Twenty-First Air Force
Shield of the Twenty-First Air Force
Active18 June 1942 – 19 March 2012
(69 years, 9 months)
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Engagements
World War II – American Theater
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (19x)
Insignia
21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force emblem

The Twenty-First Air Force (21 AF) is an inactive numbered air force of the United States Air Force. It was last active as the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (21 EMTF), stationed at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst until its inactivation in 2012. In this capacity, it was subordinate to Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force.

First created as a wing of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, the unit initially ferried aircraft, but its mission soon changed to airlifting personnel and cargo.

The organization was redesignated several times, eventually becoming the Twenty-First Air Force in 1966.

In 2003, the unit was redesignated as the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, assuming responsibility for worldwide airlift operations in support of United States Joint Forces Command, United States European Command, and United States Central Command.

In 2012, the organization was inactivated, with its subordinate units and responsibilities being transferred to the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center.

Mission

A 6th Air Mobility Wing KC-135 Stratotanker takes off from the flightline at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

The 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (EMTF) provided a rapid, tailored, worldwide, air mobility response to combatant commander's needs. Reporting through Eighteenth Air Force, the EMTF extended existing AMC infrastructure, through both en route employment and rapid forward deployment capabilities.

Its mission was to command and assess the combat readiness of assigned air mobility forces over the Atlantic half of the globe in support of Global Reach. These forces were at more than 55 locations in eight countries. 21 EMTF's major units included six active duty wings, two operational flying groups, and two mobility operations/support groups. Additionally, the 21 EMTF was liaison to 40 Air Reserve Component Wings.

21 EMTF's strategic airlift force included the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III and the C-130 Hercules, aircraft, used to move cargo and passengers worldwide. The tanker force included KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers used for inflight refueling to provide increased global mobility.

In addition to the Task Force's airlift and refueling mission, the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland provided worldwide administrative airlift support to the President of the United States and other top government officials flying the C-20, C-21, C-32, VC-25 (Air Force One), VC-137, and UH-1 aircraft.

Units

A 315th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster II flying over the new Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

History

1966 emblem of the 21st Air Force, based on the MATS Eastern Transport Air Force emblem

The organization was first established in June 1942 as the 23rd Army Air Forces Ferry Wing, ferrying aircraft before changing missions to airlift personnel and cargo the next month.[1]

Under Military Air Transport Service, Eastern Transport Air Force (EASTAF), headquartered at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, controlled all strategic airlift operations between the Mississippi River and the east coast of Africa and in Central and South America.

When MATS became Military Airlift Command, EASTAF was redesignated Twenty-First Air Force, with the same area of responsibility. In addition to Dover AFB, other major 21st AF bases were Charleston AFB, South Carolina and McGuire AFB, NJ. Depending upon command organization at different times, airlift and airlift support units in Europe, the Azores, Bermuda and throughout the southeastern United States also reported to EASTAF or 21st AF.

In Operation Just Cause, Twenty-first Air Force units conducted the largest night airdrop since World War II, leading to the successful seizure of Panama. From August 1990, Twenty-first Air Force controlled the largest airlift in history, moving forces for Operation Desert Shield and, later, Operation Desert Storm. Later in the decade Twenty-First Air Force was involved in operations in Bosnia and repeated deployments to the Middle East directed against Iraq.

The command also supported peaceful, humanitarian missions. Twenty-first Air Force units flew relief missions after Hurricane Hugo (1989) and Andrew (1992), earthquakes in Armenia and San Francisco, and many other natural disasters. In addition, it controlled the Operation Provide Comfort airlift missions to the Kurds following the Persian Gulf War, the Operation Provide Hope airlift in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and participated in Operation Restore Hope, the humanitarian airlift of food and supplies into Somalia.

The ETF supported numerous exercises around the world, one of which was CENTRAZBAT, in which C-17's flew multi-national paratroopers non-stop from Pope AFB, North Carolina, airdropping them directly into the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan demonstrating the capabilities of direct delivery. The command could operate in remote, often austere locations throughout Europe, Africa, and South America.

On 1 October 2003, the 21st Air Force was redesignated as the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force and given a new mission set as a component of the Eighteenth Air Force.[2] In this capacity, the organization supported United States Joint Forces Command, United States European Command, and United States Central Command.[3]

The 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force was inactivated on 19 March 2012, with its responsibilities and subordinate units being transferred to the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center.[4]

Lineage

Routes of the Eastern Transport Air Force, 1964
  • Established as 23rd Army Air Forces (AAF) Ferrying Wing on 12 June 1942
Activated on 18 June 1942
Redesignated North Atlantic Wing on 5 July 1942
Redesignated North Atlantic Division on 27 June 1944
Redesignated Atlantic Division on 20 September 1945
Redesignated Atlantic Division on 1 June 1948
Redesignated Eastern Transport Air Force on 1 July 1958
Redesignated Twenty-First Air Force on 3 January 1966
Redesignated 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force on 1 October 2003[1]
Inactivated on 19 March 2012[4]
Redesignated Twenty-First Air Force on 30 March 2012

Assignments

Major components

Stations

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Robertson, Patsy (March 2011). "21 Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Pike, Christopher (13 March 2012). "Expeditionary Task Force inactivates, 70-year tradition to continue". United States Air Force Expeditionary Center. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Wilkes, Bobby J.; Stinnette, Murrell F.; Reed, Randall. "Expeditionary Mobility Task Force" (PDF). Air and Space Power Journal. 19 (2): 15–22 – via Defense Technical Information Center.
  4. 1 2 "21st EMTF inactivates, expands EC's role in global air mobility". 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Musser, James M. (5 June 2018). "621 Contingency Response Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Lacomia, John M. (27 April 2018). "721 Air Mobility Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Lacomia, John M. (27 April 2018). "521 Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  • Snedeker, Clayton H. Twenty-first Air Force: Chronology of Significant Events, 1966–present. McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey: 21st Air Force Office of History, 1990.
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