Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2010-05-28T01:33:45Z

Ndunruh: /* In the media */ unrefenced section

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.png
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[Kevin J. Jacobsen]]
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{Collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}

The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI''', or '''OSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded August 1, 1948, at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:
*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]]
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]]
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]]
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]]
*Region 5 with [[United States Air Forces in Europe]]
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]]
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to AFOSI Headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4848 |title=Factsheets : Air Force Office of Special Investigations |publisher=Osi.andrews.af.mil |date= |accessdate=2010-05-09}}</ref>

==Operations==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Threat detection

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.

Criminal Investigations

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, black market activities, and other criminal activities.

'''Economic crime investigations'''

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

'''Information Operations'''

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to our information systems. Our role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force, and our response to these threats, will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.

'''Technology Protection'''

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.

'''Specialized Services'''

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers.

'''Defense Cyber Crime Center'''

AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for both the Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory and the Defense Computer Investigations Training Program, which together comprise the Defense Cyber Crime Center. The forensics laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The investigations training program provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.

==Antiterrorism teams==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide terrorism, AFOSI antiterrorism teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI unit stands ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counterintelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.

(AFOSI SITT)

[[USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team]]

The USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team's is a specialized special ops team that takes care of cases that need specialized equipment, tactical special operations , and [[counterintelligence]] for the Air Force, cases that are not for regular agents , similar to the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]], but carry out operations also like the CIA's [[Special Activities Division]], with some responsibility for covert operations, black operations, and other "special activities". Most of the operations SITT carries out are abroad, capturing criminals of the [[Department of the Air Force]]. They also carry out special reconnaissance operations, with [[unconventional warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]] tactics . Most of the functions they carry out, however, is similar to [[SWAT]].
The AFOSI SITT specializes in:
* [[Urban warfare]]
* [[Desert warfare]]
* [[Jungle Warfare]]
* [[Arctic warfare]]
* [[Ski warfare]]
* [[Tank desant]]
* [[Mountain warfare]]
* [[Guerrilla warfare]]
* [[Unconventional warfare]]
* [[Special reconnaissance]]
* [[Counter-terrorism]]
* [[hostage rescue]]
* [[CQB]]
* [[Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape]]
* [[HALO jump]]
* Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S)
* Breacher (Barrier Penetration/Methods of Entry)
* [[Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure]]
Most of the training is , after regular AFOSI training, is with the Air Force special operators , then they train ( if they choose to expand their training) with the [[United States Navy Seals]] , [[Special Forces (United States Army)]], [[United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command]], the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]] [[SRT]] teams , the FBI's [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and various other militaries special forces, and do one tour of duty with them. SITT training is a combination of all the services special force's regimens. SITT is divided into 10 teams, numbered 1-10, each with 10 units, each unit following the Basic Element - SF Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) composition from US Army Special Forces, which have about 5-10 operators in each unit. The detachment organization for regular OSI units are not the same for SITT. For example, instead of Detachment 113, the designation would be 111B for a SITT unit. SITT Teams carry arrests in all types of environments. SITT teams ( which usually have 100 men) are split into six different areas of combat/arrest environments:

SITT Teams 1 and 2: Arctic Warfare Teams (AWT): These 20 units specialize in [[Arctic Warfare]] and [[Survival skills|winter survival]]. They receive training from the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and the British [[Special Air Service]] after SITT training.

SITT Teams 3 and 4: Mountain Warfare Teams (MWT): They specialize in [[Mountain warfare]]. Most of the MWT is located in the [[Middle East]]. They usually carry out arrest that have hostile criminals that use mountainous regions. They receive training with the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and [[Norway]]’s [[Forsvarets Spesialkommando]] (FSK).

SITT Teams 5 and 6: Urban Warfare Teams (UWT): These teams carries out operations in urban environments ([[urban warfare]]). This team empathizes in covert arrests, usually in crowded areas full of civilians, but if the urban area is to destabilized, then they do overt arrests, often in full battle gear. They receive training with the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Duvdevan Unit]].

SITT Teams 7 and 8: Desert and Jungle Warfare Teams (DJWT): These teams carry out arrests in jungle and desert environments, especially for counter-drug operations. They train under the [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|US Marine Force Recon]] , and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Egoz Reconnaissance Unit]].

SITT Teams 9 and 10: Amphibious and Airborne Operations Teams (AAOT): These teams carry out operations in amphibious environments ( and infiltration through use of subs) and use of the [[HALO]] jump. Not only that, they are the aerial wing of SITT, primarily using helicopters. These teams are specifically trained from these types of operations, taking training from the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Boat Service]],[[Israeli|Israel]] [[Shayetet 13]], [[ United States Navy SEALs]], and advising from the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)]] and the [[United States Air Force Pararescue]].

The entire SITT is headed by the SITT Commander, (SITTCOM), who directly reports to the head of the AFOSI.

==Training and Physical Requirements==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
All new AFOSI special agent recruits -- whether officer, enlisted or civilian -- receive their entry-level training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga. The training requires that each recruit meet physical requirements that are located on the FLETC web site at www.fletc.gov. The candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by six weeks of AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5 mile run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physical fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time to participate in physical fitness activities.

==In the media==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
*In the 2008 film ''[[Eagle Eye]]'', actress [[Rosario Dawson]] played OSI Special Agent Zoe Perez.
*It is often reported OSI was approached by producers to film a fictional weekly television series about the agency. OSI officials shot down the idea of using OSI as a vehicle and the idea was quickly picked up by the Navy, and thus created the show ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''. However, this is erroneous as the TV series NCIS is a spin-off of the TV series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', in which the lead NCIS male actor played by Mark Harmon was a regularly occurring minor character.
*The ''[[Six Million Dollar Man]]'', Steve Austin worked for the office of OSI, although that OSI stood for "Office of Scientific Intelligence," or occasionally referred to as "Office of Strategic Intelligence."

==See also==
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

'''Air Force'''
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

'''Federal law enforcement'''
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS]]
*[[Diplomatic Security Service|DSS - U.S. Diplomatic Security Service - Department of State]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/}}
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=145 Official factsheet]

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{United States military law enforcement}}
{{USAF Field Operating Agencies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Air Force Office Of Special Investigations}}
[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2010-05-28T01:33:12Z

Ndunruh: /* Training and Physical Requirements */ unrferenced section

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.png
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[Kevin J. Jacobsen]]
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{Collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}

The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI''', or '''OSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded August 1, 1948, at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:
*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]]
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]]
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]]
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]]
*Region 5 with [[United States Air Forces in Europe]]
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]]
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to AFOSI Headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4848 |title=Factsheets : Air Force Office of Special Investigations |publisher=Osi.andrews.af.mil |date= |accessdate=2010-05-09}}</ref>

==Operations==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Threat detection

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.

Criminal Investigations

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, black market activities, and other criminal activities.

'''Economic crime investigations'''

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

'''Information Operations'''

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to our information systems. Our role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force, and our response to these threats, will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.

'''Technology Protection'''

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.

'''Specialized Services'''

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers.

'''Defense Cyber Crime Center'''

AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for both the Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory and the Defense Computer Investigations Training Program, which together comprise the Defense Cyber Crime Center. The forensics laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The investigations training program provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.

==Antiterrorism teams==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide terrorism, AFOSI antiterrorism teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI unit stands ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counterintelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.

(AFOSI SITT)

[[USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team]]

The USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team's is a specialized special ops team that takes care of cases that need specialized equipment, tactical special operations , and [[counterintelligence]] for the Air Force, cases that are not for regular agents , similar to the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]], but carry out operations also like the CIA's [[Special Activities Division]], with some responsibility for covert operations, black operations, and other "special activities". Most of the operations SITT carries out are abroad, capturing criminals of the [[Department of the Air Force]]. They also carry out special reconnaissance operations, with [[unconventional warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]] tactics . Most of the functions they carry out, however, is similar to [[SWAT]].
The AFOSI SITT specializes in:
* [[Urban warfare]]
* [[Desert warfare]]
* [[Jungle Warfare]]
* [[Arctic warfare]]
* [[Ski warfare]]
* [[Tank desant]]
* [[Mountain warfare]]
* [[Guerrilla warfare]]
* [[Unconventional warfare]]
* [[Special reconnaissance]]
* [[Counter-terrorism]]
* [[hostage rescue]]
* [[CQB]]
* [[Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape]]
* [[HALO jump]]
* Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S)
* Breacher (Barrier Penetration/Methods of Entry)
* [[Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure]]
Most of the training is , after regular AFOSI training, is with the Air Force special operators , then they train ( if they choose to expand their training) with the [[United States Navy Seals]] , [[Special Forces (United States Army)]], [[United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command]], the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]] [[SRT]] teams , the FBI's [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and various other militaries special forces, and do one tour of duty with them. SITT training is a combination of all the services special force's regimens. SITT is divided into 10 teams, numbered 1-10, each with 10 units, each unit following the Basic Element - SF Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) composition from US Army Special Forces, which have about 5-10 operators in each unit. The detachment organization for regular OSI units are not the same for SITT. For example, instead of Detachment 113, the designation would be 111B for a SITT unit. SITT Teams carry arrests in all types of environments. SITT teams ( which usually have 100 men) are split into six different areas of combat/arrest environments:

SITT Teams 1 and 2: Arctic Warfare Teams (AWT): These 20 units specialize in [[Arctic Warfare]] and [[Survival skills|winter survival]]. They receive training from the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and the British [[Special Air Service]] after SITT training.

SITT Teams 3 and 4: Mountain Warfare Teams (MWT): They specialize in [[Mountain warfare]]. Most of the MWT is located in the [[Middle East]]. They usually carry out arrest that have hostile criminals that use mountainous regions. They receive training with the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and [[Norway]]’s [[Forsvarets Spesialkommando]] (FSK).

SITT Teams 5 and 6: Urban Warfare Teams (UWT): These teams carries out operations in urban environments ([[urban warfare]]). This team empathizes in covert arrests, usually in crowded areas full of civilians, but if the urban area is to destabilized, then they do overt arrests, often in full battle gear. They receive training with the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Duvdevan Unit]].

SITT Teams 7 and 8: Desert and Jungle Warfare Teams (DJWT): These teams carry out arrests in jungle and desert environments, especially for counter-drug operations. They train under the [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|US Marine Force Recon]] , and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Egoz Reconnaissance Unit]].

SITT Teams 9 and 10: Amphibious and Airborne Operations Teams (AAOT): These teams carry out operations in amphibious environments ( and infiltration through use of subs) and use of the [[HALO]] jump. Not only that, they are the aerial wing of SITT, primarily using helicopters. These teams are specifically trained from these types of operations, taking training from the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Boat Service]],[[Israeli|Israel]] [[Shayetet 13]], [[ United States Navy SEALs]], and advising from the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)]] and the [[United States Air Force Pararescue]].

The entire SITT is headed by the SITT Commander, (SITTCOM), who directly reports to the head of the AFOSI.

==Training and Physical Requirements==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
All new AFOSI special agent recruits -- whether officer, enlisted or civilian -- receive their entry-level training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga. The training requires that each recruit meet physical requirements that are located on the FLETC web site at www.fletc.gov. The candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by six weeks of AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5 mile run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physical fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time to participate in physical fitness activities.

==In the media==
*In the 2008 film ''[[Eagle Eye]]'', actress [[Rosario Dawson]] played OSI Special Agent Zoe Perez.
*It is often reported OSI was approached by producers to film a fictional weekly television series about the agency. OSI officials shot down the idea of using OSI as a vehicle and the idea was quickly picked up by the Navy, and thus created the show ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''. However, this is erroneous as the TV series NCIS is a spin-off of the TV series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', in which the lead NCIS male actor played by Mark Harmon was a regularly occurring minor character.
*The ''[[Six Million Dollar Man]]'', Steve Austin worked for the office of OSI, although that OSI stood for "Office of Scientific Intelligence," or occasionally referred to as "Office of Strategic Intelligence."

==See also==
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

'''Air Force'''
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

'''Federal law enforcement'''
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS]]
*[[Diplomatic Security Service|DSS - U.S. Diplomatic Security Service - Department of State]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/}}
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=145 Official factsheet]

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{United States military law enforcement}}
{{USAF Field Operating Agencies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Air Force Office Of Special Investigations}}
[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2010-05-28T01:32:42Z

Ndunruh: /* Antiterrorism teams */ unrefernced section

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.png
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[Kevin J. Jacobsen]]
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{Collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}

The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI''', or '''OSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded August 1, 1948, at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:
*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]]
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]]
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]]
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]]
*Region 5 with [[United States Air Forces in Europe]]
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]]
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to AFOSI Headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4848 |title=Factsheets : Air Force Office of Special Investigations |publisher=Osi.andrews.af.mil |date= |accessdate=2010-05-09}}</ref>

==Operations==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Threat detection

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.

Criminal Investigations

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, black market activities, and other criminal activities.

'''Economic crime investigations'''

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

'''Information Operations'''

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to our information systems. Our role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force, and our response to these threats, will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.

'''Technology Protection'''

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.

'''Specialized Services'''

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers.

'''Defense Cyber Crime Center'''

AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for both the Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory and the Defense Computer Investigations Training Program, which together comprise the Defense Cyber Crime Center. The forensics laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The investigations training program provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.

==Antiterrorism teams==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide terrorism, AFOSI antiterrorism teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI unit stands ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counterintelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.

(AFOSI SITT)

[[USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team]]

The USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team's is a specialized special ops team that takes care of cases that need specialized equipment, tactical special operations , and [[counterintelligence]] for the Air Force, cases that are not for regular agents , similar to the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]], but carry out operations also like the CIA's [[Special Activities Division]], with some responsibility for covert operations, black operations, and other "special activities". Most of the operations SITT carries out are abroad, capturing criminals of the [[Department of the Air Force]]. They also carry out special reconnaissance operations, with [[unconventional warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]] tactics . Most of the functions they carry out, however, is similar to [[SWAT]].
The AFOSI SITT specializes in:
* [[Urban warfare]]
* [[Desert warfare]]
* [[Jungle Warfare]]
* [[Arctic warfare]]
* [[Ski warfare]]
* [[Tank desant]]
* [[Mountain warfare]]
* [[Guerrilla warfare]]
* [[Unconventional warfare]]
* [[Special reconnaissance]]
* [[Counter-terrorism]]
* [[hostage rescue]]
* [[CQB]]
* [[Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape]]
* [[HALO jump]]
* Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S)
* Breacher (Barrier Penetration/Methods of Entry)
* [[Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure]]
Most of the training is , after regular AFOSI training, is with the Air Force special operators , then they train ( if they choose to expand their training) with the [[United States Navy Seals]] , [[Special Forces (United States Army)]], [[United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command]], the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]] [[SRT]] teams , the FBI's [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and various other militaries special forces, and do one tour of duty with them. SITT training is a combination of all the services special force's regimens. SITT is divided into 10 teams, numbered 1-10, each with 10 units, each unit following the Basic Element - SF Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) composition from US Army Special Forces, which have about 5-10 operators in each unit. The detachment organization for regular OSI units are not the same for SITT. For example, instead of Detachment 113, the designation would be 111B for a SITT unit. SITT Teams carry arrests in all types of environments. SITT teams ( which usually have 100 men) are split into six different areas of combat/arrest environments:

SITT Teams 1 and 2: Arctic Warfare Teams (AWT): These 20 units specialize in [[Arctic Warfare]] and [[Survival skills|winter survival]]. They receive training from the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and the British [[Special Air Service]] after SITT training.

SITT Teams 3 and 4: Mountain Warfare Teams (MWT): They specialize in [[Mountain warfare]]. Most of the MWT is located in the [[Middle East]]. They usually carry out arrest that have hostile criminals that use mountainous regions. They receive training with the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and [[Norway]]’s [[Forsvarets Spesialkommando]] (FSK).

SITT Teams 5 and 6: Urban Warfare Teams (UWT): These teams carries out operations in urban environments ([[urban warfare]]). This team empathizes in covert arrests, usually in crowded areas full of civilians, but if the urban area is to destabilized, then they do overt arrests, often in full battle gear. They receive training with the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Duvdevan Unit]].

SITT Teams 7 and 8: Desert and Jungle Warfare Teams (DJWT): These teams carry out arrests in jungle and desert environments, especially for counter-drug operations. They train under the [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|US Marine Force Recon]] , and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Egoz Reconnaissance Unit]].

SITT Teams 9 and 10: Amphibious and Airborne Operations Teams (AAOT): These teams carry out operations in amphibious environments ( and infiltration through use of subs) and use of the [[HALO]] jump. Not only that, they are the aerial wing of SITT, primarily using helicopters. These teams are specifically trained from these types of operations, taking training from the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Boat Service]],[[Israeli|Israel]] [[Shayetet 13]], [[ United States Navy SEALs]], and advising from the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)]] and the [[United States Air Force Pararescue]].

The entire SITT is headed by the SITT Commander, (SITTCOM), who directly reports to the head of the AFOSI.

==Training and Physical Requirements==

All new AFOSI special agent recruits -- whether officer, enlisted or civilian -- receive their entry-level training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga. The training requires that each recruit meet physical requirements that are located on the FLETC web site at www.fletc.gov. The candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by six weeks of AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5 mile run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physical fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time to participate in physical fitness activities.

==In the media==
*In the 2008 film ''[[Eagle Eye]]'', actress [[Rosario Dawson]] played OSI Special Agent Zoe Perez.
*It is often reported OSI was approached by producers to film a fictional weekly television series about the agency. OSI officials shot down the idea of using OSI as a vehicle and the idea was quickly picked up by the Navy, and thus created the show ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''. However, this is erroneous as the TV series NCIS is a spin-off of the TV series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', in which the lead NCIS male actor played by Mark Harmon was a regularly occurring minor character.
*The ''[[Six Million Dollar Man]]'', Steve Austin worked for the office of OSI, although that OSI stood for "Office of Scientific Intelligence," or occasionally referred to as "Office of Strategic Intelligence."

