Twentieth Air Force: Difference between revisions
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{{ | U.S. land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are under the command of the '''Twentieth Air Force'''. For its training and preparation, it reports to the Air Force Global Strike Command, and, for Single Integrated Operational Plan operations, to the United States Strategic Command. | ||
U.S. land-based | |||
During | During World War Two in the Pacific, it was the headquarters for the strategic bombing of Japan. | ||
==World War II== | ==World War II== | ||
Twentieth Air Force was created on 12 April 1944, as a strategic bomber force in the Pacific, under the direct authority of the | Twentieth Air Force was created on 12 April 1944, as a strategic bomber force in the Pacific, under the direct authority of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with JCS member General Henry Arnold as its commander. As a practical matter, the JCS wanted direct control so that the bomber force was not caught up in the jurisdictional fights between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. They did not see the strategic bombing campaign as subordinate either to the Southwest Pacific Area under Douglas MacArthur or the Pacific Command under Chester W. Nimitz. | ||
It was initially organized into the XXth Bomber Command operating from China, and the | It was initially organized into the XXth Bomber Command operating from China, and the XXI Bomber Command operating from the Marianas. Operations from China proved to be extremely difficult, and the XXth was absorbed into the XXIth. Gen. Curtis LeMay was the operational commander of the XXIth. | ||
Using | Using B-29 bombers, the XXIth actually conducted the conventional and nuclear bombing of Japan, under policy control of the 20th. <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb | | title = The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb | ||
| author = John Ray Skates | year = 1994 | | author = John Ray Skates | year = 1994 | ||
| publisher = University of South Carolina Press}}, pp. 47-48</ref> | | publisher = University of South Carolina Press}}, pp. 47-48</ref> | ||
==Korean War== | ==Korean War== | ||
Headquartered in Japan, the Twentieth Air Force units also supported United Nations' forces during the | Headquartered in Japan, the Twentieth Air Force units also supported United Nations' forces during the Korean War, but was inactivated after a restructuring in March 1941. | ||
==Reactivation as ICBM command== | ==Reactivation as ICBM command== | ||
Twentieth Air Force was reactivated on Sept. 1, 1991, as a component of the Strategic Air Command and was located at | Twentieth Air Force was reactivated on Sept. 1, 1991, as a component of the Strategic Air Command and was located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The Fourteenth Air Force, responsible for the missile test range there and for a wide range of space activities, also is at Vandenberg. | ||
This happened at a time when strategic forces were being reduced with the end of the Cold War. In nine short years since its rebirth, 20th Air Force experienced three major command identities. After one year in | This happened at a time when strategic forces were being reduced with the end of the Cold War. In nine short years since its rebirth, 20th Air Force experienced three major command identities. After one year in Strategic Air Command and another year in Air Combat Command, 20th Air Force found a permanent home in Air Force Space Command in 1993. Twentieth Air Force Headquarters' location also changed in 1993, moving from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., to its current home, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, a base unique in being spread across three states, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. | ||
===Command structure=== | ===Command structure=== | ||
Twentieth Air Force headquarters is unique in that it has dual responsibilities to | Twentieth Air Force headquarters is unique in that it has dual responsibilities to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and United States Strategic Command. As the missile Numbered Air Force for AFGSC, 20th Air Force is responsible for maintaining and operating the Air Force's ICBM force. AFGSC assumed the nuclear assets of Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command.<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Air Force Global Strike Command activated | | title = Air Force Global Strike Command activated | ||
| date = 7 August 2009 | | date = 7 August 2009 | ||
| Line 27: | Line 26: | ||
}}</ref> after a review of deficiencies found after a 2007 incident in which live nuclear weapons were inadvertently transported on manned bombers. | }}</ref> after a review of deficiencies found after a 2007 incident in which live nuclear weapons were inadvertently transported on manned bombers. | ||
Designated as STRATCOM's Task Force 214, 20th Air Force provides on-alert, combat ready ICBMs to respond to the orders of the | Designated as STRATCOM's Task Force 214, 20th Air Force provides on-alert, combat ready ICBMs to respond to the orders of the National Command Authority. | ||
===Units=== | ===Units=== | ||
ICBM force structure was reduced radically as well during the 1990s, downsizing from six wings to three, and from 1,000 alert ICBMs to 550, all | ICBM force structure was reduced radically as well during the 1990s, downsizing from six wings to three, and from 1,000 alert ICBMs to 550, all LGM-30 Minuteman. | ||
* | *90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB | ||
* | *91st Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Latest revision as of 01:54, 27 March 2024
| This article may be deleted soon. | ||
|---|---|---|
 U.S. land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are under the command of the Twentieth Air Force. For its training and preparation, it reports to the Air Force Global Strike Command, and, for Single Integrated Operational Plan operations, to the United States Strategic Command. During World War Two in the Pacific, it was the headquarters for the strategic bombing of Japan. World War IITwentieth Air Force was created on 12 April 1944, as a strategic bomber force in the Pacific, under the direct authority of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with JCS member General Henry Arnold as its commander. As a practical matter, the JCS wanted direct control so that the bomber force was not caught up in the jurisdictional fights between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. They did not see the strategic bombing campaign as subordinate either to the Southwest Pacific Area under Douglas MacArthur or the Pacific Command under Chester W. Nimitz. It was initially organized into the XXth Bomber Command operating from China, and the XXI Bomber Command operating from the Marianas. Operations from China proved to be extremely difficult, and the XXth was absorbed into the XXIth. Gen. Curtis LeMay was the operational commander of the XXIth. Using B-29 bombers, the XXIth actually conducted the conventional and nuclear bombing of Japan, under policy control of the 20th. [1] Korean WarHeadquartered in Japan, the Twentieth Air Force units also supported United Nations' forces during the Korean War, but was inactivated after a restructuring in March 1941. Reactivation as ICBM commandTwentieth Air Force was reactivated on Sept. 1, 1991, as a component of the Strategic Air Command and was located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The Fourteenth Air Force, responsible for the missile test range there and for a wide range of space activities, also is at Vandenberg. This happened at a time when strategic forces were being reduced with the end of the Cold War. In nine short years since its rebirth, 20th Air Force experienced three major command identities. After one year in Strategic Air Command and another year in Air Combat Command, 20th Air Force found a permanent home in Air Force Space Command in 1993. Twentieth Air Force Headquarters' location also changed in 1993, moving from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., to its current home, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, a base unique in being spread across three states, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. Command structureTwentieth Air Force headquarters is unique in that it has dual responsibilities to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and United States Strategic Command. As the missile Numbered Air Force for AFGSC, 20th Air Force is responsible for maintaining and operating the Air Force's ICBM force. AFGSC assumed the nuclear assets of Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command.[2] after a review of deficiencies found after a 2007 incident in which live nuclear weapons were inadvertently transported on manned bombers. Designated as STRATCOM's Task Force 214, 20th Air Force provides on-alert, combat ready ICBMs to respond to the orders of the National Command Authority. UnitsICBM force structure was reduced radically as well during the 1990s, downsizing from six wings to three, and from 1,000 alert ICBMs to 550, all LGM-30 Minuteman.
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