1969. Assigned to Tactical Air Command on November 14, 1985, and activated at Langley AFB, VA, on December 6, 1985. Moved to Tyndall AFB, FL, in September 1991. Relieved from assignment to Tactical Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992. Redesignated First Air Force (ANG) on October 1, 1995.




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Second Air Force


Formed in the United States to provide air defense and train personnel of newly formed units in World War II, the Second was briefly a part of Air Defense Command after the war. From 1949 to 1975 and from 1991 to 1993, as part of Strategic Air Command, and later Air Combat Command, it engaged in training for strategic warfare. After activation under Air Education and Training Command in 1993, it assumed responsibility for basic military and technical training.

Lineage

Established as Northwest Air District on October 19, 1940. Activated on December 18, 1940, at McChord Field, Washington, initially assigned to Central Defense Command, U.S. Army, and later to Western Defense Command, U.S.Army. Moved to Fort George Wright, Washington, in January 1941. Redesignated 2d Air Force on April 9, 1941 and Second Air Force on September 18, 1942. Moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June 1943. Assigned to Army Air Forces in September 1943, and to Continental Air Forces (later, Strategic Air Command), on April 16, 1945. Inactivated on March 30, 1946. Activated on June 6, 1946 at Fort Crook, Nebraska, and assigned to Air Defense Command. Inactivated on July 1, 1948. Activated on November 1, 1949 at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; assigned to Strategic Air Command. Inactivated on January 1, 1975. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on August 29, 1991, and activated at Beale AFB, California on September 1, 1991. Reassigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992. Inactivated on July 1, 1993. Activated the same day at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, with a change in assignment to Air Education and Training Command.




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Third Air Force


Third Air Force also provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units in World War II. After the war it served Tactical Air Command, then inactivated. The Third Air Force returned to active service in 1951 as one of the tactical air forces of United States Air Forces in Europe.

Lineage

Established as Southeast Air District on October 19, 1940. Activated on December 18, 1940, at MacDill Field, Florida, assigned to Southern Defense Command, U.S. Army. Moved to Tampa, Florida, in January 1941. Redesignated 3d Air Force on April 9, 1941, and Third Air Force on September 18, 1942. Assigned to Army Air Forces about September 1943 and to Continental Air Forces on April 16, 1945. Moved to Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina, and assigned to Tactical Air Command on March 21, 1946. Inactivated on November 1, 1946. Organized on May 1, 1951 at Victoria Park Estate (later, U.S. Air Base, South Ruislip; South Ruislip Air Station), England, with assignment to United States Air Forces in Europe. Moved to RAF Mildenhall, England, in April 1972.




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Fourth Air Force


Formed in the United States during World War II to provide air defense and combat training for the personnel of newly formed units, the Fourth Air Force was assigned, in turn, to Continental Air Forces, Air Defense Command, and Continental Air Command before inactivating in 1960. The Fourth Air Force served in the air defense program, 1966-1969 and became part of the Reserve program in 1976.

Lineage

Established as Southwest Air District on October 19, 1940. Activated on December 18, 1940 at March Field, California, initially assigned to General Headquarters Air Force, then to Western Defense Command, U.S. Army. Moved to Riverside, California, in January 1941. Redesignated 4th Air Force on April 9, 1941. Moved to Hamilton Field, California, on December 7, 1941, and to San Francisco, California, in January 1942. Redesignated Fourth Air Force on September 18, 1942. Assigned to Army Air Forces on September 16, 1943, to Continental Air Forces on April 16, 1945, and to Air Defense Command on March 21, 1946. Moved to Hamilton Field (later, AFB), California, in June 1946. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated, on September 1, 1960. Activated on January 20, 1966, and assigned to Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized on April 1, 1966 at Hamilton AFB, California. Inactivated on September 30, 1969. Redesignated Fourth Air Force (Reserve) on September 24, 1976. Activated on October 8, 1976, at McClellan AFB, California, and assigned to Air Force Reserve (later, Air Force Reserve Command). Redesignated Fourth Air Force on December 1, 1985. Moved to March ARB, California, effective April 1, 1998.




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Fifth Air Force


One of the few numbered air forces never stationed in the United States, Fifth Air Force is also one of the oldest and continuously active.* It engaged in combat in the Pacific during World War II and remained in Japan following the war. The Fifth was the combat air force in Korea during the Korean conflict, then returned and remains located in Japan.

