Twelfth Air Force
Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) | |
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Active | 29 February 2008 – present (as Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)) 21 January 1951 – 29 February 2008 17 May 1946 – 1 July 1950 20 August 1942 – 31 August 1945 (as Twelfth Air Force) (81 years, 10 months)[1] |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Type | Numbered Air Force |
Role | Air componenttoU.S. Southern Command[2] |
Part of | ![]() ![]() |
Headquarters | Davis–Monthan Air Force Base,Arizona, U.S. |
Patron | Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Engagements | |
Decorations | Meritorious Unit Commendation ![]() Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Maj GenEvan L. Pettus |
Notable commanders | James Doolittle John K. Cannon Tony McPeak |
TheTwelfth Air Force(12 AF;Air Forces Southern,(AFSOUTH)) is aNumbered Air Forceof theUnited States Air ForceAir Combat Command(ACC). It is headquartered atDavis–Monthan Air Force Base,Arizona.
The command is the air component toUnited States Southern Command(USSOUTHCOM) conducting security cooperation and providing air, space, and cyberspace capabilities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Established on 20 August 1942 atBolling Field,District of Columbia,12th Air Force was aUnited States Army Air Forcescombat air force deployed to theMediterranean Theaterof World War II. It engaged in operations in North Africa, theMediterranean,and Western Europe. During theCold War,12 AF was one of the Numbered Air Forces of theUnited States Air Forces in Europe(USAFE) and laterTactical Air Command(TAC), Its units engaged in combat operations during theVietnam War,as well asOperation Desert Storm.As a result of theWar on Terror,most Twelfth Air Force units have operated in theUnited States Central CommandAOR.
Since 1987, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) trains, equips, and prepares assigned units from Air Combat Command and also serves as the air and space component to United States Southern Command.
Mission
[edit]The Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) headquarters is located atDavis–Monthan Air Force BaseinArizona.It reports toAir Combat Command,amajor commandof the US Air Force.
As the air and space component toUS Southern Command(USSOUTHCOM), Air Forces Southern conducts security cooperation and provides air, space, andcyberspacecapabilities throughout its area of responsibility, coveringLatin Americaand theCaribbean.[3]
To fulfil these responsibilities it employs a range ofIntelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance(ISR), intra-theatreairliftand information assets. In addition the612th Air Operations Center(612th AOC) is responsible for developing strategy and plans to execute air operations in support of US Southern Command objectives. The 612th AOC also provides command and control of all Air Forces Southern assets in its area of responsibility.
Air Forces Southern does not have its own assets, but draws on forces provided to it byUS Southern Command.Currently, AFSOUTH manages four rotationalAir Force Reserve CommandandAir National GuardC-130s based out ofMuñiz Air National Guard Base,Puerto Rico.
Component units
[edit]The following units are subordinate to the Twelfth Air Force.[3]
Direct Reporting Units
[edit]- 612th Air Communications Squadron (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona)
- 612th Air Operations Center(Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona)
- 612th Theater Operations Group (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona)
Organizations
[edit]- System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces(El Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas) (Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona)
- Inter-American Air Forces Academy (Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland,Texas)
History
[edit]Established in the United States during World War II to be the Army Air Forces air component ofOperation Torchin 1942, Twelfth Air Force initially moved to England for training, then participated in the invasion of North Africa. It engaged in tactical operations for the remainder of the war in theMediterranean.
Since World War II, Twelfth Air Force has subsequently served both in Europe and later the United States. The Twelfth Air Force serves as the Air Force component to the United States Southern Command.
