Second Air Force

Second Air Force
Second Air Force emblem
Active	18 December 1940
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Keesler Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Second to None
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Alfred K. Flowers
Ceremonial chief	Command Chief Master Sergeant Jimmy Kelly

Second Air Force is an intermediate echelon numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command. The command provides basic and technical training to United States Air Force personnel. It is headquartered at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.

Units under Second Air Force are:

• 37th Training Wing Lackland Air Force Base Texas
  Provides Basic Military Training to Air Force recruits as well as technical training in logistics and security police/law enforcement career fields.

• 81st Training Wing Keesler Air Force Base Mississippi
  Provides training in Aviation Resource Management, weather, basic electronics, communications electronic systems, communications computer systems, air traffic control, airfield management, command post, air weapons control, precision measurement, education and training, financial management and comptroller, information management, manpower and personnel.

• 17th Training Wing Goodfellow Air Force Base Texas
  Provides training in intelligence and firefighting career fields. Also provides training to Army, Navy and Marine detachments.

• 82d Training Wing Sheppard Air Force Base Texas
  Provides specialized technical training, medical, and field training for officers, Airmen, and civilians of all branches of the military, other DoD agencies, and foreign nationals.

• 381st Training Group Vandenberg AFB, California
  Provides qualification training for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), space surveillance, missile warning, spacelift, and satellite command and control operators. It also performs initial and advanced maintenance training on air launched missiles (ALM) and ICBM's. It conducts training in joint space fundamentals and associated computer maintenance. The group also conducts qualification and orientation training for Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) staff and senior-level personnel, as well as instructor enhancement in support of operational units.

In 2006 Second Air Force was assigned responsibility for coordinating training for "In Lieu Of" (ILO) forces, that is airmen assigned to perform traditional US Army duties in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. An Expeditionary Mission Support Group was formed to provide command and control of ILO airmen as they are trained at 18 US Army installations across the United States prior to deploying to their assigned AOR. This group has been officially named the 602nd Training Group, Provisional (602 TRG(P)).

In 2007, Second Air Force was given responsibility to provide curricula and advice to the Iraqi Air Force as it stands up its own technical training and branch specific basic training among others. This mission is known as "CAFTT" for Coalition Air Forces Technical Training.

History

Second Air Force region of the United States, World War II

Second Air Force was originally constituted as the Northwest Air District on 19 October 1940. It was activated on 18 December 1940 at McChord AAF Washington. It was redesignated as Second Air Force in early 1941.

Second Air Force airfields were located in the Northeast and North Central United States.

World War II

During World War II Second Air Force initially provided air defense for the northwest Pacific Ocean coastline of the United States (1940-1941) and flew antisubmarine patrols along coastal areas from after Pearl Harbor until October 1942. In addition, the command performed training through Army Air Forces Training Command of units, crews, and individuals for bombardment, fighter, and reconnaissance operations.

After October 1942, the antisubmarine patrols were turned over to the Coast Guard and other agencies and the command was engaged primarily in training replacements for combat units.

A football team made up of Second Air Force personnel defeated Hardin-Simmons University in the 1943 Sun Bowl.

Commands of Second Air Force during World War II were:

• II Air Support Command 1941-43
• II Fighter Command 1941-42
• IV Air Support Command 1942-43
• XX Bomber Command 1943-44
• XXI Bomber Command 1944
• XXII Bomber Command 1945

With the war's end, Second Air Force was inactivated on 30 March 1946.

Postwar Era

The command was reactivated on 6 June 1946 under Air Defense Command, controlling primarily P-51 and P-47 air defense groups. It was again inactivated on 1 July 1948.

Strategic Air Command

From 1949 to 1975, as part of the Strategic Air Command, it engaged in training for strategic warfare.

Established as Northwest Air District on 19 October 1940. Activated on 18 December 1940 at McChord Field, Washington, initially assigned to Central Defense Command, U.S. Army, and later to Western Defense Command, U.S. Army. Redesignated 2d Air Force on 9 April 1941 and Second Air Force on 18 September 1942. Moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, on 13 June 1943. Assigned to Army Air Forces in September 1943, and to Continental Air Forces (later Strategic Air Command), on 16 April 1945 Inactivated on 30 March 1946. Activated on 6 June 1946 at Fort Crook, Nebraska, assigned to Air Defense Command. Inactivated on 1 July 1948. Activated on 1 November 1949 at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, assigned to Strategic Air Command. Inactivated on 16 September 1950 and organized the same day with no change in station or assignment. Inactivated on 1 January 1975. Re-activated and assigned to Strategic Air Command on 29 August 1991, at Beale AFB, California on 1 September 1991. Relieved from assignment to Strategic Air Command and assigned to Air Combat Command on 31 May 1992.

Air Combat Command

Second Air Force was reassigned to Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992 when SAC stood down. It was inactivated on 1 July 1993 and activated the same day at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, with a change in assignment to Air Education and Training Command.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

• Official factsheet

• News Stories:

Air Force News: http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123048602

Air Force News: http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123023111

• PRESENTATION TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/Read073107/Gibson_Testimony073107.pdf