| Seventeenth Air Force (Air Forces Africa) | |
|---|---|
Seventeenth Air Force emblem United States Air Forces Africa shield |
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| Active | 17 April 1953 – 30 September 1996 Reactivated: 1 October 2008 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe |
| Garrison/HQ | Rabat-Sale, Morocco (1953–1956) Wheelus Air Base Libya (1956–1959) Ramstein Air Base West Germany (1959–1973) Sembach Air Base Germany (1973–1996) Ramstein Air Base Germany (2008–present) |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General Margaret H. Woodward |
Seventeenth Air Force (Air Forces Africa) (17 AF – AFAFRICA) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service (1953–1996). As of 1 October 2008, it is the Air Force component of United States Africa Command,[1] serves as the air and space component to U.S. Africa Command located at Stuttgart, Germany. In this capacity, Seventeenth Air Force is referred to as U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA).
Seventeenth Air Force houses the traditional A-staff and special staff functions which are responsible for developing strategy and plans to execute air and space operations in support of U.S. Africa Command objectives. In addition, 17th AF houses the "tailored" 617th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) which provides command and control capabilities for the planning and execution of aerial missions on the continent. Seventeenth Air Force also has a collaborative relationship with the 110th Air Operations Group, Michigan Air National Guard.
AFAFRICA conducts sustained security engagement and operations as directed to promote air safety, security and development on the African continent. Through its Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) events, AFAFRICA carries out U.S. Africa Command's policy of seeking long-term partnership with the African Union and regional organizations as well as individual nations on the continent. AFAFRICA works with other U.S. Government agencies, to include the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to assist our African partners in developing national and regional security institution capabilities that promote security and stability and facilitate development. Through this interagency synergy, AFAFRICA is able to strengthen existing relationships and expand our network of partners on the continent. As of 13 January 2010, the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley announced that the 617th AOC will be consolidated with the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center (according to AFA reporting).
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The establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, increased USAFE's responsibilities. Seventeenth Air Force was thus established on 17 April 1953 and then activated on 25 April 1953 at Rabat, Morocco. Seventeenth Air Force operated throughout North Africa, Portugal, Austria, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, Ceylon and the Mediterranean islands. Seventeenth Air Force has been solely assigned to U.S. Air Forces, Europe, throughout its existence.
Seventeenth Air Force was moved to Wheelus Air Base, Libya, on 1 August 1956 as the command expanded into Italy, Greece and Turkey. The command exchanged its support mission for the defensive and offensive air missions in Central Europe in 1959.
The headquarters was then relocated in November 1959 to Ramstein AB, West Germany. At Ramstein, Seventeenth Air Force exchanged its support mission in the southern region for the defensive and offensive air mission in central Europe. The command's inventory included more than 500 tactical and 150 support aircraft operating from bases in West Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy. After the 1961 Berlin Crisis and a USAFE headquarters reorganization, 17 AF assumed responsibility for five bases in Great Britain from Third Air Force.
During the 1972 USAFE reorganization, CINCUSAFE moved his headquarters across Germany from Lindsey Air Station to Ramstein Air Base. To accommodate USAFE HQ, 17 AF relocated to Sembach Air Base, West Germany, in October 1972.
In the 1980s, 17th Air Force saw the number of its subordinate units almost double. Its area of responsibility included three of the Ground Launched Cruise Missile sites in Europe. In 1985, for the first time ever, 17th Air Force brought together all European-based electronic warfare aircraft under a single command when it activated the 65th Air Division and the 66th Electronic Wing at Sembach. All of these units were deactivated in the early 1990s.
Seventeenth Air Force was inactivated effective 30 September 1996, due to reorganization and realignment in the wake of the end of the Cold War.
It was announced on 12 September 2008[2] that a newly-activated Seventeenth Air Force will be headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, located west of Kaiserslautern in the German federal state of Rheinland-Palatinate as part of the creation of the United States Africa Command. The stand-up ceremony occurred on 18 September 2008, under the command of Major General Ron Ladnier.
It was officially reactivated by the Air Force on 1 October 2008. In this capacity, it is currently subordinate to the United States Air Forces in Europe, and be referred to by its componency name: Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA).
Its current structure includes at least two air expeditionary groups. The 449th Air Expeditionary Group, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti provides combat search and rescue for the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa. It consists of HC-130Ps from the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, and pararescuemen from the 82d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. The 404th Air Expeditionary Group is co-located with AFAFRICA at Ramstein. During contingency operations, the group forward-deploys to facilitate air and support operations for varied missions on the continent, ranging from humanitarian airlift to presidential support. The 404 AEG deployed to Rwanda in January 2009 to provide airlift for peacekeeping equipment in support of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur. In July 2009, the 404 AEG deployed to Ghana to provide aerial port and aircraft maintenance teams, along with forward communications, early warning and air domain safety and security elements for U.S. President Barack Obama's visit.
Divisions
Wings
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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