Fifth Air Force

Fifth Air Force
Unit name	Fifth Air Force
Dates	1941–present

Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force with a long operational history in the Pacific Ocean and East Asia. Established before World War II, it has participated in major campaigns across the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Korean War, and postwar security operations in Japan and the Republic of Korea. The command has coordinated with allied forces including the United States Pacific Command, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Republic of Korea Air Force, and multilateral coalitions.

History

Originally formed amid tensions in the Pacific Ocean theater, the command fought in the Philippine campaign (1941–42), supported operations during the Guadalcanal Campaign, and took part in the New Guinea campaign (World War II). Command elements operated alongside units from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force, and Netherlands East Indies forces. During the Korean War, the command controlled tactical air operations in coordination with United Nations Command and contributed to major battles like the Battle of Pusan Perimeter and the Inchon landing. Throughout the Cold War the command maintained presence in Okinawa, Truk, and on bases in Japan, adjusting to crises such as the Taiwan Strait crisis and the Vietnam War by supporting airlift and interdiction tasks. Post-Cold War transformations aligned the command with United States Indo-Pacific Command regional strategy, reinforcing ties with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and regional partners during exercises like Cope North and Rim of the Pacific Exercise.

Organization and Structure

The command is organized under higher echelons of the United States Air Force and coordinates with Pacific Air Forces headquarters. Its staff includes directorates for operations, logistics, intelligence, and plans that liaise with allied staffs from United States Forces Japan, United States Forces Korea, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Subordinate wings and groups report through numbered wings analogous to other USAF structures; the command integrates joint elements from United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and occasional detachments from the United States Army for combined-arms planning. The command employs liaison with multinational headquarters such as Combined Forces Command (Korea), Seventh Fleet, and regional security forums including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue participants during cooperative activities.

Operational Role and Missions

Focusing on air superiority, expeditionary operations, and theater support, the command executes missions including close air support, interdiction, reconnaissance, and airlift in support of allied ground and maritime forces. It coordinates strategic deterrence, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and noncombatant evacuation operations alongside units such as Air Mobility Command and Pacific Air Forces. The command contributes to theater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance by collaborating with platforms from National Reconnaissance Office tasking through joint ISR cells and exchange programs with Royal Australian Air Force and Republic of Korea Navy. During contingencies it provides air component command for joint task forces established under United Nations Command or bilateral defense arrangements like the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty.

Major Units and Bases

Major wings and units historically and currently aligned include those based at Yokota Air Base, Misawa Air Base, and Kadena Air Base in Japan, and elements in the Republic of Korea such as at Osan Air Base and Kunsan Air Base. Logistics and mobility are supported through nodes like Andersen Air Force Base and Clark Air Base legacy links with Clark International Airport operations. Units frequently associated include tactical fighter wings, airlift wings, and intelligence groups that have included escort relationships with units tied to F-15 and F-16 wings, as well as support squadrons cooperating with Civil Air Patrol and allied squadrons from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Air Force. Cooperative training occurs at ranges such as the Kadena Range Complex and multilateral locations used for exercises like Red Flag variants and Vigilant Ace.

Aircraft and Equipment

The command has operated a wide range of aircraft across eras: World War II fighters and bombers, Korean War-era piston and early jet fighters, Cold War jet fighters, and modern multirole fighters. Notable airframes associated through units and exchanges include the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-35 Lightning II, and mobility types such as the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III. Reconnaissance and electronic warfare platforms working with the command have included derivatives tied to the RC-135 and E-3 Sentry families, plus rotary-wing support from variants of the UH-1 Iroquois and CH-47 Chinook in joint operations. Ground-based systems for base defense and command-and-control integration have interfaced with networked systems fielded by U.S. Northern Command and allies during combined exercises.

Notable Operations and Engagements

Key operations include support for the Battle of the Philippines (1944–45), sustained air campaigns during the Korean War including close air support during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir proximities, and postwar deterrence missions during episodes like the 1972 Okinawa Reversion preparations and the 1991 Gulf War strategic posture adjustments. Humanitarian and contingency responses have included airlift and evacuation during natural disasters such as responses coordinated after Typhoon Haiyan impacts and joint relief missions tied to Operation Tomodachi. Multinational exercises and show-of-force deployments have aligned the command with partners in events like Cope North, RIMPAC, and bilateral scrambles during incidents involving North Korea provocations.

Category:United States Air Force numbered air forces