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III Tactical Air Division

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39-456: III Tactical Air Division may refer to: The IV Air Support Command , designated III Tactical Air Division from September 1943 to April 1944 The III Reconnaissance Command , designated III Tactical Air Division from April 1944 to June 1945 [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about military units and formations which are associated with

78-612: A cadre drawn from National Guard squadrons that had been mobilized in 1940 and 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the command came under the control of the Western Theater of Operations and flew antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific coast. Most of the command's observation units were withdrawn form antisubmarine operations in June 1942, although some patrols continued until January 1943. However, by early 1942,

117-504: A larger area of responsibility, the command reorganization also brought about a subtle change in the mission of the Third Air Force headquarters element. Third Air Force was tasked to take a more active role in the leadership of operational contingencies, and provide trained staff to lead or augment joint and combined task force headquarters elements. In 1998, Third Air Force provided the headquarters for JTF Eagle Vista, supporting

156-601: Is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base , Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, and operations and support activities in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command 's areas of responsibility . It also has a unique mission as the U.S. military's primary liaison to

195-444: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages IV Air Support Command The I Tactical Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force , based at Biggs Field , Texas. It was inactivated on 22 December 1945. General Headquarters Air Force (GHQ AF) reorganized its four regional air districts as Numbered Air Forces in

234-700: The Air Transport Command were made available for troop carrier use. Third Air Force was inactivated on 1 November 1946. TAC's troop carrier mission was reassigned to Ninth Air Force with its return from Europe and reassignment to Greenville AAF, which had been renamed Donaldson Air Force Base in the interim. In August 1948, in response to the Berlin Blockade , the U.S. deployed long-range Boeing B-29 Superfortress strategic bombers to four UK bases in East Anglia. The 3d Air Division

273-737: The Alps to Third Air Force. As a result of the changes, Third Air Force grew substantially, taking on two main operating bases, Ramstein Air Base and Spangdahlem Air Base , both in Germany, and five geographically separated units. With this 1996 reorganization, Third Air Force was composed of more than 25,000 military people, and more than 35,000 family members. In terms of numbers of aircraft, Third Air Force had more than 200, including KC-135 and F-15 aircraft at bases in England, and A-10, F-16, C-9, C-20, C-21 and C-130E aircraft in Germany. In addition to

312-722: The Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Florida. By 1944, most of the Operational Training of groups ended, with the command concentrating on RTU training using Army Air Force Base Units (AAFBU) as training organizations at the airfields controlled by Third Air Force. Also by 1944, the majority of the Numbered Air Forces of the AAF were fighting in various parts of the world, such as

351-731: The Eighth Air Force in Europe and the Twentieth Air Force in the Pacific. They were supported by four numbered air forces located within the United States. On 13 December 1944, First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force were all placed under the unified command of the Continental Air Forces , the predecessor of the later established Strategic Air Command , Tactical Air Command , and Air Defense Command , which were all established in 1946. When

390-699: The Major Command level from 3 January 1949 – 21 January 1951, the 3d Air Division controlled large numbers of USAF organizations based in the United Kingdom and supervised a tremendous airfield construction program. However, with the advent of the Korean War and the growing Cold War threat of the Soviet Union , the U.S. and UK agreed to an even greater U.S. military presence in the United Kingdom. The resulting growing size and complexity of

429-497: The 501st TMW inactivated 4 June 1991. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Third Air Force, like many other U.S. military units, received their trial by fire. However, for Third Air Force, the scenario was not similar to any which had been practiced in the past. Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm were not classic East-West confrontations in Europe that Third Air Force had been trained for. Thousands of miles removed from

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468-456: The 7th Air Division was inactivated. The first tactical unit to come to England under Third Air Force was the 81st Fighter-Bomber Wing based at RAF Bentwaters on 6 September 1951. The next assigned unit was the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing , flying from RAF Wethersfield . These Republic F-84 Thunderjet/Thunderchief and North American F-86 Sabre units worked with Royal Air Force Fighter Command providing air defense for England. In addition,

507-715: The American military presence required a larger command and organizational structure that could meet the needs of the increased operations. The 3d Air Division was discontinued on 1 May 1951, and in its place the USAFE Third Air Force was activated to oversee tactical air operations. Strategic Air Command 's 7th Air Division controlled deployed bombardment and reconnaissance forces with Third Air Force providing its logistical support. From its headquarters at RAF South Ruislip near London, Third Air Force carried out that mission basically unchanged through 1966, when

546-549: The Army Air Forces reorganized in 1946, Tactical Air Command (TAC) was established as one of its three major commands. Third Air Force was reassigned to TAC to control the troop carrier units formerly part of IX Troop Carrier Command . It was headquartered at Greenville Army Air Base , South Carolina . The Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain were the primary troop carrier aircraft, but surplus Douglas C-54 Skymasters that had been originally purchased for