Lineage

Established as Philippine Department Air Force on August 16, 1941. Activated on September 20, 1941 at Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, assigned to the Philippine Department, U.S. Army. Redesignated Far East Air Force on October 28, 1941. Moved to Darwin, Australia, in December 1941, following the Japanese attacks in the Philippines. Redesignated 5th Air Force on February 5, 1942. Moved to Brisbane, Australia, in September 1942. Redesignated Fifth Air Force on September 18, 1942. Assigned to Southwest Pacific Area in November 1942. Moved to Nadzab, New Guinea, in June 1944, and assigned to Far East Air Forces (later, Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army; Far East Air Forces; Pacific Air Forces). Moved to Owi, Schouten Islands in Aug 1944; to Leyte, Philippine Islands, in November 1944; to Mindoro, Philippine Islands, in January 1945; to Luzon, Philippine Islands, in April 1945; to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, in July 1945; to Irumagawa, Japan, about September 25, 1945; to Tokyo, Japan, in January 1946; to Nagoya (later, Nagoya AB), Japan, in May 1946; to Seoul, South Korea, on December 1, 1950; to Taegu AB, South Korea, on December 22, 1950; to Seoul, South Korea, on June 15, 1951; to Osan-ni, South Korea, in January 1954; to Nagoya AB (later, Nagoya AS; Moriyama AS), Japan, on September 1, 1954; to Fuchu AS, Japan, on July 1, 1957; and to Yokota AB, Japan, on November 11, 1974.

*Not to be confused with a second "Fifth" air force created as a temporary establishment to handle combat operations after the outbreak of hostilities on June 25, 1950, in Korea. This numbered air force was established as Fifth Air Force, Advance, and organized at Itazuki AB, Japan, assigned to Fifth Air Force, on July 14, 1950. It moved to Taegu AB, South Korea, on July 24, 1950, and was redesignated Fifth Air Force in Korea at the same time. After moving, it apparently received command control from Far East Air Forces. The establishment operated from Pusan, Taegu, and Seoul before being discontinued on December 1, 1950.




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Sixth Air Force
See United States Air Forces Southern Command, under Major Commands.




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Seventh Air Force


Seventh Air Force 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 World War II it was briefly a named command before inactivating. HQ USAF revived the Seventh Air Force to serve Pacific Air Forces during the conflict in Southeast Asia when the growth of forces required a replacement for the 2d Air Division. It has been active under Pacific Air Forces in South Korea since 1986.

Lineage

Established as Hawaiian Air Force on October 19, 1940. Activated on November 1, 1940, at Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii, and assigned to Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army. Moved to Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, in July 1941. Redesignated 7th Air Force on February 5, 1942, and Seventh Air Force on September 18, 1942. Became part of U.S. Army Forces, Central Pacific Area, about August 16, 1943, and assigned to Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, on August 1, 1944. Moved to Saipan, Mariana Islands, in December 1944. Moved to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, and assigned to Far East Air Forces (later, Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army), effective July 14, 1945. Moved without personnel or equipment to Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, on January 1, 1946. Assigned to Army Air Forces on January 1, 1947. Redesignated Pacific Air Command on December 15, 1947. Discontinued on June 1, 1949. Redesignated Seventh Air Force on December 10, 1954. Activated at Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, on January 5, 1955, and assigned to Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]). Moved to Wheeler AFB, Territory of Hawaii, in March 1955. Inactivated on July 1, 1957. Activated on March 28, 1966, and assigned to Pacific Air Forces. Organized on April 1, 1966, at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, South Vietnam. Moved to Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, effective March 29, 1973. Inactivated on June 30, 1975. Assigned to Pacific Air Forces on August 20, 1986, and activated at Osan AB, South Korea, on September 8, 1986.




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Eighth Air Force


The initial Eighth Air Force became the United States Air Forces in Europe. The present Eighth Air Force began its existence as VIII Bomber Command and received its current designation when the original Eighth Air Force redesignated to United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). It engaged in combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II and moved to the Pacific Theater in the final months of the war. Eighth Air Force served Strategic Air Command (SAC) after the war, both in the United States and overseas until SAC inactivated, then served Air Combat Command since June 1, 1992.

