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Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command HQ
Air Combat Command Headquarters building, Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia
Active 1 June 1992 – present
Country Flag of the United States United States of America
Branch Military service mark of the United States Air Force United States Air Force
Type Major Command
Garrison/HQ Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia
Nickname(s) ACC
Commanders
Current
commander
General Gilmary M. Hostage III
Insignia
Emblem of Air Combat Command ACC Shield
Aircraft flown
Attack F-15E Strike Eagle
A-10 Thunderbolt II
Bomber B-1B Lancer
Electronic
warfare
E-8 J-STARS
Boeing E-4B Nightwatch
E-3 Sentry
Fighter F-22A Raptor
F-16C Fighting Falcon
F-15C Eagle
Multirole helicopter HH-60 Pave Hawk
Reconnaissance MQ-9 Reaper
RQ-1 Predator
RQ-170 Sentinel
Lockheed U-2/TR-1 Dragon Lady
Boeing OC-135;RC-135S/V/U;TC-135;WC-135

Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of ten major commands (MAJCOM's) of the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF).[1]

ACC is headquartered at Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia. Its commander is General Gilmary M. Hostage III, with Lieutenant General William J. Rew as Vice-commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard A. Parsons as the Command Chief Master Sergeant.

Mission[]

The mission of Air Combat Command is to be the primary force provider of non-nuclear combat airpower to America's warfighting commands. To support global implementation of national security strategy, ACC operates fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management and electronic-combat aircraft. Air Combat Command also provides command, control, computing, communications and intelligence (C4I) systems, and conducts global information operations.

As a force provider, ACC organizes, trains, equips and maintains combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense.

ACC numbered air forces provide the air components to United States Central Command, United States Southern Command, United States Joint Forces Command, United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command. In addition, ACC augments forces to United States European Command and United States Pacific Command.

Air Combat Command consists of more than 109,000 active duty members and civilians (approximately 98,000 active duty members and more than 11,000 civilians). When mobilized, more than 63,000 members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with over 600 aircraft, are assigned to ACC. In total, ACC and ACC-gained units consist of more than 1,750 aircraft.[1]

In 2010, responsibility for nuclear-capable assets was transferred to the Air Force Global Strike Command.

Wings and Groups[]

As of 2015 Air Combat Command consisted of the following units:[1]

HQ: Nellis AFB, Nevada
53d Wing, Eglin AFB Florida
57th Wing, Nellis AFB Nevada
98th Range Wing, Nellis AFB Nevada
99th Air Base Wing, Nellis AFB Nevada
505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
HQ: Tyndall AFB, Florida
Eastern Air Defense Sector, Rome, New York
Western Air Defense Sector, McChord AFB Washington
701st Air Defense Squadron, Tyndall AFB Florida
702d Computer Systems Squadron, Tyndall AFB Florida
722d Air Control Squadron, North Bay (CFB North Bay), Canada

HQ: Shaw AFB, South Carolina
1st Fighter Wing (F-22A), Langley AFB Virginia
4th Fighter Wing (F-15E), Seymour Johnson AFB North Carolina
20th Fighter Wing (F-16C), Shaw AFB South Carolina
23d Wing (HH-60, HC-130P, A/OA-10), Moody AFB Georgia
93d Air Ground Operations Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia
325th Fighter Wing (F-22A), Tyndall AFB Florida
461st Air Control Wing, Robins AFB Georgia
633d Air Base Wing, Langley AFB Virginia
HQ: Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
7th Bomb Wing (B-1B), Dyess AFB Texas
28th Bomb Wing (B-1B), Ellsworth AFB South Dakota
49th Wing (F-22A, MQ-9), Holloman AFB New Mexico
355th Fighter Wing (A/OA-10), Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona
366th Fighter Wing (F-15E), Mountain Home AFB Idaho
388th Fighter Wing (F-16C), Hill AFB Utah
432d Wing (MQ-1, MQ-9), Creech AFB, Nevada

Note: On 6 October 2008, it was announced that the Eighth Air Force would become part of the new Air Force Global Strike Command.

In addition, units from Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force and numerous state Air National Guard units are allocated to Air Combat Command when activated to federal service.

Aircraft[]

As of 2015:

History[]

Front-Page-RotatingFinal-18Jun08

Aircraft of Air Combat Command

Lineage[]

  • Established, and activated, as Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992.

