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

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

Lineage

• Established as Northwest Air District on 19 Oct 1940

Activated on 18 Dec 1940

Redesignated: 2 Air Force on 26 Mar 1941

Redesignated: Second Air Force on 18 Sep 1942

Inactivated on 30 Mar 1946

• Activated on 6 Jun 1946

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1948

• Activated on 1 Nov 1949

Inactivated on 1 Jan 1975

• Activated on 1 Sep 1991

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1993

• Activated on 1 Jul 1993.

Assignments

• General Headquarters Air Force

(later, Air Force Combat Command) 18 Dec 1940

Western Defense Command, 11 Dec 1941

Air Force Combat Command (later, Army Air Forces), 5 Jan 1942

• Continental Air Forces

(later, Strategic Air Command), 16 Apr 1945-30 Mar 1946

• Air Defense Command, 6 Jun 1946-1 Jul 1948
• Strategic Air Command, 1 Nov 1949-1 Jan 1975; 1 Sep 1991
• Air Combat Command, 1 Jun 1992-1 Jul 1993
• Air Education and Training Command, 1 Jul 1993

Stations

• McChord Field, Washington, 18 Dec 1940
• Fort George Wright, Washington, 9 Jan 1941
• Colorado Springs AAF, Colorado, 13 Jun 1943-30 Mar 1946
• Fort Crook, Nebraska, 6 Jun 1946-1 Jul 1948
• Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 1 Nov 1949-1 Jan 1975
• Beale AFB, California, 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1993
• Keesler AFB, Mississippi 1 Jul 1993-.

Operational History

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

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

In 1944, the majority of the Numbered Air Forces of the USAAF were fighting in various parts of the world, such as the Eighth Air Force in Europe and the Twentieth Air Force in the Pacific. They were supported by four numbered air forces located within the United States (known as the Zone of the Interior, or "ZI".) On 13 December 1944, First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force were all were placed under the unified command of the Continental Air Forces, the predecessor of the later established Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command, and Air Defense Command, which were all established in 1946.

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, 2d Air Force maintained a strategic deterrent through units utilizing long-range bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles. During this period, subordinate units deployed aircraft and crews for combat operations in Korea and Vietnam. With the end of the Cold War and the restructuring of Strategic Air Command (SAC), became the steward for reconnaissance and battlefield management assets from Jan 1991-Jul 1993.

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