Lineage

Established as VIII Bomber Command on January 19, 1942. Activated on February 1, 1942, at Langley Field, Virginia, and assigned to Air Force Combat Command. Moved to Savannah, Georgia, about February 10, 1942. Moved later in February to Daws Hill, England, joining Eighth Air Force. Moved to High Wycombe, England, on May 15, 1942. Redesignated Eighth Air Force on February 22, 1944. Moved without personnel or equipment to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on July 16, 1945, with assignment to U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces. Moved without personnel or equipment to MacDill Field, Florida, on June 7, 1946, joining Strategic Air Command. Moved to Fort Worth Army Airfield (later, Griffiss AFB [briefly]; Carswell AFB), Texas, in November 1946 and to Westover AFB, Massachusetts, in June 1955. Moved without personnel or equipment to Andersen AFB, Guam, on April 1, 1970, absorbing resources of 3d Air Division. Moved without personnel or equipment to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, on January 1, 1975, absorbing resources of Second Air Force. Relieved from assignment to Strategic Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992.




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Ninth Air Force


After beginning life in the United States as a numbered air support command, this establishment became the major tactical air force in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Ninth Air Force first entered combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, then moved to England in 1943. Following the war, Ninth Air Force served as one of the tactical air forces of Tactical Air Command. Presently assigned to Air Combat Command, Ninth Air Force also serves as the Air Force component to the United States Central Command.

Lineage

Established as 5th Air Support Command on August 21, 1941. Activated on September 2, 1941, at Bowman Field, Kentucky, and assigned to Air Force Combat Command. Moved to New Orleans Army Air Base, Louisiana, in January 1942. Redesignated 9th Air Force on April 8, 1942. Moved to Bolling Field, D.C., in July 1942. Redesignated Ninth Air Force on September 18, 1942. Moved to Egypt in November 1942, and entered combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Moved to England in October 1943. Became part of United States Strategic Air Forces (later, United States Air Forces in Europe) in June 1944. Moved to France in September 1944 and to Germany in June 1945. Inactivated on December 2, 1945. Activated on March 28, 1946, at Biggs Field, Texas, and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Moved to Greenville Army Air Base (later, AFB), South Carolina, in October 1946. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Moved to Langley AFB, Virginia, in February 1949. Moved without personnel and equipment to Pope AFB, North Carolina, and redesignated Ninth Air Force (Tactical), on August 1, 1950. Assigned to Tactical Air Command on December 1, 1950. Redesignated Ninth Air Force on June 26, 1951. Moved to Shaw AFB, South Carolina, in August 1954. Relieved from assignment to Tactical Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992.




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Tenth Air Force


The Tenth Air Force was created for air combat operations in India and Burma during World War II. In the years since World War II, the Tenth Air Force has served the air defense and reserve training programs.

Lineage

Established as 10th Air Force on February 4, 1942. Activated on February 12, 1942, at Patterson Field, Ohio, and assigned to Air Force Combat Command. Moved to New Delhi, India, March-May 1942, with assignment to U.S. Army Forces in China-Burma-India. Redesignated Tenth Air Force on September 18, 1942. Assigned to Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, on August 21, 1943. Moved to Barrackpore, India, in October 1943; to Belvedere Palace, Calcutta, India, in January 1944; to Kanjikoah, India, in June 1944. Assigned to Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, on October 27, 1944. Moved to Myitkyina, Burma, in November 1944; to Bhamo, Burma, in February 1945; to Piardoba, India, in May 1945; and to Kunming, China, June-July 1945. Assigned to Army Air Forces, China Theater, on July 6, 1945. Moved to Liuchow, China, in early August 1945; to Kunming, China, later in August 1945; and to Shanghai, China, in October 1945. Returned to the U.S., arriving at Fort Lawton, Washington, on January 5, 1946. Inactivated on January 6, 1946. Activated on May 24, 1946, at Brooks Field (later, AFB), Texas, and assigned to Air Defense Command. Moved to Offutt AFB, Nebraska, effective July 1, 1948, and to Fort Benjamin Harrison (later, Benjamin Harrison AFB), Indiana, effective September 25, 1948. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Moved to Selfridge AFB, Michigan, in January 1950. Discontinued, and inactivated, on September 1, 1960. Activated on January 20, 1966, and assigned to Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized on April 1, 1966, at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri. Inactivated on December 31, 1969. Redesignated Tenth Air Force (Reserve) on September 24, 1976. Activated on October 8, 1976, at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, and assigned to Air Force Reserve (later, Air Force Reserve Command). Redesignated Tenth Air Force on December 1, 1985. Moved to Carswell ARS, Texas, effective June 30, 1996.




