ANumbered Air Force (NAF) is a type of organization in theUnited States Air Force that is subordinate to amajor command (MAJCOM) and has assigned to it operational units such as wings, squadrons, and groups.[1] AComponent Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) has the additional role as an Air Force Component Command exercising command and control over air and space forces supporting aUnified Combatant Command.[2] Unlike MAJCOMs, which have a management role, a NAF is a tactical organization with an operational focus, and does not have the same functional staff as a MAJCOM.[2] Numbered air forces are typically commanded by amajor general or alieutenant general.
Numeric designations for Numbered Air Forces are written in full using ordinal words (e.g., Eighth Air Force), while cardinal numerals are used in abbreviations (e.g., 8 AF).[1][3] Units directly subordinate to a NAF were traditionally numbered 6XX (where XX is the NAF number).[1] For example, the609th Air Operations Center is a unit subordinate to theNinth Air Force. This is no longer completely accurate, due to regular reorganization of Wings and Numbered Air Forces.
Numbered air forces began as named organizations in theUnited States Army Air Corps before World War II.[4] The first four NAFs were established as the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Air Districts on 19 October 1940 to provide air defense for the United States.[5] These Air Districts were redesignated as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Air Forces, respectively, on 26 March 1941. Over a year after the establishment of theUnited States Army Air Forces on 20 June 1941, the Arabic numerals were changed to theFirst,Second,Third, andFourth Air Forces on 18 September 1942. Other organizations established during this period and that became Numbered air forces include the Philippine Department Air Force (becameFifth Air Force), the Panama Canal Air Force (becameSixth Air Force), the Hawaiian Air Force (becameSeventh Air Force), and the Alaskan Air Force (becameEleventh Air Force).[6] After World War II, the US Air Force continued to use both named and numbered air forces. While named air forces were used in both tactical and support roles, numbered air forces were generally employed only in tactical roles.[4]
As part of a peacetime restructuring in March 1946, theUnited States Army Air Forces were reorganized into three major operating commands: theStrategic Air Command (SAC), theTactical Air Command (TAC), and theAir Defense Command (ADC).[7] These commands reflected the basic air combat missions that evolved during the war, and each reported directly to GeneralCarl Spaatz, the Commanding General, Army Air Forces. Numbered air forces served as an intermediate headquarters between these commands and the operational wings and groups. Eleven of the sixteen wartime air forces remained. The Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces were assigned to SAC; the Third, Ninth, and Twelfth Air Forces were assigned to TAC; and the First, Second, Fourth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth Air Forces were assigned to ADC. Second Air Force would later be transferred to SAC in 1949.[8] The numbered air forces had both operational and administrative authority, and existed as a command level between major commands andair divisions. Although variations existed, and number air forces were often reassigned, this basic arrangement persisted throughout theCold War.[citation needed]
The role of numbered air forces changed in the 1990s during the Air Force reorganization initiated byAir Force Chief of Staff GeneralMerrill McPeak. The goal of the reorganization was to "streamline, take layers out, flatten (Air Force) organizational charts, while at the same time clarifying the roles and responsibilities of essential supporting functions."[9] Numbered air forces were reorganized into tactical echelons focused on operations, and their administrative staff functions were eliminated. This reorganization also reduced the number of major commands, and eliminated the air divisions to place numbered air forces directly in command of operational wings.[citation needed]
The role of numbered air forces was again changed in 2006 with the implementation of the Component Air Force (C-NAF) concept.[10] Some numbered air forces have an additional mission as the Air Force Component Command exercising command and control over air and space forces supporting aUnified Combatant Command.[2] C-NAFs have a second designation to identify their role. For example,First Air Force, a numbered air force assigned toAir Combat Command, is designated as Air Force Northern (AFNORTH) in its role as the air component of theUnited States Northern Command.[11] Most C-NAFs have anAir and Space Operations Center (AOC) to providecommand and control of air and space operations for the supported combatant commander.[citation needed]
The table below lists current and historical numbered air forces of the US Air Force, their C-NAF designation (if applicable), their current shield and station, and the major command (MAJCOM) to which they are currently assigned. Note that the lineage of some numbered air forces is continued by non-NAF organizations (e.g., the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force continues the lineage of the Fifteenth Air Force).Boldface indicates a NAF or C-NAF that is currently active.
