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United States Air Forces Europe

U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
Mildenhall KC-135 refueling Spang F-16s.jpg
KC-135R from RAF Mildenhall, England refueling F-16Cs from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
494th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle.jpg
A 494th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle from
RAF Lakenheath, England takes to the sky
86ig-c130-normandy.jpg
A C-130E from Ramstein Air Base, Germany flying past Omaha Beach, Normandy, France; this unit has since transitioned to the C-130J
Aviano AB F-16.jpg
An F-16C from Aviano Air Base taxiing in the shadow of the Italian Alps.
Active 7 August 1945 – Current
Country United States of America
Branch United States Army Air Forces
(1945–1947)
United States Air Force
(1947 – present)
Type Major Command
Part of United States European Command
United States Africa Command
Garrison/HQ Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Engagements European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png
World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Service.
Army Of Occupation - World War II Streamer.png
World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) Berlin: Humanitarian Airlift
Decorations Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Streamer.png
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Streamer (12x)
Commanders
Current
commander
General Tod D. Wolters
Notable
commanders
Lt General Curtis E. LeMay
General John P. Jumper
General David C. Jones
General Richard H. Ellis
General Michael J. Dugan
General Mark A. Welsh III
Insignia
Emblem of United States Air Forces in Europe United States Air Forces in Europe.svg
Emblem of US Air Forces Africa US Air Forces Africa (emblem).png

The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is a United States Air Force major command (MAJCOM) and a component command of both United States European Command and United States Africa Command. As part of its mission, USAFE-AFAFRICA commands U.S. Air Force units pledged to NATO, maintaining combat-ready wings based from Great Britain to Turkey. USAFE-AFAFRICA plans, conducts, controls, coordinates and supports air and space operations in Europe, parts of Asia and all of Africa with the exception of Egypt to achieve U.S. national and NATO objectives based on taskings by the two combatant commanders.

USAFE-AFAFRICA is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is the oldest continuously active USAF major command. It was originally activated on 1 February 1942 at Langley Field, Virginia, as the Eighth Air Force, by the United States Army Air Forces. On 20 April 2012 United States Air Forces in Europe formally became the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa when the 17th Air Force inactivated.

The commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA is General Tod D. Wolters and Chief Master Sergeant Kaleth O. Wright is the Command Chief Master Sergeant. The command has more than 35,000 active duty personnel, Air Reserve Component personnel, and civilian employees assigned.

On 7 August 1945, United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF) was redesignated as United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Its headquarters was relocated from Saint Germain-en-Laye, France, to Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, Germany, on 28 September 1945. Within 18 months of VE-Day, virtually all U.S. armed forces personnel had left Europe except for the Occupation Forces in Germany, Austria, and a small number of Army troops in Trieste. USAFE had been reduced from a force of 17,000 aircraft and about 500,000 personnel to about 2,000 aircraft and 75,000 personnel. USAFE's four wartime Air Forces were demobilized or reassigned between August and December 1945. In March 1946 USAFE was given the status of a Major Command (MAJCOM).


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Wikipedia

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