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Eleventh Air Force*


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, Alaskan Defense Command, on May 29, 1941. Under authority from Western Defense Command, the Alaskan Defense Command replaced the Air Field Forces, Alaskan Defense Command, with the Air Force, Alaskan Defense Command, on October 17, 1941. Neither the Air Field Forces 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 on January 15, 1942, replacing the Air Force, Alaskan Defense Command.

Lineage

Established as Alaskan Air Force on December 28, 1941. Activated at Elmendorf Airfield, Alaska, on January 15, 1942. Redesignated 11th Air Force on February 5, 1942, and Eleventh Air Force on September 18, 1942. Moved to Adak, Alaska, in August 1943. Redesignated Alaskan Air Command and assumed major command status, on December 18, 1945. Moved to Elmendorf Field (later, AFB), Alaska, effective October 1, 1946. Redesignated Eleventh Air Force on August 9, 1990 and, concurrently, status changed from a major command of the United States Air Force to a subordinate organization of Pacific Air Forces.

*Not to be confused with the other "Eleventh" Air Force established on May 13, 1946. Activated on June 13, 1946 at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania, and assigned to Air Defense Command. Inactivated on July 1, 1948.




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Twelfth Air Force


Established in the United States, the Twelfth Air Force moved to England for training, then participated in the invasion of North Africa. It engaged in tactical operations for the remainder of the war in the Mediterranean. The Twelfth Air Force has subsequently served both in Europe and later the United States. The Twelfth Air Force serves as the Air Force component to the United States Southern Command.

Lineage

Established as Twelfth Air Force, and activated, on August 20, 1942, at Bolling Field, D.C., with assignment to Army Air Forces. Moved to England August-September 1942, then to Algeria in November 1942, participating in the invasion of north Africa. Moved to Tunisia in August 1943, and to Italy in December 1943. Inactivated at Florence, Italy, on August 31, 1945. Activated on May 17, 1946, at March Field, California, and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Moved to Brooks AFB, Texas, in January 1949. Discontinued on July 1, 1950. Organized on January 21, 1951, at Wiesbaden, Germany, and assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Moved to Ramstein (later, Ramstein AB), Germany, in April 1953. Moved without personnel or equipment to Waco, Texas, absorbing resources of Eighteenth Air Force, and concurrently assigned to Tactical Air Command, on January 1, 1958. Moved to Bergstrom AFB, Texas, in August 1968. Relieved from assignment to Tactical Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992. Moved from Bergstrom AFB, Texas, to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, effective October 1, 1992.




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Thirteenth Air Force


Like the Fifth Air Force, the Thirteenth Air Force has never been stationed in the United States; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces. It engaged in combat in the Pacific during World War II. Since World War II, it has provided air defense in the Far East, primarily the Philippines, until the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo forced the closure of Clark AB. Numerous Thirteenth Air Force organizations participated in Southeast Asia combat operations in the 1960s and 1970s.

Lineage

Established as Thirteenth Air Force on December 14, 1942. Activated on January 13, 1943, on New Caledonia Island. Moved to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides in January 1943 as part of U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. Moved to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, in January 1944, and to Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, in June 1944. Assigned to Far East Air Forces on June 15, 1944. Moved to Hollandia, then Noemfoor Island, New Guinea, in September 1944; to Morotai Island in October 1944; to Leyte, Philippine Islands, in March 1945; and to Luzon, Philippine Islands about January 1, 1946. Moved without personnel or equipment to Kadena AB, Okinawa, on December 1, 1948, and to Clark AFB (later, AB), Philippine Islands, in May 1949. Assigned to Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]), on May 17, 1955. Assigned to Pacific Air Forces, on July 1, 1957. Moved without or personnel or equipment from Clark AB, Philippine Islands, to Andersen AFB, Guam, on December 2, 1991.




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Fourteenth Air Force


Fourteenth Air Force operated primarily in China during World War II and subsequently served Air Defense Command, Continental Air Command, and the Air Force Reserve. Since 1993 Fourteenth Air Force has had responsibility for missile warning, space surveillance, and range operations for DoD, NASA, and commercial launches.