Lineage
[edit]- Established asTwelfth Air Force,and activated, on 20 August 1942
- Inactivated on 31 August 1945
- Activated on 17 May 1946
- Discontinued on 1 July 1950
- Organized and activated on 21 January 1951
- Redesignated asTwelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)on 29 February 2008
Assignments
[edit]- Army Air Forces,20 August 1942 – 31 August 1945
- Tactical Air Command,17 May 1946 – 1 December 1948
- Continental Air Command,1 December 1948 – 1 July 1950
- United States Air Forces in Europe,21 January 1951 – 1 January 1958
- Tactical Air Command,1 January 1958 – 1 June 1992
- Air Combat Command,1 June 1992 – present
Major components
[edit]World War Two Units
[edit]USAF Air Divisions
[edit]
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Stations
[edit]- Bolling Field,Washington, D.C., 20–28 August 1942
- England, 12 September – 22 October 1942
- Algeria,9 November 1942
- Tunisia,10 August 1943
- Italy,5 December 1943 – 31 August 1945
- March Field,California, 17 May 1946
- Brooks AFB,San Antonio, Texas, 1 January 1949 – 1 July 1950
- Wiesbaden AB,West Germany,21 January 1951
- Ramstein AB,West Germany,27 April 1953
- Connally AFB,Waco, Texas, 1 January 1958
- Bergstrom AFB,Austin, Texas August 1968
- Davis-Monthan AFB,Tucson, Arizona, 1 October 1992 – present
World War II
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Twelfth_Air_Force_-_Emblem_%28World_War_II%29.png/220px-Twelfth_Air_Force_-_Emblem_%28World_War_II%29.png)
The origins of Twelfth Air Force are traced back to a series of mid-1942 Allied planners' meetings to develop a strategy for the invasion ofFrench North Africa(Operation Torch). Because this extensive operation required a new organization to provide enough manpower and equipment, activation plans were prepared simultaneously with the invasion strategy.
On 20 August 1942, Twelfth Air Force was activated atBolling AAF,Maryland.On 23 September 1942, Brigadier GeneralJimmy Doolittleformally assumed command with ColonelHoyt Vandenbergas chief of staff. Barely four months after it was conceived, 12th AF made its first contributions to World War II. When D-Day for the invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) arrived on 8 November 1942, 12th AF was organized
XII Bomber Command | XII Air Support Command | XII Fighter Command | 51st Troop Carrier Wing | Photographic Reconnaissance Wing |
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97th BG (Boeing B-17 Flying Fortressheavy bombers)[a] | 47th Bombardment Group
(Douglas A-20light bombers) |
1st Fighter Group | 60th TCG (Douglas C-47) | 3rd Photo Group (B-17, F-4) |
301st BG (B-17)[a] | 310th BG
(North American B-25 Mitchellmedium bomber) |
14th FG (P-38)[a] | 62nd TCG (C-47) | 68th Observation Group (A-20) |
+17th Bombardment Group
(Martin B-26 Maraudermedium bombers) |
33rd FG (P-40) | 31st Fighter Group | 64th TCG (C-47) | |
+319th BG (B-26) | 81st FG (P-39)[a] | 52nd Fighter Group(Spitfires) | ||
+320th BG (B-26) | 350th FG (P-39)[a] | |||
+321st BG (B-25) | 82nd FG (P-38)[a] | |||
15th BS (Bostons)[a] | (+Groups training in U.S.) |
Initially, 12th AF was a composite organization containing both strategic heavy bombardment groups; and tactical light and medium bombardment, fighter-bomber, and fighter groups. Based in French Morocco and Algeria after Operation Torch, it became very important for 12th AF to coordinate and cooperate with the Royal Air Force which had been fighting in North Africa for two years. Such Allied cooperation was a major concern of American PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt,British Prime MinisterWinston Churchill,and their staffs at theCasablanca Conferencein January 1943 where they created theMediterranean Air Command(MAC) with Air Chief Marshal SirArthur Tedderas Air Commander-in-Chief. For planning of theTunisian campaign,Tedder's MAC headquarters were adjacent to those of his immediate superior, the Supreme Allied Commander, GeneralDwight D. Eisenhowerat Algiers, Algeria soon after the new Allied air force reorganization took effect on 18 February 1943.
TheNorthwest African Air Forces(NAAF) under Lieutenant GeneralCarl Spaatzwas the largest component of MAC and its organization was based on the 'tri-force' model (No. 205 Group'strategic',No. 201 Group'coastal', andAir Headquarters Western Desert'tactical') indicated above. Thus the three major combat commands of NAAF were:
- Northwest African Strategic Air Force(NASAF) under Major GeneralJames Doolittle
- Northwest African Coastal Air Force(NACAF) under Air Vice-MarshalHugh Lloyd
- Northwest African Tactical Air Force(NATAF) underArthur Coningham.