==See also==
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

'''Air Force'''
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

'''Federal law enforcement'''
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS]]
*[[Diplomatic Security Service|DSS - U.S. Diplomatic Security Service - Department of State]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/}}
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=145 Official factsheet]

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{United States military law enforcement}}
{{USAF Field Operating Agencies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Air Force Office Of Special Investigations}}
[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2010-05-28T01:32:23Z

Ndunruh: /* Operations */ unreferenced section

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.png
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[Kevin J. Jacobsen]]
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{Collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}

The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI''', or '''OSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded August 1, 1948, at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:
*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]]
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]]
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]]
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]]
*Region 5 with [[United States Air Forces in Europe]]
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]]
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to AFOSI Headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4848 |title=Factsheets : Air Force Office of Special Investigations |publisher=Osi.andrews.af.mil |date= |accessdate=2010-05-09}}</ref>

==Operations==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2010}}
Threat detection

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.

Criminal Investigations

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, black market activities, and other criminal activities.

'''Economic crime investigations'''

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

'''Information Operations'''

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to our information systems. Our role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force, and our response to these threats, will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.

'''Technology Protection'''

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.

'''Specialized Services'''

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers.

'''Defense Cyber Crime Center'''

AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for both the Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory and the Defense Computer Investigations Training Program, which together comprise the Defense Cyber Crime Center. The forensics laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The investigations training program provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.

==Antiterrorism teams==
Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide terrorism, AFOSI antiterrorism teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI unit stands ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counterintelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.

(AFOSI SITT)

[[USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team]]

The USAF Office of Special Investigations SITT Team's is a specialized special ops team that takes care of cases that need specialized equipment, tactical special operations , and [[counterintelligence]] for the Air Force, cases that are not for regular agents , similar to the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]], but carry out operations also like the CIA's [[Special Activities Division]], with some responsibility for covert operations, black operations, and other "special activities". Most of the operations SITT carries out are abroad, capturing criminals of the [[Department of the Air Force]]. They also carry out special reconnaissance operations, with [[unconventional warfare]] and [[counter-terrorism]] tactics . Most of the functions they carry out, however, is similar to [[SWAT]].
The AFOSI SITT specializes in:
* [[Urban warfare]]
* [[Desert warfare]]
* [[Jungle Warfare]]
* [[Arctic warfare]]
* [[Ski warfare]]
* [[Tank desant]]
* [[Mountain warfare]]
* [[Guerrilla warfare]]
* [[Unconventional warfare]]
* [[Special reconnaissance]]
* [[Counter-terrorism]]
* [[hostage rescue]]
* [[CQB]]
* [[Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape]]
* [[HALO jump]]
* Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S)
* Breacher (Barrier Penetration/Methods of Entry)
* [[Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure]]
Most of the training is , after regular AFOSI training, is with the Air Force special operators , then they train ( if they choose to expand their training) with the [[United States Navy Seals]] , [[Special Forces (United States Army)]], [[United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command]], the [[United States Air Force Security Forces]] [[SRT]] teams , the FBI's [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and various other militaries special forces, and do one tour of duty with them. SITT training is a combination of all the services special force's regimens. SITT is divided into 10 teams, numbered 1-10, each with 10 units, each unit following the Basic Element - SF Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) composition from US Army Special Forces, which have about 5-10 operators in each unit. The detachment organization for regular OSI units are not the same for SITT. For example, instead of Detachment 113, the designation would be 111B for a SITT unit. SITT Teams carry arrests in all types of environments. SITT teams ( which usually have 100 men) are split into six different areas of combat/arrest environments:

SITT Teams 1 and 2: Arctic Warfare Teams (AWT): These 20 units specialize in [[Arctic Warfare]] and [[Survival skills|winter survival]]. They receive training from the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and the British [[Special Air Service]] after SITT training.

SITT Teams 3 and 4: Mountain Warfare Teams (MWT): They specialize in [[Mountain warfare]]. Most of the MWT is located in the [[Middle East]]. They usually carry out arrest that have hostile criminals that use mountainous regions. They receive training with the [[ 10th Mountain Division (United States)]] and [[Norway]]’s [[Forsvarets Spesialkommando]] (FSK).

SITT Teams 5 and 6: Urban Warfare Teams (UWT): These teams carries out operations in urban environments ([[urban warfare]]). This team empathizes in covert arrests, usually in crowded areas full of civilians, but if the urban area is to destabilized, then they do overt arrests, often in full battle gear. They receive training with the [[FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]] and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Duvdevan Unit]].

SITT Teams 7 and 8: Desert and Jungle Warfare Teams (DJWT): These teams carry out arrests in jungle and desert environments, especially for counter-drug operations. They train under the [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|US Marine Force Recon]] , and [[Israeli|Israel]]'s [[Egoz Reconnaissance Unit]].

SITT Teams 9 and 10: Amphibious and Airborne Operations Teams (AAOT): These teams carry out operations in amphibious environments ( and infiltration through use of subs) and use of the [[HALO]] jump. Not only that, they are the aerial wing of SITT, primarily using helicopters. These teams are specifically trained from these types of operations, taking training from the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Special Boat Service]],[[Israeli|Israel]] [[Shayetet 13]], [[ United States Navy SEALs]], and advising from the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)]] and the [[United States Air Force Pararescue]].

The entire SITT is headed by the SITT Commander, (SITTCOM), who directly reports to the head of the AFOSI.

==Training and Physical Requirements==

All new AFOSI special agent recruits -- whether officer, enlisted or civilian -- receive their entry-level training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga. The training requires that each recruit meet physical requirements that are located on the FLETC web site at www.fletc.gov. The candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by six weeks of AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5 mile run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physical fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time to participate in physical fitness activities.

==In the media==
*In the 2008 film ''[[Eagle Eye]]'', actress [[Rosario Dawson]] played OSI Special Agent Zoe Perez.
*It is often reported OSI was approached by producers to film a fictional weekly television series about the agency. OSI officials shot down the idea of using OSI as a vehicle and the idea was quickly picked up by the Navy, and thus created the show ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''. However, this is erroneous as the TV series NCIS is a spin-off of the TV series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', in which the lead NCIS male actor played by Mark Harmon was a regularly occurring minor character.
*The ''[[Six Million Dollar Man]]'', Steve Austin worked for the office of OSI, although that OSI stood for "Office of Scientific Intelligence," or occasionally referred to as "Office of Strategic Intelligence."

==See also==
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

'''Air Force'''
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

'''Federal law enforcement'''
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS]]
*[[Diplomatic Security Service|DSS - U.S. Diplomatic Security Service - Department of State]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/}}
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=145 Official factsheet]

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{United States military law enforcement}}
{{USAF Field Operating Agencies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Air Force Office Of Special Investigations}}
[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

Edward Lansdale

2009-05-28T01:36:01Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ USAF portal

{{Infobox Military Person
|name=Edward Lansdale
|born= {{birth date|1908|02|06}}
|died= {{death date and age|1987|02|23|1908|02|06}}
|placeofbirth= [[Detroit, Michigan]]
|placeofdeath= [[McLean, Virginia]]
|image=[[Image:Major-general-lansdale.jpg|200px]]
|caption=Edward Lansdale in 1963
|nickname=
|allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]
|branch= [[United States Air Force]]
|serviceyears=1943-1963
|rank= [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
|commands=
|unit=
|battles=[[World War II]]
|awards= [[National Security Medal]] Philippine's Legion of Honor Philippine's Medal of Military Merit
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
'''Edward Geary Lansdale''' ([[February 6]], [[1908]]–[[February 23]], [[1987]]) was a [[United States|U.S.]] [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] officer who served in the [[Office of Strategic Services]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. He rose to the rank of [[Major general (United States)|Major General]], was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1963. He was an early proponent of stronger U.S. actions in the cold war. Lansdale was born in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], died in [[McLean, Virginia|McLean]], [[Virginia]], and is buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]]. He was twice married and had two sons from his first marriage.

==Early life==
Edward G. Lansdale was born in [[Detroit, Michigan]], in 1908, the second of the four sons of Sarah Frances Philips of California and Henry Lansdale of [[Virginia]]. He attended school in [[Michigan]], [[New York]] and [[California]] before attending the [[University of California at Los Angeles]] where he earned his way largely by writing for newspapers and magazines. He moved on to better paying work in advertising in [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco]].

==World War II==
In World War II, he served with the [[Office of Strategic Services]] and in 1943 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the [[U.S. Army]], working various military intelligence assignments throughout the war. In 1945 after several wartime promotions, he was transferred to Headquarters Air Forces Western Pacific as a major, where he became chief of the Intelligence Division.

==Philippines==
He extended his tour to remain in the [[Philippines]] until 1948 helping the [[Philippine Army]] rebuild its intelligence services and he was responsible for resolving the cases of large numbers of prisoners of war. He was commissioned as a captain in the [[United States Air Force]] in 1947, with the temporary rank of major. After leaving the [[Philippines]] in 1948, he served as an instructor at the Strategic Intelligence School, [[Lowry Air Force Base]], Colorado, where he received a temporary promotion to lieutenant colonel in 1949. In 1950 President [[Elpidio Quirino]] personally requested that he be transferred to Joint United States Military Assistance Group, [[Philippines]], to assist the intelligence services of the Armed Forces of the [[Philippines]] combat the Communist [[Hukbalahap]]. [[Ramon Magsaysay]] had just been appointed secretary of national defense and Lansdale was made liaison officer to him. The two men became close friends, frequently visiting the combat areas together. Lansdale helped the Philippine Armed Forces develop psychological operations, civic actions, and the rehabilitation of [[Hukbalahap]] prisoners in projects such as EDCOR. He was temporarily promoted to colonel in 1951.

==Vietnam==
Lansdale was a member of General [[John W. O'Daniel]]'s mission to [[Indo-China]] in 1953, acting as an advisor on special counter-guerrilla operations to [[France|French]] forces against the [[Viet Minh]]. From 1954 to 1957 he was stationed in [[Saigon]] as an advisor to the US supported government of [[South Vietnam]]. During this period he was active in the training of [[ARVN]], organizing the [[Cao Dai|Caodaist]] militias under [[Trinh Minh The]] in an attempt to bolster the [[ARVN]], and spreading claims that [[North Vietnam]]ese agents were making attacks in South Vietnam. After the widely discredited 1955 re-election of President [[Ngo Dinh Diem]], with whom Lansdale had a close friendship, he is said to have advised Diem to revise the 98.2 percent victory he claimed down to 70 percent to make it more plausible, advice which Diem did not take.

He also mentored and trained [[Pham Xuan An]], a reporter for [[Time magazine]] who was actually a highly-placed North Vietnamese spy. In 1961, he helped to publicize the story of Father [[Nguyen Lac Hoa]], the "fighting priest" who had organized a crack militia called the Sea Swallows from his village of [[anti-communist]] Chinese Catholic exiles.

In 1961, Lansdale recruited [[John M. Deutch]] to his first job in government, working as one of [[Robert McNamara]]'s '[[Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)|Whiz Kids]]'. Deutch would go on to be the 17th [[Director of Central Intelligence]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE0D81F39F933A25751C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
|title=The C.I.A.'s most Important Mission: Itself
|author=Tim Weiner
|date=1995-12-10
|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

==Anti-Castro Campaign==
From 1957 to 1963 Lansdale worked for the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Operations, Staff Member of the President's Committee on Military Assistance, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. During the early 1960s he was chiefly involved in clandestine efforts to topple the government of [[Cuba]], including proposals to assassinate [[Fidel Castro]]. Much of this work was under the aegis of "[[Cuban Project|Operation Mongoose]]" which was the operational name for the [[CIA]] plan to topple Castro's government. According to [[Daniel Ellsberg]], who was at one time a subordinate to Lansdale, Lansdale claimed that he was fired by President Kennedy's Defense Secretary [[Robert McNamara]] after he declined Kennedy's offer to play a role in the overthrow of the Diem regime. Three weeks later, on November 22, 1963, Lansdale was allegedly photographed in [[Dealey Plaza]], [[Dallas, Texas]],<ref>[http://www.prouty.org/photos.html Photos]</ref><ref>[http://www.ratical.org/ratville/JFK/USO/appD.html Appendix D: Krulak Letter Re: Dealey Plaza Photos And Lansdale Identity, "Understanding Special Operations"]</ref> shortly after Kennedy was assassinated nearby.

==Late in his career==
From 1965 to 1968 he returned to Vietnam to work in the US Embassy.

==After his retirement==
Lansdale retired November 1, 1963. His [[memoir]], published in 1972, was ''In the Midst of Wars''. His biography, ''The Unquiet American'', was written by [[Cecil Currey]] and published in 1988; the title refers to the common, but incorrect belief, that the eponymous character in [[Graham Greene]]'s novel ''[[The Quiet American]]'' was based on Lansdale. According to Norman Sherry's authorized biography of Greene ''The Life of Graham Greene'' (Penguin, 2004), Lansdale did not officially enter the Vietnam arena until 1954, while Greene wrote his book in 1952 after departing Vietnam. Many of Lansdale's private papers and effects were destroyed in a fire at his McLean home in 1972. In 1981, Lansdale donated most of his remaining papers to [[Stanford University]]'s [[Hoover Institution]].

==JFK Controversy==
In the 1990s interest in Lansdale was sparked, in part, by the inclusion of a character named "General Y" in the 1991 [[Oliver Stone]] film [[JFK (film)|JFK]]. It was implied that Lansdale was "General Y", the operational head of the assassination of President [[John F. Kennedy]] on November 22, 1963. This theory was inspired by questions raised about Lansdale's presence in [[Dealey Plaza]] by a former colleague, [[L. Fletcher Prouty]], who claimed to have recognized Lansdale in a photograph taken that day by a [[Dallas Morning News]] photographer immediately after the assassination. The photo allegedly shows Lansdale walking away from "the three tramps" [http://www.prouty.org/tramps1.jpg] who were arrested by Dallas police. [[L. Fletcher Prouty]] worked next door to Lansdale for 9 years and recognized the shape of his head, class ring and the stoop in his walk. The third tramp's body is blocked from view but for his feet. Although many speculative identities for the "tramps" have been offered, Prouty's identification of Lansdale has been corroborated by Lt. General [[Victor H. Krulak]]. [[Daniel Ellsberg]], a consultant to [[Oliver Stone]] on [[JFK (film)|JFK]] and former subordinate of Lansdale's, claims to have told Stone not to include this in the script, believing Lansdale to be innocent of the allegations.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
*[http://www.af.mil/bios/bio_print.asp?bioID=6141&page=1 Official Air Force Biography]
*[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDlansdale.htm Unofficial Biography]
*James Gibney, [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/books/review/15gibney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin "The Ugly American."] Review of ''Edward Lansdale's Cold War'', by Jonathan Nashel. ''New York Times'', January 15, 2006.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lansdale, Edward}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Counter-insurgency theorists]]
[[Category:People of the Office of Strategic Services]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]

[[es:Edward Lansdale]]
[[it:Edward Lansdale]]
[[zh:爱德华·兰斯代尔]]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2009-05-19T01:16:50Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ FOA template

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.jpg
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier General]] Dana A. Simmons
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}
The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded [[August 1]], [[1948]], at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:

*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]],
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]],
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]],
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]],
*Region 5 with [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]],
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]], and
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]. {{Fact|date=August 2008}}

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to [[AFOSI headquarters]]. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

==Operations==
{| align="right"
|-
| [[Image:Osipp6.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Several OSI agents at a US Air Force base]]
|}
===Threat detection===

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of [[hostile intelligence services]] and [[terrorist groups]] that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and [[computer security|computer infiltration]]. This mission aspect also includes providing [[personal protection]] to senior [[U.S. Air Force officer rank insignia|Air Force leaders]] and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Criminal investigations===

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to [[felony]] crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, [[black market]] activities, and other criminal activities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Economic crime investigations===

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters/PROBLEMS, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

===Information operations===

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to its information systems. The AFOSI's role in support of Information Operations attempts to recognize future threats to the Air Force, and its response to these threats will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's [[computer crime]] investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Technology protection===

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The [[AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program]] provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Specialized services===

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, [[polygraph]]ers, [[behavioural sciences|behavioral scientist]]s, computer experts and [[Forensic science|forensic]] advisers.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Defense Cyber Crime Center===
{{main|Defense Cyber Crime Center}}
AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for the [[Defense Cyber Crime Center]], comprising the [[Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory]], the [[Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy]], and the [[Defense Cyber Crime Institute]]. The Laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The Institute provides research, development, and testing to provide "legally & scientifically accepted standards, techniques, methodologies, research, tools, and technologies on computer forensics and related technologies."<ref>[http://www.dc3.mil/dcci/dcciAbout.php About DCCI]</ref> The Academy provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.<ref>[http://www.dc3.mil/dc3/dc3About.php About DC3]</ref>

===Antiterrorism teams===

Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide [[terrorism]], AFOSI [[Counter-terrorism|antiterrorism]] teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI units are ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counter-intelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

==Training and Physical Requirements==

All new AFOSI [[special agent]] recruits—whether officer (active duty and reserve), enlisted (active duty and reserve) or civilian—receive their entry-level training at the [[Federal Law Enforcement Training Center]] in [[Glynn County, Georgia]]. Candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by an 8-week AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in [[firearms]] and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, [[surveillance]] and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court [[testimony]], and [[military law|military]] and [[United States federal law|federal law]]. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counter-intelligence, [[Cybercrime|computer crimes]] and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, [[bench press]], 1.5 mile run/walk, and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physically fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time per week to participate in physical fitness activities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

== See also ==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{Portal|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics|Nuvola apps agent.svg}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

===Air Force===
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit|Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit (IPU)]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

===Federal law enforcement===
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]

===Sister UCMJ military law enforcement agencies===
*[[Defense Criminal Investigative Service|Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command|United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC)]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service|Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS)]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Official website]

{{United States military law enforcement}}
{{USAF Field Operating Agencies}}

[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

Bob Hoover

2009-05-05T02:29:38Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ USAF portal

{{Infobox Military Person
|name= Robert A. Hoover
|born= {{Birth date and age|1922|1|24}}
|died=
|placeofbirth= [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
|placeofdeath=
|image= [[Image:Bob Hoover 2005 Gathering of Eagles Lithograph.jpg|300px]]
|caption= Bob Hoover's 2005 [[Gathering of Eagles]] Lithograph (USAF Image)
|nickname= Bob
|allegiance={{flag|United States of America}}
|branch= [[Image:Seal of the US Air Force.svg|25px]] [[United States Air Force]]
|serviceyears= 1940–1948
|rank= [[Image:US-OF1A.svg|6px]] [[First Lieutenant#United States|First Lieutenant]]
|current position=
|commands=
|unit= [[52d Fighter Wing|52nd Fighter Group]] Flight Evaluation Group
|battles=[[World War II]] [[Korean War]]
|awards= [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] [[Soldier's Medal|Soldier's Medal for Valor]] [[Air Medal]] with [[Oak leaf cluster|Clusters]] [[Purple Heart]] [[Croix de guerre]]
|relations=
|laterwork= Test and air show pilot
}}
'''Robert A. "Bob" Hoover''' (born 1922) is a former [[air show]] pilot and [[United States Air Force]] [[test pilot]], known for his wide-brimmed straw hat and wide smile. In aviation circles, he is often referred to as "The pilots' pilot".

