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Library > Fact Sheets > 18th Air Force
18TH AIR FORCE
Posted 3/22/2012
Printable Fact Sheet
The 18th Air Force, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., was reactivated Oct. 1, 2003 as the operational component of Air Mobility Command. It is AMC's only numbered air force and the Air Force's largest NAF.
Mission
Eighteenth Air Force's mission is to present air mobility forces to combatant commanders. It is charged with carrying out AMC's operational role as Air Forces Transportation (AFTRANS), the air component of U.S. Transportation Command.
Resources
Eighteenth Air Force's mobility aircraft include the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, and KC-135 Stratotanker. Operational support aircraft include the VC-25 (Air Force One), C-21, C-20, C-32, C-37, C-40, and UH-1.
Personnel
Eighteenth Air Force has an assigned active duty military and civilian workforce of approximately 34,000 people.
Organization
Eighteenth Air Force, commanded by a three-star general, is charged with executing air mobility missions worldwide. Active duty units reporting to 18th Air Force include the following:
Dover AFB, Del. - 436th Airlift Wing
Dyess AFB, Texas - 317th Airlift Group
Fairchild AFB, Wash. - 92nd Air Refueling Wing
Incirlik AB, Turkey - 317th Airlift Group
Joint Base Andrews, Md. - 89th Airlift Wing
Joint Base Charleston, S.C. - 437th Airlift Wing
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash - 62nd Airlift Wing
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. - 305th Air Mobility Wing
Little Rock AFB, Ark. - 19th Airlift Wing
MacDill AFB, Fla. - 6th Air Mobility Wing
McConnell AFB, Kan. - 22nd Air Refueling Wing
Scott AFB, Ill. - 375th Air Mobility Wing
- 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center)
Travis AFB, Calif. - 60th Air Mobility Wing
TACC serves as AFTRANS' air operations hub, planning and directing tanker and transport aircraft operations around the world.
History
Organized on March 28, 1951, at Donaldson AFB, S.C., and assigned to Tactical Air Command, the primary mission of the 18th Air Force (Troop Carrier) was training troop carrier crews. Immediately after activation, it began to provide trained troop carrier crews and other personnel for the Korean War.
Redesignated as 18th Air Force on June 26, 1951, it quickly became involved with numerous activities including troop movements in the continental United States, defense early warning (DEW) line operations in numerous Allied nations, and support of U.S. efforts at the South Pole in Antarctica.
During this period, there were 16 troop carrier wings assigned to 18th Air Force flying C-45, C-46, C-47, C-54, C-82, C-119, C-122, C-124 and C-130 aircraft. Additionally, some wings flew H-19 and H-21 helicopters as well as the L-5, L-16 and L-20.
As part of the implementation of the Single Manager Airlift Service concept for the Air Force, 18th Air Force moved on Sept.1, 1957, to Waco, Texas, and transferred its troop carrying aircraft to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). The command received other combat units as it assumed command responsibilities for all TAC bases and organizations in the south central and western states. During the short time 18th Air Force was in Waco, assigned wings flew KB-29, KB-50, F-84, F-100 and F-101 aircraft.
Eighteenth Air Force had hardly settled into its new home and mission when it was inactivated. On Jan. 1, 1958, 18th Air Force was inactivated and all personnel and equipment were transferred in place to the newly reactivated 12th Air Force.
Since its reactivation in 2003 as AMC's only numbered air force, the 18th Air Force has led the global mobility enterprise in a vast array of missions with global impact. Besides playing a prominent role in Iraq and Afghanistan airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and air refueling missions, the command conducted humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Haiti, Pakistan and Japan, as well as refueling operations supporting the United Nations' no fly zone over Libya.
As they have throughout the command's history, the people and aircraft of the 18th Air Force continue to work hard to deliver the promise of global reach for America.
(Current as of March 2012)
Point of Contact
Air Mobility Command, Public Affairs Office; 402 Scott Drive, Unit 1-M-8; Scott AFB, IL 62225, DSN 779-7843 or (618) 229-7843.
email: amc-pao@us.af.mil.
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