Seventh Air Force

[[File:51stoperationsgroup-1.jpg|thumb|Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 51st Fighter Wing fly over the Republic of Korea]] [[File:8thoperationsgroup-f-16-1.jpg|thumb|F-16s of the 8th Fighter Wing]] The '''Seventh Air Force (7 AF)''' is a [[numbered air force]] of the United States Air Force [[Pacific Air Forces]] (PACAF). It is headquartered at [[Osan Air Base]], [[Republic of Korea]]. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in the Republic of Korea and in the [[Pacific Ocean|Northwest Pacific]]. Established on 19 October 1940 as the '''Hawaiian Air Force''' at [[Fort Shafter]], Territory of Hawaii, the 7 AF was a [[United States Army Air Forces]] combat air force in the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]] of World War II, providing air defense of the [[Hawaiian Islands]] and engaging in combat operations primarily in the Central Pacific AOR. It was assigned units engaging enemy forces in the [[Gilbert Islands]]; [[Marshall Islands]]; [[Caroline Islands]]; [[Mariana Islands]], and in the last major battle of the [[Pacific War]], the [[Battle of Okinawa]]. Returning to its defense role in Hawaii after the war, 7 AF became the primary USAF command and control organization in [[South Vietnam]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. 7 AF is commanded by [http://www.7af.pacaf.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=11839 Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Remington]. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is [http://www.7af.pacaf.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=13021 Chief Master Sergeant Stephen R. Ludwig]. ==Overview== On 8 September 1986, Seventh Air Force was activated at [[Osan Air Base]], [[Republic of Korea]], and assumed the mission of maintaining the fragile armistice on the Korean peninsula previously performed by the [[314th Air Division]]. Since then, both as U.S. Air Forces Korea, under the joint U.S. Forces Korea, and the U.S. Air Force component to the United States and Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command's Air Component Command, 7 AF has been an integral part of deterring aggression from North Korea. It develops the total air campaign and reinforcement plans for ROK defense and sustains mission readiness of 117 operational units and 8,300 U.S. Air Force personnel. It operates in conjunction with [[United States Pacific Command]] (USPACOM), [[United Nations Command (Korea)]], U.S. Forces, Korea/Combined Forces Command and [[United States Forces Korea]] (USFK). == Units == Major units of Seventh Air Force are: * [[51st Fighter Wing]], [[Osan Air Base]], South Korea
([[F-16]] and [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10]] squadrons) * [[8th Fighter Wing]], [[Kunsan Air Base]], South Korea
([[F-16]]C/D) Non-Flying Units (Osan Air Base) * 607th Air and Space Operations Center * 607th Air Support Group * 607th Air Support Operations Group * 607th Support Group === Lineage=== * Established as '''Hawaiian Air Force''' on 19 October 1940 : Activated on 1 November 1940 : Redesignated: '''7 Air Force''' on 5 February 1942 : Redesignated: '''Seventh Air Force''' on 18 September 1942 : Redesignated: '''Pacific Air Command''' on 15 December 1947 :: Upgraded to Major Command 15 December 1947 : Discontinued on 1 June 1949 * Redesignated '''Seventh Air Force''' on 10 December 1954 : Activated on 5 January 1955 : Inactivated on 1 July 1957 * Activated on 28 March 1966 : Organized on 1 April 1966 : Inactivated on 30 June 1975 * Activated on 8 September 1986 ===Assignments=== * Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, 1 November 1940 * U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area, c. 16 August 1943 * Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, 1 August 1944 * Far East Air Forces (later, Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army), 14 July 1945 * [[Army Air Forces]] (later, [[United States Air Force]]), 1 January 1947 – 1 June 1949 * [[PACAF|Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/Far East Air Forces [Rear])]], 5 January 1955 – 1 July 1957 * [[Pacific Air Forces]], 28 March 1966 – 30 June 1975 * Pacific Air Forces, 8 September 1986—present ===Stations=== * Fort Shafter, Hawaii, 1 November 1940 * [[Hickam AFB|Hickam Field (later, Hickam AFB)]], Hawaii, c. 12 July 1941 * [[East Field (Saipan)|East Field]], [[Saipan]], [[Mariana Islands]], 19 December 1944 * [[Yontan Airfield]], [[Okinawa]], 12 July 1945 * Hickam Field, Hawaii, 1 January 1946 – 1 June 1949 * Hickam AFB, Hawaii, 5 January 1955 * [[Wheeler AFB]], Hawaii, 24 March 1955 – 1 July 1957 * [[Tan Son Nhut Air Base]], [[South Vietnam]], 1 April 1966 * [[Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base]], Thailand, 29 March 1973 – 30 June 1975 * [[Osan Air Base|Osan AB]], Republic of Korea, 8 September 1986 ===Components=== '''Commands''' * 7th Air Force Base (later, VII Air Force Base; VII Air Force Service): 19 February 1942 – 15 August 1944 * VII Air Service Area: 3 August 1944 – 12 August 1945 * 7th Bomber (later, VII Bomber): 29 January 1942 – 1 January 1946 * 7th Interceptor (later, 7th Fighter; VII Fighter): 2 February 1942 – 1 March 1945; 14–16 July 1945 '''Divisions''' * [[7th Air Division|7th Air (formerly, 7th Fighter Wing)]]: 1 January 1946 – 3 September 1948 * [[834th Air Division|834th Air]]: 15 October 1966 – 1 December 1971. ===Origins=== [[Image:7th USAAF.svg|left|100px]] 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 16 August 1943, and assigned to Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, on 1 August 1944. === Order of Battle, 6 December 1941 === The mission of the '''Hawaiian Air Force''' on 6 December 1941 was air defense of the Hawaiian Islands. Its order of battle was as follows: {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [[14th Air Division (United States)|14th Pursuit Wing]], [[Wheeler Army Airfield|Wheeler Fld]], [[Hawaii|Territory of Hawaii]] : [[15th Airlift Wing|15th Pursuit Group]] (Fighter), Wheeler Fld :: 45th Pursuit Sqd (Fighter) ([[P-36 Hawk|P-36A]]) :: 46th Pursuit Sqd (Fighter) (P-36A, [[Curtiss P-40|P-40B]]) :: 47th Pursuit Sqd (Fighter) (P-40B, P-36A) :: 72d Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor) (none) : [[18th Wing|18th Pursuit Group]] (Interceptor), Wheeler Fld :: 6th Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor) (P-40B) :: 19th Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor) (P-40B, P-40C) :: 44th Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor), Bellows Fld (P-40B, P-40C) :: 73d Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor) (P-40B) :: 78th Pursuit Sqd (Interceptor) (P-40B) {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10071 18th Bombardment Wing], [[Hickam AFB|Hickam Fld]], Territory of Hawaii : [[5th Bomb Wing|5th Bombardment Group]] (Heavy), Hickam Fld :: 4th Reconnaissance Sqd (Heavy) ([[B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]], [[B-18 Bolo|B-18]]) :: 23d Bombardment Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18) :: 31st Bombardment Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18) :: 72d Bombardment Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18)) : [[11th Wing|11th Bombardment Group]] (Heavy), Hickam Fld :: 26th Bombardment Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18) :: 42d Bombardment Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18) :: 50th Reconnaissance Sqd (Heavy) (B-17, B-18) {{Col-end}} The B-17 squadrons were equipped with a mixture of B-17B, B-17C and B-17D models. Additional units assigned to Hawaiian Air Force on 6 December 1941 were: * [[19th Airlift Squadron|19th Transport Sqd]], Hickam Fld (C-33) * [[531st Fighter Squadron|58th Bombardment Sqd (Light)]], Hickam Fld (A-20) * [[43d Electronic Combat Squadron|86th Observation Sqd]], [[Bellows Air Force Station|Bellows Fld]] (B-12, O-47, O-49) In addition to the above units, during the night of 6–7 December 1941, another squadron, the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron of the [[41st Bombardment Group]], [[Davis-Monthan AFB|Davis-Monthan Field]], Arizona, were en route to Hawaii with a mixture of B-17C/Ds to reinforce the 18th Bombardment Wing. Also, B-17Cs of the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron, [[7th Bomb Wing|7th Bombardment Group]], were also en route to Hawaii from [[Hamilton AFB|Hamilton Field]], California, with a final destination of [[Clark AB|Clark Field]], [[Luzon]], Philippines. These units were deploying due to the heightened tensions between the United States and the [[Empire of Japan]]. They arrived in Hawaii at the height of the attack on 7 December (radar operators mistakenly thought that the Japanese attack force was this flight arriving from California). Some of the planes managed to land at a short fighter strip at [[Haleiwa]], one set down on a golf course, and the remainder landed at Hickam under the strafing of Japanese planes. === World War II === The [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] or Hawaii Operation as it was called by the Japanese [[Imperial General Headquarters]] devastated Seventh Air Force. The command suffered 188 aircraft destroyed, 155 aircraft damaged, and hundreds of airmen killed or injured. ==== Hawaiian Airfields ==== In Hawaii the Seventh Air Force used the following military airfields. Some were operated solely by the AAF, others were jointly used with the [[United States Navy]]. Wartime