585-580: The British government, which is conducted through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall , England. One of the four original pre–World War II numbered air forces, it was established on 26 March 1941, at Tampa , Florida with a mission of air defense of the Southeastern United States and Gulf Coast regions. During the war, its primary mission became the organization and training of combat units prior to their deployment to

624-457: The Kuwait theater of operations, Third Air Force played a major support role, deploying half its combat aircraft, several thousand vehicles, approximately 50,000 tons of munitions, and many more tons of supplies and material. Third Air Force also provided 2,250 hospital beds by activating three of its contingency hospitals and was ready in the event of a large number of casualties were received. At

663-640: The President's trip to Africa. In 2005, USAFE once again realigned its numbered air forces. Sixteenth Air Force was aligned as the command's new Warfighting Headquarters. Third Air Force was inactivated on 1 November, ending the unit's prestigious 50-plus year legacy in the UK. Just over a year after inactivation, Third Air Force was reactivated on 1 December 2006, at Ramstein AB , Germany, as USAFE's Air and Space Operations supporting U.S. European Command. Its new mission

702-593: The Southeast and Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States. It moved to offices in downtown Tampa on 8 January 1941. MacDill Field was one of two major Army Air Corps bases established in the Tampa Bay area in the buildup prior to World War II. Tampa's Drew Field Municipal Airport , established in 1928 was leased by the Air Corps in 1940. A major expansion of the airport was initiated and Drew Army Airfield

741-755: The Third Air Force commander. On 15 April 1986, General Dynamics F-111 aircraft based at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Upper Heyford were launched against suspected terrorist targets in Libya, as part of Operation Eldorado Canyon . With the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in December 1987, GLCMs deployed to RAF Molesworth were removed to the U.S. and the 303rd TMW inactivated 30 January 1989. The last GLCMs at RAF Greenham Common were removed in March 1991, and

780-422: The United Kingdom was transferred to Headquarters USAFE at Wiesbaden Air Base , West Germany . Third Air Force still retained command of the units, but as a result of the change, the headquarters was reorganized, reduced in personnel strength, and moved to RAF Mildenhall , United Kingdom. In 1979, NATO ministers decided to deploy BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise and Pershing II IRBM missiles to counter

819-1090: The antisubmarine patrols were turned over to the Coast Guard and other agencies and the command was engaged primarily in training replacements for combat units and operational training of units, crews, and individuals for bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations. It received graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command flight schools; navigator training; flexible gunnery schools and various technical schools, organized them into combat groups and squadrons, and provided operational unit training (OTU) and replacement training (RTU) to prepare groups and replacements for deployment overseas to combat theaters. Third Air Force primarily trained B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder medium bomber groups and A-20 Havoc and A-36 Apache light bomber groups. It also trained replacement fighter pilots, initially using P-39 Airacobra and P-40 Warhawks in 1942, later with P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs beginning in 1943 and 1944 as they became available. Third Air Force also provided support to

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858-443: The attached Tactical Air Command 47th Bombardment Wing flew B-45 Tornado and B-66 Destroyer tactical bombers from RAF Sculthorpe and RAF Alconbury . Initially the 49th Air Division functioned as the intermediate-level command authority for USAFE's wings in the UK, no operational combat groups were attached. The division supervised and participated in numerous training missions such as Quick Shot, Kingpin, and Bear Claw. It

897-734: The command was redesignated the III Tactical Air Division with the intent that the command would engage in combined training with army ground forces. At various times, it supervised heavy bomber flights to Hawaii , gave air support to ground units in training, participated in air-ground maneuvers, and put on air support demonstrations. Groups Squadrons Battalions Companies Detachments Explanatory notes Citations [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Third Air Force The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) ( 3 AF )

936-427: The command's first commander, like two of the other commanders of air support commands had moved overseas, and similar personnel demands led GHQ AF to believe it had little more than the "remnants" of the command remaining. The AAF determined that its continental air forces would specialize in their training operations and that all their air support commands would be reassigned to Third Air Force . In August 1943,

975-464: The control of the corps and divisions, although they would remain attached to these ground units. 4th Air Force organized 4th Air Support Command at Fresno Army Air Base , California in September 1941, soon moving to Will Rogers Field , Oklahoma where it drew cadre and equipment from the 15th Bombardment Wing , which was simultaneously inactivated. New observation groups were formed, with

