Pacific Air Forces
| Pacific Air Forces | |
|---|---|
Pacific Air Forces emblem
|
|
| Active | 3 August 1944 – present |
| Country |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Major Command |
| Part of | United States Pacific Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii |
| Nickname(s) | PACAF |
| Engagements |
     
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| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy |
| Notable commanders |
General Earle E. Partridge |
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (former Hickam AFB), Hawaii, and is one of two USAF MAJCOMs assigned outside of the Continental United States, the other being the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa. Over the past sixty-five plus years, PACAF has been engaged in combat during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The mission of Pacific Air Forces is to provide ready air and space power to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis, and in war. PACAF organizes, trains, and equips the 45,000 Total Force personnel of the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard with the tools necessary to support the Commander of United States Pacific Command. PACAF comprises three numbered Air Forces, nine main bases and nearly 375 aircraft.
The command's area of responsibility extends from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Asia and from the Arctic to the Antarctic, more than 100,000,000 square miles (260,000,000 km2). The area is home to nearly two billion people who live in 44 countries.
In June 1944, Major General St. Clair Streett's Thirteenth Air Force was added to Allied Air Forces, South West Pacific Area. Lieutenant General George Kenney created the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) from his Fifth Air Force headquarters, while the Advanced Echelon became the Fifth Air Force under Major General Ennis Whitehead, Sr. The RAAF formed the Australian First Tactical Air Force under Air Commodore Harry Cobby in October 1944, and when General Douglas MacArthur became commander of all Army forces in the Pacific, the Seventh Air Force was added as well. Far East Air Forces (FEAF) was activated on 3 August 1944, at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. FEAF (Provisional) had actually been created on 15 June 1944, and Fifth Air Force assigned to it. FEAF was subordinate to the U.S. Army Forces Far East and served as the headquarters of Allied Air Forces Southwest Pacific Area.
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Wikipedia