images of these airfields are linked to their names as most of them were minimal facility landing fields. {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [[Bellows AFB|Bellows AAF]], Oahu * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%201/Haleiwa%20Field%20-%20HA%20c1943.jpg Haleiwa Field AAF], Oahu * [[Hickam Air Force Base|Hickam AAF]], Oahu * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%2013/Hilo%20NAS%20-%20HA%201945%20C.jpg Hilo AAF/NAS], Hawaii * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%2013/Homestead%20Molokai%20HA%201941%20C.jpg Homestead Field AAF/Molokai NAF], Molokai * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%208/Kahuku%20AAF%20-%20Oahu%20HA%201942%20C.jpg Kahaku AAF], Oahu * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%2013/Kipipa%20Field%20HA%201947%20C.jpg Kipapa Field AAF], Oahu * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%208/Kualoa%20Field%20AAF%20-%20Oahu%20HA%201943%20C.jpg Kualoa Field AAF], Oahu {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%208/Barking%20Sands%20NAAF%20-%20Kauai%20HA%20GEC.JPG Mana AAF / Barking Sands NAAF], Kauai * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%208/Mokuleia%20AAF%20-%20Oahu%20HA%201947%201C.jpg Mokuleia AAF], Oahu : Later became Dillingham AFB * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%2013/Suiter%20Field%20-%20HA%201941%20C.JPG Suiter Field], Hawaii : Joint USAAF/Navy * [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2%20bases%208/Waieli%20Gultch%20Field%20AAF%20and%20Wheeler%20AAF%20-%20Oahu%20HA%201948%20C.jpg Waieli Strip AAF (Aux)], Oahu * [[Wheeler Army Airfield|Wheeler AAF]], Oahu {{Col-end}} ==== Operational Units ==== Re-equipping of the command after the Japanese attack on Oahu took a significant length of time. The re-equipped Seventh Air Force consisted of the following units: {| class="wikitable" |- ! VII FIGHTER COMMAND ! FIGHTER GROUPS ! BOMB GROUPS ! MISCELLANEOUS |- | 548th Night Fighter Squadron ([[P-61]]) | 15th Fighter Group | 5th Bombardment Group ([[B-17]]/[[B-24]]) | 28th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron ([[P-38|F-5B]]) |-{{ligne grise}} | 549th Night Fighter Squadron ([[P-61]]) | 18th Fighter Group | 11th Bombardment Group ([[B-24]]) | 9th Troop Carrier Squadron([[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]]/[[C-46]]) |- | | 21st Fighter Group | 30th Bombardment Group ([[B-24]]) | 163d Liaison Squadron ([[L-5 Sentinel|L-5]]) |-{{ligne grise}} | | 318th Fighter Group | 41st Bombardment Group ([[B-25]]) | 41st Photo Reconnaissance Squadron ([[P-38|F-5]]) |- | | 508th Fighter Group | 307th Bombardment Group ([[B-17]]/[[B-24]]) | |-{{ligne grise}} | | | 319th Bombardment Group ([[A-26 Invader|A-26]]) | |- |} Seventh Air Force retained the mission of its predecessor of the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and until the closing months of the war it maintained its headquarters at Hickam Field. The command however, deployed most of its combat units to the Central Pacific where operations were best summed up by its air and ground views as "Just one damned island after another!" Seventh Air Force units deployed 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 combat record of its major units is as follows: * The '''[[15th Airlift Wing|15th Fighter Group]]''' was re-equipped after the Pearl Harbor attack and remained in Hawaii as part of the Hawaiian Defense Force, although rotated squadrons to the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Central Pacific]] attached to [[Thirteenth Air Force]] groups. In April 1944, received [[P-51 Mustang]] fighters and trained for long-range bomber escort missions. The group deployed to [[Iwo Jima]] in February 1945. Was reassigned to [[Twentieth Air Force]] for the remainder of the war, returning to Hawaii and Seventh Air Force in November 1945. * The '''[[18th Wing|18th Fighter Wing]]''' was re-equipped after the Pearl Harbor attack then was deployed to the Central Pacific and reassigned to Thirteenth Air Force and began operations from [[Guadalcanal]]. Moving across the Pacific, at the end of the war, the group moved to Clark Field on [[Luzon]] and became a permanent part of [[PACAF|Far East Air Forces]] after the war. * The '''[[21st Space Wing|21st Fighter Group]]''' was created in Hawaii in March 1944 and initially was part of the Hawaiian Defense Force flying [[P-39 Airacobra]]s. Re-equipped with [[P-51 Mustang]]s in January 1945 and trained for long-range bomber escort missions. The group deployed to [[Iwo Jima]] in February 1945. Was reassigned to [[Twentieth Air Force]] for the remainder of the war, being inactivated on [[Guam]] in April 1946. * The '''[[318th Fighter Group]]''' was created in Hawaii in