Lineage

Established as Fourteenth Air Force on March 5, 1943. Activated on March 10, 1943, at Kunming, China, and assigned to U.S. Army Forces, China-Burma-India Theater. Assigned to U.S. Forces, China Theater, about October 24, 1944. Moved to Peishyi, China, in August 1945. Returned to the United States, arriving at Fort Lawton, Washington, on January 5, 1946. Inactivated on January 6, 1946. Activated on May 24, 1946, at Orlando Army Air Base (later, AFB), Florida, with assignment to Air Defense Command. Assigned to Continental Air Command on December 1, 1948. Moved to Robins AFB, Georgia, in October 1949. Inactivated on September 1, 1960. Activated on January 20, 1966, and assigned to Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command. Organized on April 1, 1966, at Gunter AFB, Alabama. Moved without personnel or equipment to Colorado Springs, Colorado, on July 1, 1968, absorbing resources of 9th Aerospace Defense Division. Redesignated Fourteenth Aerospace Force on July 1, 1968. Inactivated on October 1, 1976. Redesignated Fourteenth Air Force (Reserve), and activated on October 8, 1976, at Dobbins AFB (later, ARB), Georgia, and assigned to Air Force Reserve. Redesignated Fourteenth Air Force on December 1, 1985. Inactivated on July 1, 1993. Activated the same day at Vandenberg AFB, California, with a change in assignment to Air Force Space Command.




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Fifteenth Air Force


World War II was well underway when the Fifteenth Air Force 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 Strategic Air Command's primary numbered air forces. Since its transfer to Air Mobility Command in 1992, Fifteenth Air Force has assumed responsibility for airlift and air refueling missions.

Lineage

Established as Fifteenth Air Force on October 30, 1943. Activated on November 1, 1943, at Tunis, Tunisia. Moved to Bari, Italy, effective December 1, 1943. Assigned to United States Strategic Air Forces about February 1944. Inactivated on September 15, 1945. Activated on March 31, 1946, at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and assigned to Strategic Air Command. Moved to March AFB, California, in November 1949. Relieved from assignment to Strategic Air Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command on January 1, 1992. Moved from March AFB, California, to Travis AFB, California, on July 1, 1993.




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Sixteenth Air Force


Originated as a separate operating agency, this postwar numbered air force has served both Strategic Air Command and United States Air Forces in Europe. The Sixteenth Air Force has been the operational air force for USAF combat operations in the Balkans since its move to Aviano AB, Italy, in 1992.

Lineage

Established as Joint United States Military Group, Air Administration (Spain), and activated at Madrid, Spain, as separate operating agency (SOA) of the USAF, on May 20, 1954. Redesignated Sixteenth Air Force on July 15, 1956. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on July 1, 1957, losing SOA status. Moved to Torrejon AB, Spain, effective February 1, 1958. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe on April 15, 1966. Moved from Torrejon AB, Spain to Aviano AB, Italy, effective August 10, 1992.




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Seventeenth Air Force


Seventeenth Air Force, another postwar numbered air force, served United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service.

Lineage

Established as Seventeenth Air Force on April 17, 1953. Organized on April 25, 1953, at Rabat-Sale, French Morocco (later, Morocco), and assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Moved to Wheelus AB, Libya, on August 1, 1956. Moved without personnel or equipment to Ramstein AB, West Germany, on November 15, 1959, and remanned. Moved to Sembach AB, West Germany, in October 1972. Inactivated effective September 30, 1996.




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Eighteenth Air Force


Extensive troop carrier operations within Tactical Air Command during the early 1950s called for some intermediate echelon of command, and HQ USAF created a new numbered air force for this purpose in March 1951. Later, Eighteenth Air Force received other combat units in addition to troop carrier wings. Twelfth Air Force absorbed all of its resources on January 1, 1958.

Lineage

Established as Eighteenth Air Force (Troop Carrier) on March 7, 1951. Organized on March 28, 1951, at Donaldson AFB, South Carolina, and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Redesignated Eighteenth Air Force on June 26, 1951. Moved to Waco, Texas, effective September 1, 1957. Inactivated on January 1, 1958.