In keeping with the MAC priority of encouraging USAAF-RAF cooperation, Air Vice-MarshalJames Robbwas named Spaatz's deputy commander of NAAF and he handled operations.
Additionally, the following new units were assigned to NAAF:
- Northwest African Air Service Command(NAASC) under Major GeneralDelmar H. Dunton
- Northwest African Training Command(NATC) under Brigadier GeneralJohn K. Cannon
- Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing(NAPRW) under the president's son, ColonelElliott Roosevelt
- Northwest African Troop Carrier Command(NATCC) initially underColonel Ray Dunnand later under Brigadier GeneralPaul Williams.
Lieutenant GeneralLewis Brereton's9th Air Forcewas assigned toRAF Middle Eastalthough its 12th Bombardment (B-25Cs) and 57th Fighter (P-40Fs) Groups formed aDesert Air Task Forcedetached to NATAF's Western Desert Air Force under Air Vice-MarshalHarry Broadhurstwho replaced Coningham when he was promoted to NATAF commander.
The 12th AF, the largest air force ever assembled soon after its inception several months earlier, ceased to exist in the new MAC organizational structure. As an operational organization, the 12th AF simply disappeared when its groups were distributed among the various new NAAF commands. The only remaining reference to the 12th AF among these commands was MajorGeneral Edwin House'sXII Air Support Commandwhich along with Broadhurst's Western Desert Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal SirLaurence Sinclair'sTactical Bomber Force,and Air Vice-Marshal SirKenneth Cross'No. 242 Group,became part of Coningham's NATAF. Later, XII Air Support Command became even less obvious when it was detached to No. 242 Group. The curious status of the 12th AF in February 1943 is illustrated by the quotation below taken from the official history
"One of the admittedly minor problems of the reorganization concerned the status of the Twelfth Air Force. Its units, personnel, and equipment having been transferred entirely to NAAF on February 18, both on paper and in actuality the Twelfth seemed to have vanished. At his last staff meeting, on February 22, Doolittle expressed the opinion that once such matters as courts-martial had been wound up, the" skeleton "of the Twelfth--" the name only "--would have either to be returned to the States for a reincarnation or be decently interred by War Department order. Spaatz put the question to Eisenhower and, receiving answer that Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force, would be continued as the administrative headquarters for the U.S. Army elements of NAAF, he took command of the Twelfth on March 1. As commander, however, he had no staff as such, it being assumed that AAF officers named to the NAAF staff had been automatically placed in equivalent positions in the Twelfth. Actually, all administrative functions were carried on by NAAF and the half-existence of the Twelfth served mainly to mystify all but a few headquarters experts."[4]
Although the 12th AF was essentially unrecognized in the official Allied air force organization (MAC), it was of course, still a major entity in the USAAF. But even the U.S. Army Air Forces World War II Combat Chronology 1941–1945,[5]recorded its daily chronology entries under "NAAF" rather than "12th AF" between 1 March and 1 September 1943. The U.S.Ninth Air Forceretained its identity in MAC (and in the USAAF Combat Chronology) even though it was officially a sub-command ofRAF Middle East Commandand most of its groups were assigned to other operational commands such as NATAF after the February reorganization of the Allied air forces.
On 22 August 1943, the Ninth Air Force's 12th and 340th Bombardment Groups, and its 57th, 79th, and 324th Fighter Groups were transferred to the 12th AF. This change coincided with the transfer of the 9th AF from theMTOto theEuropean Theater of Operations(ETO).