May 1942 as part of the Hawaiian Defense Force flying P-39s, P-40s and later [[P-47]]s. Deployed to the Central Pacific being attached to Thirteenth Air Force in June 1944. Reassigned to [[Eighth Air Force]] in July 1945 in preparation for the [[Operation Downfall|Invasion of Japan]]. Returned to the United States in January 1946 and was inactivated. * The '''[[508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing|508th Fighter Group]]''' was created on 12 October 1944 at [[Peterson Air Force Base|Peterson Field]], Colorado. The group trained with [[P-47 Thunderbolt]] aircraft to provide very-long-range escort for [[B-29 Superfortress]] bombardment units in the [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Southwest Pacific Theater]]. The lack of significant Japanese fighter defense by late 1944 caused a change of mission and the group was reassigned to Seventh Air Force in Hawaii in January 1945 and served as part of the Hawaiian Defense Force. In Hawaii, the group also trained replacement pilots for other organizations, repaired P-47's and P-51's received from combat units, and ferried aircraft to forward areas. The unit was inactivated in Hawaii on 25 November 1945 when it replaced by the 15th Fighter Group. * The '''[[5th Bomb Wing|5th Bombardment Group]]''' was re-equipped after the Pearl Harbor attack with a mixture of [[B-17 Flying Fortress]]es and [[B-24 Liberator]] bombers. The unit was engaged primarily in search and patrol missions off Hawaii from December 1941 to November 1942. In Hawaii, the group was used in the [[Battle of Midway]] to attack Japanese surface fleets. Deployed to [[Espírito Santo]] in the [[Solomon Islands]] and served in combat with Thirteenth Air Force during the Allied drive from the Solomons to the Philippines. Was assigned to the [[Philippines]] in 1945 till the end of the war. * The '''[[11th Wing|11th Bombardment Group]]''' was re-equipped after the Pearl Harbor attack with B-24 Liberators and initially flew patrol missions around Hawaii. It was deployed to the [[New Hebrides]] in July 1942 where it became part of Thirteenth Air Force and engaged in combat operations in the central Pacific. * The '''[[30th Bombardment Group]]''' was reassigned to Seventh Air Force in October 1943 from [[March AFB|March Field]], California where it flew west coast antisubmarine patrols for [[Fourth Air Force]]. It was deployed to the [[Ellice Islands]] in the central Pacific during November 1943 where its B-24s took part in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Remaining part of Seventh Air Force, the group moved westward across the Pacific, taking part in several campaigns until returning to [[Wheeler Army Airfield|Wheeler Field]], Hawaii in March 1945. From Wheeler, the group flew patrol missions until being inactivated in June 1946. * The '''[[41st Bombardment Group]]''' was formed at March Field, California in January 1941 and performed antisubmarine patrols along the west coast until deploying to Seventh Air Force in Hawaii during October 1943 for final overseas training. From Hawaii, the group deployed its [[B-25 Mitchell]] medium bombers to [[Tarawa]] in the central Pacific in December 1943. Remaining as part of 7AF, the group took part in combat operations across the western Pacific as well as attacking targets on [[Taiwan]] and mainland China as well as the Japanese home islands. It was inactivated at Clark Field, Philippines on 27 January 1946. * The '''[[307th Bombardment Wing|307th Bombardment Group]]''' was reassigned to Seventh Air Force in October 1942 from Fourth Air Force where it flew patrols off the west coast, first in B-17's and later in B-24's. In Hawaii, the group trained and flew patrol and search missions. Attacked [[Wake Island]] in December 1942 and January 1943, by staging through [[Midway Atoll|Midway Island]]. The group deployed to Guadalcanal in February 1943 and was assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. It served in combat, primarily in the Central and Southwest Pacific, until the war ended. * The '''[[319th Air Refueling Wing|319th Bombardment Group]]''' was assigned to Seventh Air Force late in the war, after spending three years in combat with the [[Twelfth Air Force|Twelfth]] and [[Fifteenth Air Force]]s in the [[North African Campaign]] and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations|Mediterranean Theater]]. It joined Seventh Air Force in [[Okinawa]] flying [[A-26 Invader]]s during April 1945 and flew combat missions over China and the Japanese home islands. It returned to the United States in December 1945 where it was inactivated at [[Fort Lewis]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]]. The Seventh Air Force along with Thirteenth Air Force in