Seventh Air Force
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 7th Air Force, Air Forces Korea | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the Seventh Air Force |
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| Active | November 1940-June 1975 September 1986-Current |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Field Air Force |
| Role | Ground Attack and Air Superiority |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea |
| Engagements | World War II Vietnam War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant General Stephen G. Wood |
| Notable commanders |
Lucius D. Clay, Jr. William W. Momyer George S. Brown |
The Seventh Air Force (7 AF) is a United States Air Force Numbered Air Force (NAF) under Pacific Air Forces. 7 AF, as Air Forces Korea, is also the air component of United States Forces Korea and also supports U.S. Pacific Command, United Nations Command, and Combined Forces Command. 7 AF's headquarters is located at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
The commander, Seventh Air Force, is dual-hatted as commander of the combined Air Component Command (ACC), part of the US-Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command (CFC). As part of the U.S. Air Force's plan to establish Warfighting Headquarters (WFHQs), 7 AF will evolve into a Warfighting Headquarters for United States Forces Korea.
The current commander is US Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Wood.
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[edit] Mission
The mission of 7th Air Force is to deter, protect and defend the Republic of Korea from attack from North Korea. The command is to plan, direct, and conduct combined air operations in the Republic of Korea and in the Northwest Pacific in support of PACAF, US Pacific Command, United Nations Command, US-ROK Combined Forces Command, and US Forces Korea.
7th Air Force provides "ready to fight tonight" air power - precise, intense, and overwhelming; whenever and wherever needed.
[edit] Units
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Major units of Seventh Air Force are:
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Non-Flying Units (Osan Air Base)
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[edit] Lineage
- Hawaiian Air Force, November 1, 1940
- 7th Air Force, February 5, 1942
- Seventh Air Force, September 18, 1942
- Pacific Air Command, December 15, 1947
- Seventh Air Force, January 5, 1955
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Initially, Seventh Air Force activated on 1 November 1940 as the Hawaiian Air Force. The command was twice renamed before settling as Seventh Air Force on 18 September 1942. It is the oldest Numbered Air Force in the United States Air Force.
Seventh Air Force became part of U.S. Army Forces, Central Pacific Area, about August 16, 1943, and assigned to Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, on August 1, 1944.
The fledgling Seventh Air Force's involvement in World War II was best summed up by its air and ground views as "Just one damned island after another!" Seventh Air Force fought the Imperial Japanese Army might from Hawaii 2,000 miles southwest to the Gilbert Islands, then 600 miles northwest to the Marshall Islands, 900 miles west to the Caroline Islands, 600 miles northwest to the Mariana Islands, 600 miles north to Iwo Jima, 1,000 miles west to Okinawa, always edging closer towards the center of Japanese power. A map story of the Seventh Air Force would cover 3,000 miles north and south of Midway Atoll to Fiji, and 5,000 miles east and west from Pearl Harbor to the Ryukus.
The saga of the Seventh Air Force's aerial exploits across the Central Pacific has the "rags-to-riches" qualities of a Horatio Alger story. First the almost complete decimation of the Hawaiian Air Force (predecessor of the Seventh Air Force) at Pearl Harbor, then its gradual build-up and vast oceanic search missions to keep the enemy at bay. Later, long-range heavy bomber attacks softened up strategic islands for amphibious invasions, with greater weight brought against the enemy perimeter defense by the advance of fighter and medium bombers. Finally, after constant consolidation of gains, Seventh Air Force smashed at Japan directly from both Iwo Jima, as escort to the long-range strategic B-29s, and from Okinawa with the Far East Air Forces in the rocky Ryukus, right up to the surrender of Japan.
The Seventh was the first air force to feel the enemy's weight and the first to take toll of the enemy. It flew longer to battle, used wider range of aircraft, and covered more territory than any land-based Air Force. It fought and bombed by day and night, flew distant reconnaissance missions, dropped every type of bomb and incendiary, sunk enemy shipping, mined enemy waters, and performed countless routine and special jobs. Its personnel served on isolated coral atolls, received scant recognition, and endured months of dreary monotony. By necessity, Seventh Air Force was a precision-bombing unit. Its commander, Major General Willis Hale, summed up 7 AF's contribution by saying: "The target had to be directly hit. The difference of 40 feet one way or the other meant that bombs would either land on the lagoon on one side of the island or the ocean on the other. And we didn't fly 2,000 miles to kill fish."