On 1 September 1943 all administrative functions of USAAF elements of NAAF were transferred to the appropriate Twelfth AF organizations: HQ NAAF to HQ Twelfth AF, NASAF to XII Bomber Command, NATAF to XII Air Support Command, NACAF to XII Fighter Command, NAASC to XII AFSC, NAAF TCC to XII Troop Carrier Command (Provisional), NWPRW to Photographic Reconnaissance Wing (Provisional), and NATC to XII Training Command (Provisional) but operational control remained with NAAF.[5]
On 10 December 1943 MAC was disbanded and reorganized as theMediterranean Allied Air Forces(MAAF) with Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder as Air Commander-in-Chief. In mid-January 1944, Lieutenant GeneralIra Eakertook over MAAF when Eisenhower chose Tedder to oversee air operations and planning for theNormandy Landings.The new MAAF organization retained the original tri-force model adopted by the Casablanca Conference in creating MAC nearly one year earlier:
- Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force(MASAF) under Major GeneralNathan Twining
- Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force(MACAF) under Air Vice-MarshalHugh Lloyd
- Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force(MATAF) under Major GeneralJohn K. Cannon.
Components of the 12th AF, also under Cannon, were assigned to his various MATAF sub-commands after the 12th's heavy bomb groups (and three B-26 medium bomb groups that were eventually returned to the 12th) were transferred to the newly createdFifteenth Air Force(1 November 1943; briefly under Doolittle and then Twining) as part of MASAF. In January 1944, Doolittle took over the 8th AF in England which along with the 15th AF in Italy, formed theUnited States Strategic Air Forces(USSTAF) under Spaatz.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Organization_of_the_Mediterranean_Allied_Air_Force_January_1944.jpg/220px-Organization_of_the_Mediterranean_Allied_Air_Force_January_1944.jpg)
As the U.S. tactical air force in the Mediterranean, the 12th AF primarily provided close tactical support to U.S. ground forces in Italy and Southern France and targeted lines of transportation and communication, particularly roads, railroads, and bridges until the end of the war.
12th AF operated in theMediterranean,French Morocco,Algeria,Tunisia,Greece,Italy,Southern France,Yugoslavia,Albania,Romania,andAustria.ByV-E Day,12th AF had flown 430,681 sorties, dropped 217,156 tons of bombs, claimed destruction of 2,857 enemy aircraft, and lost 2,667 of its own aircraft.
When hostilities ended, Twelfth Air Force was inactivated atFlorence,Italy, on 31 August 1945.
12th Air Force Stations:
- Bolling Field, D.C., 20 to 28 August 1942
- England, 12 September to 22 October 1942
- Algeria, 9 November 1942
- Tunisia, 10 August 1943
- Italy, 5 December 1943 to 31 August 1945.
12th Air Force Commanders:
- Lt. Col. Roger J. Browne, 26 August 1942
- Lt. Col. Harold L. Neely, 28 August 1942
- Maj. Gen.James H. Doolittle,23 September 1942
- Lt. Gen.Carl Spaatz,1 March 1943
- Lt. Gen.John K. Cannon,21 December 1943
- Maj. Gen.Benjamin W. Chidlaw,2 April 1945
- Brig. Gen. Charles T. Myers, 26 May to 31 August 1945.
12th Air Force Campaigns: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley.
Commands
[edit]XII Tactical Air Command
[edit]XII Tactical Air Command was constituted as XII Ground Air Support Command on 10 September 1942 and activated on 17 September. It was assigned to Twelfth Air Force and redesignated as XII Air Support Command, and later redesignated as XII Tactical Air Command in April 1944. The command was moved toFrench Moroccoon 9 November 1942 as part of theOperation Torchlandings in North Africa.
XII Tactical Air Command served in combat in theMediterraneanandEuropean theatersuntil May 1945. Known units were:
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![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/31fg-spitfire.jpg/220px-31fg-spitfire.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Boeing_B-17F_42-29513_in_flight%2C_1943.jpg/220px-Boeing_B-17F_42-29513_in_flight%2C_1943.jpg)
ColonelDemas T. Crawand MajorPierpont M. Hamiltonwere awarded theMedal of Honorfor heroism during the invasion of Algeria-French Morocco (Operation Torch). When the Allies landed atMehdia,French Moroccoon 8 November 1942, both men volunteered to go behind enemy lines and meet with the French commander nearPort Lyautey,French Morocco,to broker a cease fire.