1014-608: The emerging needs of the new world order. Several Third Air Force units returned to the U.S., and several more were inactivated. Third Air Force returned many of its bases to the British Ministry of Defence , and scaled down operations at other places. In March 1996, Headquarters USAFE announced a major reorganization of its numbered air forces. The announcement included news of the inactivation of Seventeenth Air Force at Sembach Air Base Germany, transferring its responsibility for overseeing all U.S. Air Force units north of

1053-620: The end of the Cold War Third Air Force consisted of the following units: The end of the Cold War with the former Soviet Union left in its wake many new military challenges, tensions and emerging conflicts. It also drew attention to the need for American military forces to operate in ways and locations outside the traditional NATO construct. The shift in East-West relations and the increasing focus toward Eastern Europe,

1092-648: The fighter arm, was headquartered at Drew Field. Third Air Force initially provided air defense for the southeastern United States (1940–1941) and flew antisubmarine patrols along coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico after Pearl Harbor. In January 1942, the command was withdrawn by Air Force Combat Command from the Eastern Defense Command and assigned operational training of units, crews, and replacements for medium bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations. In 1942,

1131-517: The growing Soviet SS-20 intermediate range ballistic missile threat. RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth were selected as the beddown sites for the GLCM. The 501st Tactical Missile Wing (TMW) was activated at RAF Greenham Common in July 1982 and the 303d Tactical Missile Wing at RAF Molesworth in December 1986. In June 1987, Headquarters USAFE delegated tactical control of Third Air Force units to

1170-565: The numbered air force supporting United States Air Forces Africa . The Third Air Force also oversees host nation support agreements for all U.S. military forces based in the United Kingdom through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall . Through the NATO Partnership for Peace program, the headquarters manages military contact and assistance programs for a number of countries in Eastern Europe. Third Air Force

1209-535: The overseas combat air forces. Several airfields are associated with the Third Air Force. Major operational units under Third Air Force are: One of the four original numbered air forces, Third Air Force was activated as the Southeast Air District of the GHQ Air Force on 18 December 1940 (which became Air Force Combat Command on 20 June 1941), at MacDill Field , Florida. The District

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1248-547: The same title. If an internal link referred you to this page, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. [REDACTED] Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=III_Tactical_Air_Division&oldid=1090099334 " Categories : Divisions of the United States Army Air Forces Military units and formations disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

1287-521: The southern region and the Middle East led to a changing of the focus of Third Air Force as well. The U.S. Congress mandated large reductions in the American military budget and American military troop strength based in Europe. From a Cold War high of 450,000 in the late 1980s, American troop strength in Europe was reduced to 100,000 by the mid-1990s. During the 1990s the USAF restructured itself to meet

1326-459: The spring of 1941. By the fall of that year, each of these had organized as a support command and three combat commands. In the summer of 1941 GHQ AF had decided to establish commands to direct its air support mission in each numbered air force, plus one additional command reporting directly to GHQ AF. These commands would be manned from inactivating wings , and would initially control only observation squadrons, which would be transferred from

1365-707: Was activated to receive, support and operationally control the B-29 units deployed in the United Kingdom. It also provided aircraft maintenance support at RAF Burtonwood for C-54 Skymaster aircraft used in the Berlin Airlift . When the Berlin Airlift ended in 1949, the division participated in the Military Assistance Program in the United Kingdom and began an extensive air base construction program through May 1951. Briefly elevated to

1404-446: Was inactivated on 1 July 1956. During the 1960s, Third Air Force had four to five combat wings and major changes occurred in the types of aircraft deployed in the United Kingdom. North American F-100 Super Sabres , McDonnell F-101 Voodoos , and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs replaced older fighter aircraft. Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers replaced older refueling aircraft. In June 1972, daily operational control of tactical units in

1443-425: Was opened in 1941. Two secondary Army Airfields, Brooksville Army Airfield and Hillsborough Army Airfield were built and opened in early 1942 to support the flight operations of MacDill and Drew Fields. The Bonita Springs Auxiliary Field, located near Fort Myers provided an additional emergency landing field for MacDill. All of these airfields came under the jurisdiction of Third Air Force. III Fighter Command ,

1482-514: Was originally constituted on 19 October 1940, and that same day, the 22nd Pursuit Wing was also constituted. Activated about November 1940 at Savannah, Georgia , the Wing was assigned supervision of the 50th and 53d Pursuit Groups (15 January 1941), but was inactivated in October 1941. The Southeast Air District was redesignated Third Air Force on 26 March 1941 with a mission for the defense of

1521-583: Was to support the EUCOM commander's strategic objectives across the full range of military operations. When a joint task force is created in EUCOM, the Third Air Force commander is ready to assume the roles of Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Commander Air Force Forces, or lead the JTF as a Joint Force Commander. Upon the inactivation of the Seventeenth Air Force in 2012, Third Air Force became

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