Second Air Force

Second Air Force. It is one of the original numbered air forces of the United States Army Air Forces, established during World War II. Currently assigned to Air Education and Training Command, its primary mission is conducting basic military and technical training for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and allied personnel. Its headquarters is located at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

History

The unit was activated on 19 October 1941 at McChord Field, Washington, as part of the pre-war expansion of the Air Force Combat Command. During World War II, it served as a training and defensive organization under the Western Defense Command, responsible for the air defense of the West Coast of the United States and later for the advanced training of B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombardment groups. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, its focus intensified on preparing combat crews for deployment to theaters like the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater. After the war, it was inactivated in 1945, only to be reactivated in 1946 under the new Strategic Air Command at Fort Crook, Nebraska, where it managed strategic reconnaissance and bombardment units during the early Cold War. It was inactivated again in 1960, reactivated in 1966 under Air Training Command to oversee technical training, and has served continuously in the training role since its 1991 reactivation, now under Air Education and Training Command.

Organization

As a component of Air Education and Training Command, it is organized into several training wings and groups spread across multiple major installations. Its structure is designed to streamline the pipeline for enlisted and officer technical training, as well as initial skills training for battlefield airmen. Key subordinate units include the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, which conducts basic military training, and the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, responsible for a vast array of technical career fields. The organization also oversees specialized training groups for intelligence, cyber, and maintenance careers, ensuring a steady flow of qualified personnel to major commands like Air Combat Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Space Force.

Major units and bases

Primary subordinate units include the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, which is the sole site for Air Force basic military training. The 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, provides technical training for cyber, intelligence, and air traffic control careers. The 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, specializes in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training for multiple services. Other significant units are the 381st Training Group at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, for ICBM and space systems training, and the 336th Training Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, which conducts survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) training for all U.S. military branches.

Aircraft

While historically operating combat aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, and later B-29 Superfortress and B-36 Peacemaker during its Strategic Air Command tenure, its current fleet is primarily composed of training and support aircraft. These include the T-6 Texan II and T-1 Jayhawk for specialized undergraduate pilot training tracks managed by its associated units. The command also utilizes aircraft such as the UH-1N Twin Huey and HC-130J Combat King II for support roles in training exercises, particularly for the 336th Training Group's SERE curriculum. Its focus is not on maintaining an operational combat fleet but on using aircraft as platforms for instruction in maintenance, aircrew operations, and tactical support procedures.

Commanders

Notable commanders have included several officers who rose to high rank within the United States Air Force. Early commanders during World War II included Major General John B. Brooks and Lieutenant General Millard Harmon. During its tenure with Strategic Air Command, it was led by figures like Major General Alfred K. Flowers and Lieutenant General James V. Edmundson. More recent commanders have been instrumental in shaping modern training pipelines, such as Major General Andrea D. Tullos and Major General Michele C. Edmondson, who oversaw the integration of Space Force training and the expansion of cyber warfare instruction. The commander typically holds the rank of major general and is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base.

Category:Numbered Air Forces of the United States Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Air Education and Training Command