After landing on the beach under hostile fire, Craw, his interpreter MajorPierpont M. Hamilton,and their driver PrivateOrris Correyapproached the French headquarters in a light truck. They came under machine gun fire, leaving Craw dead. Hamilton and Correy were captured. Although imprisoned, Major Hamilton succeeded in persuading the French to surrender and was awarded the Medal of Honor on 19 February 1943. Private Correy was promoted to Sergeant and Pierpont Hamilton, a descendant ofAlexander Hamilton,became an intelligence officer in theNorthwest African Tactical Air Forcea subordinate command of the newly createdNorthwest African Air Forcesunder Lieutenant GeneralCarl Spaatzwho also assumed administrative command of the Twelfth Air Force on 1 March 1943.
Colonel Demas Craw was awarded his Medal of Honor posthumously on 4 March 1943 and the United States Navy named their air base at Port Lyautey, French MoroccoCraw Fieldin his honor on 12 January 1944. The only member of the Twelfth Air Force to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in the air was Lt.Raymond L. Knightof the350th Fighter Group.
XII Bomber Command
[edit]XII Bomber Command was constituted on 26 February 1942 and activated on 13 March atMacDill AAFFlorida. It was assigned to Twelfth Air Force in August and transferred, without personnel and equipment, toHigh WycombeEngland where the command was re-formed. XII Bomber Command was moved to Tafaraoui,Algeriaon 22 November 1942 as part of theOperation Torchlandings in North Africa.
XII Bomber Command served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until 1 November 1943 when most of the personnel were withdrawn. The command was restaffed in January 1944 and served in combat until 1 March. It was disbanded inCorsicaon 10 June 1944.
Known XII Bomber Command units were:
.** Survivors of Australian-based 27th Bomb Group transferred to 12th AF.
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XXII Tactical Air Command
[edit]XXII Tactical Air Command was constituted on 26 February 1942 and activated on 5 March. It was redesignated as XII Fighter Command in May 1942, and XXII Tactical Air Command in November 1944.
The command was assigned to Twelfth Air Force in August 1942 and was moved toRAF WattishamEngland in September, then on to Tafaraoui,Algeriaon 8 November 1942 as part of theOperation Torchlandings in North Africa.
XXII Tactical Air Command served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war. It was inactivated at PomiglianoItalyon 4 October 1945.
Known XXII Tactical Air Command units were:
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XII Troop Carrier Command (Provisional)
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Postwar era
[edit]With the end of combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters in 1945, Twelfth Air Force was inactivated. However XII Tactical Air Command was reassigned as part of the occupation force in Germany of theUnited States Air Forces in Europe.The groups operated P-47 or P-51 aircraft. Units assigned for occupation duty were:
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XII Tactical Air Command was inactivated atBad Kissingen,Germany, on 10 November 1947.
Cold War
[edit]Twelfth Air Force was reactivated atMarch Field,California, on 17 May 1946, and assigned toTactical Air Commandwith training responsibilities.
In the late 1940s, following several assignments and inactivations, 12 AF reactivated on 21 January 1951 atWiesbaden AB,West Germany,assigned toUnited States Air Forces in Europe.Twelfth Air Force became the first USAFE formation to be declared available toNATO.Along with French and Canadian air units, 12 AF was part of theFourth Allied Tactical Air Force,itself part of NATO'sAllied Air Forces Central Europe.It included the21st Fighter-Bomber Wing,located in France, and the85th Air Depot Wingat Erding in Germany.
On 1 January 1958, Twelfth Air Force relocated toWaco, Texasadjacent toJames Connally Air Force Base,Texas, and assigned to Tactical Air Command. During its 10 years at Connally AFB its mission began to focus on training tactical air crews to a state of combat readiness capable of conducting joint air operations.
In September 1968, Twelfth Air Force moved toBergstrom AFB,Texas. During theVietnam War,the Twelfth was a primary source for tactical fighter, reconnaissance, and airlift forces deployed to the war zone in Southeast Asia.