==Aviation career==
Bob Hoover learned to fly at [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]'s Berry Field while working at a local grocery store to pay for the flight training.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p15_16>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=15–16}}</ref> He enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard and was sent for pilot training with the [[United States Army|Army]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_p17>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=17}}</ref> He was sent to Casablanca where his first major assignment of the war was test flying the assembled aircraft ready for service.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p37>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=37}}</ref> He was later assigned to the [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]-equipped [[52nd Fighter Group]] in Sicily.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p50>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=50}}</ref> In 1944, on his 59th mission, his malfunctioning Mark V Spitfire was shot down by a [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]] off the coast of Southern France and he was taken prisoner.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p65_67>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=65–67}}</ref> He spent 16 months at the German [[prison camp]] [[Stalag]] Luft 1 in [[Barth (Germany)|Barth]], [[Germany]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_p90>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=90}}</ref>

He managed to escape from the prison camp, stole an [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190|Fw 190]], and flew to safety in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_p88_90>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=88–90}}</ref> After the war, he was assigned to flight-test duty at Wright Field. There he impressed and befriended [[Chuck Yeager]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_p93>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=93}}</ref> Later when Yeager was asked who he wanted for flight crew for the [[supersonic]] [[Bell X-1]] flight, he named Bob Hoover. Hoover was Yeager's backup pilot in the Bell X-1 program and flew chase for Yeager in a [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] [[P-80]] Shooting Star during the [[Mach number|Mach]] 1 flight.<ref name=Forever_Flying_110>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=110}}</ref> He also flew chase for the 50th anniversary in an [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]].<ref name=athens_post>{{cite news |title = Hoover Flys Chase for Yeager |url = http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/archives/archives/101597/briefly.html |work = Ohio University Post | date = 1997-10-15 | accessdate = 2008-11-29 }}</ref>

He left the Air Force for civilian jobs in 1948.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p137>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=137}}</ref> This included a brief time with [[Allison Engine Company]] and finally test/demonstration pilot with [[North American Aviation]] where he went on bombing missions with the [[F-86 Sabre]] over [[Korea]], and visited many active-duty, reserve and air national guard units to demonstrate the plane's capabilities to their pilots. Hoover flew flight tests on the [[FJ Fury|FJ "Fury,"]] F-86 "Sabre," and the [[F-100 Super Sabre|F-100 "Supersabre."]]

In the early sixties, Hoover proposed the idea promoting the North American name by demonstrating one of North American's most famous products, the [[P-51 Mustang]] fighter, at airshows around the country. The Hoover Mustang (N2251D) was purchased by North American Aviation from Dave Lindsay's [[Cavalier Aircraft|Cavalier Aircraft Corp.]] in 1962. A second Mustang( N51RH), later named "Old Yeller," was purchased by North American Rockwell from Cavalier in 1971 to replace the earlier aircraft that was destroyed in a ground accident when an oxygen bottle exploded. "Old Yeller" still flies and is based in Idaho. Hoover demonstrated the Mustang and later the Aero Commander at hundreds of airshows until his retirement in the 1990s.

Bob Hoover has set records for transcontinental and "time to climb" speed,<ref name=Forever_Flying_p251_253>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=251–253}}</ref> and has personally known such great aviators as [[Orville Wright]], [[Eddie Rickenbacker]], [[Charles Lindbergh]], [[Jacqueline Cochran]], [[Neil Armstrong]], and [[Yuri Gagarin]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_p247>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=247}}</ref>

Bob Hoover is best known for his civil air show career, which started when he was hired to demonstrate the capabilities of [[Aero Commander]]'s [[Shrike Commander]], a twin piston-engined business aircraft which had developed a rather staid reputation due to its bulky shape. Hoover showed the strength of the plane as he put the aircraft through rolls, loops, and other maneuvers which most people wouldn't associate with executive aircraft. As a grand finale, he shut down both engines and executed a loop and an eight-point hesitation slow roll as he headed back to the runway. He touched down on one tire, then the other, before landing. After pulling off the runway, he would start engines to taxi back to the parking area. On airfields with large enough parking ramps (such as the [[Reno Stead Airport]] where the [[Reno Air Races]] take place), Hoover would sometimes land directly on the ramp and coast all the way back to his parking spot in front of the grandstand without re-starting the engines.

A few years after starting the show, he began carrying passengers during the show. (The Shrike Commander carries six passengers.) These passengers became known as "Hoover's Heavers" due to the number who became airsick during the maneuvers.{{cn|date=April 2009}}

With the advent of camcorders, Hoover added a flourish to the act by pouring a cup of tea from a [[Vacuum flask|Thermos bottle]], while performing a slow barrel roll, a 1G maneuver. Video of this has been widely distributed, to the pleasure of Aero Commander enthusiasts.{{cn|date=April 2009}}

Hoover also served for many years as the official starter of the Unlimited-class races at the [[Reno Air Races]]. The race planes (mostly modified WWII fighter aircraft) joined up in line-abreast formation on Hoover's yellow P-51 Mustang, and when in satisfactory order the spectators would hear over the PA his famous radio call, "Gentlemen, you have a race." Hoover's plane would pull up sharply into a vertical climb as the racers dived toward the first turn. Hoover would circle overhead during the race, ready to assist any race pilots with problems. In several cases, Hoover helped pilots with crippled race planes to a safe recovery by talking them down while flying in formation with them.

==Medical Controversy==
His air show aerobatics career ended over medical concerns, when his medical certificate was revoked by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) in the early 1990s.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p278_279>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=278–279}}</ref>

Shortly before the revocation, Hoover experienced serious engine problems in a [[AT-28|T-28]] off the coast of California. During his return to Torrance, he was able to keep the engine running intermittently by constantly manipulating the throttle, mixture, and propeller lever. Just as he landed the engine froze. Hoover considered his successful handling of this difficult emergency should have convinced the FAA that his capabilities were as good as ever.<ref name=Forever_Flying_p280>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=280}}</ref> Meanwhile, Hoover was granted a pilot's licence, and medical certificate, by [[Australia]]'s aviation authorities,<ref name=Forever_Flying_p281_282>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=281–282}}</ref> enabling him to fly in any part of the world other than the United States.{{fact|date=March 2009}}
[[Image:HooverMustang.jpg|thumb|right|"Ole Yeller", flown by John Bagley at an air show in [[Rexburg, ID]]. ]]
Hoover's FAA medical certificate was eventually reinstated. Although sponsored insurance was available to him he was unable to get the high limits ($20,000,000) of liability insurance he desired for performing so he decided to retire from airshow performing.{{fact|date=March 2009}}

Now that his air show career is over, his Shrike Commander is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy center, in [[Dulles, Virginia]][http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/]

==Honors and recognition==
Bob Hoover is considered one of the founding fathers of modern [[aerobatics]], and was described by [[Jimmy Doolittle]] as, "... the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived."<ref name=Hoover_NASM_Press_Release/> In the Centennial of flight edition of the Air & Space Smithsonian, he was named the third greatest aviator in history.

During his illustrious career he was awarded the following military medals: Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal for Valor, Air Medal with Clusters, Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre.<ref name=Forever_Flying_pxiii>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |page=xiii |nopp=true}}</ref> He was also made an honorary member of the [[Blue Angels]], [[Thunderbirds (squadron)|Thunderbirds]], [[American Fighter Aces Association]], Original [[Eagle squadron]] and received an Award of Merit from the [[American Fighter Pilots Association]].<ref name=Forever_Flying_pxiii/> In 1992, he was inducted into the [[Aerospace Walk of Honor]].<ref name=Hoover_AWOH>{{cite web | url = http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/Index.aspx?page=208#hoover | title = Hoover Biography | accessdate =2008-11-29 | work = Aerospace Walk of Honor | publisher=City of Lancaster, California}}</ref> In 2007, he received the Smithsonian's [[National Air & Space Museum]] Trophy.<ref name=Hoover_NASM_Press_Release>{{cite web |url = http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=166 |title = Robert A. “Bob” Hoover and Hale, STS-121 Shuttle Team are Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Trophy Winners |accessdate =2008-11-29 |date=2007-03-07|publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum}}</ref><ref name=Hoover_NASM>{{cite web |url = http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/trophy/nasm.cfm |title = Recipients of the National Air and Space Museum Trophy |accessdate =2008-11-29 |publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum}}</ref>

==Hoover Nozzle and Hoover Ring==
A perhaps-undesired recognition is the "Hoover Nozzle" used on jet-fuel pumps. The Hoover Nozzle is designed with a flattened bell shape. The Hoover Nozzle cannot be inserted in the filler neck of a plane with the "Hoover Ring" installed, thus preventing the tank from accidentally being filled with jet fuel.

This system was given this name following an accident in which Hoover was seriously injured, when both engines on his [[Shrike Commander]] failed during takeoff. Investigators found that the plane had just been fueled by a line boy who mistook the piston-engine Shrike for a similar [[turboprop]] model, filling the tanks with jet fuel instead of [[avgas]] (aviation gasoline).<ref name=Forever_Flying_p275_277>{{cite book |last=Hoover |title=Forever Flying |pages=275–277}}</ref> There was enough avgas in the fuel system to taxi to the runway and takeoff, but then the jet fuel was drawn into the engines, causing them to stop.

Once Hoover recovered, he widely promoted the use of the new type of nozzle with the support and funding of the National Air Transportation Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association and various other aviation groups (the nozzle is now required by Federal regulation on jet fuel pumps).

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Hoover |first=Robert A. |coauthors=Mark Shaw |title=Forever Flying |origyear=1996 |publisher=Pocket Books |location=New York |isbn=0-671-53760-1}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
*[http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/2006-3-11_bob_hoover.avi Bob Hoover video in which he pours tea while performing a barrel roll] from [http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm#Videos Alexis Park Inn & Suites' video library]
*[http://joepodcaster.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=281760&comments=on Audio interview with Bob Hoover]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBcapxGHjE Energy conservation video]
*[http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2005/hoover_2005.asp Hoover 2005 Gathering of Eagles Biography]

{{Persondata
|NAME= Hoover, Robert A. Bob
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= American World War II pilot
|DATE OF BIRTH=
|PLACE OF BIRTH=
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoover, Robert A. Bob}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tennessee]]
[[Category:American aviators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Purple Heart medal]]
[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
[[Category:American World War II pilots]]
[[Category:Recipients of US Distinguished Flying Cross]]
[[Category:Test pilots]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany]]
[[Category:Croix de guerre (France) recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal]]

[[fr:Bob Hoover]]

Brian Dubie

2009-05-04T15:40:27Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ USAF portal

{{Infobox Governor
|image = Brian Dubie.jpg
|name = Brian E. Dubie
|caption =
|office = 78th [[Lieutenant Governor of Vermont]]
|term_start = [[January 9]], [[2003]]
|term_end =
|predecessor= [[Doug Racine]]
|successor =
|birth_date = {{bda|1959|3|9}}
|birth_place= [[Essex, Vermont]]
|death_date =
|death_place=
|spouse = Penny Dubie
|profession = [[American Airlines]] Pilot [[Air Force Reserve Command]]
|party = [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Brian E. Dubie''' (born March 9, 1959) is the [[Lieutenant Governor]] of [[Vermont]]. He is a member of the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] party.

Brian Dubie graduated from [[Essex Junction High School]] in 1977, before attending the [[United States Air Force Academy]]. Before graduation, Dubie transferred to the [[University of Vermont]], where he then completed his undergraduate degree.

Brian Dubie's previous political experience before running for lieutenant governor was serving on a [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]] area school board. He won the 2002 lieutenant gubernatorial election due in part to a split liberal vote between [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Peter Shumlin]] and strong third-party candidate [[Anthony Pollina]]. He was easily re-elected along with incumbent Governor [[Jim Douglas]] in 2004. Though he is known for his laid-back approach to campaigning and is neither extremely popular nor extremely unpopular, Dubie has won a measure of respect from both sides of the aisle due to his initiatives to open increased trade between Vermont and various unlikely foreign trading partners, most notably [[Cuba]]. In 2005, a trade commission headed by Dubie agreed to sell cows, milk, and apples to the country in spite of the decades-old
[[United States embargo against Cuba]].

Though he is now the lieutenant governor of a U.S. state and in spite of previous service on school boards and other committees before his election in 2002, Dubie's primary job experience is as a [[aviator|pilot]]. He served in the Vermont [[Air National Guard]] and has made a career out of flying for [[American Airlines]] as a captain. He also holds the rank of [[colonel]] in the [[U.S. Air Force]] Reserve.

Dubie occasionally lends his service to the community by working part-time at the [[produce]] counter at Hannaford Supermarkets, a chain of [[New England]] based [[supermarket]]s.

Dubie was widely expected to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring independent [[Jim Jeffords]] in 2006, but ultimately chose to run for re-election to the Office of Lt. Governor.

In August, 2007, it was reported that Dubie is being considered for the position of Administrator of the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].

Dubie is married to Penny Dubie and has four children--Emily, Jack, Matt, and Casey. His brother, [[Michael Dubie]], is the current [[Adjutant General#United States|Adjutant General]] of Vermont.

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=http://ltgov.vermont.gov/about |title=Biography: Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie |publisher=State of Vermont |date=[[August 27]], [[2007]]}}
*{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Bruce |title=Cuba: A People Place |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050929/NEWS/50928006&SearchID=73224053312170 |publisher=''[[Rutland Herald]]'' |date=[[September 29]], [[2005]]}}

{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{start box}}
{{s-off}}
{{incumbent succession box |title=[[List of Vermont Lieutenant Governors|Lieutenant Governor of Vermont]] |before=[[Doug Racine]] |start=2003}}
{{end box}}
{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}

{{Persondata
|NAME= Dubie, Brian
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= American politician
|DATE OF BIRTH=
|PLACE OF BIRTH=
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubie, Brian}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lieutenant Governors of Vermont]]
[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
[[Category:University of Vermont alumni]]
[[Category:People from Burlington, Vermont]]

{{Vermont-politician-stub}}

53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

2009-05-01T16:28:47Z

Ndunruh: /* See also */ USAF portal

{{No footnotes|date=April 2009}}

{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name= 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
|image= [[Image:Hurricane Hunters.png|200px]]
|caption= 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Emblem
|dates= 19??-Present
|country= [[United States]]
|allegiance=
|branch= [[United States Air Force]]
|type= Squadron
|role= Weather Reconnaissance
|size=
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison= [[Keesler Air Force Base]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= Hurricane Hunters
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron''', also known by the nickname, '''Hurricane Hunters''', flies aircraft into [[tropical cyclone]]s in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and the [[Caribbean]] for the specific purpose of directly measuring [[weather]] data in and around those storms. Before artificial [[satellites]] were used to find storms, the the 53d along with other hurricane searching units flew routine [[weather]] [[reconnaissance]] tracks to detect formation of [[tropical cyclone]]s. Although [[satellite]] data has revolutionized [[weather forecasting|weather forecast]]ers' ability to detect early signs of tropical cyclones before they form, there are still many important tasks they are not suited for. Satellites cannot determine the interior [[barometric pressure]] of a hurricane, nor provide accurate wind speed information. The Hurricane Hunters of the [[Air Force Reserve]] are distinct from the '''[[NOAA]] Hurricane Hunters''', based at the [[Aircraft Operations Center]] at [[MacDill AFB]], in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]] using [[WP-3D]] Orion and [[Gulfstream IV-SP]] aircraft for this mission.

==Mission==
To recruit, organize and train assigned personnel to perform aerial weather reconnaissance.

==History==
===Origins===
The [[1943 Surprise Hurricane]], which struck [[Houston, Texas]] during [[World War II]], marked the first intentional meteorological flight into a hurricane. It started with a bet.

That summer, British pilots were being trained in instrument flying at [[Riverside Campus|Bryan Field]]. When they saw that the Americans were evacuating their [[T-6 Texan|AT-6 Texan]] trainers in the face of the storm, they began questioning the construction of the aircraft. Lead instructor [[Colonel]] [[Joe Duckworth (aviator)|Joe Duckworth]] took one of the trainers out, and flew it straight into the eye of the storm. After he returned safely with [[flight officer|navigator]] [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] [[Ralph O'Hair]], the base's weather officer, Lt. [[William Jones-Burdick]], took over the navigator's seat and Duckworth flew into the storm a second time.

