REVISED: 03/26/99 USAAF/USAF Named Air Forces General Headquarters Air Force The first named air force of the US Army's air arm began operations in 1935. The GHQ AF became the Air Force Combat Command in 1941. Several of the numbered air forces began as named air forces. Since WW2 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 Far East Air Forces. Air Materiel Force, European Area, and Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area, on the other hand, served primarily as logistical support establishments. A brief history and lineage of each named Air Force illustrates the varied origins of these establishments: Air Forces Iceland The smallest of the named forces operated in a tiny geographical area. Established as Iceland Air Defense Force and organized Apr 1, 1952, at Keflavik Airport, Iceland, assigned to Military Air Transport Service. Redesignated Air Forces Iceland on Jan 1, 1960. Assigned to Air Defense Command, and further to 64th Air Division (Defense), July 1 1962. Assigned to 26th Air Division July 1, 1963; to Goose Air Defense Sector Sept 4, 1963; to 37th Air Division Apr 1, 1966; to 21st Air Division Dec 31, 1969; to Aerospace Defense Command Oct 1, 1975; to Tactical Air Command 1, Oct 1979; and to Air Combat Command June 1, 1992. Inactivated May 31, 1993. Consolidated Sept 29, 1994, with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, redesignated 85th Wing and assigned to Air Combat Command for activation. Activated at Keflavik NAS, Iceland, and assigned to 8th AF Oct 1, 1994. Air Materiel Force, European Area From 1954 to 1962 this named force served as the primary USAF logistical organization in Europe. Established Feb 1, 1954. Organized on Mar 1, 1954, at Wiesbaden, West Germany, assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Redesignated Air Materiel Force, European Area, and assigned to Air Materiel Command (later Air Force Logistics Command), on Jan 1, 1956. Moved to Chateaurox AS, France, on May 15, 1958. Discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1962. Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area This logistical organization, which eventually became the Pacific counterpart of the preceding establishment, began during WW2. Established as Far East Air Service Command July 14, 1944. Activated Augu 18, 1944, at Brisbane, Australia, replacing the Far East Air Service Command (Provisional), formed June 15, 1944 at the same location. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Moved to Hollandia, New Guinea, Nov 16, 1944, and to Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Aug 7, 1945. Redesignated Pacific Air Service Command, US Army, in Jan 1946, and Far East Air Materiel Command Jan 1, 1947. Moved to Fuchu, Japan, January 20, 1947. Moved to FEAMC AB, Japan, July 1, 1949. Inactivated Feb 1, 1952, but immediately organized on same day at FEAMC AB (later Tachikawa AB), assigned to Far East Air Forces. Redesignated Far East Air Logistics Force July 1, 1952. Assigned to Air Materiel Command (later, Air Force Logistics Command) Oct 1, 1955, and redesignated Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area, on same day. Moved to Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, June 1, 1957 and back to Tachikawa AB Apr 1, 1960. Discontinued and inactivated July 1, 1962. Aviation Engineer Force This short-lived force controlled aviation engineer organizations of the US Army on duty with the USAF. Established as Aviation Engineer Force Mar 28, 1951. Organized Apr 10, 1951, at Wolters AFB TX, assigned to Continental Air Command. Discontinued May 25, 1956. Central Air Defense Force 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 Feb 5, 1951. Organized Mar 1, 1951, at Kansas City MO, assigned to Air Defense Command. Moved to Grandview (later Richards-Gebaur) AFB MO Feb 24, 1954. Inactivated Jan 1, 1960. Eastern Air Defense Force Air defense of the eastern portion of the USA was the primary mission of this named air force. Established and organized Sept 1, 1949, at Mitchel AFB NY, assigned to Continental Air Command. Moved to Stewart AFB NY Aug 1, 1950. Assigned to Air Defense Command Jan 1, 1951. Inactivated Jan 1, 1960. Flying Training Air Force 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 Apr 4, 1951. Organized May 1, 1951, at Waco TX, assigned to Air Training Command. Moved to Randolph AFB TX July 31, 1957. Discontinued Apr 1, 1958. Japan Air Defense Force Established as Japan Air Defense Force Jan 3, 1952, to replace the 314th Air Division. Organized Mar 1, 1952, at Nagoya AB, Japan, assigned to Far East Air Forces. Discontinued Sept 1, 1954. Pacific Air Force/FEAF (Rear) Established to control USAF operations in the Pacific and Far East during the move of the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) from Japan to Hawaii, inactivated when FEAF completed its movement. Activated July 1, 1954, at Hickam AFB, Territory of Hawaii, assigned to FEAF. Redesignated Pacific Air Force/FEAF (Rear) on 1 July 1956. Inactivated July 1, 1957. Technical Training Air Force 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 Apr 4, 1951. Organized July 16, 1951, at Gulfport MS, assigned to Air Training Command. Discontinued June 1, 1958. USAF Special Operations Force When the USAF Special Air Warfare Center became too large and cumbersome for center status, it was elevated to a named air force. Established as USAF Special Air Warfare Center and activated Apr 19, 1962, assigned to Tactical Air Command. Organized Apr 27, 1962, at Eglin AFB FL. Redesignated USAF Special Operations Force July 8, 1968. Inactivated July 1, 1974.