Seventeenth Air Force
Encyclopedia
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
during its years of active service (1953–1996). As of 1 October 2008, it is the Air Force component of United States Africa Command
United States Africa Command
The United States Africa Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations – an area of responsibility covering all...
, 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).
History
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
Wheelus Air Base
-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, 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
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
.
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
Ground Launched Cruise Missile
The Ground Launched Cruise Missile, or GLCM, was a ground-launched cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War.-Overview:...
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
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
Under AFRICOM
It was announced on 12 September 2008 that a newly-activated Seventeenth Air Force will be headquartered at Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, located west of Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
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
449th Air Expeditionary Group
The 449th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the 17th Air Force supporting United States Africa Command. It was last known to be stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti....
, 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
404th Air Expeditionary Group
The 404th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. It is attached to Seventeenth Air Force [Air Forces Africa], stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
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.
Stations
- Rabat-SaleRabatRabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, French MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
(later, Morocco), 17 April 1953 - Wheelus Air BaseWheelus Air Base-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, Libya, 1 August 1956 - Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, 15 November 1959 - Sembach Air Base, West Germany (later Germany), October 1972 – 30 September 1996
- Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany, 1 October 2008 – present
Components
Divisions- 65th Air Division, Lindsey ASWiesbaden Army AirfieldWiesbaden Army Airfield or WAAF is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany. It was selected as the site for Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe on 28 September 1945, in large part due to its proximity to Frankfurt am Main, where the U.S. Seventh Army was...
, West Germany (later Germany)GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- 1 June 1985 – 30 June 1991
- 316th Air Division316th Air DivisionThe 316th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, assigned to Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, Ramstein AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 316th Air Division
- 14 June 1985 – 1 May 1991
- 7217th Air Division7217th Air DivisionThe 7217th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at Ankara Air Station, Turkey...
, Ankara AS, Turkey
- 7217th Air Division
- 7 August – 15 November 1959
Wings
- 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing26th Tactical Reconnaissance WingThe 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at Zweibrücken Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 31 July 1991.-History:...
,
- 1 October 1966 – 31 January 1973, Ramstein AB, West Germany
- 31 January 1973 – 31 July 1991, Zweibrücken AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands
- 15 November 1959 – 1 September 1966
- 30 June 1991 – 31 March 1992
- 36th Tactical Fighter Wing36th WingThe United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of United States Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force...
, Bitburg AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 36th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 15 November 1959 – 1 September 1966
- 30 June 1991 – 1 October 1991
- 38th Tactical Missile Wing38th Combat Support WingThe 38th Combat Support Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force , being inactivated on 1 May 2007 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
- 38th Tactical Missile Wing
- 15 November 1959 – 25 September 1966 Sembach Air Base, West Germany
- 1 April 1985 – 22 August 1990 Wueschheim AS, West Germany
- 50th Tactical Fighter Wing50th Space WingThe 50th Space Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force under the major command of Air Force Space Command . It was activated on 30 January 1992, replacing the 2d Space Wing, which was deactivated on the same date.-Overview:...
, Hahn AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 50th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 15 November 1959 – 30 September 1991
- 52d Tactical Fighter Wing52d Fighter WingThe 52d Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.-Mission:The 52 FW maintains, deploys and employs F-16CJ and A/OA-10 aircraft and TPS-75 radar systems in support of NATO and the national defense directives...
, Spangdahlem AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 52d Tactical Fighter Wing
- 31 December 1971 – 1 June 1985
- 30 June 1991 – 31 July 1996
- 66th Electronic Combat Wing66th Air Base WingThe 66th Air Base Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Electronic Systems Center, stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
, Sembach AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 66th Electronic Combat Wing
- 15 November 1959 – 1 September 1966
- 30 June 1991 – 31 March 1992
- 86th Tactical Fighter Wing86th Airlift WingThe 86th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force wing, currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 86th AW is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-Mission:...
, Ramstein AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 86th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 15 November 1959 – 1 July 1963
- 1 September 1963 – 20 May 1965
- 5 October – 14 November 1968
- 1 November 1969 – 14 June 1985
- 1 May 1991 – 31 July 1996
- 377th Combat Support Wing377th Air Base WingThe 377th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.-Mission:Provide world-class nuclear surety, expeditionary forces, and support to base operations.-Units:...
, Ramstein AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 377th Combat Support Wing
- 1985 – 1 October 1991
- 486th Tactical Missile Wing486th Air Expeditionary WingThe 486th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time....
, Woensdrecht AS, Netherlands
- 486th Tactical Missile Wing
- August 1987 (Activated, never equipped. Inactivated almost immediately)
- 601st Tactical Control Wing601st Tactical Control WingThe 601st Tactical Control Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Seventeenth Air Force, being stationed at Sembach Air Base, West Germany...
, Sembach AB, West Germany (later Germany)
- 601st Tactical Control Wing
- 1 July 1968 – 1 October 1993
- 7100th Combat Support Wing, Lindsey ASWiesbaden Army AirfieldWiesbaden Army Airfield or WAAF is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany. It was selected as the site for Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe on 28 September 1945, in large part due to its proximity to Frankfurt am Main, where the U.S. Seventh Army was...
, West Germany (later Germany)
- 7100th Combat Support Wing, Lindsey AS
- 15 November 1959 – 15 April 1985