United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa
| U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | |
|---|---|
 KC-135R from RAF Mildenhall, England refueling F-16Cs from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.  A 494th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle from RAF Lakenheath, England takes to the sky  A C-130E from Ramstein Air Base, Germany flying past Omaha Beach, Normandy, France; this unit has since transitioned to the C-130J  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 |
 World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Service.  World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) Berlin: Humanitarian Airlift |
| Decorations |
 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 |  |
| Emblem of US Air Forces Africa | .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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