This flight showed that hurricane reconnaissance flights were possible, and further flights continued on an irregular basis. In 1946, the moniker “Hurricane Hunters” was first used, and the Air Force and now Air Force Reserve have used it ever since.

===53d WRS===
[[Image:Wc 130.jpg|thumb|right|WC-130H Hercules in flight]]
[[Image:Wc 130j.jpg|thumb|right|The WC-130J Hercules]]
The '''53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron''', better known as the “'''Hurricane Hunters''', flies missions into [[tropical cyclone|hurricanes]] and weather systems for research purposes and observation. Although [[satellite]] data has revolutionized [[weather forecasting|weather forecast]]ers' ability to detect early signs of tropical cyclones before they form, there are still many important tasks this data is not suitable for. Satellites cannot determine the interior [[barometric pressure]] of a hurricane, nor provide accurate wind speed information. These data are needed to accurately predict hurricane development and movement.

Because satellites cannot collect the data and ships are too slow and vulnerable, the only viable way to collect this information is with aircraft. The '''53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters”''' flies instrumented [[Lockheed Martin]] [[WC-130J Hercules]] aircraft into storms to collect the required meteorological data. The area of responsibility for the “Hurricane Hunters” is midway through the Atlantic Ocean to the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. The Hurricane Hunters have also been tasked to fly into typhoons in the [[Pacific Ocean]] on occasion, as well as gather data in winter storms.

=== Hurricane Katrina ===
The landfall of [[Hurricane Katrina]] on [[29 August]] [[2005]] caused devastating damage to [[Keesler Air Force Base]], home base of the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. The equipment and personnel of the squadron were flying out of [[Dobbins Air Reserve Base]] near [[Atlanta]]. Despite heavy losses, the squadron never missed a tasked mission from the [[National Hurricane Center]]. The 53d has since returned to Keesler and is now once again flying weather reconnaissance missions from the base.

== Aircraft Operated==
[[Image:WC130H.jpg|thumb|right|WC 130H]]
*[[WC-130J Hercules]], (2005-Present)
*[[WC-130A/B/E/H Hercules]], (1965-2005)
*[[WB-47E Stratojet]], (1963-1969)
*[[WB-50D Superfortress]], (1956-1963)
*[[WB-29 Superfortress]], (1951-1956)
*[[B-29 Superfortress]], (1946-1947)
*[[B-25 Mitchell]], (1946-1947)
*[[B-17 Flying Fortress]], (1945-1947)
*[[B-24 Liberator]], (1944-1945)
*[[A-20 Havoc]], (1944)

==See also==
{{tcportal}}
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
*[[Tropical cyclone]]

{{Earth-based meteorological observation}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.hurricanehunters.com/ 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron homepage]
* [http://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/ 403d Wing Homepage]
* [http://www.awra.us/ Air Weather Reconnaissance Association homepage]
* [http://www.spectrumwd.com/c130/articles/wc130.htm Whiskey Charlie]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2003-07-16-flying-hurricanes_x.htm Why and how people fly into hurricanes] - USA Today - sidebar, "Fatal flights"

[[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology]]
[[Category:United States special-purpose aircraft]]
[[Category:Military in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Squadrons of the United States Air Force|Weather 0053]]

Canadian Forces Base North Bay

2009-04-25T23:40:45Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ USAF portal

{{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
[[Image:CFB Entrance.JPG|thumb|300px|Entrance sign at main gate of CFB North Bay.]]

'''Canadian Forces Base North Bay''', also '''CFB North Bay''', is a [[Canadian Forces Base]] located in [[North Bay, Ontario]]. It is operated by [[Canadian Forces Air Command|Air Command]] (AIRCOM) and its primary lodger is 22 Wing, thus the base is sometimes identified as 22 Wing North Bay.

==RCAF Station North Bay==

The base was constructed by the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and named '''RCAF Station North Bay''' in 1933. It was used as a [[logistics]] and construction coordination site for a series of RCAF bases being built across northern Ontario during the 1930s. During [[World War II]] it was used as a refueling and emergency diversion airbase for aircraft being ferried from Canada and the US to England. In particular it was one stop along the ferry route for [[Avro Lancaster]] [[bomber]]s built at [[Victory Aircraft]] in [[Toronto]], as well as US-built [[B-24 Liberator]]s. The base closed with the ending of the war.

It was re-activated in 1951 as a training base. The runways were improved, and with the rise of the [[Cold War]] the base became a logistics center once again when construction started on the [[Pinetree Line]], which ran quite close to the base. The runways were again extensively lengthened and the base became the primary air defense site for [[Toronto]] and southern [[Ontario]]. Typically two wings of [[night fighter]]s and a single wing of [[day fighter]]s were stationed there, originally the [[CF-100 Canuck]]/[[F-86 Sabre]], and later the [[CF-101 Voodoo]].

[[Image:CF 101 Voodoo.JPG|thumb|300px|Retired CF-101 Voodoo on pedestal at the main gate to CFB North Bay.]]

With the formation of [[North American Aerospace Defense Command|NORAD]] in the 1950s and the US's introduction of the [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment|SAGE]] system, CFB North Bay was selected as the Canadian counterpart to the US's [[Cheyenne Mountain]] control center. A SAGE installation was set up at the base starting in 1959, but unlike their US counterparts which were at ground level, in North Bay the entire standard three story installation was buried underground in what became known as "the hole". Later the base was also used as the control center for the Ontario portion of the two-site [[BOMARC missile]] system installed in the 1960s.

==CFB North Bay==

RCAF Station North Bay was formally changed to its present name, '''Canadian Forces Base North Bay''' or '''CFB North Bay''' on [[1 April]] [[1966]] in advance of the unification of the RCAF, the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] and the [[Canadian Army]] to form the [[Canadian Forces]].

The BOMARC missiles were decommissioned in 1973 and the SAGE installation followed in 1983. Parts of the computers system from CFB North Bay's SAGE installation ended up in the [[Computer History Museum]] in California. Following defence cutbacks in 1972, only a single flying unit was stationed at the airfield, the 414 Electronic Warfare Squadron, before it too was redeployed.

CFB North Bay remains Canada's primary NORAD site, with responsibility for monitoring the Canadian NORAD sector, namely the [[Air Defense Identification Zone|ADIZ]] surrounding [[Canada]]. Tools used by 22 Wing include the [[North Warning System]] which stretches across the [[Canadian Arctic]], as well as coastal [[radar]]s on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada (primarily used by [[Canadian Forces Maritime Command|Maritime Command]], these radars reportedly have the dual ability to track small aircraft), and any [[Airborne Warning and Control System]] aircraft operated by the USAF or NATO in Canadian airspace. Not widely known is a UFO incident associated with CFB North Bay. Several teenagers and base residents reported seeing a massive triangular shaped craft hovering over the base for several minutes on Sept 13th, 2001. There was no such craft detected by the American or Canadian operations bases for NORAD during that evening. The personnel monitoring Canada's airspace are members of [[21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron]]. Any unidentified or suspicious aircraft are tasked for interception by [[CF-18]]s operating out of [[CFB Bagotville]] and [[CFB Cold Lake]] or any one of dozens of forward operating bases in coastal and Arctic regions.

With the general scaling-back of air defences at the end of the [[Cold War]], CFB North Bay was originally slated for closure and AIRCOM was rumoured to be planning to move 22 Wing's NORAD command centre to [[Winnipeg, Manitoba|Winnipeg]]. The city of North Bay was worried about the loss of jobs and entered into a cost-sharing arrangement to service the base. Part of this arrangement is the proposal to replace the underground command center with a new one on the surface. Construction of the new above ground command center (dubbed the Above-Ground Complex or AGC during construction and testing) began in the spring of [[2004]] and was completed in the spring of [[2006]]. NORAD operations moved above ground officially in the fall of [[2006]], and the AGC was officially named the "Sergeant David L. Pitcher Building" on [[12 October]] [[2006]]. The new complex is named after an airman who gave his life serving Canada on a NORAD mission while on exchange with the United States Air Force at [[Elmendorf Air Force Base|Elmendorf AFB]]. Sgt. Pitcher was a crewmember onboard an [[E-3 Sentry]], Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft (flight Yukla 27) that crashed on 22 September 1995, killing the entire 24 person crew.

The Under-Ground Complex (UGC), or "the hole", remains mothballed but can be returned to operation if conditions should warrant. The opening of the Pitcher Building and transfer of operations to above ground marks the first time the UGC has been un-manned in 43 years of 24/7 operations.

CFB North Bay is also home to the [[22 Wing Military Concert Band]] which has played across Canada and around the world. Every year, they perform a [[military tattoo]]; that is, a year-end ceremony honouring soldiers and support staff at [[Memorial Gardens]], the local arena. They are considered the best volunteer military band in Canada.

While all regular-force flying units have moved away from the base, 22 Wing's now militarily dormant airfield still plays home to a [[Royal Canadian Air Cadets|cadet]] gliding operation, known as the Northern Ontario Gliding Centre.

==See also==
* [[North American Aerospace Defense Command]]

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/22w-22e/index-eng.asp Department of National Defence Canada - CFB North Bay (22 Wing)]
{{Canadian Forces Air Command}}

{{coord|46|21|25.62|N|-79|24|54.21|E|region:CA_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Canadian Forces Bases}}

[[Category:Canadian Forces bases in Ontario|North Bay]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in North Bay, Ontario]]
[[Category:North American Aerospace Defense Command]]

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations

2009-04-19T16:16:06Z

Ndunruh: /* See also */ USAF portal

{{Infobox Law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Air Force Office of Special Investigations
|nativename =
|nativenamea =
|nativenamer =
|commonname =
|abbreviation = AFOSI
|patch =
|patchcaption =
|logo = Air Force Office of Special Investigations.png
|logocaption = Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
|badge = USA - AF OSI Badge.jpg
|badgecaption =
|flag =
|flagcaption =
|imagesize =
|motto =
|mottotranslated =
|mission =
|formedyear = 1948
|formedmonthday = August 1
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|employees = 2,900 (2007)
|volunteers =
|budget =
|nongovernment =
|country = United States
|countryabbr =
|federal = Yes
|map =
|mapcaption =
|sizearea =
|sizepopulation =
|legaljuris =
|governingbody =
|governingbodyscnd =
|constitution1 =
|provost = Yes
|overviewtype =
|overviewbody =
|headquarters = [[Andrews AFB]], [[Maryland]]
|hqlocmap =
|hqlocleft =
|hqloctop =
|hqlocmappoptitle =
|sworntype =
|sworn =
|unsworntype =
|unsworn =
|electeetype =
|minister1name =
|minister1pfo =
|chief1name = [[Brigadier General]] Dana A. Simmons
|chief1position =
|parentagency = [[United States Air Force]]
|child1agency =
|unittype =
|unitname = {{collapsible list |title=Several |Threat detection |Criminal Investigations |Technology protection |Defense Cyber Crime Center |Antiterrorism}}
|officetype = Region
|officename = 8
|provideragency =
|uniformedas =
|stationtype =
|stations =
|airbases =
|lockuptype =
|lockups =
|vehicle1type =
|vehicles1 =
|boat1type =
|boats1 =
|aircraft1type =
|aircraft1 =
|animal1type =
|animals1 =
|person1name =
|person1reason =
|person1type =
|programme1 =
|activity1name =
|activitytype =
|anniversary1 =
|award1 =
|website = http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/
|footnotes =
|reference =
}}
The '''Air Force Office of Special Investigations''' ('''AFOSI'''), is a [[List of United States Air Force Field Operating Agencies|Field Operating Agency]] (FOA) of the [[United States Air Force]] that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force. AFOSI identifies, investigates and neutralizes [[Crime|criminal]], [[terrorism|terrorist]], and [[espionage]] threats to personnel and resources of the Air Force and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] using [[Special agent|Special Agents]].

AFOSI was founded [[August 1]], [[1948]], at the suggestion of [[United States Congress|Congress]] to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. [[Secretary of the Air Force]] [[W. Stuart Symington]] created AFOSI and patterned it after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He appointed [[Special agent|Special Agent]] [[Joseph Carroll]], an assistant to [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI Director]] [[J. Edgar Hoover]], as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force. As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Andrews AFB Website]</ref>

The AFOSI focuses on five priorities:
*Develop and retain a force capable of meeting Air Force needs,
*Detect and provide early warning of worldwide threats to the Air Force,
*Identify and resolve crime impacting Air Force readiness or good order and discipline,
*Combat threats to Air Force information systems and technologies, and
*Defeat and deter fraud in the acquisition of Air Force prioritized weapons systems.<ref>[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/main/welcome.asp OSI Webpage]</ref>

==Organization==
In addition to the FOA's headquarters, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with [[United States Air Force#Major commands|Air Force major commands]]:

*Region 1 with [[Air Force Materiel Command]],
*Region 2 with [[Air Combat Command]],
*Region 3 with [[Air Mobility Command]],
*Region 4 with [[Air Education and Training Command]],
*Region 5 with [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]],
*Region 6 with [[Pacific Air Forces]], and
*Region 8 with [[Air Force Space Command]]. {{Fact|date=August 2008}}

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands, and their [[chain of command|chains of command]] flow directly to [[AFOSI headquarters]]. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide [[counter-intelligence]] and security-program management for [[special access program]]s under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations [[squadron]]s, [[Detachment (military)|detachment]]s and operating locations. In sum, AFOSI owns more than 160 units worldwide.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

==Operations==
{| align="right"
|-
| [[Image:Osipp6.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Several OSI agents at a US Air Force base]]
|}
===Threat detection===

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of [[hostile intelligence services]] and [[terrorist groups]] that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and [[computer security|computer infiltration]]. This mission aspect also includes providing [[personal protection]] to senior [[U.S. Air Force officer rank insignia|Air Force leaders]] and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Criminal investigations===

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to [[felony]] crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, compromise of Air Force test materials, [[black market]] activities, and other criminal activities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Economic crime investigations===

A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters/PROBLEMS, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

===Information operations===

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to its information systems. The AFOSI's role in support of Information Operations attempts to recognize future threats to the Air Force, and its response to these threats will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's [[computer crime]] investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Technology protection===

The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The [[AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program]] provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Specialized services===

AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, [[polygraph]]ers, [[behavioural sciences|behavioral scientist]]s, computer experts and [[Forensic science|forensic]] advisers.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

===Defense Cyber Crime Center===
{{main|Defense Cyber Crime Center}}
AFOSI is the DOD executive agent for the [[Defense Cyber Crime Center]], comprising the [[Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory]], the [[Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy]], and the [[Defense Cyber Crime Institute]]. The Laboratory provides counterintelligence, criminal, and fraud computer-evidence processing, analysis, and diagnosis to DOD investigations. The Institute provides research, development, and testing to provide "legally & scientifically accepted standards, techniques, methodologies, research, tools, and technologies on computer forensics and related technologies."<ref>[http://www.dc3.mil/dcci/dcciAbout.php About DCCI]</ref> The Academy provides training in computer investigations and computer forensics to DOD investigators and examiners.<ref>[http://www.dc3.mil/dc3/dc3About.php About DC3]</ref>

===Antiterrorism teams===

Created out of a need to meet the increasing challenges presented by worldwide [[terrorism]], AFOSI [[Counter-terrorism|antiterrorism]] teams are maintained around the globe. These highly trained and specialized AFOSI units are ready on a moment's notice to deploy globally to provide antiterrorism, counter-intelligence information collections and investigative services to Air Force personnel and units.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

==Training and Physical Requirements==

All new AFOSI [[special agent]] recruits—whether officer (active duty and reserve), enlisted (active duty and reserve) or civilian—receive their entry-level training at the [[Federal Law Enforcement Training Center]] in [[Glynn County, Georgia]]. Candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by an 8-week AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in [[firearms]] and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, [[surveillance]] and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court [[testimony]], and [[military law|military]] and [[United States federal law|federal law]]. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counter-intelligence, [[Cybercrime|computer crimes]] and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, [[bench press]], 1.5 mile run/walk, and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physically fit throughout their employment and are allowed five hours of duty time per week to participate in physical fitness activities.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

== See also ==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{Portal|Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics|Nuvola apps agent.svg}}
* [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies]]

===Air Force===
*[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency|U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]]
*[[Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit|Interplanetary Phenomenon Unit (IPU)]]
*[[Jeffrey Carney]]

===Federal law enforcement===
*[[Special agent]]
*[[Military police]]

===Sister UCMJ military law enforcement agencies===
*[[Defense Criminal Investigative Service|Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)]]
*[[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command|United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC)]]
*[[Coast Guard Investigative Service|Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS)]]
*[[Naval Criminal Investigative Service|Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.osi.andrews.af.mil/ Official website]

{{United States military law enforcement}}

[[Category:United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Field operating agencies of the United States Air Force|Office of Special Investigations]]
[[Category:Military in Maryland]]
[[Category:Military police agencies of the United States]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]

United States Army Air Corps

2009-04-19T16:11:43Z

Ndunruh: /* Sources */ USAF portal

{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=United States Army Air Corps
|image=[[Image:USAAC Roundel.svg|200px|Army Air Corps aircraft roundel]]
|caption=
|dates=July 2, 1926–June 22, 1941
|country= [[United States of America]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|type=
|role=
|size=14,650 men, 1,646 aircraft (1932) 16,863 men, 855 aircraft (1936) 152,125 men, 6,777 aircraft (1941)
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=Maj.Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]]
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''United States Army Air Corps''' (USAAC) was the predecessor of the [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) from 1926-41, which in turn was the forerunner of today's [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] (USAF), established in 1947. Although abolished as an organization in 1941, it existed as a branch subordinate to the USAAF from 1941-47.