In 1987, the Twelfth Air Force commander took on theUnited States Air Force Southern Commandresponsibility. As such, 12 AF manages all Air Force personnel and assets in the United States Southern Command area of responsibility--Centraland South America. During theUnited States invasion of Panamain 1989, for example, 12 AF and other Air Force units deployed in support of U.S. forces, returning democracy toPanama.In 1994, 12 AF managed and orchestratedOperation Uphold Democracy's air operations, the mission to restoreHaitiandemocracy while at the same time supporting U.S. Southern Command'sOperation Safe Havenfor Cuban refugees.
Post Cold War
[edit]On 13 July 1993, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force officially moved from Bergstrom AFB toDavis-Monthan AFB,Arizona.Since then, 12 AF personnel and units have participated in operations in many other parts of the world: Southern Watch,Operation Provide Comfort,Operation Deny Flight,Provide Promise, peacekeeping in Somalia (Restore Hope), and JOINT ENDEAVOR. During theGulf War(Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm) 12 AF provided fighter and reconnaissance aircraft to supportU.S. Central Command Air Forces.
Since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) has worked closely with Caribbean, Central, and South American countries in theGlobal War on Terrorism.The command has supported efforts to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. and neighboring countries. 12 AF has also provided forces to Operations Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NOBLE GUARDIAN in the U.S. Today 12 AF directs six combat wings, five Direct Reporting Units, as well as 12 AF gained Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units.
The Twelfth Air Force served as a USAF headquarters responsible for the combat readiness of six active-duty wings and one direct reporting unit for contingency operations, and oversaw 21 gained units fromAir Force Reserve Commandand theAir National Guard,totalling more than 630 aircraft with more than 42,000 personnel.[3]
On 20 August 2020, Twelfth Air Force's fighter jets, battle management aircraft, strike drones, and combat search-and-rescue forces were transferred to the newly reformed Fifteenth Air Force. The change is expected to allow Twelfth Air Force to better focus on its mission as air component to US Southern Command.[6]The following units were subordinate to the Twelfth Air Force prior to their transfer to theFifteenth Air Force.[7]
Active Duty
- 355th Wing(Davis-Monthan AFB,Arizona) –A-10C Thunderbolt II,HC-130J Combat King II,HH-60G Pave Hawk
- 366th Fighter Wing(Mountain Home AFB,Idaho) –F-15E Strike Eagle
- 388th Fighter Wing(HillAFB, Utah) –F-35A Lighting II
- 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing(Creech AFB,Nevada) –MQ-9A Reaper,RQ-170A Sentinel
- 474th Air Expeditionary Group(Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona)
- 552nd Air Control Wing(Tinker AFB,Oklahoma) –E-3B/C/G Sentry
Air Force Reserve
- 301st Fighter Wing(NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth,Texas) –F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
- 419th Fighter Wing(HillAFB, Utah) – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
Air National Guard
- 114th Fighter Wing(Joe Foss Field ANGS,South Dakota) – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
- 115th Fighter Wing(Truax Field ANGB,Wisconsin) – F-16C Fighting Falcon andRC-26B Condor
- 124th Fighter Wing(Gowen Field ANGB,Idaho) –A-10C Thunderbolt II
- 129th Rescue Wing(Moffett Federal Airfield,California) – HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60G Pave Hawk
- 132nd Wing(Des Moines ANGB,Iowa) –MQ-9A Reaper
- 138th Fighter Wing(Tulsa ANGB,Oklahoma) – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
- 140th Wing(Buckley Space Force Base,Colorado) – F-16C Fighting Falcon
- 142nd Fighter Wing(Portland ANGB,Oregon) –F-15C/D Eagle
- 144th Fighter Wing(Fresno ANGB,California) – F-15C/D Eagle
- 148th Fighter Wing(Duluth ANGB,Minnesota) – F-16C Fighting Falcon
- 163rd Attack Wing(March ARB,California) – MQ-9A Reaper
- 183rd Fighter Wing(Capital Airport ANGS), Illinois)
Direct Reporting Units
- 820thRapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers(RED HORSE) Squadron (Nellis AFB,Nevada)
List of commanders
[edit]No. | Commander | Term | |||
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Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |
1 | Lt. Col. Roger J. Browne | 26 August 1942 | |||
1 | Lt. Col. Harold L. Neely | 28 August 1942 | |||
