First Air Force

First Air Force (Air Forces Northern)
Two F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing begin to roll into position for a rapid descent during an Operation Noble Eagle training patrol over San Francisco. An F-15 Eagle from the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102d Fighter Wing flies a combat air patrol mission
Active	18 December 1940 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Size	2,300
Part of	Air Combat Command United States Northern Command
Garrison/HQ	Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
Engagements	World War II - American Theater Global War on Terrorism - Operation Noble Eagle
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (8x)
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General R. Scott Williams
Insignia
Emblem of First Air Force
Emblem of CONR-AFNORTH

The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Its primary mission is the air defense of the Contiguous United States (CONUS), United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Its mission lineage can be traced to the Air Defense Command, one of the original USAAF major commands formed in 1946.

One of the four original pre-World War II numbered air forces during the existence of the United States Army Air Corps, 1 AF was activated on 18 December 1940, at Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York with a mission of air defense of the Northeastern United States and Great Lakes regions. During the war, its primary mission became the organization and training of combat units prior to their deployment to the overseas combat air forces.