the Central Pacific and [[Fifth Air Force]] in Australia were assigned to the newly-created '''[[PACAF|United States Far East Air Forces]]''' (FEAF) on 3 August 1944. FEAF was subordinate to the U.S. Army Forces Far East and served as the headquarters of Allied Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area. By 1945, three numbered air forces—5th, 7th and 13th—were supporting operations in the Pacific. FEAF was the functional equivalent in the Pacific of the [[United States Strategic Air Forces]] (USSTAF) in the [[European Theater of Operations]]. From mid-1944 to July 1945 the Seventh Air Force attempted to prevent the [[Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands]] by attacking [[Iwo Jima]] and other Japanese-held islands and providing fighter protection for the Marianas. During the summer of 1945, the 15th Fighter Group (along with the 21st and 318th from the VII Fighter Command) were reassigned to the [[Twentieth Air Force]] and continued fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields and other targets, in addition to flying long-range B-29 escort missions to Japanese cities, until the end of the war. In addition, Seventh Air Force command echelon was moved to [[Okinawa]], [[Ryukyu Islands]], and assigned to [[United States Far East Air Force]], effective 14 July 1945. VII Fighter Command remained attached to 20th Air Force until the end of the war. === Pacific Air Command === On 1 January 1946, Seventh Air Force was reassigned without personnel or equipment to [[Hickam AFB|Hickam Field]], [[Hawaii|Territory of Hawaii]], where it resumed its prewar mission of defense of the Hawaiian Islands. On 15 December 1947, it was redesignated '''Pacific Air Command''' (PACOM) and elevated to major command status. PACOM's mission was to oversee air defense and other operations in the Pacific Ocean area, of the Pacific Region from the Hawaiian Islands west to include [[Wake Island|Wake]], Midway Atoll, the [[Mariana Islands|Mariana]], [[Caroline Islands|Caroline]], [[Solomon Islands|Solomon]] and Marshall Islands. Pacific Air Command was discontinued effective 1 June 1949 as a result of a budgetary actions. Its mission, functions, responsibilities and command jurisdiction of installations and facilities transferred to the [[Military Air Transport Service]]. === 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 5 January 1955 at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. It was assigned to Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/FEAF [Rear]) and transferred to Wheeler AFB, 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. === Vietnam War === Seventh Air Force was revived 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]], overseeing the operations of the ten primary USAF bases in the [[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 7AF planes bombed nearby oil installations. The following month, US aircraft struck North Vietnamese forces inside the Vietnamese [[Demilitarized zone]] (DMZ). 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]] strikes dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. At night, [[C-47 Skytrain|AC-47]] gunships kept up 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, 7AF controlled air assets and operations in Thailand. On 30 June 1975, it was deactivated. === Post Cold War === [[Image:7thafbases.jpg|right|7th Air Force Bases]] On 11 September 1986, Seventh Air Force was reactivated at Osan Air Base, South Korea to replace the 314th Air Division. Since then, 7AF, 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-10 Thunderbolt II|A/OA-10 Thunderbolt]] combat aircraft, and perform a myriad of intelligence, logistics, planning, communications, and liaison duties. Although primarily a combat ready command, 7AF also provides assistance to non-combatants and civilians with the region. Rescue at sea, typhoon evacuations, and medical assistance are typical missions. == 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]] (Vietnam War) * [[United States Air Force In Thailand]] (Vietnam War) * [[United States Air Force In South Korea]] (Korean War) ==External links== * [http://www.osan.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6855 Seventh Air Force Factsheet] * [http://www.7af.pacaf.af.mil Seventh Air Force Homepage] * [http://www.usfk.mil/ United States Forces Korea Web Site] '''Maps''' * [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=615739 Historical Records of US Air Force Combat Activities 1965 – 1975, Indochina] (Google Earth format) {{US Air Force navbox}} {{USAF Pacific Air Forces}} {{Template group |list = {{USAF Vietnam War}} {{USAAF 7th Air Force World War II}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2011}} {{Coord missing}}