The Air Corps was created from the [[United States Army Air Service|Air Service]] in 1926 largely as a compromise between advocates of a separate air arm and those of the command structure of the [[United States Army]] who viewed the aviation arm as an auxiliary branch to support the ground forces. Members worked to promote the concept of airpower between 1926 and 1941, but as a branch of the Army similar to the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] or [[Quartermaster Corps]], its primary purpose within that period remained support of ground forces rather than independent operations. Today, the Army maintains an [[United States Army Aviation Branch|Aviation Branch]] as a subordinate element fulfilling some roles of ground force support, although it is unrelated to the original USAAC.

==Lineage of the United States Air Force==

* [[Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps]] August 1, 1907–July 18, 1914
* [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]] July 18, 1914–May 20, 1918
* [[Division of Military Aeronautics]] May 20, 1918–May 24, 1918
* [[United States Army Air Service|U.S. Army Air Service]] May 24, 1918–July 2, 1926
* '''U.S. Army Air Corps''' July 2, 1926–June 20, 1941<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] June 20, 1941–September 18, 1947<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Air Force]] September 18, 1947–Present

<nowiki>**</nowiki> The '''Air Corps''' became a subordinate element of the '''Army Air Forces''', and no longer an administrative organization, on June 20, 1941. It continued to exist as a combat arm of the Army (similar to Infantry) until disestablished by Congress with the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947.

==Creation of the Air Corps==
[[Image:USAAC,1930.jpg|thumb|Army Air Corps aerial maneuvers over Burbank, California, 1930]]
The Lassiter Board, a group of [[General Staff]] officers, recommended to the [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] in 1923 that the [[U.S. Army Air Service|Air Service]] be replaced by a force of bombardment and pursuit units to carry out independent missions under the command of an Army general headquarters in time of war. The Lampert Committee of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] went far beyond this modest proposal in its report to the House in December 1925. After eleven months of extensive hearings, the committee proposed a unified air force independent of the Army and Navy, plus a department of defense to coordinate the three armed services.

Another board, headed by [[Dwight Morrow]], had already reached an opposite conclusion in only two and one-half months. Appointed in September 1925 by [[U.S. president|President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]] ostensibly to study the "best means of developing and applying aircraft in national defense" but in actuality to minimize the political impact of the pending court-martial of [[Billy Mitchell]] and to preempt the findings of the Lampert Committee, the Morrow Board issued its report two weeks before the Lampert Committee's. In accordance with the views of the President, it rejected the idea of a department of defense and a separate department of air, but it recommended several minor reforms including that the Air Service be renamed the Air Corps to allow it more prestige, that it be given special representation on the General Staff, and that an Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation be appointed.

Congress accepted the Morrow Board proposal, and the Air Corps Act (44 Stat. 780) was enacted on July 2, 1926. The legislation changed the name of the Air Service to the Air Corps, "thereby strengthening the conception of military aviation as an offensive, striking arm rather than an auxiliary service." The act created an additional Assistant Secretary of War to help foster military aeronautics, and it established an air section in each division of the General Staff for a period of three years. Other provisions required that all flying units be commanded by rated personnel and that flight pay be continued. Two additional brigadier generals would serve as assistant chiefs of the Air Corps. The Chief of the Air Service, Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick]], then became Chief of the Air Corps.

The position of the air arm within the Department of War remained essentially the same as before, that is, the flying units were under the operational control of the various ground forces [[corps]] commands and not the Air Corps, which remained responsible only for procurement of aircraft, maintenance of bases, supply, and training. Even the new position of Assistant Secretary of War for Air, held by [[F. Trubee Davison]] from 1926 to 1932, was of little help in promoting autonomy for the air arm.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of the act for the Air Corps was the authorization to carry out a five-year expansion program. However, the lack of funding caused the beginning of the five-year expansion program to be delayed until July 1, 1927. The goal eventually adopted was 1,800 airplanes with 1,650 officers and 15,000 enlisted men, to be reached in regular increments over a five-year period. But even this modest increase never came about as planned because adequate funds were never appropriated in the budget and the coming of the [[Great Depression]] forced reductions in pay and modernization. Organizationally the Air Corps did double from seven to fifteen groups. ([[US Army Air Service#Groups of the Air Service|Origin of first seven groups shown here]])

<center>'''Air Corps Groups added 1927-1937'''</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Group''' ||align=center|'''Station''' ||align=center|'''Date activated'''||align=center|'''Aircraft type'''
|-
|18th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Wheeler Field]], [[Hawaii]]|| January, 1927|| [[PW-9]]
|-
|7th Bomb Group|| align=center|[[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 1, 1928|| [[Keystone LB-6|LB-7]], [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]]
|-
|12th Observation Group¹|| align=center|[[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]|| align=center|1930|| [[Thomas-Morse O-19|O-19]]
|-
|20th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Mather Air Force Base|Mather Field]], [[California]]|| November 15, 1930|| [[P-12]]
|-
|8th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]]|| April 1, 1931||[[P-6]]
|-
|17th Pursuit Group²||align=center|[[March Air Force Base|March Field]], [[California]]|| July 1, 1931||[[P-12]]
|-
|19th Bomb Group|| [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 24, 1932|| [[Martin B-10|B-10]]
|-
|16th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field, Canal Zone]]|| December 1, 1932|| [[P-12]]
|-
|10th Transport Group|| align=center|[[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson Field]], [[Ohio]]|| May 20, 1937|| [[Bellanca Aircruiser|C-27]] [[Douglas DC-2|C-33]]
|}
<center>¹Disbanded on May 20, 1937</center>
<center>²Redesignated 17th Attack Group (1935), 17th Bomb Group (1939)</center>

[[Image:060421-F-1234P-024.jpg|thumb|right| B-6A of 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th BG, 1935]]
Most early pursuit fighters before 1935 were of the [[Curtiss]] [[P-1 Hawk]] (1926-1930) and [[Boeing P-12]] (1929-1935) families, and most front-line bombers before the 1934 introduction of the all-metal monoplane were variants of the [[radial engine]]d [[Keystone LB-6]] (60 LB-5A, LB-6 and LB-7 planes) and [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]] (127 B-3A, B-4A, B-5, and B-6A planes) designs.<ref>The primary difference between the types is the twin-finned tail of the former, and the single vertical stabilizer of the latter design.</ref> Between 1927 and 1934, the [[Curtiss Falcon|O-1/A-3 Falcons]] (183 observation and 154 attack aircraft) fulfilled the observation/close support role designated by the General Staff as the primary mission of the Air Corps.

Transport aircraft of the first ten years of the Air Corps were of largely [[trimotor]] design, such as the [[Fokker F.VII|Atlantic-Fokker C-2]] and the [[Ford trimotor|Ford C-3]], and were procured in such small numbers (66 total) that they were doled out one airplane to a base. As their numbers and utility declined, they were replaced by a series of 50 twin-engine and single-engine small transports, and used for staff duties. Pilot training was conducted between 1927 and 1937 in the [[Consolidated PT-3]] trainer, followed by the [[Boeing-Stearman Model 75|Stearman PT-13]] and variants after 1937.

In 1933 the Air Corps expanded to a tactical strength of 50 squadrons: 21 pursuit, 13 observation, 12 bombardment, and 4 attack. The last open-cockpit fighter used by the USAAC, the [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26]], came into service in 1933 and bridged the gap between the biplane and more modern fighters.

The Air Corps was called upon in early 1934 to deliver the mail in the wake of a scandal involving the [[United States Postmaster General|postmaster general]] and heads of the [[airline]]s. Despite an embarrassing performance that resulted in a number of crashes and fatalities, the investigating boards that followed recommended organizational and modernization changes that again set the Air Corps on the path to autonomy and eventual separation from the Army. A force of 2,320 aircraft was recommended by one board, and authorized by Congress in June 1936, but appropriations to build up the force were denied by the administration until 1939, when the probability of war became apparent. Instead the Air Corps inventory actually declined to 855 total aircraft in 1936, a year after the creation of GHQ Air Force, which by itself was recommended to have a strength of 980.<ref>Shiner, Lt.Col. John F. (1997) "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939", ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'', Vol.1 1907-1950. USAF. ISBN 0-16-049009-X, p.136, p.120 for the GHQAF figure.</ref>

{{main|Air Mail Scandal}}

==Doctrinal development and battles==
===Strategic bombardment in roles and missions===
In March 1928, commenting on the lack of survivability in combat of his unit's [[Keystone LB-7]] and [[Martin NBS-1]] bombers, Lt. Col. Hugh J. Knerr, commander of the 2nd Bombardment Group at [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]], recommended that the Air Corps adopt two types of all-metal monoplane bombers, a short-range day bomber and a long-range night bomber. Instructors at the [[Air Corps Tactical School]], also then at Langley, took the concept one step further in March 1930 by recommending that the types instead be ''light'' and ''heavy'', the latter capable of long range carrying a heavy bomb load.<ref>Tate, Dr. James P. (1998). ''The Army and its Air Corps: Army Policy Toward Aviation 1919-1941'', Air University Press. P.161.</ref>
{{quote box2 |width=30em | bgcolor=#B0C4DE |align=left|halign=left |quote=<div style="text-align:left;">The Naval Air Force will be based on the fleet and move with it as an important element in solving the primary missions confronting the fleet. The Army Air Forces will be land-based and employed as an essential element to the Army in the performance of its mission to defend the coasts at home and in our overseas possessions, thus assuring the fleet absolute freedom of action without any responsibility for coast defense.
|source= Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Adm. William V. Pratt, 7 Jan 1931<ref>Tate, p.78.</ref>
}}
The Air Corps in January 1931 "got its foot in the door" for developing a mission for which only it would have capability, while at the same time creating a need for technological advancement of its equipment. [[Chief of Naval Operations]] Admiral [[William V. Pratt]] was desirous of having all naval aviation including land-based coastal defense aircraft tied to carrier-based fleet operations. Pratt reached an agreement with new Army Chief of Staff [[Douglas MacArthur]] that the Air Corps would assume responsibility for coastal defense beyond the range of the Army's Coast Artillery guns, ending the Navy's role in coastal air operations. Though the Navy repudiated the statement when Adm. Pratt retired in 1934, the Air Corps clung to the mission, and provided itself with the basis for development of long range bombers and creating new doctrine to employ them.<ref>Shiner, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force", p.116.</ref>

The formulation of theories of [[strategic bombing]] gave new impetus to the argument for an independent air force. Strategic or long-range bombardment was intended to destroy an enemy nation's industry and war-making potential, and only an independent service would have a free hand to do so. But despite what it perceived as "obstruction" from the War Department, much of which was attributable to a shortage of funds, the Air Corps made great strides during the 1930s. A doctrine emerged that stressed precision bombing of industrial targets by heavily armed long-range aircraft.

This doctrine resulted because of several factors. The Air Corps Tactical School moved in July 1931 to [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]], where it taught a 36-week course for junior and mid-career officers that included military aviation theory. The Bombardment Section, under the direction of its chief, Major [[Harold L. George]], became influential in the development of doctrine and its dissemination throughout the Air Corps. Nine of its instructors became known throughout the Air Corps as the "Bomber Mafia", eight of whom (including George) went on to be generals during World War II. Conversely, pursuit tacticians, primarily Capt. [[Claire Chennault]], Chief of the school's Pursuit Section, found their influence waning because of repeated performance failures of pursuit aviation. Finally, the doctrine represented the Air Corps' attempt to develop autonomy from the General Staff, which enforced subordination of the air arm by limiting it to support of ground forces and defense of United States territory.
[[Image:Boeing Y1B-9 test flight USAF p29.jpg|right|thumb|Test flight of the Boeing Y1B-9 bomber in 1932. At the time it was faster than any existing pursuit plane.]]

New bomber types under development clearly outperformed new pursuit types, particularly in speed and altitude. In both 1932 and 1933, large-scale maneuvers found fighters unable to climb to altitude quickly enough to intercept attacking [[Boeing Y1B-9|Y1B-9]] and [[Martin B-10|B-10]] prototypes, a failure so complete that Brig. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], following the 1933 maneuvers, actually proposed elimination of pursuits altogether.<ref>Bowman, Martin W., ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0, p.7.</ref>

The successful development of the [[Martin B-10]] and subsequent orders after 1935 for more than 150 (including its B-12 variant) continued the hegemony of the bomber within the AAC. The B-10 featured innovations that became standard for the next decade: an all-metal monoplane, closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets, retractable landing gear, internal bomb bay, and full engine cowlings.

The superiority of bombers resulted in a 1934 feasibility study for a 35-ton 4-engined bomber (the [[Boeing XB-15]]) that, while found to be unsuitable for combat because of inadequate engine size, led to the design of the Model 299, later to become the [[B-17 Flying Fortress]], whose first flight was in July 1935. In June 1936 the Air Corps requested 11 B-15s and 50 B-17s for reinforcing hemispheric defense forces in Hawaii, Alaska, and Panama. The request was rejected on the basis that there were no strategic requirements for aircraft of such capabilities.<ref>Cate, James L. (1945). USAF Historical Study 112: ''The History of the Twentieth Air Force: Genesis''. Air Force Historical research Agency, p.17.</ref>

The Army and Navy, both cognizant of the growing movement within the Air Corps for independence, cooperated to resist it. On September 11, 1935, the Joint Board, at the behest of the Navy and the concurrence of Gen. MacArthur, issued a "Joint Action Statement" that reasserted the limited role of the Air Corps as merely an auxiliary to the "mobile Army" in all its missions, including coastal defense.<ref>Cate, p.15.</ref> The edict was issued with the intent of shoving an upstart Air Corps back into its place. However, the bomber advocates interpreted its language to mean that the Air Corps could conduct long range reconnaissance, attack approaching fleets, reinforce distant bases, and attack enemy air bases, all in furtherance of its mission to prevent an air attack on America.<ref>Cate, p.16.</ref> The lack of inter-service cooperation on coastal defense fostered by the Joint Board agreement continued until culminating in the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]].

In 1937 the War Department, seeking to stifle procurement of the B-17, decided that it would develop and procure only twin-engined medium bombers in fiscal years 1939 and 1940, and refused funding for further experimental development of a very long range bomber. In collaboration with the Navy, it placed a moratorium on the long range bomber program in June 1938 by issuing a Joint Board ruling that it could foresee no use for a long range bomber in future conflict.<ref>Cate, p.17.</ref> However the moratorium would last only a year, as it went against not only the trends of technological development, but against the geopolitical realities of coming war.<ref>Cate, pp.17-18.</ref>

Between 1930 and 1938 the Air Corps had obtained a mission in coastal defense that justified both the creation of a centralized strike force and the development of 4-engined bombers, and was [[lobbying]] for another mission, strategic bombardment, with which it could persuasively argue for independence from the Army.<ref>Shiner, ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword'', p.133.</ref>

===GHQ Air Force===
The next major step toward creation of a separate air force occurred on March 1, 1935 with the activation of a centralized operational air force, commanded by an aviator and answering to the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]] of the Army. Called '''General Headquarters (GHQ) Air Force''', the command had existed in Army planning since 1924, as a subordinate element of an Army General Headquarters that would be activated to control all Army units in case of war mobilization.<ref>Correll, John T. "GHQ Air Force", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'', September 2008, Vol. 91 No. 9, p.63.</ref> In anticipation of war with Cuba in 1933, the headquarters had been created but not staffed on October 1. <ref>Maurer Maurer (1987). ''Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939'', Officer of Air Force History, Washington, D.C. ISBN 1410213919. P. 298.</ref> Among the findings of the Baker Board, established in the wake of the Air Mail Scandal, was that GHQ Air Force be set up as a permanent peacetime tactical organization to both ameliorate the pressures for a separate air force and to exploit emerging capabilities in airpower.<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", pp.63-64.</ref> In the absence of a general headquarters, GHQ Air Force would report to the General Staff.

GHQ Air Force took all combat air units in the United States out of the control of corps area commanders, where they had resided since 1920, and organized them administratively into four geographical districts (which later became the first four numbered air forces) and operationally into a strike force of three wings. The General Staff perceived its creation as a means of lessening Air Corps autonomy, not increasing it, however, and GHQ Air Force was a "coordinate component" along with the Air Corps, and not subject to its control. However all its members, along with members of units stationed overseas and under the control of local ground commanders, remained part of the Air Corps. This dual status and division of authority hampered the development of Air Corps for the next six years, as it had the Air Service during World War I, and was not overcome until the necessity of expanding the force occurred with the onset of World War II.

The GHQ Air Force remained small in comparison to European air forces. On its first day of existence, the command consisted of 60 bombers, 42 attack aircraft, 146 pursuits, and 24 transports. Lines of authority were also difficult as GHQ Air Force controlled only combat flying units within the continental United States, with the Air Corps still responsible for training, aircraft development, doctrine, and supply, and the ground forces corps area commanders still controlling their installations and the support personnel manning them. The commanders of GHQ Air Force and the Air Corps, Major Generals [[Frank Maxwell Andrews]] and [[Oscar Westover]] respectively, clashed philosophically over the direction in which the air arm was heading, adding to the difficulties, with Andrews in favor of autonomy and Westover espousing subordination to the Army chain of command. The air arm embraced strategic bombing as its primary doctrine after the creation of GHQ Air Force, but could only buy a few of the new four-engined [[B-17 Flying Fortress]]es, so that by 1938 there were still only thirteen on hand and orders for more had been suspended.

[[Image:B-17s flyby Rex.jpg|thumb|right|Interception of the ''Rex''. The navigator for the mission was 1st Lt. [[Curtis LeMay]]]]
In January 1936, the AAC contracted with [[Boeing]] for thirteen Y1B-17 prototypes, enough to equip one squadron for operational testing and a thirteenth aircraft for stress testing, with deliveries made from January to August 1937. The cost of the aircraft disturbed both Army Secretary [[Harry Woodring]], who denied requests for further purchases, and Army Chief of Staff [[Malin Craig]], who in 1938 reversed plans for five squadrons of B-17s (67 airplanes) to be purchased with carryover funds.<ref>Shiner, "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939", p. 146.</ref> The Air Corps also incurred the enmity of the Navy on May 12, 1938, by widely publicizing an [[Interception of the Rex|interception of the Italian ocean liner ''Rex'']] by three B-17s while it was 610 miles off-shore of [[New York City]].<ref>John T. Correll, "Rendezvous With the ''Rex''", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'' December 2008, Vol. 91 No. 12, p. 56. This is a common error. The ''Rex'' was 725 miles offshore on her last position report as the B-17s were taxiing for takeoff.</ref> Craig placed a 100-mile restriction on all off-shore flights in response, and the services issued a joint statement reasserting that the mission of the Air Corps was only that of a support auxiliary for Army ground forces, or for supporting the Navy if called upon to do so.