Assignments[]

Stations[]

Major components[]

Air Forces

First Air Force (later, First Air Force [ANG]): 1 June 1992 – present
Second Air Force: 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993
Eighth Air Force: 1 June 1992–2009
Ninth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – present
Twelfth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – present
Twentieth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993

Centers

Air & Space Expeditionary Force Center: 1 October 2002 – 29 August 2006
Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (later, Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Center (see Agencies below): 29 July 1997 – 30 April 2002. On 17 June 2010, the GCIC was officially redesignated the Air Force Command and Control Integration Center or AFC2IC as a direct reporting unit to Air Combat Command (ACC).[2]
Air Force Contingency Supply Support Office (later, Air Force Contingency Supply Squadron; ACC Regional Supply Squadron; Combat Air Forces Logistics Support Center): 12 June 1992 – 1 July 1994; 1 December 1998 – present
Air Warfare (later, USAF Warfare) Center: 1 June 1992 – present

Agencies

Air and Space Command and Control Agency (later, Aerospace Command and Control Agency; Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center): 29 July 1997 – 30 April 2002.
Air Intelligence Agency: 1 February 2001 – present

Groups

Air Combat Command (ACC) Air Force Targeting Center: 2008–present
Air Combat Command (ACC) Communications Group: 1 June 1992 – present
Air Combat Command (ACC) Logistics Support Group: 1 July 1994 – 16 September 1999.

source for lineage, assignments, stations, components[3]

Operational history[]

Air Combat Command was created 1 June 1992 after the inactivation of the Tactical Air Command (TAC), Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Military Airlift Command (MAC). Upon activation, ACC assumed control of all fighter resources based in the continental United States, all bombers, reconnaissance platforms, battle management resources, and Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Furthermore, ACC had some tankers and C-130s in its composite, reconnaissance, and certain other combat wings. In 1993 control of the ICBM force was transferred to the Air Force Space Command.[4]

Following the inactivation of SAC at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, a new unified command, the United States Strategic Command, was activated at Offutt, created to manage the combined strategic nuclear forces belonging to the Air Force and the Navy.[4]

Historically, combat command was an earlier air unit designation. During 1941 and early 1942, the tactical air units of the War Department, formerly known as the GHQ Air Force, formed the Air Force Combat Command. The AFCC was dissolved in the reorganization of the United States Army, effective 9 March 1942, which created the United States Army Air Forces as a major and semi-independent component.[4]

Mission Realignments[]

File:B-2-acc.jpg

An B-2 Spirit bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker.

F-117-acc

The F-117A Nighthawk Stealth fighter from the 49th Fighter Wing, 9th Fighter Squadron "Iron Knights," from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, flies a training mission over the New Mexico desert.

F-22-acc

F-22A from the 1st Fighter Wing, 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB Virginia being guided into place on the flightline.

E-3a-acc

An E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System from Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

RQ-4 Global Hawk

A maintenance crew prepares a Global Hawk for a test at Beale Air Force Base

Combat search and rescue[]

Not long after activation, ACC underwent organizational and mission changes. The first such major change was the transfer of the combat search and rescue mission (CSAR) from Air Mobility Command to ACC. With the realigning of search and rescue units, ACC gained additional resources, as well as a new mission. The formal transfer took place on 1 February 1993, when the Air Rescue Service (ARS) was assigned to ACC. On 2 July of the same year, the ARS was redesignated the USAF Combat Rescue School and was assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada.[4]

Flight training[]

One of the most significant changes for Air Combat Command resulted from an overhaul of flying training responsibilities. Following its activation, ACC was responsible for aircraft-specific aircrew training, including initial weapon system and continuation training. On 1 July 1993, the 58th and 325th Fighter Wings—F-16 and F-15 training units transferred from ACC to Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Concurrently, Luke AFB, Arizona, and Tyndall AFB, Florida, for which those respective wings were the host units, also moved from ACC to AETC ownership. However, on 1 October 2012, both Tyndall AFB and the 325th Fighter Wing returned to the control of ACC.[4]

Tanker and airlift[]

The next major organizational change resulted from a fine-tuning of aerial refueling and airlift resources. From its activation, Air Combat Command had assumed ownership of some C-130 Hercules theater airlift assets and KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotankers. Just as ownership of overseas C-130 resources had already been transferred to USAFE and PACAF commanders, it was decided that all C-130s based in the CONUS would be under the control of ACC, while at the same time, almost all KC-135 tankers would be assigned to Air Mobility Command.[4]

There was historical precedent for the reassignment of C-130s to Air Combat Command. During the earliest days of Tactical Air Command (TAC), the command had carried out the "tactical" or combat airborne aspect of airlift operations, leaving the "strategic" or logistical mission to Military Air Transport Service (a precursor of AMC). The tactical airlift mission included logistical airlift, airborne operations, aeromedical evacuation, and air support for special operations. This division of the airlift mission continued until 1 December 1974, when TAC transferred its CONUS-based tactical airlift units, including ANG and Reserve units, to Military Airlift Command (MAC). MAC gained the overseas units from theater commands on 31 March 1975.[4]

