Thirteenth Air Force
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| Thirteenth Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Thirteenth Air Force patch |
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| Active | 13 January 1943 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Hickam Air Force Base |
Like the Fifth Air Force, the Thirteenth Air Force/Gen. George C. Kenney Headquarters (13AF/KHQ) has never been stationed in the continental United States. It is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces.
It engaged in combat in the Pacific during World War II. Since World War II, it has provided air defense in the Far East, primarily the Philippines, until the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo forced the closure of Clark AB. Numerous Thirteenth Air Force organizations participated in Southeast Asia combat operations in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2005, the 13AF was retooled and renamed for General George Kenney, commander of the air operations in the South Pacific during World War II.
[edit] Mission
The mission of Thirteenth Air Force [1] is responsible for the planning, execution and assessment of air, space and information operations in the Pacific Theatre, minus the Korean area of operations. It is also responsible for Theatre Engagement at the operational level with partner nations in the Pacific region
Two wings are permanently assigned to 13 AF: the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam AFB and the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Base, Guam. Partnered with the Hawaii Air National Guard, the 15th AW provides strategic and tactical airlift with its eight C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and command airlift with one specially configured C-40 and one C-37. It also serves as an important en-route location for transient aircraft. The 36th WG has an expansive mission to support global projection and reach from its strategic location in the Pacific. On Jan. 5, 2007, Detachment 1, 13 AF was activated at Yokota AB, Japan. Det. 1 is responsible for planning, coordinating and executing air operations around Japan in coordinatin with the Japan Air Self Defense Force, through the 5 AF staff at Yokota, and the 613th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) at Hickam.
Headquarters, 13 AF is made up of an A-staff and personal staff (the Air Force Forces staff), 613th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC), known as the Maj Richard Bong AOC, and the 613th Support Group. The 613th AOC is one of the U.S. Air Force’s five full capability AN/USQ-163 FALCONER weapon systems with the ability to plan, task, execute, monitor and assess full spectrum air, space, and information operations for the COMAFFOR and/or C/JFACC. The AOC serves as the nerve center of air operations during any campaign.
The Support Group maintains a consolidated commander’s support staff providing personnel support for the entire headquarters; an operational support flight providing facility, training, readiness, and security management; and has two subordinate units: the 56th Air and Space Communications Squadron and the 17th Operational Weather Squadron.
[edit] History
Activated at New Caledonia in the Coral Sea on January 13, 1943, 13AF began operations as an organization composed of many widely separated and independent units scattered throughout the Pacific. Form 1943-1945, 13 AF staged out of tropical jungles on more than 40 remote islands, thus earning the nickname, "The Jungle Air Force."
Initially charged with taking a defensive stand against advancing enemy forces, 13AF later took the offensive and traveled northeast from the Solomons to the Admiralty Islands, New Guinea, Morotai and the Philippines. Jungle Air Force units have participated in five different operation areas and 13 campaigns, flying a variety of aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, B-26 Marauder, P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra, P-40 Warhawk, P-61 Black Widow, C-46 Commando, C-47 Skytrain, and L-5 Sentinel.
Thirteenth Air Force established its headquarters at Clark Field, Philippines, in January 1946. In May of that year, it moved to Fort William McKinley, Luzon. By August 1947, 13AF returned to Clark Field. In December 1948, the unit moved to Kadena, Okinawa, where it remained for only a few months before returning to Clark in May 1949.
During the Korean War, 13AF units provided staging areas for people and equipment destined for the war zone. During the decade of peace that followed the war, the command concentrated on training and surveillance activities to maintain a high state of readiness for contingencies.
As the Vietnam War escalated during the late 1960s and early 1970s, 13AF again served as a staging base and logistics manager for units fighting in Southeast Asia. As more American aircraft and people were poured into the war effort, combat units and facilities under 13AF in Thailand increased. At its peak, 13AF was composed of seven combat wings, nine major bases, 11 smaller installations and more than 31,000 military members.
With the buildup and execution of Operations Desert Shield and Storm, 13AF provided aircraft and support staff vital to the United Nations victory in Southwest Asia.
In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo buried Clark in volcanic ash, forcing the base to close on 26 November and leading to the evacuation of assigned military members and their families in Operation Fiery Vigil. The Thirteenth Air Force relocated and officially established its headquarters at Andersen Air Force Base on December 2, 1991.
In 2005, the Jungle Air Force stood down as a traditional Numbered Air Force and moved to Hickam Air Force Base to assume the role of the new Kenney Warfighting Headquarters for PACAF, which was activated in provisional status in June, 2005.
On Oct. 6, 2006, after a one-year transformation of command and control of air, space and information operations in the Pacific, Thirteenth Air Force officially began operations as a component numbered air force headquarters and welcomed a new commander. Former Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. Loyd S. “Chip” Utterback, assumed command of the unit Oct. 6, replacing Maj. Gen. Edward A. Rice, Jr., who had commanded Thirteenth Air Force from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Hickam since January 2005. Previously designated as a management headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force is now one of 10 organizations designed to enhance the operational level support, planning, command, control and execution of air, space and information operations capabilities across the full range of military operations throughout the U.S. Pacific Command’s area of responsibility (minus the Korea theater of operations).
Headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force has more than 650 permanently assigned military and civilian personnel serving at Hickam Air Force Base. The unit is also directly responsible for two Air Force wings, the 15th Airlift Wing, also located at Hickam, and the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base.
[edit] Commands during World War II
- XIII Bomber Command 1943-46
- XIII Fighter Command 1943-46