Even with the doctrine of strategic bombardment as its priority, the Air Corps sought to modernize its tactical combat force under GHQ Air Force, bringing into service the [[Northrop A-17]] and [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]] in 1936, [[Seversky P-35]] in 1937, and the [[Curtiss P-36]] in 1938. However all of these aircraft were obsolete by the time they came into service, and development of more modern airplanes continued.
====Problems with unity of command====
The separation of the combat organization (GHQ Air Force) from the logistic organization (Air Corps) created serious problems of coordination. To correct this condition and coinciding with a change of command at GHQ Air Force, the combat force was nominally placed under the new Chief of the Air Corps, Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], in March 1939, but divisions were not entirely resolved. The two organizations were separated again on November 19, 1940, with the activation of GHQ Army (over five years after the activation of GHQ Air Force).<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", p.66.</ref> Its combat units again placed under direct control of the Chief of Staff (then [[George C. Marshall]]) and its airfields under corps commanders. However Arnold had joined the [[General Staff]] as acting "Deputy Chief of Staff for Air" on November 11, 1940, a position that enabled him to coordinate the two sections of the air arm until the organizational problems were repaired.

General Arnold, at the direction of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in January 1939, oversaw an expansion of the Air Corps that saw it double in size from 15 to 30 groups by the end of 1940. In March 1939, with the replacement of Gen. Andrews as commander of GHQ Air Force by Maj. Gen. [[Delos Emmons|Delos C. Emmons]], Arnold was also nominally assigned to "supervise" the tactical force. The problems of lack of unity of command, however, were again exacerbated by the assignment to Army GHQ of GHQ Air Force. Gen. Emmons, who had begun his tour junior to Arnold, was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] to make him equal to the commanders of the field armies also controlled by Army GHQ. This forced him to report to and act under an inferior in rank (both Arnold and his acting replacement as chief of the Air Corps, [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], were [[major general]]s). On June 20, 1941, to end the divisions, the War Department revised Army Regulation 95-5 to create the [[U.S. Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]] with the Air Corps and GHQAF (the latter redesignated as Combat Command) as its major components, authorized an Air Staff to manage planning and execution of expansion of the air arm, and named Arnold as Chief of the Army Air Forces.

During [[World War II]] the role of the Air Corps changed again. On March 9, 1942, with the issuance of War Circular 59, the Air Corps was further subordinated to the USAAF as a combatant arm (as [[Infantry]] and [[Field Artillery]] were subordinate combatant arms of the Army Ground Forces, which replaced Army General Headquarters) and the office of Chief of the Air Corps was abolished. The Congress did not disestablish the Army Air Corps until July 26, 1947, with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502).

==Modernization and expansion of the force==
===New aircraft===
[[Image:C-39-transport.jpg|thumb|right|Douglas C-39 transport]]
The Air Corps tested and employed a profusion of pursuit, observation, and bomber aircraft during its 15-year history. The advent of the all-metal monoplane, enclosed cockpits, retracting landing gear, enclosed bomb bays, and the emergence of strategic bombardment doctrine led to many designs in the mid and late 1930s that were still in use when the United States entered World War II. Among the key technology developed were oxygen and cabin pressurization systems, engine [[supercharger]]s (systems essential for high-altitude combat), and the [[Norden bombsight]].

As a further consequence of the Air Mail Scandal, the Baker Board reviewed the performance of Air Corps aircraft and recognized that civilian aircraft were far superior to planes developed solely to Air Corps specifications. Following up on its recommendation, the Air Corps purchased and tested a [[Douglas DC-2]] as the XC-32, which subsequently became the flying headquarters of Gen. Andrews. The XC-32 so exceeded Air Corps specifications that 17 were purchased to equip the first operational transport unit, the 10th Transport Group, activated in June 1937 at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson field]], [[Ohio]]. In 1939 the Air Corps recognized the importance of modern air transports and purchased 35 DC-2/[[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]] hybrids, designated the C-39, the forerunner of the thousands of [[C-47 Skytrain]]s that served in World War II.

Notable fighters developed during the late 1930s were the [[P-40]] (first flown October 1938), [[P-38]] (January 1939), [[P-39]] (April 1939), [[P-51 Mustang|P-51]] (October 1940), and [[P-47]] (May 1941). Bombers developed during this period were the [[A-20 Havoc|A-20]] (first flown October 1938), [[B-25]] (January 1939), [[B-24]] (December 1939), and [[B-26]] (November 1940). Except for the B-24, P-47 and P-51, all had production deliveries begun before June 1941. Three other long-range bombers began development during this period, though only mockups were produced before World War II: [[B-29]] (study begun in 1938), [[B-32 Dominator|B-32]] (June 1940), and [[B-36]] (April 1941).

{{main|Military aircraft of the United States}}

===Expansion of the Air Corps===
In a special message to Congress on January 12, 1939, President Roosevelt advised that the threat of a new war made the recommendations of the Baker Board inadequate for American defense and requested approval of a 6,000-plane Air Corps.<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/fdr2.htm Message of President Roosevelt to the Congress, january 12, 1939] The entire message is reproduced here.</ref> On April 3, 1939, Congress allocated the $300 million requested by Roosevelt for expansion of the Air Corps, half of which was dedicated to purchasing planes to raise the inventory from 2,500 to 5,500 airplanes, and the other half for new personnel, training facilities, and bases.<ref>Williams, Edwin L., Jr. (1953). USAF Historical Study No. 84: ''Legislative History of the AAF and USAF, 1941-1951'' Air Force Historical research Agency, p. 12. Public Law 18, 76th Congress, 1st Session.</ref> In June the Kilmer Board recommended several types of bombers needed to fulfill the Air Corps mission that included aircraft having tactical radii of both 3,000 miles (modified in 1940 to 4,000) and 2,000 miles. Chief of Staff Gen. Craig, long an impediment to Air Corps ambitions, was about to retire, and the General Staff reversed itself and concurred in the requirements, ending the brief moratorium on bomber development and paving the way for work on the B-29.<ref>Cate, p.18.</ref>

General Arnold transferred a group of experienced officers to his headquarters as an air staff to lay out a plan over the winter of 1938-1939 that would increase the Air Corps to 50,000 men by June 1941. The expansion program of the Air Corps was characterized by repeated upward revision of goals for increasing the numbers of combat units, aircraft production, training new personnel, and constructing new bases. New combat groups were created by detaching cadres from existing groups to provide the core of the new units, with the older groups providing the basis for an average of three new groups.<ref>Jerry White, USAF Historical Study 61: ''Combat Crew and Training Units in the AAF, 1939-45''. Air Force Historical Research Agency.</ref>

The initial "25-group program" for air defense of the hemisphere, developed in April 1939, called for 50,000 men. Following the successful [[Battle of France|German invasion of France and the Low Countries]] in May 1940, the "54-group program" followed, although funding approval could not keep pace and an inclusive "41-group program" was actually implemented.<ref>Robert Futrell, ''USAF Historical Study No. 69: ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 23-24.</ref> An "84-group program", with an eventual goal of 400,000 men by June 30, 1942, was begun in March 1941, although not publicly announced until October 23, 1941.<ref>The original goals of the final "hemispheric defense program" were 84 combat groups; 7,799 tactical aircraft; 30,000 new pilots annually; and 100,000 new technical personnel annually.</ref> <ref>Wesley F. Craven and James Cate, ''Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol. I: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942'', p.105-106.</ref>

When war broke out in September 1939 the plan was already halfway to its goal in manpower, but with only 800 first-line combat aircraft. The Air Corps had 17 major installations and four depots, and most of its 76 airfields were co-located at civil airports or were small fields on Army posts.<ref>Futrell, ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 2-7. The 21 major bases were [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley]], [[Mitchel Field|Mitchel]], [[March Air Force Base|March]], [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott]], [[Selfridge Air Force Base|Selfridge]], [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton]], [[Moffett Field|Moffett]], [[Bolling Air Force Base|Bolling]], [[McChord Air Force Base|McChord]], [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks]], [[Randolph Air Force Base|Randolph]], [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute]], [[Lowry Air Force Base|Lowry]], [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell]], and [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Wright Fields]], and San Antonio, Middletown, Fairfield, and Sacramento Air Depots.</ref> The acceleration of the expansion programs resulted in an Air Corps of 156 airfields and nearly 100,000 men by the end of 1940. 20 civilian flight schools and eight technical training schools were contracted to provide additional training facilities, and on August 10, 1940, [[Pan American Airways]] was enlisted to provide meteorological and navigation training at [[Coral Gables, Florida]], until military schools could be established.<ref>Futrell, ''''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', p. 26.</ref>

At this stage, public opinion support of airpower reached unprecedented highs, but General Arnold made a decision to postpone any attempts to exploit the opportunity to push for an independent Air Force. Assured of a free hand by Army Chief of Staff General [[George C. Marshall]], Arnold felt it would "be a serious mistake to change the existing setup" in the midst of the crucial expansion effort.

==Organization of the Air Corps==
===Army Air Corps, March 1, 1935===
:SOURCE: Maurer Maurer, ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''

[[Image:P26a.jpg|thumb|right| [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26A]] of 34th Pursuit Squadron, 17th PG 1934-1936]]
====General Headquarters Air Force====
(Maj. Gen. [[Frank M. Andrews]], [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
*'''1st Wing''' (Brig. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], [[March Air Force Base|March Field]], California)
**[[7th Bomb Wing#Components|7th Bombardment Group]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton Field]], California
***[[9th Bomb Squadron|9th]], [[11th Bomb Squadron|11th]], & [[31st Test and Evaluation Squadron|31st Bombardment Squadrons]]
**[[17th Training Group|17th Attack Group]], March Field, California
***[[34th Bomb Squadron|34th]], [[37th Bomb Squadron|37th]], & [[95th Reconnaissance Squadron|95th Attack Squadrons]]
**[[19th Bombardment Group]], March Field, California
***[[23d Bomb Squadron|23d]], [[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|30th]], [[32d Air Refueling Squadron|32d]], & [[72d Bombardment Squadron]]s (23d & 72d BS based in [[Hawaii]])
[[Image:060511-F-1234S-027.jpg|thumb|right|Martin B-12A (variant of the [[Martin B-10|B-10]]) of 31st Bomb Squadron, 7th BG, Hamilton Field, California]]
*'''2d Wing''' (Brig. Gen. H. Conger Pratt, [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
**[[1st Operations Group|1st Pursuit Group]], [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]]
***[[17th Weapons Squadron|17th]], [[27th Fighter Squadron|27th]] & [[94th Fighter Squadron|94th Pursuit Squadrons]]
**[[2d Bomb Wing#Components|2d Bombardment Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***[[20th Bomb Squadron|20th]], 49th, and [[96th Bomb Squadron|96th Bombardment Squadrons]]
**[[8th Pursuit Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***33rd, [[35th Fighter Squadron|35th]] & [[36th Fighter Squadron|36th Pursuit Squadrons]]; 37th Attack Squadron
**[[9th Bomb Group|9th Bombardment Group]], [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
***[[1st Reconnaissance Squadron|1st]], [[5th Reconnaissance Squadron|5th]], [[14th Bombardment Squadron|14th]] & [[99th Reconnaissance Squadron|99th Bombardment Squadrons]]
[[Image:A-12-33-229-3dwing.jpg|thumb|right| [[A-12 Shrike]] of the 13th Attack Squadron, 3rd AG, Barksdale Field, Louisiana]]
*'''3d Wing''' (Col. Gerald C. Brant, [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale Field]], [[Louisiana]])
**[[3d Wing|3d Attack Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***[[8th Special Operations Squadron|8th]], [[13th Bomb Squadron|13th]], & [[90th Fighter Squadron|90th Attack Squadrons]]
**[[20th Pursuit Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***[[55th Fighter Squadron|55th]], [[77th Fighter Squadron|77th]] & [[79th Fighter Squadron|79th Pursuit Squadrons]]

*21st Airship Group, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**9th Airship Squadron, Scott Field
**19th Airship Squadron, Langley Field

[[Image:stearman.e75.g-bswc.longshot.arp.jpg|thumb|right|PT-13, Air Corps primary trainer]]
[[Image:Douglas O-46.jpg|thumb|right| [[Douglas O-46|O-46A]] At Wright Field]]

====Other flying units====
*'''Advanced Flying School''', [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly Field]], [[Texas]]
**40th Attack, [[42d Attack Squadron|42nd Bombardment]], [[43d Fighter Squadron|43d Pursuit Squadrons]] (from 3d Wing); 39th School Squadron
*'''Air Corps Technical School''', [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute Field]], [[Illinois]]
**[[48th Flying Training Squadron|48th Pursuit Squadron]] (from 3d Wing)
*'''[[Air Corps Tactical School]]''', (Col. [[John F. Curry]]) [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]]
**[[54th Airlift Flight|54th Bombardment]], 86th Observation Squadrons (from 2d Wing)
*'''Rockwell Air Depot''', [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]
**[[4th Airlift Squadron|4th Transport Squadron]]
*Second Corps Area, [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
**97th Observation Squadron (from 2d Wing)
*Sixth Corps Area, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**15th Observation Squadron (from 2d Wing)
*Ninth Corps Area, [[Crissy Field]], [[California]]
**[[91st Network Warfare Squadron|91st Observation Squadron]] (from 1st Wing)
*[[12th Flying Training Group|12th Observation Group]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]
**11th Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**22d Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**88th Observation Squadron (long-range amphibian)
[[Image:Boeing P-12E USAF.jpg|thumb|right| [[Boeing P-12|P-12E]] of 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th PG 1935-1938, Wheeler Field, Hawaii]]

====Overseas units====
*'''18th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. [[Delos Emmons]], [[Fort Shafter]], [[Hawaii]])
**[[5th Bomb Wing#Components|5th Composite Group]], [[Ford Island|Luke Field]], Hawaii
***[[26th Space Aggressor Squadron|26th Attack]], 40th & 50th Observation Squadrons ([[23d Bomb Squadron|23d]], [[72d Test and Evaluation Squadron|72d BS]] attached)
**[[18th Wing|18th Pursuit Group]], [[Wheeler Field]], Hawaii
***[[6th Night Fighter Squadron|6th]], [[19th Fighter Squadron|19th Pursuit Squadrons]]
*'''19th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. William C. McCord, [[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field]], [[Panama Canal Zone]])
**[[6th Composite Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***25th Bombardment, 7th & 44th Observation Squadrons
**[[16th Pursuit Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***24th, 29th, [[74th Bombardment Squadron|74th]] & [[78th Reconnaissance Squadron|78th Pursuit Squadrons]]
*[[4th Composite Group]], [[Clark Air Force Base|Clark Field]], [[Luzon]]
**[[3d Flying Training Squadron|3d Pursuit]] & [[28th Bomb Squadron|28th Bombardment Squadrons]]

===Annual strength===
<center>Strength as of June 30 of each year</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Year'''||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength'''
|-
| align=center|'''1927'''||align=center|9,979||||align=center|'''1932'''||align=center|14,650||||align=center|'''1937'''||align=center|18,572
|-
|align=center|'''1928'''||align=center|10,518||||align=center|'''1933'''||align=center|14,817||||align=center|'''1938'''||align=center|20,196
|-
|align=center|'''1929'''||align=center|12,080||||align=center|'''1934'''||align=center|15,621||||align=center|'''1939'''||align=center|22,387
|-
|align=center|'''1930'''||align=center|13,305||||align=center|'''1935'''||align=center|15,945||||align=center|'''1940'''||align=center|51,185
|-
|align=center|'''1931'''||align=center|14,485||||align=center|'''1936'''||align=center|16,863||||align=center|'''1941'''||align=center|152,125
|}
[[Image:052504-O-0000G-002.jpg|right|thumb|Generals [[Benjamin Delahauf Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]] (left), [[James E. Fechet]] and H. Conger Pratt.]]

===Chiefs of the Air Corps===
*Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick|Mason M. Patrick]], July 2, 1926-December 13, 1927
*Maj. Gen. [[James E. Fechet]], December 14, 1927-December 19, 1931
*Maj. Gen. [[Benjamin Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]], December 20, 1931-December 21, 1935
*Maj. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], December 22, 1935-September 21, 1938
*Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], September 29, 1938-June 20, 1941
*Maj. Gen. [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], June 20, 1941-March 9, 1942

==See also==
*[[Air Corps Tactical School]]
*[[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
*[[United States Army Air Service]]
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
*[[Question Mark (airplane)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
*[https://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/Evolution.htm U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office]
*Bowman, Martin W., "Background to War", ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0
*Maurer, Maurer, ''[http://military.evendon.com#WW2 Air Force Combat Units of World War II]'', Office of Air Force history (1961). ISBN 0-40512-194-6
*Shiner, John F., ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'' (1997), ISBN 0-16-049009-X
**Vol. I, Chap. 4, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force, 1925-1935"
**Vol. I, Chap. 5, "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939"
*[http://www.afa.org/magazine/almanacs.asp 2006 Almanac, ''Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association'', May 2006, Volume 89 Number 5]

{{Aviation lists}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box
|before=[[United States Army Air Service]]
|title=[[United States Army Air Corps]]
|years=1926-1941
|after=[[United States Army Air Forces]]}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Military history of the United States 1900-1999]]
[[Category:History of the United States Army|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Army aviation|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Air Force|Air Corps]]
[[Category:Army aviation units and formations]]

[[es:Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército de los Estados Unidos]]
[[fr:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[it:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[ja:アメリカ陸軍航空隊]]
[[no:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[pl:United States Army Air Corps]]

United States Army Air Corps

2009-01-25T19:20:52Z

Ndunruh: /* Army Air Corps, March 1, 1935 */ squadron links added

{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=United States Army Air Corps
|image=[[Image:USAAC Roundel.svg|200px|Army Air Corps aircraft roundel]]
|caption=
|dates=July 2, 1926–June 22, 1941
|country= [[United States of America]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|type=
|role=
|size=14,650 men, 1,646 aircraft (1932) 16,863 men, 855 aircraft (1936) 152,125 men, 6,777 aircraft (1941)
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=Maj.Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]]
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''United States Army Air Corps''' (USAAC) was the predecessor of the [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) from 1926-41, which in turn was the forerunner of today's [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] (USAF), established in 1947. Although abolished as an organization in 1941, it existed as a branch subordinate to the USAAF from 1941-47.

