Third Air Force: Difference between revisions
edited and expanded |
|||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox Military Unit |
|||
⚫ | |||
|unit_name= Third Air Force |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|caption= Third Air Force Emblem |
|||
|dates= [[19 December]] [[1940]] |
|||
|country= [[United States]] |
|||
|allegiance= |
|||
|branch= [[United States Air Force]] |
|||
|type= |
|||
|role= |
|||
|size= |
|||
|command_structure= [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] |
|||
|current_commander= |
|||
|garrison= [[Ramstein Air Base]] |
|||
|ceremonial_chief= |
|||
|colonel_of_the_regiment= |
|||
|nickname= |
|||
|patron= |
|||
|motto= |
|||
|colors= |
|||
|march= |
|||
|mascot= |
|||
|battles= |
|||
|anniversaries= |
|||
}} |
|||
'''Third Air Force''' is a [[numbered air force]] (NAF) of the [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE). It is headquartered at [[Ramstein Air Base]] [[Germany]] |
|||
== Mission == |
|||
⚫ | |||
Third Air Force plans combat and humanitarian operations in the USAFE area of responsibility and conducts conduct day-to-day operations for USAFE and European Command to organize, train and equip Airmen for the functions they could be called upon to accomplish around the world. |
|||
The command was reactivated [[1 December]] [[2006]] after being inactivated in [[2005]]. |
|||
== Units == |
|||
Major operational units under Third Air Force are: |
|||
* 31st Fighter Wing [[Aviano Air Base]] [[Italy]] (F-16C/D) |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
In addition, there are numerous minor units assigned to Third Air Force by HQ USAFE. |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
Amoung others. |
|||
== History == |
|||
⚫ | Third Air Force was established in 1940 as the Southeast Air District to provide air defence for that part of continental [[United States]], it 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. |
||
⚫ | |||
* [[II Air Support Command]] 1942-43 |
* [[II Air Support Command]] 1942-43 |
||
* [[III Air Support Command]] 1943 |
* [[III Air Support Command]] 1943 |
||
Line 10: | Line 64: | ||
* [[III Tactical Air Command]] 1942-45 |
* [[III Tactical Air Command]] 1942-45 |
||
==Cold War== |
===Cold War=== |
||
The Third Air Force returned to active service in [[1951 in aviation|1951]], with headquarters at [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/base/ South Ruislip Air Station] near London, as one of the tactical air forces of [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]], the other being the [[Sixteenth Air Force]] based at [[Aviano AB]], [[Italy]]. The Third Air Force was based at [[RAF Mildenhall]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. |
The Third Air Force returned to active service in [[1951 in aviation|1951]], with headquarters at [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/base/ South Ruislip Air Station] near London, as one of the tactical air forces of [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]], the other being the [[Sixteenth Air Force]] based at [[Aviano AB]], [[Italy]]. The Third Air Force was based at [[RAF Mildenhall]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. |
||
== See Also == |
|||
==Inactivation and Reactivation== |
|||
In 2005, Third Air Force inactivated and Sixteenth Air Force moved to Ramstein AB, Germany to begin its role as USAFE's Warfighting Headquarters. Wings were reassigned to [[HQ Air Command Europe]] at Ramstein AB, Germany. At its inactivation, Third Air Force was composed of the following wings: |
|||
* [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
**[[F-15 Eagle]] |
|||
**[[F-15E Strike Eagle]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
**[[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] |
|||
**[[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10/OA-10]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
**[[C-130 Hercules]] |
|||
**[[C-20 Gulfstream III|C-20A]] |
|||
**[[C-21 Learjet|C-21A]] |
|||
**[[C-37A]] |
|||
== External Links == |
|||
⚫ | |||
**[[KC-135|KC-135R]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
Third Air Force remained inactive until 1 December 2006, when it replaced the simultaneously inactivated Sixteenth Air Force. Its headquarters is once again Ramstein AB, Germany. The newly reactive Thrid Air Force contains units of the old Sixteenth Air Force as wells as the following: |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
{{USAF Bases in the UK}} |
{{USAF Bases in the UK}} |
Revision as of 02:09, 28 January 2007
Third Air Force | |
---|---|
File:3af.gif | |
Active | 19 December 1940 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe |
Garrison/HQ | Ramstein Air Base |
Third Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base Germany
Mission
Third Air Force plans combat and humanitarian operations in the USAFE area of responsibility and conducts conduct day-to-day operations for USAFE and European Command to organize, train and equip Airmen for the functions they could be called upon to accomplish around the world.
The command was reactivated 1 December 2006 after being inactivated in 2005.
Units
Major operational units under Third Air Force are:
- 31st Fighter Wing Aviano Air Base Italy (F-16C/D)
- 48th Fighter Wing RAF Lakenheath United Kingdom (F-15C/D, F-15E)
- 52d Fighter Wing Spangdahlem Air Base Germany (A-10, F-16C/D)
- 86th Airlift Wing Ramstein Air Base Germany (C-130, C-20, C-21A, C-37A)
- 100th Air Refueling Wing RAF Mildenhall United Kingdom (KC-135R)
- 435th Air Base Wing Ramstein Air Base Germany
- 501st Combat Support Wing RAF Mildenhall United Kingdom
In addition, there are numerous minor units assigned to Third Air Force by HQ USAFE.
- 603d Air and Space Operations Center
- 603d Support Group
- 4th Air Support Operations Group
Amoung others.
History
Third Air Force was established in 1940 as the Southeast Air District to provide air defence for that part of continental United States, it 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.
Commands During World War II
- II Air Support Command 1942-43
- III Air Support Command 1943
- III Bomber Command 1941-46
- III Fighter Command 1941-46
- III Reconnaissance Command 1942-46
- III Tactical Air Command 1942-45
Cold War
The Third Air Force returned to active service in 1951, with headquarters at South Ruislip Air Station near London, as one of the tactical air forces of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the other being the Sixteenth Air Force based at Aviano AB, Italy. The Third Air Force was based at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.