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Pacific Air Forces ('''PACAF''') is one of two United States Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States , the other being the United States Air Forces In Europe (USAFE). PACAF is the air force component of United States Pacific Command and was created on 1 July , 1957 , by a redesignation of the United States Far East Air Forces. PACAF's area of responsibility extends from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic , more than 100 million square miles (260,000,000 km²). The area is home to nearly two billion people who live in 44 countries. PACAF is currently under the command of General Paul V. Hester . MISSION PACAF's primary mission is to provide ready air and space power to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis and in war. The command's vision is to be the most respected air warrior team employing the full spectrum of air and space power, with our Asia-Pacific partners, to ensure peace and advance freedom. CURRENT OPERATING UNITS PACAF is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii . PACAF's major units are Fifth Air Force , Yokota Air Base , Japan ; Seventh Air Force , Osan Air Base , South Korea ; Eleventh Air Force , Elmendorf AFB , Alaska ; and Thirteenth Air Force , Andersen AFB , Guam . This is further divided into the Wings of each Air Force, their headquarters and a summary of each wing's aircraft.
HISTORY Lineage
United States Far East Air Forces
At that time, the Army Air Forces in the Pacific became part of the largest and most powerful military organization ever fielded by any country in the world. After World II, HQ FEAF and Fifth Air Force remained in Japan, while Seventh Air Force operated from Hawaii , Thirteenth Air Force from the Philippines , and Twentieth from Okinawa . In the post-war years, FEAF was designated the theater air force for the Far East Command and was headquartered in Japan . All United States air forces in the Far East and Southwest Pacific were placed under one Air Force commander for the first time. When the North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel June 25, 1950, FEAF consisted of the following:
In addition, elements of the 2d and 3d Air Rescue squadrons, attached to FEAF by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), were located at various bases where they could best perform emergency rescue services with their SB-17's. The 512th and 514th Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons (2143d Air Weather Wing) were located at Yokota and Anderson. All USAF units engaged in combat during the Korean War were under the overall command of Far East Air Forces. On 1 July 1957 United States Far East Air Forces was redesignated Pacific Air Forces and transferred its headquarters to Hickam AFB , Territory Of Hawaii . Notes:
Cold War By 1960, PACAF maintained a combat-ready deterrent force of some 35 squadrons, operating from 10 major bases in a half-dozen countries. In the early 1960s communist military strength and firepower in Vietnam increased. As a result, PACAF began a buildup in the area with the addition of troops and better arms and equipment. In response to what has become known as the Gulf Of Tonkin Incident in 1964, Tactical Air Command pilots and support personnel found themselves deployed from the CONUS to PACAF bases such as Da Nang Air Base and Phan Rang AB in South Vietnam. Bases in Thailand ( Takhli RTAFB , Korat RTAFB } were also used by deployed TAC fighter squadrons. As the American effort in Southeast Asia increased, TAC permanently reassigned entire wings of aircraft from CONUS bases to PACAF and increased the number of rotated tactical fighter and recon squadrons on rotating Temporary Duty commitments to PACAF bases in Vietnam and Thailand, along with units to South Korea , Japan and the Philippines . On a daily basis, flight crews would hurl themselves and their planes at targets across the area of operations over the skies of North and South Vietnam . At the height of the Vietnam War (1968), PACAF commanded forces at major air bases in the following countries:
By 1970 the war was winding down as the conflict was being Vietnamized. Units from the South Vietnamese Air Force (SVNAF) took on more and more combat to defend their nation. PACAF tactical air strength was being reduced as several air bases were turned over to the SVNAF. Combat aircraft of PACAF flew their last strikes in Cambodia Aug. 15, 1973, writing the final chapter to the long and costly history of active American participation in the Indochina War . The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 ended PACAF's use of South Vietnamese bases, and by 1976 bases in Thailand were turned over to the Thai government. In 1979, normalization of relations with the People's Republic Of China led to the withdrawal of PACAF personnel from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base , Republic Of China (Taiwan) . The post-Vietnam era found the command focusing on improving its readiness, and PACAF's organizational structure saw a marked period of rapid and extensive changes. Deactivated at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Seventh Air Force was reactivated at Osan Air Base, South Korea in 1986 to take over Fifth Air Force activities in South Korea. Andersen AFB was reassigned from Strategic Air Command in 1989, and Eleventh Air Force became a part of the command in late 1990. Following the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo , Clark AB , the Philippines , was closed and Thirteenth Air Force relocated in 1991. Post Cold War In 1992, changes took place in force structure within PACAF as the command assumed control of theater-based tactical airlift wings, theater C-130 aircraft and crews, and associated theater C-130 support. PACAF also gained control of all operational support aircraft and all aeromedical airlift assets in the Pacific. Throughout its history PACAF has played a vital role in world events. In addition to its key combat role in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, PACAF units fought in Desert Storm in 1991, and they continue to deploy to Saudi Arabia , Turkey and Italy for peacekeeping operations. PACAF provided its expertise, aircraft, personnel and equipment to facilitate the new Expeditionary Air Force, especially as it applied to successful airbridge operations spanning the vast Pacific Ocean . Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, PACAF again demonstrated its intrepid spirit through its units deployed in support of operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. Since 1944, the command has participated in more than 140 humanitarian operations within its area of responsibility and beyond. In these operations PACAF people quickly and efficiently airlifted food, medicine and other supplies to areas devastated by storms, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters. SEE ALSO
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