The Air Corps was created from the [[United States Army Air Service|Air Service]] in 1926 largely as a compromise between advocates of a separate air arm and those of the command structure of the [[United States Army]] who viewed the aviation arm as an auxiliary branch to support the ground forces. Members worked to promote the concept of airpower between 1926 and 1941, but as a branch of the Army similar to the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] or [[Quartermaster Corps]], its primary purpose within that period remained support of ground forces rather than independent operations. Today, the Army maintains an [[United States Army Aviation Branch|Aviation Branch]] as a subordinate element fulfilling some roles of ground force support, although it is unrelated to the original USAAC.

==Lineage of the United States Air Force==

* [[Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps]] August 1, 1907–July 18, 1914
* [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]] July 18, 1914–May 20, 1918
* [[Division of Military Aeronautics]] May 20, 1918–May 24, 1918
* [[United States Army Air Service|U.S. Army Air Service]] May 24, 1918–July 2, 1926
* '''U.S. Army Air Corps''' July 2, 1926–June 20, 1941<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] June 20, 1941–September 18, 1947<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Air Force]] September 18, 1947–Present

<nowiki>**</nowiki> The '''Air Corps''' became a subordinate element of the '''Army Air Forces''', and no longer an administrative organization, on June 20, 1941. It continued to exist as a combat arm of the Army (similar to Infantry) until disestablished by Congress with the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947.

==Creation of the Air Corps==
[[Image:USAAC,1930.jpg|thumb|Army Air Corps aerial maneuvers over Burbank, California, 1930]]
The Lassiter Board, a group of [[General Staff]] officers, recommended to the [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] in 1923 that the [[U.S. Army Air Service|Air Service]] be replaced by a force of bombardment and pursuit units to carry out independent missions under the command of an Army general headquarters in time of war. The Lampert Committee of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] went far beyond this modest proposal in its report to the House in December 1925. After eleven months of extensive hearings, the committee proposed a unified air force independent of the Army and Navy, plus a department of defense to coordinate the three armed services.

Another board, headed by [[Dwight Morrow]], had already reached an opposite conclusion in only two and one-half months. Appointed in September 1925 by [[U.S. president|President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]] ostensibly to study the "best means of developing and applying aircraft in national defense" but in actuality to minimize the political impact of the pending court-martial of [[Billy Mitchell]] and to preempt the findings of the Lampert Committee, the Morrow Board issued its report two weeks before the Lampert Committee's. In accordance with the views of the President, it rejected the idea of a department of defense and a separate department of air, but it recommended several minor reforms including that the Air Service be renamed the Air Corps to allow it more prestige, that it be given special representation on the General Staff, and that an Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation be appointed.

Congress accepted the Morrow Board proposal, and the Air Corps Act (44 Stat. 780) was enacted on July 2, 1926. The legislation changed the name of the Air Service to the Air Corps, "thereby strengthening the conception of military aviation as an offensive, striking arm rather than an auxiliary service." The act created an additional Assistant Secretary of War to help foster military aeronautics, and it established an air section in each division of the General Staff for a period of three years. Other provisions required that all flying units be commanded by rated personnel and that flight pay be continued. Two additional brigadier generals would serve as assistant chiefs of the Air Corps. The Chief of the Air Service, Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick]], then became Chief of the Air Corps.

The position of the air arm within the Department of War remained essentially the same as before, that is, the flying units were under the operational control of the various ground forces [[corps]] commands and not the Air Corps, which remained responsible only for procurement of aircraft, maintenance of bases, supply, and training. Even the new position of Assistant Secretary of War for Air, held by [[F. Trubee Davison]] from 1926 to 1932, was of little help in promoting autonomy for the air arm.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of the act for the Air Corps was the authorization to carry out a five-year expansion program. However, the lack of funding caused the beginning of the five-year expansion program to be delayed until July 1, 1927. The goal eventually adopted was 1,800 airplanes with 1,650 officers and 15,000 enlisted men, to be reached in regular increments over a five-year period. But even this modest increase never came about as planned because adequate funds were never appropriated in the budget and the coming of the [[Great Depression]] forced reductions in pay and modernization. Organizationally the Air Corps did double from seven to fifteen groups. ([[US Army Air Service#Groups of the Air Service|Origin of first seven groups shown here]])

<center>'''Air Corps Groups added 1927-1937'''</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Group''' ||align=center|'''Station''' ||align=center|'''Date activated'''||align=center|'''Aircraft type'''
|-
|18th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Wheeler Field]], [[Hawaii]]|| January, 1927|| [[PW-9]]
|-
|7th Bomb Group|| align=center|[[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 1, 1928|| [[Keystone LB-6|LB-7]], [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]]
|-
|12th Observation Group¹|| align=center|[[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]|| align=center|1930|| [[Thomas-Morse O-19|O-19]]
|-
|20th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Mather Air Force Base|Mather Field]], [[California]]|| November 15, 1930|| [[P-12]]
|-
|8th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]]|| April 1, 1931||[[P-6]]
|-
|17th Pursuit Group²||align=center|[[March Air Force Base|March Field]], [[California]]|| July 1, 1931]||[[P-12]]
|-
|19th Bomb Group|| [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 24, 1932|| [[Martin B-10|B-10]]
|-
|16th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field, Canal Zone]]|| December 1, 1932|| [[P-12]]
|-
|10th Transport Group|| align=center|[[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson Field]], [[Ohio]]|| May 20, 1937|| [[Bellanca Aircruiser|C-27]] [[Douglas DC-2|C-33]]
|}
<center>¹Disbanded on May 20, 1937</center>
<center>²Redesignated 17th Attack Group (1935), 17th Bomb Group (1939)</center>

[[Image:060421-F-1234P-024.jpg|thumb|right| B-6A of 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th BG, 1935]]
Most early pursuit fighters before 1935 were of the [[Curtiss]] [[P-1 Hawk]] (1926-1930) and [[Boeing P-12]] (1929-1935) families, and most front-line bombers before the 1934 introduction of the all-metal monoplane were variants of the [[radial engine]]d [[Keystone LB-6]] (60 LB-5A, LB-6 and LB-7 planes) and [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]] (127 B-3A, B-4A, B-5, and B-6A planes) designs.<ref>The primary difference between the types is the twin-finned tail of the former, and the single vertical stabilizer of the latter design.</ref> Between 1927 and 1934, the [[Curtiss Falcon|O-1/A-3 Falcons]] (183 observation and 154 attack aircraft) fulfilled the observation/close support role designated by the General Staff as the primary mission of the Air Corps.

Transport aircraft of the first ten years of the Air Corps were of largely [[trimotor]] design, such as the [[Fokker F.VII|Atlantic-Fokker C-2]] and the [[Ford trimotor|Ford C-3]], and were procured in such small numbers (66 total) that they were doled out one airplane to a base. As their numbers and utility declined, they were replaced by a series of 50 twin-engine and single-engine small transports, and used for staff duties. Pilot training was conducted between 1927 and 1937 in the [[Consolidated PT-3]] trainer, followed by the [[Boeing-Stearman Model 75|Stearman PT-13]] and variants after 1937.

In 1933 the Air Corps expanded to a tactical strength of 50 squadrons: 21 pursuit, 13 observation, 12 bombardment, and 4 attack. The last open-cockpit fighter used by the USAAC, the [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26]], came into service in 1933 and bridged the gap between the biplane and more modern fighters.

The Air Corps was called upon in early 1934 to deliver the mail in the wake of a scandal involving the [[United States Postmaster General|postmaster general]] and heads of the [[airline]]s. Despite an embarrassing performance that resulted in a number of crashes and fatalities, the investigating boards that followed recommended organizational and modernization changes that again set the Air Corps on the path to autonomy and eventual separation from the Army. A force of 2,320 aircraft was recommended by one board, and authorized by Congress in June 1936, but appropriations to build up the force were denied by the administration until 1939, when the probability of war became apparent. Instead the Air Corps inventory actually declined to 855 total aircraft in 1936, a year after the creation of GHQ Air Force, which by itself was recommended to have a strength of 980.<ref>Shiner, Lt.Col. John F. (1997) "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939", ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'', Vol.1 1907-1950. USAF. ISBN 0-16-049009-X, p.136, p.120 for the GHQAF figure.</ref>

{{main|Air Mail Scandal}}

==Doctrinal development and battles==
===Strategic bombardment in roles and missions===
In March 1928, commenting on the lack of survivability in combat of his unit's [[Keystone LB-7]] and [[Martin NBS-1]] bombers, Lt. Col. Hugh J. Knerr, commander of the 2nd Bombardment Group at [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]], recommended that the Air Corps adopt two types of all-metal monoplane bombers, a short-range day bomber and a long-range night bomber. Instructors at the [[Air Corps Tactical School]], also then at Langley, took the concept one step further in March 1930 by recommending that the types instead be ''light'' and ''heavy'', the latter capable of long range carrying a heavy bomb load.<ref>Tate, Dr. James P. (1998). ''The Army and its Air Corps: Army Policy Toward Aviation 1919-1941'', Air University Press. P.161.</ref>
{{quote box2 |width=30em | bgcolor=#B0C4DE |align=left|halign=left |quote=<div style="text-align:left;">The Naval Air Force will be based on the fleet and move with it as an important element in solving the primary missions confronting the fleet. The Army Air Forces will be land-based and employed as an essential element to the Army in the performance of its mission to defend the coasts at home and in our overseas possessions, thus assuring the fleet absolute freedom of action without any responsibility for coast defense.
|source= Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Adm. William V. Pratt, 7 Jan 1931<ref>Tate, p.78.</ref>
}}
The Air Corps in January 1931 "got its foot in the door" for developing a mission for which only it would have capability, while at the same time creating a need for technological advancement of its equipment. [[Chief of Naval Operations]] Admiral [[William V. Pratt]] was desirous of having all naval aviation including land-based coastal defense aircraft tied to carrier-based fleet operations. Pratt reached an agreement with new Army Chief of Staff [[Douglas MacArthur]] that the Air Corps would assume responsibility for coastal defense beyond the range of the Army's Coast Artillery guns, ending the Navy's role in coastal air operations. Though the Navy repudiated the statement when Adm. Pratt retired in 1934, the Air Corps clung to the mission, and provided itself with the basis for development of long range bombers and creating new doctrine to employ them.<ref>Shiner, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force", p.116.</ref>

The formulation of theories of [[strategic bombing]] gave new impetus to the argument for an independent air force. Strategic or long-range bombardment was intended to destroy an enemy nation's industry and war-making potential, and only an independent service would have a free hand to do so. But despite what it perceived as "obstruction" from the War Department, much of which was attributable to a shortage of funds, the Air Corps made great strides during the 1930s. A doctrine emerged that stressed precision bombing of industrial targets by heavily armed long-range aircraft.

This doctrine resulted because of several factors. The Air Corps Tactical School moved in July 1931 to [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]], where it taught a 36-week course for junior and mid-career officers that included military aviation theory. The Bombardment Section, under the direction of its chief, Major [[Harold L. George]], became influential in the development of doctrine and its dissemination throughout the Air Corps. Nine of its instructors became known throughout the Air Corps as the "Bomber Mafia", eight of whom (including George) went on to be generals during World War II. Conversely, pursuit tacticians, primarily Capt. [[Claire Chennault]], Chief of the school's Pursuit Section, found their influence waning because of repeated performance failures of pursuit aviation. Finally, the doctrine represented the Air Corps' attempt to develop autonomy from the General Staff, which enforced subordination of the air arm by limiting it to support of ground forces and defense of United States territory.
[[Image:Boeing Y1B-9 test flight USAF p29.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Test flight of the Boeing Y1B-9 bomber in 1932. At the time it was faster than any existing pursuit plane.]]

New bomber types under development clearly outperformed new pursuit types, particularly in speed and altitude. In both 1932 and 1933, large-scale maneuvers found fighters unable to climb to altitude quickly enough to intercept attacking [[Boeing Y1B-9|Y1B-9]] and [[Martin B-10|B-10]] prototypes, a failure so complete that Brig. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], following the 1933 maneuvers, actually proposed elimination of pursuits altogether.<ref>Bowman, Martin W., ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0, p.7.</ref>

The successful development of the [[Martin B-10]] and subsequent orders after 1935 for more than 150 (including its B-12 variant) continued the hegemony of the bomber within the AAC. The B-10 featured innovations that became standard for the next decade: an all-metal monoplane, closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets, retractable landing gear, internal bomb bay, and full engine cowlings.

The superiority of bombers resulted in a 1934 feasibility study for a 35-ton 4-engined bomber (the [[Boeing XB-15]]) that, while found to be unsuitable for combat because of inadequate engine size, led to the design of the Model 299, later to become the [[B-17 Flying Fortress]], whose first flight was in July 1935. In June 1936 the Air Corps requested 11 B-15s and 50 B-17s for reinforcing hemispheric defense forces in Hawaii, Alaska, and Panama. The request was rejected on the basis that there were no strategic requirements for aircraft of such capabilities.<ref>Cate, James L. (1945). USAF Historical Study 112: ''The History of the Twentieth Air Force: Genesis''. Air Force Historical research Agency, p.17.</ref>

The Army and Navy, both cognizant of the growing movement within the Air Corps for independence, cooperated to resist it. On September 11, 1935, the Joint Board, at the behest of the Navy and the concurrence of Gen. MacArthur, issued a "Joint Action Statement" that reasserted the limited role of the Air Corps as merely an auxiliary to the "mobile Army" in all its missions, including coastal defense.<ref>Cate, p.15.</ref> The edict was issued with the intent of shoving an upstart Air Corps back into its place. However, the bomber advocates interpreted its language to mean that the Air Corps could conduct long range reconnaissance, attack approaching fleets, reinforce distant bases, and attack enemy air bases, all in furtherance of its mission to prevent an air attack on America.<ref>Cate, p.16.</ref> The lack of inter-service cooperation on coastal defense fostered by the Joint Board agreement continued until culminating in the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]].

In 1937 the War Department, seeking to stifle procurement of the B-17, decided that it would develop and procure only twin-engined medium bombers in fiscal years 1939 and 1940, and refused funding for further experimental development of a very long range bomber. In collaboration with the Navy, it placed a moratorium on the long range bomber program in June 1938 by issuing a Joint Board ruling that it could foresee no use for a long range bomber in future conflict.<ref>Cate, p.17.</ref> However the moratorium would last only a year, as it went against not only the trends of technological development, but against the geopolitical realities of coming war.<ref>Cate, pp.17-18.</ref>

Between 1930 and 1938 the Air Corps had obtained a mission in coastal defense that justified both the creation of a centralized strike force and the development of 4-engined bombers, and was [[lobbying]] for another mission, strategic bombardment, with which it could persuasively argue for independence from the Army.<ref>Shiner, ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword'', p.133.</ref>

===GHQ Air Force===
The next major step toward creation of a separate air force occurred on March 1, 1935 with the activation of a centralized operational air force, commanded by an aviator and answering to the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]] of the Army. Called '''General Headquarters (GHQ) Air Force''', the command had existed in Army planning since 1924, as a subordinate element of an Army General Headquarters that would be activated to control all Army units in case of war mobilization.<ref>Correll, John T. "GHQ Air Force", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'', September 2008, Vol. 91 No. 9, p.63.</ref> In anticipation of war with Cuba in 1933, the headquarters had been created but not staffed on October 1. <ref>Maurer Maurer (1987). ''Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939'', Officer of Air Force History, Washington, D.C. ISBN 1410213919. P. 298.</ref> Among the findings of the Baker Board, established in the wake of the Air Mail Scandal, was that GHQ Air Force be set up as a permanent peacetime tactical organization to both ameliorate the pressures for a separate air force and to exploit emerging capabilities in airpower.<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", pp.63-64.</ref> In the absence of a general headquarters, GHQ Air Force would report to the General Staff.

GHQ Air Force took all combat air units in the United States out of the control of corps area commanders, where they had resided since 1920, and organized them administratively into four geographical districts (which later became the first four numbered air forces) and operationally into a strike force of three wings. The General Staff perceived its creation as a means of lessening Air Corps autonomy, not increasing it, however, and GHQ Air Force was a "coordinate component" along with the Air Corps, and not subject to its control. However all its members, along with members of units stationed overseas and under the control of local ground commanders, remained part of the Air Corps. This dual status and division of authority hampered the development of Air Corps for the next six years, as it had the Air Service during World War I, and was not overcome until the necessity of expanding the force occurred with the onset of World War II.