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Nineteenth Air Force


Formed after World War II, the Nineteenth Air Force served Tactical Air Command between its creation in 1955 and 1973. Since 1993, it has been responsible to Air Education and Training Command for undergraduate and specialized flying training.

Lineage

Established as Nineteenth Air Force on July 1, 1955. Activated on July 8, 1955, at Foster AFB, Texas, with assignment to Tactical Air Command. Moved to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, effective September 1, 1958. Inactivated on July 2, 1973. Assigned to Air Education and Training Command on June 8, 1993. Activated at Randolph AFB, Texas, on July 1, 1993.




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Twentieth Air Force


Twentieth Air Force was formed during World War II, exclusively as a heavy strategic bombardment organization. Headquartered in the United States, under command of General Henry H. Arnold, with direction from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, its B-29 components operated in the China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters, carrying the air war to the Japanese. Operations climaxed with atomic attacks on Japan in August 1945. Following the war, Twentieth Air Force 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 until inactivation in March 1955. Since 1991, the Twentieth Air Force has controlled the inter-continental ballistic missile force.

Lineage

Established as Twentieth Air Force, and activated on April 4, 1944, at Washington D.C., and assigned to Army Air Forces. Moved to Harmon Field, Guam, Mariana Islands, in July 1945 with assignment to U.S. Army Strategic Air Forces. Assigned to Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army, (later Far East Air Forces), on December 6, 1945. Moved without personnel or equipment to Kadena AB, Ryukyu Islands, on May 16, 1949. Inactivated on March 1, 1955. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on March 29, 1991. Activated at Vandenberg AFB, California, on September 1, 1991. Relieved from assignment to Strategic Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on June 1, 1992. Relieved from assignment to Air Combat Command and assigned to Air Force Space Command on July 1, 1993. Moved from Vandenberg AFB, California, to F. E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, effective October 1, 1993.




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Twenty-First Air Force


Created as a wing during World War II, this establishment gradually evolved into its modern designation. Initially, the organization ferried aircraft, but by 1942, its mission had changed, as it is today, to airlifting personnel and cargo.

Lineage

Established as 23d Army Air Forces (AAF) Ferrying Wing on June 12, 1942. Activated on June 18, 1942, at Presque Isle, Maine, and assigned to AAF Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport Command). Redesignated North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, on July 5, 1942. Redesignated North Atlantic Division, Air Transport Command, on June 27, 1944. Moved to Fort Totten, New York, and redesignated Atlantic Division, Air Transport Command, on September 20, 1945. Assigned to Air Transport Service on October 15, 1947. Moved to Westover Field (later, AFB), Massachusetts, in October 1947. Redesignated Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), on June 1, 1948. Moved to McGuire AFB, New Jersey, effective June 1, 1955. Redesignated Eastern Transport Air Force on July 1, 1958, and Twenty-First Air Force on January 3, 1966. Relieved from assignment to Military Airlift Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command on June 1, 1992.




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Twenty-Second Air Force


This numbered air force can trace its origins to World War II through an official consolidation of two organizations in 1979. Prior to and during the first part of America's participation in World War II, the organization ferried aircraft, but gradually its mission expanded to and remains airlifting personnel and cargo.

Lineage

Established as Domestic Division, Air Corps Ferrying Command, and activated, on December 28, 1941 in Washington D.C., with assignment to Air Corps Ferrying Command. Redesignated: Domestic Wing, Air Corps Ferrying Command, on February 26, 1942; Domestic Wing, Army Air Forces Ferry Command, on March 9, 1942; Domestic Wing, Army Air Forces Ferrying Command, on March 31, 1942; Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command, on June 20, 1942. Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in February 1943. Redesignated Continental Division, Air Transport Command, on February 28, 1946. Discontinued on October 31, 1946. Consolidated (1979) with the organization established as Continental Division, Military Air Transport Service, and organized at Kelly AFB, Texas, on July 1, 1948. Assigned to Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command). Moved to Travis AFB, California, effective June 25, 1958. Redesignated Western Transport Air Force on July 1, 1958, and Twenty-Second Air Force on January 8, 1966. Relieved from assignment to Military Airlift Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command on June 1, 1992. Inactivated on July 1, 1993. Activated the same day at Dobbins ARB, Georgia, with a change in assignment to the Air Force Reserve (later, Air Force Reserve Command)




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Twenty-Third Air Force

See United States Air Force Special Operations Command, under Major commands.