Twenty-First Air Force

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Twenty-First Expeditionary Task Force
Active	12 June 1942–
Country	United States
Branch	Air Force
Part of	Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	McGuire Air Force Base
Equipment	see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
Commanders
Current command chief	Chief Master Sergeant Dale B. Barton)

The Twenty-First Air Force (21 AF) was a Numbered Air Force in United States Air Force. In its most recent form, it was Air Mobility Command's intermediate echelon for units in the eastern United States, Atlantic, European, and Middle East theaters. On 1 October 2003, the Twenty-First Air Force was redesignated 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (21 EMTF), a new organization below a Numbered Air Force. The 21 EMTF is one of two expeditionary mobility task forces that report to Eighteenth Air Force.

1 History
2 Mission
3 Operations
4 Lineage and honors
5 Emblem
6 Assignments
7 Components
- 7.1 Historic
- 7.2 Current
8 Stations
9 Aerospace vehicles
10 Commanders
11 See also
12 References
13 External links

[edit] History

Created as a wing of the United States Army Air Force during World War II, it gradually evolved into its modern designation of Twenty-First Air Force. Initially, it ferried aircraft, but by 1942, its mission had changed to what it is today, airlifting personnel and cargo.

[edit] Mission

From the 21 EMTF fact page:

“ The 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (EMTF) provides a rapid, tailored, world-wide, air mobility response to combatant commander's needs. Reporting through Eighteenth Air Force, the EMTF will extend existing Air Mobility Command infrastructure, through both en-route employment and rapid forward deployment capabilities. The goal is to provide warfighting unified commanders an improved force presentation that meets our nation's global air mobility requirements. The 21 EMTF presents mission-ready command and control (C2), aerial port, aircraft maintenance and support personnel, as well as airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and airfield opening planning and execution expertise, to project and sustain combat forces worldwide.
The EMTF will always be out there, in peace or war, making mobility happen for our nation's needs. With the emphasis on warfighting, this light, lean and agile deployable force, when coupled with the already forward deployed, enroute fixed force, will facilitate mobility in the expeditionary manner today's military requirements dictate. In one outreach role, Contingency Response Wing personnel will perform initial base assessment through full operational capability, anywhere across the globe. Their expertise will include taking an austere airfield and preparing it to become a fully functioning port for joint warfighting requirements. In addition, EMTF personnel will act as the deployable air mobility division during contingency/exercise/wargame operations and serve as the coordinating authority between the theater command and control nodes, the Tanker Airlift Control Center as the AMC Air Operations Center for the 18th Air Force, and the Department of Defense's Joint Movement Center. In short, the Expeditionary Mobility Task Force will be able to go anywhere to meet the air mobility requirements of the future.”

[edit] Operations

The 21 AF and units under its command have proudly provided airlift in support of national policy and has participated in U.S. combat operations, under the most dangerous and trying situations. However, the 21 AF has been much more active providing humanitarian aid and missions of mercy.

Military operations include Operation Just Cause, seeing the Twenty-first in the largest night airdrop since World War II. Operation Desert Shield saw the Twenty-first leading to the largest airlift in history. United Nations Protection Force involvements, support of Operation Deny Flight, and Operation Deliberate Force had the Twenty-first as the main supply force. The Twenty-first is also instrumental to the continuing operations in Southwest Asia.

Humanitarian missions include relief missions after Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Andrew, after the earthquakes in Armenia and San Francisco, and many other natural disasters. Additionally, Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Provide Hope, and Operation Restore Hope allowed the Twenty-first to shine as it provided massive airlifts of food and supplies to these areas.

[edit] Lineage and honors

Established as 23d Army Air Forces (AAF) Ferrying Wing on 12 June 1942. Activated on 18 June 1942. Redesignated North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, on 5 July 1942; North Atlantic Division, Air Transport Command, on 27 June 1944; Atlantic Division, Air Transport Command, on 20 September 1945; Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), on 1 June 1948; Eastern Transport Air Force on 1 July 1958; Twenty-First Air Force, on 3 January 1966; and 21 Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, on 1 October 2003.

[edit] Emblem

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[edit] Assignments

Assigned to AAF Ferrying Command (later, Air Transport Command), on 18 June 1942. Assigned to Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), on 15 October 1947. Relieved from assignment to Military Airlift Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command, on 1 June 1992.

[edit] Components

[edit] Historic

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Current

[edit] Stations

Activated at Presque Isle, Maine, on 18 June 1942. Moved to Fort Totten, New York, on 20 September 1945. Moved to Westover Field (later, Air Force Base), Massachusetts, in October 1947. Moved to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, effective 1 June 1955.

[edit] Aerospace vehicles

C-5 Galaxy; C-17 Globemaster III; C-130 Hercules; C-141 Starlifter; KC-10 Extender; KC-135 Stratotanker.

[edit] Commanders

Brigadier General Kurt A. Cichowski, by 1 March 2004; Colonel Brooks Bash, by 14 April 2005;

[edit] See also

United States Air Force Portal

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website which, as a United States government publication, is in the public domain.