21st Air Force

21st Air Force was a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force that played a significant role in the Cold War, working closely with the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command. The 21st Air Force was part of the Military Airlift Command and later the Air Mobility Command, with its personnel and aircraft participating in numerous operations, including the Berlin Airlift and the Gulf War. The 21st Air Force worked in conjunction with other units, such as the 60th Airlift Wing and the 62nd Airlift Wing, to provide airlift support to the United States Army and the United States Navy. The 21st Air Force also collaborated with international partners, including the Royal Air Force and the Canadian Forces, to achieve its objectives.

● History

The 21st Air Force was established in 1941 as the 21st Ferrying Group, with its primary mission being to transport aircraft and personnel across the Atlantic Ocean to support the Allies of World War II. During World War II, the 21st Ferrying Group worked closely with the Army Air Forces Ferrying Command and the Air Transport Command to deliver aircraft to the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 21st Air Force also played a key role in the Korean War, providing airlift support to the United States Eighth Army and the United States Seventh Fleet. The 21st Air Force worked in conjunction with other units, such as the 315th Air Division and the 322d Airlift Division, to provide airlift support to the United Nations Command.

● Organization

The 21st Air Force was organized under the Military Airlift Command and later the Air Mobility Command, with its headquarters located at McGuire Air Force Base and later at Travis Air Force Base. The 21st Air Force was composed of several wings, including the 60th Airlift Wing and the 62nd Airlift Wing, which operated a variety of aircraft, such as the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III. The 21st Air Force also had several groups and squadrons under its command, including the 21st Operations Group and the 21st Maintenance Group, which provided support to the wings and other units. The 21st Air Force worked closely with other units, such as the 22nd Air Force and the 15th Air Force, to achieve its objectives.

● Operations

The 21st Air Force participated in numerous operations, including the Berlin Airlift and the Gulf War. During the Berlin Airlift, the 21st Air Force worked closely with the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force to deliver food and supplies to the city of Berlin. The 21st Air Force also played a key role in the Gulf War, providing airlift support to the United States Central Command and the Coalition Forces. The 21st Air Force worked in conjunction with other units, such as the 436th Airlift Wing and the 437th Airlift Wing, to provide airlift support to the United States Army and the United States Navy. The 21st Air Force also collaborated with international partners, including the Canadian Forces and the Australian Defence Force, to achieve its objectives.

● Lineage

The 21st Air Force was established in 1941 as the 21st Ferrying Group, with its primary mission being to transport aircraft and personnel across the Atlantic Ocean to support the Allies of World War II. The 21st Ferrying Group was later redesignated as the 21st Transport Group and then as the 21st Air Transport Group. In 1948, the 21st Air Transport Group was redesignated as the 21st Air Force, with its primary mission being to provide airlift support to the United States Army and the United States Navy. The 21st Air Force was inactivated in 1992, with its personnel and aircraft being transferred to other units, such as the 22nd Air Force and the 15th Air Force.

● Assignments

The 21st Air Force was assigned to several major commands, including the Military Airlift Command and the Air Mobility Command. The 21st Air Force was also assigned to several numbered air forces, including the Eastern Transport Air Force and the Western Transport Air Force. The 21st Air Force worked closely with other units, such as the 60th Airlift Wing and the 62nd Airlift Wing, to provide airlift support to the United States Army and the United States Navy. The 21st Air Force collaborated with international partners, including the Royal Air Force and the Canadian Forces, to achieve its objectives, and was involved in several key events, including the Yalta Conference, the Potsdam Conference, and the Paris Peace Accords. The 21st Air Force also worked with notable figures, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, and Curtis LeMay, to achieve its objectives.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States