Named Air Forces operate at the same level as Numbered Air Forces. General Headquarters Air Force, the first named air force of theUnited States Army's air arm, began operations in 1935. TheGHQ Air Force became the Air Force Combat Command in 1941. Several of the numbered air forces began as named air forces.[19]
SinceWorld War II other named air forces have existed in both operational and support commands.Air Forces Iceland, and the Central, Eastern, Japan, and Western Air Defense Forces, have provided air defense capability. The USAF Special Operations Force controlled operational special forces. The Crew, Flying, and Technical Training Air Forces servedAir Training Command both in the air and on the ground. Pacific Air Force/FEAF (Rear) controlled both operational and support forces ofFar East Air Forces. Air Materiel Force, European Area, and Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area, on the other hand, served primarily as logistics support establishments.[19]
Since 2001United States Air Forces Central has supervised U.S. Air Force elements engaged in theWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021); since 2003 for theWar in Iraq; and, with a more recent start, air refueling and other support in regard to theYemeni Civil War.
| Air Force | Shield | Station | Major Command | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Forces Iceland |  | Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland | USAFE-AFA | Established in 1952. Performed air defense of Iceland and North Atlantic. Inactivated 28 June 2006 |
| Air Materiel Force, European Area | Châteauroux-Déols Air Base [fr], France | Air Force Logistics Command | From 1954 to 1962 served as the primary USAF logistics organization in Europe | |
| Air Materiel Force, Pacific Area | Tachikawa Air Base, Japan | Air Force Logistics Command | Established as Far East Air Service Command on 14 July 1944. Activated on 18 August 1944 at Brisbane, Australia.[20][21] Eventually moved its headquarters to Manila on 7 August 1945 having re-located through several intermediate locations. It was redesignated Pacific Air Service Command, U.S. Army, in January 1946, andFar East Air Materiel Command (FEAMCOM) on 1 January 1947. AtTachikawa Air Base in Japan after being activated as FEAMCOM, it effectively replaced theJapan Air Materiel Area. It was the primary USAF logistics organization in the Pacific before finally being inactivated in 1962. | |
| Aviation Engineer Force | Wolters Air Force Base, Texas | Continental Air Command | Controlled aviation engineer organizations of the United States Army, on duty with the United States Air Force, 1951–1956 | |
| Central Air Defense Force | Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri | Air Defense Command | Controlled ADC Radar and Interceptor units in the central United States, 1951–1960. | |
| Crew Training Air Force | Randolph Air Force Base, Texas | Air Training Command | Provided training for air crews, 1952–1957. | |
| Eastern Air Defense Force |  | Stewart Air Force Base, New York | Air Defense Command | Controlled ADC Radar and Interceptor units in the eastern United States, 1949–1960. |
| Flying Training Air Force | Randolph Air Force Base, Texas | Air Training Command | Provided flying training for combat crews and flying training leading to an aeronautic rating, 1951–1958. | |
| Japan Air Defense Force | Nagoya Air Base, Japan | Far East Air Force | This air defense organization was established to replace the314th Air Division, 1952–1954 | |
| Pacific Air Force/FEAF (Rear) | Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii Territory | Far East Air Force | Established to control Air Force operations in the Pacific and Far East during the move of the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) from Japan to Hawaii, 1954–1957 | |
| Technical Training Air Force | Randolph Air Force Base, Texas | Air Training Command | Provided officer candidate training, indoctrination (basic) training, and technical training to Air Force personnel, 1951–1958. | |
| USAF Special Operations Force |  | Eglin Air Force Base, Florida | Tactical Air Command | When the USAF Special Air Warfare Center became too large and cumbersome for center status, it was elevated to a named air force, 1962–1974. |
| Western Air Defense Force | Hamilton Air Force Base, California | Air Defense Command | Controlled ADC Radar and Interceptor units in the western United States, 1951–1960. |
Source:[19]
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