The command was moved to Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, and assigned to United States Far East Air Force, effective July 14, 1945, then moved without personnel or equipment to Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii, on January 1, 1946. Following World War II it was redesignated Pacific Air Command (PACOM) December 15, 1947. It was inactivated on June 1, 1949.
[edit] Cold War
Seventh Air Force regained its name and enjoyed a brief rebirth in the second half of the 1950s. Resurrected as an administrative headquarters on January 5, 1955 at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. It was assigned to Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]) and transferred to Wheeler AFB, Territory of Hawaii, in March 1955.
Seventh Air Force oversaw Pacific Air Force's area of responsibility east of 140 degrees east longitude, including the Hawaiian Islands. Seventh was also responsible for the air defense of the islands. However, the movement of United States Far East Air Force (renamed Pacific Air Forces) from Japan to Hawaii led to the inactivation of Seventh Air Force on 1 July 1957.
[edit] Vietnam War
HQ USAF revived the Seventh Air Force to serve Pacific Air Forces during the Vietnam War when the growth of forces required a replacement for the 2d Air Division. In this capacity Seventh Air Force was the Air Component Command of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).
Upon reactivation on 28 March 1966, Seventh Air Force was designated a combat command at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. From April 1966 until 1973, the command assumed responsibility for most Air Force operations in Vietnam and shared responsibility with the Thirteenth Air Force for operations conducted from Thailand as 7/13 Air Force.
In June 1966, the first US air attacks near Hanoi and Haiphong occurred when Seventh Air Force planes bombed oil installations near these two cities. The following month, US aircraft struck North Vietnamese forces inside the Vietnamese Demilitarized zone (DMZ) following the North's violations of agreements not to put military forces there.
One of the most publicized battles of the war was the siege of Khe Sanh in early 1968, known as "Operation Niagara." More than 24,000 tactical and 2700 B-52 strike dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. At night, AC-47 gunships kept up a constant chatter of fire against enemy troops. In August 1968, General George S. Brown began to oversee the "Vietnamization" of the air war. By 1970, this effort was successful enough that General Brown released the first USAF units to leave Vietnam.
On 29 March 1973, the command transferred to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it accepted dual responsibility as the US Support Activities Group and Seventh Air Force. As a result, Seventh Air Force controlled air assets and operations in Thailand.
It served this role until its deactivation on 30 June 1975.
[edit] Post Cold War
On September 8, 1986, Seventh Air Force was reactivated at Osan Air Base, South Korea to replace the 314th Air Division. Since then, Seventh Air Force, as the US Air Force component to the US and ROK Combined Forces Command's Air Component Command, has been an integral part of deterring aggression from North Korea against the ROK.
Headquarters Seventh Air Force consists of approximately 10,000 Air Force personnel located primarily at Osan AB, Kunsan AB, and five other collocated operating bases throughout the Republic of Korea. Air Force personnel fly and maintain the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A/OA-10 Thunderbolt combat aircraft, and perform a myriad of intelligence, logistics, planning, communications, and liaison duties.
Although primarily a combat ready command, Seventh Air Force also provides assistance to non-combatants and civilians with the region. Rescue at sea, typhoon evacuations, and medical assistance to the needy are but a few of the instances in which the men and women of the Seventh Air Force have extended an open hand.
[edit] Seventh Air Force Units During World War II
| VII FIGHTER COMMAND | FIGHTER GROUPS | BOMB GROUPS | MISCELLANEOUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 548 NFS (P-61) | 15 FG | 11 BG (B-24) | 28 PRS (F-5B) |
| 549 NFS (P-61) | 21 FG | 30 BG (B-24) | 9 TCS (C-47/C-46) |
| 318 FG | 41 BG (B-25) | 163 LS (L-5) | |
| 413 FG | 319 BG (A-26) | 41 PRS (F-5) | |
| 414 FG | 494 BG (B-24) | ||
| 506 FG | |||
| 507 FG | |||
| 508 FG |
[edit] Commands during World War II
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[edit] See also
- United States Pacific Air Forces
- United States Forces Korea (USFK)
- Military of South Korea (ROK Armed Forces)
- United States Air Force In South Vietnam
- United States Air Force In Thailand
[edit] References
This article includes content from Seventh Air Force Website history page.
[edit] External links
Maps
- Historical Records of US Air Force Combat Activities 1965 - 1975, Indochina (Google Earth format)
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