Twenty-Second Air Force

Twenty-Second Air Force is a Numbered Air Force within the United States Air Force's Air Mobility Command. Headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, it is responsible for providing combat-ready Air Force Reserve Command forces for global air mobility operations. Its mission encompasses aerial refueling, airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and aerial port operations, supporting Department of Defense objectives worldwide.

History

The unit was originally constituted as the **22d Bombardment Wing** in 1941 and activated at Langley Field under the First Air Force. During World War II, it served as a training organization for B-26 Marauder and B-25 Mitchell units before being redesignated the **22d Bombardment Wing (Medium)** and deploying to the Southwest Pacific Area under Fifth Air Force. It participated in key campaigns including the New Guinea campaign and the Philippines campaign (1944–1945), earning a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. Inactivated in 1946, it was reactivated in 1951 as the **22d Air Force** under Military Air Transport Service (MATS) at Travis Air Force Base, managing air transport squadrons. It was redesignated **Twenty-Second Air Force** in 1965 and played a significant role during the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and later conflicts, transitioning to Air Mobility Command in 1992 and gaining its current Air Force Reserve Command associate mission.

Organization

Headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, the command exercises oversight over numerous Air Force Reserve wings, groups, and squadrons. Key subordinate units include the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, the 315th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, and the 433d Airlift Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. It also maintains operational control over several C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, KC-10 Extender, and KC-135 Stratotanker associate units that work alongside active duty counterparts in the Total Force Integration model. The force is structured to provide seamless integration of reserve personnel and aircraft into the global air mobility enterprise.

Aircraft

Throughout its history, the command has operated a wide array of aircraft. Early operations involved the B-26 Marauder and C-47 Skytrain. Its airlift mission expanded with aircraft like the C-124 Globemaster II, C-141 Starlifter, and the massive C-5 Galaxy. The current inventory is centered on modern strategic airlift and tanker platforms, primarily the C-17 Globemaster III, the C-5M Super Galaxy, and the KC-135 Stratotanker. These aircraft enable global reach for strategic airlift, tactical airlift, and aerial refueling missions, directly supporting operations for U.S. Transportation Command and combatant commanders worldwide.

Operations

The force executes a continuous tempo of global operations, including channel airlift missions, aeromedical evacuation flights, and aerial refueling sorties. It has been integral to every major U.S. military engagement since its reactivation, from the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War to sustained support during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It routinely participates in humanitarian and disaster relief operations, such as those following Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Its crews also support NASA missions and special assignment airlift for high-priority U.S. government requirements.

Assignments

The command has been assigned to several major organizations. Initially under First Air Force, it later served with Fifth Air Force in the Pacific. Post-war, it was a key component of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and its successor, the Military Airlift Command (MAC). Since 1992, it has been a vital part of Air Mobility Command, providing the reserve component for AMC's global mission. It maintains a direct reporting relationship to the commander of Air Force Reserve Command for readiness and training, while operational taskings flow through Air Mobility Command and United States Transportation Command.

Emblem and lineage

The unit's emblem, approved in 1952, features a blue disc with a winged globe in gold, symbolizing global air transport. Its lineage includes the historical **22d Bombardment Wing** and **22d Air Force** designations. The command holds several campaign streamers from World War II and has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award on multiple occasions. It shares a numerical designation with, but is distinct from, the Second Air Force and other historical Numbered Air Forces within the United States Air Force.