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{{Infobox Military Unit
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[[Image:3af.gif|right|200px| ]]
|unit_name= Third Air Force
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'''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.
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|image= [[Image:3af.gif|200px]]
|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 ==
⚫
==Commands During World War II==

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)
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* 48th Fighter Wing [[RAF Lakenheath]] [[United Kingdom]] (F-15C/D, F-15E)
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* 52d Fighter Wing [[Spangdahlem Air Base]] [[Germany]] (A-10, F-16C/D)
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* 86th Airlift Wing [[Ramstein Air Base]] [[Germany]] (C-130, C-20, C-21A, C-37A)
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* 100th Air Refueling Wing [[RAF Mildenhall]] [[United Kingdom]] (KC-135R)
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* 435th Air Base Wing [[Ramstein Air Base]] [[Germany]]
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* 501st Combat Support Wing [[RAF Mildenhall]] [[United Kingdom]]

In addition, there are numerous minor units assigned to Third Air Force by HQ USAFE.

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* 603d Air and Space Operations Center
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* 603d Support Group
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* 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
* [[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]]
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*[[48th Fighter Wing]] - [[RAF Lakenheath]], UK
**[[F-15 Eagle]]
**[[F-15E Strike Eagle]]


⚫
==References==
⚫
*[[52d Fighter Wing]] - [[Spangdahlem Air Base|Spangdahlem AB]], [[Germany]]
**[[F-16 Fighting Falcon]]
**[[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10/OA-10]]


⚫
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil US Air Force Historical Research Agency]
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*[[86th Airlift Wing]] - [[Ramstein AB]], [[Germany]]
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* [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123033513 US Air Force news story on reactivation]
**[[C-130 Hercules]]
**[[C-20 Gulfstream III|C-20A]]
**[[C-21 Learjet|C-21A]]
**[[C-37A]]


== External Links ==
⚫
*[[100th Air Refueling Wing]] - [[RAF Mildenhall]], UK
**[[KC-135|KC-135R]]


⚫
* [[501st Combat Support Wing]] - [[RAF Mildenhall]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]

⚫
*[[435th Air Base Wing]] - [[Ramstein AB]], [[Germany]]

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:
⚫
*[[603d Air and Space Operations Center]]
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*[[603d Support Group]]
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*[[4th Air Support Operations Group]]

⚫
==References==
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*[[http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil US Air Force Historical Research Agency]]
⚫
*[[http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123033513 US Air Force news story on reactivation]]


{{USAF Bases in the UK}}
{{USAF Bases in the UK}}

Revision as of 02:09, 28 January 2007

Third Air Force
File:3af.gif
Third Air Force Emblem
Active19 December 1940
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe
Garrison/HQRamstein 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:

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

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.

See Also

References

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