1 | Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle | 23 September 1942 | |||
1 | Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz | 1 March 1943 | |||
1 | Lt. Gen. John K. Cannon | 21 December 1943 | |||
1 | Maj. Gen., Benjamin W. Chidlaw | 2 April 1945 | |||
1 | Brig. Gen. Charles T. Myers | 26 May 1945 | 31 August 1945 | ||
1 | Lieutenant General Norman Seip | July 2006 | August 2009 | ~3 years, 31 days | |
2 | Lieutenant General Glenn Spears | August 2009 | 1 December 2011 | ~2 years, 122 days | |
3 | Lieutenant General Robin Rand | 1 December 2011 | 24 September 2013 | 1 year, 297 days | |
4 | Lieutenant General Tod D. Wolters | 24 September 2013 | 19 December 2014 | 1 year, 86 days | |
5 | Lieutenant General Mark Nowland | 19 December 2014 | 3 October 2016 | 1 year, 289 days | |
6 | Lieutenant General Mark D. Kelly | 3 October 2016 | 3 August 2018 | 1 year, 304 days | |
6 | Major General Andrew A. Croft | 3 August 2018 | 21 August 2020 | 2 years, 18 days | |
7 | Major General Barry Cornish | 21 August 2020 | 22 July 2022 | 1 year, 335 days | |
8 | Major General Evan L. Pettus | 22 July 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 362 days |
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ab"Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) (ACC)".Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^"12th AIR FORCE (AFSOUTH) History".12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern).
- ^abc"Units".Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern).US Air Force.Retrieved21 August2020.
- ^Craven and Cate, Eds., The United States Army Air Forces in WWII,Volume 2, Europe: Torch to Pointblank,Chapter 6, Climax in Tunisia, p 167, 1949.
- ^abCarter & Mueller[page needed]
- ^"ACC Revives 15th Air Force for Conventional Ops".Air Force Magazine.Air Force Association. 20 August 2020.Retrieved21 August2020.
- ^"Units".Twelfth Air Force.US Air Force.Archivedfrom the original on 10 December 2019.Retrieved12 August2020.
Bibliography
[edit]This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency
- This article includes content fromUnited States Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) website,a work of theU.S. Governmentin thepublic domain.
- Carter, Kit C.; Mueller, Robert (1972).Combat Chronology, 1941-1945(PDF).U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. Washington DC: Center for Air Force History.ISBN978-0405121517.LCCN92115046.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 January 2015.Retrieved6 April2015.
- Coles, Harry C. Participation of the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign (USAAF Historical Study, No. 37). Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1945.
- Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1948).The Army Air Forces in World War II.Vol. I, Plans and Early Operations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.LCCN48003657.OCLC704158.
- Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Vols. 2–3. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1948/51 (Reprinted 1983,ISBN0-912799-03-X).
- Larson, John W.History of the Twelfth Air Force.Kaiserslautern,West-Germany: Heinz Rohr Verlag, 1956.
- MacCloskey, Brig. Gen. Monro. 'Torch and the Twelfth Air Force.New York: Richard Rosen Press, 1971.ISBN0-8239-0240-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961].Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-02-1.LCCN61060979.
- Mayock, Thomas J.The Twelfth AIr Force in the North African Winter Campaign, 11 November to the Reorganization of 11 February 1943 (USAAF Historical Study No.114).Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1946.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984).Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977.Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-12-9.
- Richardson, Harold W.A New Home for the Twelfth Air Force.Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1955.
- Rust, Kenn C.Twelfth Air Force Story...in World War II.Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album, 1975 (republishished in 1992 by Sunshine House of Terre Haute, Indiana).ISBN0-911852-77-8.
- Weatherill, David.Aces, Pilots & Aircraft of the 9th, 12th & 15th USAAF.Melbourne, Australia: Kookaburra Technical Publications Pty Ltd., 1978.ISBN0-85880-032-2.
External links
[edit]- Twelfth Air Force History
- Twelfth Air Force becomes Air Forces Southernatarchive.today(archived 2012-12-12)
- Twelfth Air Force Command and Organizational StructureArchived16 May 2011 at theWayback Machine