On 1 October 1993, all AMC C-130s were transferred to ACC and all ACC KC-135 tankers except those at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, which supported the fighter and bomber aircraft of the composite wing stationed there, transferred to AMC. The command also kept two KC-135s at Offutt AFB Nebraska and Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, transferred to AMC on 1 October 1993, with McConnell AFB, Kansas, and Fairchild AFB, Washington, transferring in January and July, respectively, 1994.[4]

Operational deployments[]

In Southwest Asia, Air Combat Command provided active duty and reserve component forces for Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch to deter Iraqi aggression. In October 1994, ACC also demonstrated its ability to react quickly to the buildup of Iraqi troops near the border of Kuwait. In addition, ACC, from its inception, has provided indispensable support to counter-drug operations, including Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, as well as radar and connectivity assets.[4]

Participation in humanitarian operations has also been a recurring theme. Air Combat Command supported the humanitarian efforts of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), deploying active duty and air reserve component forces to Provide Promise and Deny Flight in Eastern Europe and Operation Provide Comfort out of Incirlik AB, Turkey. Provide Promise offered humanitarian relief airlift support to the city of Sarajevo, while Deny Flight enforced the "no-fly" zone against Serb air attacks on Bosnian civilians. Operation Provide Comfort, another humanitarian operation, also provided relief to Kurdish inhabitants of northern Iraq who had undergone fierce repression by the Iraqi government.[4]

In addition, ACC supported United States Atlantic Command's humanitarian relief to Haitian refugees associated with Operation GTMO at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. Similarly, the command supported Operation Safe Haven and the processing of Cuban refugees during the latter part of the summer of 1994. Across the Atlantic, Air Combat Command units participated in Operation Restore Hope, largely an Air Mobility Command humanitarian operation intended to provide food for Somalia. Also, ACC regular and gained C-130 Air National Guard units deployed to Uganda and Kenya to participate in Support Hope. This operation, conducted by the United States European Command, comprised part of the United Nations effort to provide humanitarian relief to victims of the civil war in Rwanda.[4]

In keeping with its global responsibilities, ACC initiated a series of "Global Power" missions in 1993. ACC's bomber wings are required to perform out-of-CONUS training flights to demonstrate the capability to perform their "quick reaction" worldwide mission. On one of the global power missions, two B-1 Lancer aircraft of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, set a B-1 flying time record on the first leg of their round-the-world flight, 11–13 August 1993. The following year, two B-52s from the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, circumnavigated the globe in 47.2 hours, the longest jet aircraft flight in history.[4]

Global war on terrorism[]

Air Combat Command units flew operational missions during the 2002 Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of ACC units present in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable.[4]

However, it is certain that ACC units are actively flying combat missions currently over both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Predecessor units merged into Air Combat Command 1992[]

ACCBases
Current Air Combat Command Bases[3]

2d Bombardment Wing
Barksdale AFB, LA
5th Bombardment Wing
Minot AFB, ND
7th Bombardment Wing
Carswell AFB, TX (Xfrerd to Dyess AFB TX 1 October 1993)
9th Reconnaissance Wing
Beale AFB, CA
28th Bombardment Wing
Ellsworth AFB, SD
42d Bombardment Wing
Loring AFB, ME (BRAC Inactivated 30 September 1994)
44th Missile Wing
Ellsworth AFB, SD (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993)
55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
Offut AFB NE
90th Missile Wing
F E Warren AFB, WY (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993)
91st Missile Wing
Minot AFB, ND (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993
92d Wing
Fairchild AFB WA (Xfred to Air Mobility Cmd 1 July 1994)
93d Wing
Castle AFB, CA (BRAC Inactivated 30 September 1995)
96th Wing
Dyess AFB, TX (BRAC Inactivated 1 October 1993)
319th Wing
Grand Forks AFB, ND (BRAC Inactivated 16 July 1994)
321st Missile Wing
Grand Forks AFB, ND (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993)
341st Missile Wing
Malmstrom AFB, MT (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993)
351st Missile Wing
Whiteman AFB, MO (Xfred to AF Space Cmd 1 July 1993)
379th Wing
Wurtsmith AFB, MI (BRAC Inactivated 15 June 1993)
384th Wing
McConnell AFB, KS (BRAC Inactivated 1 October 1994)
410st Wing
K I Sawyer AFB, MI (BRAC Inactivated 30 September 1995)
416th Wing
Griffiss AFB, NY (BRAC Inactivated 30 September 1995)
509th Bombardment Wing
Whiteman AFB, MO
314th Airlift Wing
Little Rock AFB, AR (BRAC Inactivated 31 August 1993)
1st Fighter Wing
Langley AFB, VA
4th Fighter Wing
Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

23d Fighter Wing
Inactivated at England AFB, LA (Reactivated as 23d Wing, Pope AFB NC)
27th Fighter Wing
Cannon AFB, NM
31st Fighter Wing
Homestead AFB, FL (Moved WOPE to Aviano AB Italy Assigned to USAFE)
33d Fighter Wing
Eglin AFB, FL
35th Fighter Wing
George AFB, CA (BRAC Inactivated 15 December 1992)
37th Fighter Wing
Tonopah AP, NV (Inactivated 8 July 1992 F-117s Xfred to 49th FW Holloman AFB NM)
49th Fighter Wing
Holloman AFB, NM
53d Wing
Eglin AFB, FL
56th Fighter Wing
MacDill AFB, FL (Moved WOPE to Luke AFB AZ 1 April 1994 Reassigned to AETC)
57th Fighter Wing
Nellis AFB, NV
58th Fighter Wing
Luke AFB, AZ (Moved WOPE to Kirtland AFB NM 1 April 1994
Reassigned to AETC as 58th Special Operations Wing)
67th Reconnaissance Wing
Bergstrom AFB, TX (BRAC Inactivated 30 September 1993)
85th Wing
Keflavik NAS Iceland (Inactivated 31 May 1993)
325th Fighter Wing
Tyndall AFB, FL (Reassigned to AETC 1 July 1993. Rejoined ACC on 1 October 2012)
347th Fighter Wing
Moody AFB, GA (Reassigned to AFSOC 1 October 2003)
354th Fighter Wing
Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (BRAC Inactivated 31 March 1993)
355th Fighter Wing
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
363d Fighter Wing
Shaw AFB, SC (Inactivated 30 December 1993 Replaced by 20th Fighter Wing 30 December 1993)
366th Fighter Wing
Mountain Home AFB, ID
388th Fighter Wing
Hill AFB, UT
475th Weapons Evaluation Group
Tyndall AFB, FL
507th Air Control Wing
Shaw AFB, SC (Inactivated 12 June 1993)
552d Air Control Wing
Tinker AFB OK
602d Air Control Wing
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ (Inactivated 15 June 1992)

List of commanders[]

No. Commander Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
John M
Loh, John M.General John M. Loh
(born 1938)
1 June 199223 June 19953 years, 22 days
2
Joseph Ralston
Ralston, JosephGeneral Joseph Ralston
(born 1943)
23 June 199528 February 1996250 days
-
Brett M
Dula, Brett M.Lieutenant General Brett M. Dula (Acting)28 February 19965 April 199637 days
3
Richard E
Hawley, Richard E.General Richard E. Hawley
(born 1942)
5 April 199611 June 19993 years, 67 days
4
Ralph E
Eberhart, Ralph E.General Ralph E. Eberhart
(born 1946)
11 June 199911 June 1999242 days
5
John P
Jumper, John P.General John P. Jumper
(born 1945)
8 February 200025 August 20011 year, 198 days
-
Donald G
Cook, Donald G.Lieutenant General Donald G. Cook (Acting)
(born 1946)
25 August 200114 November 200181 days
6
Hal M
Hornburg, Hal M.General Hal M. Hornburg
(born 1945)
14 November 200117 November 20043 years, 3 days
-
Bruce A
Wright, Bruce A.Lieutenant General Bruce A. Wright (Acting)17 November 20043 February 200578 days
-
William M
Fraser, William M. IIILieutenant General William M. Fraser III (Acting)
(born 1952)
3 February 200527 May 2005113 days
7
Ronald Keys
Keys, RonaldGeneral Ronald Keys
(born 1945)
27 May 20052 October 20072 years, 128 days
8
John D. W
Corley, John D. W.General John D. W. Corley
(born 1951)
2 October 200710 September 20091 year, 343 days
9
William M
Fraser, William M. IIIGeneral William M. Fraser III
(born 1952)
10 September 200913 September 20112 years, 3 days
10
Gilmary M
Hostage, Gilmary M. IIIGeneral Gilmary M. Hostage III
(born 1955)
13 September 20114 November 20143 years, 52 days
11
Herbert J
Carlisle, Herbert J.General Herbert J. Carlisle
(born 1957)
4 November 201410 March 20172 years, 126 days
12
James M
Holmes, James M.General James M. Holmes
(born 1957)
10 March 201728 August 20206 years, 361 days
13
Mark D
Kelly, Mark D.General Mark D. Kelly
(born 1962)
28 August 2020Incumbent3 years, 190 days

See also[]

  • Predecessor Organizations:
Tactical Air Command
Strategic Air Command
Military Airlift Command

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Much of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the Air Combat Command website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource.

External links[]


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Air Combat Command and the edit history here.
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