The GHQ Air Force remained small in comparison to European air forces. On its first day of existence, the command consisted of 60 bombers, 42 attack aircraft, 146 pursuits, and 24 transports. Lines of authority were also difficult as GHQ Air Force controlled only combat flying units within the continental United States, with the Air Corps still responsible for training, aircraft development, doctrine, and supply, and the ground forces corps area commanders still controlling their installations and the support personnel manning them. The commanders of GHQ Air Force and the Air Corps, Major Generals [[Frank Maxwell Andrews]] and [[Oscar Westover]] respectively, clashed philosophically over the direction in which the air arm was heading, adding to the difficulties, with Andrews in favor of autonomy and Westover espousing subordination to the Army chain of command. The air arm embraced strategic bombing as its primary doctrine after the creation of GHQ Air Force, but could only buy a few of the new four-engined [[B-17 Flying Fortress]]es, so that by 1938 there were still only thirteen on hand and orders for more had been suspended.

[[Image:B-17s flyby Rex.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Interception of the ''Rex''. The navigator for the mission was 1st Lt. [[Curtis LeMay]]]]
In January 1936, the AAC contracted with [[Boeing]] for thirteen Y1B-17 prototypes, enough to equip one squadron for operational testing and a thirteenth aircraft for stress testing, with deliveries made from January to August 1937. The cost of the aircraft disturbed both Army Secretary [[Harry Woodring]], who denied requests for further purchases, and Army Chief of Staff [[Malin Craig]], who in 1938 reversed plans for five squadrons of B-17s (67 airplanes) to be purchased with carryover funds.<ref>Shiner, "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939", p. 146.</ref> The Air Corps also incurred the enmity of the Navy on May 12, 1938, by widely publicizing an [[Interception of the Rex|interception of the Italian ocean liner ''Rex'']] by three B-17s while it was 610 miles off-shore of [[New York City]].<ref>John T. Correll, "Rendezvous With the ''Rex''", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'' December 2008, Vol. 91 No. 12, p. 56. This is a common error. The ''Rex'' was 725 miles offshore on her last position report as the B-17s were taxiing for for takeoff.</ref> Craig placed a 100-mile restriction on all off-shore flights in response, and the services issued a joint statement reasserting that the mission of the Air Corps was only that of a support auxiliary for Army ground forces, or for supporting the Navy if called upon to do so.

Even with the doctrine of strategic bombardment as its priority, the Air Corps sought to modernize its tactical combat force under GHQ Air Force, bringing into service the [[Northrop A-17]] and [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]] in 1936, [[Seversky P-35]] in 1937, and the [[Curtiss P-36]] in 1938. However all of these aircraft were obsolete by the time they came into service, and development of more modern airplanes continued.
====Problems with unity of command====
The separation of the combat organization (GHQ Air Force) from the logistic organization (Air Corps) created serious problems of coordination. To correct this condition and coinciding with a change of command at GHQ Air Force, the combat force was nominally placed under the new Chief of the Air Corps, Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], in March 1939, but divisions were not entirely resolved. The two organizations were separated again on November 19, 1940, with the activation of GHQ Army (over five years after the activation of GHQ Air Force).<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", p.66.</ref> Its combat units again placed under direct control of the Chief of Staff (then [[George C. Marshall]]) and its airfields under corps commanders. However Arnold had joined the [[General Staff]] as acting "Deputy Chief of Staff for Air" on November 11, 1940, a position that enabled him to coordinate the two sections of the air arm until the organizational problems were repaired.

General Arnold, at the direction of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in January 1939, oversaw an expansion of the Air Corps that saw it double in size from 15 to 30 groups by the end of 1940. In March 1939, with the replacement of Gen. Andrews as commander of GHQ Air Force by Maj. Gen. [[Delos Emmons|Delos C. Emmons]], Arnold was also nominally assigned to "supervise" the tactical force. The problems of lack of unity of command, however, were again exacerbated by the assignment to Army GHQ of GHQ Air Force. Gen. Emmons, who had begun his tour junior to Arnold, was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] to make him equal to the commanders of the field armies also controlled by Army GHQ. This forced him to report to and act under an inferior in rank (both Arnold and his acting replacement as chief of the Air Corps, [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], were [[major general]]s). On June 20, 1941, to end the divisions, the War Department revised Army Regulation 95-5 to create the [[U.S. Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]] with the Air Corps and GHQAF (the latter redesignated as Combat Command) as its major components, authorized an Air Staff to manage planning and execution of expansion of the air arm, and named Arnold as Chief of the Army Air Forces.

During [[World War II]] the role of the Air Corps changed again. On March 9, 1942, with the issuance of War Circular 59, the Air Corps was further subordinated to the USAAF as a combatant arm (as [[Infantry]] and [[Field Artillery]] were subordinate combatant arms of the Army Ground Forces, which replaced Army General Headquarters) and the office of Chief of the Air Corps was abolished. The Congress did not disestablish the Army Air Corps until July 26, 1947, with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502).

==Modernization and expansion of the force==
===New aircraft===
[[Image:C-39-transport.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Douglas C-39 transport]]
The Air Corps tested and employed a profusion of pursuit, observation, and bomber aircraft during its 15-year history. The advent of the all-metal monoplane, enclosed cockpits, retracting landing gear, enclosed bomb bays, and the emergence of strategic bombardment doctrine led to many designs in the mid and late 1930s that were still in use when the United States entered World War II. Among the key technology developed were oxygen and cabin pressurization systems, engine [[supercharger]]s (systems essential for high-altitude combat), and the [[Norden bombsight]].

As a further consequence of the Air Mail Scandal, the Baker Board reviewed the performance of Air Corps aircraft and recognized that civilian aircraft were far superior to planes developed solely to Air Corps specifications. Following up on its recommendation, the Air Corps purchased and tested a [[Douglas DC-2]] as the XC-32, which subsequently became the flying headquarters of Gen. Andrews. The XC-32 so exceeded Air Corps specifications that 17 were purchased to equip the first operational transport unit, the 10th Transport Group, activated in June 1937 at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson field]], [[Ohio]]. In 1939 the Air Corps recognized the importance of modern air transports and purchased 35 DC-2/[[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]] hybrids, designated the C-39, the forerunner of the thousands of [[C-47 Skytrain]]s that served in World War II.

Notable fighters developed during the late 1930s were the [[P-40]] (first flown October 1938), [[P-38]] (January 1939), [[P-39]] (April 1939), [[P-51 Mustang|P-51]] (October 1940), and [[P-47]] (May 1941). Bombers developed during this period were the [[A-20 Havoc|A-20]] (first flown October 1938), [[B-25]] (January 1939), [[B-24]] (December 1939), and [[B-26]] (November 1940). Except for the B-24, P-47 and P-51, all had production deliveries begun before June 1941. Three other long-range bombers began development during this period, though only mockups were produced before World War II: [[B-29]] (study begun in 1938), [[B-32 Dominator|B-32]] (June 1940), and [[B-36]] (April 1941).

{{main|Military aircraft of the United States}}

===Expansion of the Air Corps===
In a special message to Congress on January 12, 1939, President Roosevelt advised that the threat of a new war made the recommendations of the Baker Board inadequate for American defense and requested approval of a 6,000-plane Air Corps.<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/fdr2.htm Message of President Roosevelt to the Congress, january 12, 1939] The entire message is reproduced here.</ref> On April 3, 1939, Congress allocated the $300 million requested by Roosevelt for expansion of the Air Corps, half of which was dedicated to purchasing planes to raise the inventory from 2,500 to 5,500 airplanes, and the other half for new personnel, training facilities, and bases.<ref>Williams, Edwin L., Jr. (1953). USAF Historical Study No. 84: ''Legislative History of the AAF and USAF, 1941-1951'' Air Force Historical research Agency, p. 12. Public Law 18, 76th Congress, 1st Session.</ref> In June the Kilmer Board recommended several types of bombers needed to fulfill the Air Corps mission that included aircraft having tactical radii of both 3,000 miles (modified in 1940 to 4,000) and 2,000 miles. Chief of Staff Gen. Craig, long an impediment to Air Corps ambitions, was about to retire, and the General Staff reversed itself and concurred in the requirements, ending the brief moratorium on bomber development and paving the way for work on the B-29.<ref>Cate, p.18.</ref>

General Arnold transferred a group of experienced officers to his headquarters as an air staff to lay out a plan over the winter of 1938-1939 that would increase the Air Corps to 50,000 men by June 1941. The expansion program of the Air Corps was characterized by repeated upward revision of goals for increasing the numbers of combat units, aircraft production, training new personnel, and constructing new bases. New combat groups were created by detaching cadres from existing groups to provide the core of the new units, with the older groups providing the basis for an average of three new groups.<ref>Jerry White, USAF Historical Study 61: ''Combat Crew and Training Units in the AAF, 1939-45''. Air Force Historical Research Agency.</ref>

The initial "25-group program" for air defense of the hemisphere, developed in April 1939, called for 50,000 men. Following the successful [[Battle of France|German invasion of France and the Low Countries]] in May 1940, the "54-group program" followed, although funding approval could not keep pace and an inclusive "41-group program" was actually implemented.<ref>Robert Futrell, ''USAF Historical Study No. 69: ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 23-24.</ref> An "84-group program", with an eventual goal of 400,000 men by June 30, 1942, was begun in March 1941, although not publicly announced until October 23, 1941.<ref>The original goals of the final "hemispheric defense program" were 84 combat groups; 7,799 tactical aircraft; 30,000 new pilots annually; and 100,000 new technical personnel annually.</ref> <ref>Wesley F. Craven and James Cate, ''Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol. I: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942'', p.105-106.</ref>

When war broke out in September 1939 the plan was already halfway to its goal in manpower, but with only 800 first-line combat aircraft. The Air Corps had 17 major installations and four depots, and most of its 76 airfields were co-located at civil airports or were small fields on Army posts.<ref>Futrell, ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 2-7. The 21 major bases were [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley]], [[Mitchel Field|Mitchel]], [[March Air Force Base|March]], [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott]], [[Selfridge Air Force Base|Selfridge]], [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton]], [[Moffett Field|Moffett]], [[Bolling Air Force Base|Bolling]], [[McChord Air Force Base|McChord]], [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks]], [[Randolph Air Force Base|Randolph]], [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute]], [[Lowry Air Force Base|Lowry]], [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell]], and [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Wright Fields]], and San Antonio, Middletown, Fairfield, and Sacramento Air Depots.</ref> The acceleration of the expansion programs resulted in an Air Corps of 156 airfields and nearly 100,000 men by the end of 1940. 20 civilian flight schools and eight technical training schools were contracted to provide additional training facilities, and on August 10, 1940, [[Pan American Airways]] was enlisted to provide meteorolgical and navigation training at [[Coral Gables, Florida]], until military schools could be established.<ref>Futrell, ''''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', p. 26.</ref>

At this stage, public opinion support of airpower reached unprecedented highs, but General Arnold made a decision to postpone any attempts to exploit the opportunity to push for an independent Air Force. Assured of a free hand by Army Chief of Staff General [[George C. Marshall]], Arnold felt it would "be a serious mistake to change the existing setup" in the midst of the crucial expansion effort.

==Organization of the Air Corps==
===Army Air Corps, March 1, 1935===
:SOURCE: Maurer Maurer, ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''

[[Image:P26a.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26A]] of 34th Pursuit Squadron, 17th PG 1934-1936]]
====General Headquarters Air Force====
(Maj. Gen. [[Frank M. Andrews]], [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
*'''1st Wing''' (Brig. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], [[March Air Force Base|March Field]], California)
**[[7th Bomb Wing#Components|7th Bombardment Group]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton Field]], California
***[[9th Bomb Squadron|9th]], [[11th Bomb Squadron|11th]], & [[31st Test and Evaluation Squadron|31st Bombardment Squadrons]]
**[[17th Training Group|17th Attack Group]], March Field, California
***[[34th Bomb Squadron|34th]], [[37th Bomb Squadron|37th]], & [[95th Reconnaissance Squadron|95th Attack Squadrons]]
**[[19th Bombardment Group]], March Field, California
***[[23d Bomb Squadron|23d]], [[U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds|30th]], [[32d Air Refueling Squadron|32d]], & [[72d Bombardment Squadron]]s (23rd & 72d BS based in [[Hawaii]])
[[Image:060511-F-1234S-027.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Martin B-12A (variant of the [[Martin B-10|B-10]]) of 31st Bomb Squadron, 7th BG, Hamilton Field, California]]
*'''2d Wing''' (Brig. Gen. H. Conger Pratt, [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
**[[1st Operations Group|1st Pursuit Group]], [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]]
***17th, [[27th Fighter Squadron|27th]] & [[94th Fighter Squadron|94th Pursuit Squadrons]]
**[[2nd Bomb Wing#Components|2nd Bombardment Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***[[20th Bomb Squadron|20th]], 49th, and [[96th Bomb Squadron|96th Bombardment Squadrons]]
**[[8th Pursuit Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***33d, [[35th Fighter Squadron|35th]] & [[36th Fighter Squadron|36th Pursuit Squadrons]]; 37th Attack Squadron
**[[9th Bomb Group|9th Bombardment Group]], [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
***1st, 5th, [[14th Bombardment Squadron|14th]] & [[99th Reconnaissance Squadron|99th Bombardment Squadrons]]
[[Image:A-12-33-229-3dwing.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[A-12 Shrike]] of the 13th Attack Squadron, 3rd AG, Barksdale Field, Louisiana]]
*'''3rd Wing''' (Col. Gerald C. Brant, [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale Field]], [[Louisiana]])
**[[3d Wing|3rd Attack Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***[[8th Special Operations Squadron|8th]], [[13th Bomb Squadron|13th]], & [[90th Fighter Squadron|90th Attack Squadrons]]
**[[20th Pursuit Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***[[55th Fighter Squadron|55th]], [[77th Fighter Squadron|77th]] & [[79th Fighter Squadron|79th Pursuit Squadrons]]

*21st Airship Group, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**9th Airship Squadron, Scott Field
**19th Airship Squadron, Langley Field

[[Image:stearman.e75.g-bswc.longshot.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|PT-13, Air Corps primary trainer]]
[[Image:Douglas O-46.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[Douglas O-46|O-46A]] At Wright Field]]

====Other flying units====
*'''Advanced Flying School''', [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly Field]], [[Texas]]
**40th Attack, 42d Bombardment, [[43d Fighter Squadron|43d Pursuit Squadrons]] (from 3d Wing); 39th School Squadron
*'''Air Corps Technical School''', [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute Field]], [[Illinois]]
**[[48th Flying Training Squadron|48th Pursuit Squadron]] (from 3d Wing)
*'''[[Air Corps Tactical School]]''', (Col. [[John F. Curry]]) [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]]
**54th Bombardment, 86th Observation Squadrons (from 2d Wing)
*'''Rockwell Air Depot''', [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]
**4th Transport Squadron
*Second Corps Area, [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
**97th Observation Squadron (from 2d Wing)
*Sixth Corps Area, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**15th Observation Squadron (from 2d Wing)
*Ninth Corps Area, [[Crissy Field]], [[California]]
**[[91st Network Warfare Squadron|91st Observation Squadron]] (from 1st Wing)
*[[12th Flying Training Group|12th Observation Group]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]
**11th Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**22d Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**88th Observation Squadron (long-range amphibian)
[[Image:Boeing P-12E USAF.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[Boeing P-12|P-12E]] of 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th PG 1935-1938, Wheeler Field, Hawaii]]

====Overseas units====
*'''18th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. [[Delos Emmons]], [[Fort Shafter]], [[Hawaii]])
**[[5th Bomb Wing#Components|5th Composite Group]], [[Ford Island|Luke Field]], Hawaii
***[[26th Space Aggressor Squadron|26th Attack]], 40th & 50th Observation Squadrons ([[23d Bomb Squadron|23d]], [[72d Test and Evaluation Squadron|72d BS]] attached)
**[[18th Wing|18th Pursuit Group]], [[Wheeler Field]], Hawaii
***[[6th Night Fighter Squadron|6th]], [[19th Fighter Squadron|19th Pursuit Squadrons]]
*'''19th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. William C. McCord, [[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field]], [[Panama Canal Zone]])
**[[6th Composite Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***25th Bombardment, 7th & 44th Observation Squadrons
**[[16th Pursuit Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***24th, 29th, [[74th Fighter Squadron|74th]] & [[78th Reconnaissance Squadron|78th Pursuit Squadrons]]
*[[4th Composite Group]], [[Clark Air Force Base|Clark Field]], [[Luzon]]
**[[3d Flying Training Squadron|3d Pursuit]] & [[28th Bomb Squadron|28th Bombardment Squadrons]]

===Annual strength===
<center>Strength as of June 30 of each year</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Year'''||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength'''
|-
| align=center|'''1927'''||align=center|9,979||||align=center|'''1932'''||align=center|14,650||||align=center|'''1937'''||align=center|18,572
|-
|align=center|'''1928'''||align=center|10,518||||align=center|'''1933'''||align=center|14,817||||align=center|'''1938'''||align=center|20,196
|-
|align=center|'''1929'''||align=center|12,080||||align=center|'''1934'''||align=center|15,621||||align=center|'''1939'''||align=center|22,387
|-
|align=center|'''1930'''||align=center|13,305||||align=center|'''1935'''||align=center|15,945||||align=center|'''1940'''||align=center|51,185
|-
|align=center|'''1931'''||align=center|14,485||||align=center|'''1936'''||align=center|16,863||||align=center|'''1941'''||align=center|152,125
|}
[[Image:052504-O-0000G-002.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Generals [[Benjamin Delahauf Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]] (left), [[James E. Fechet]] and H. Conger Pratt.]]

===Chiefs of the Air Corps===
*Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick|Mason M. Patrick]], July 2, 1926-December 13, 1927
*Maj. Gen. [[James E. Fechet]], December 14, 1927-December 19, 1931
*Maj. Gen. [[Benjamin Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]], December 20, 1931-December 21, 1935
*Maj. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], December 22, 1935-September 21, 1938
*Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], September 29, 1938-June 20, 1941
*Maj. Gen. [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], June 20, 1941-March 9, 1942

==See also==
*[[Air Corps Tactical School]]
*[[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
*[[United States Army Air Service]]
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
*[[Question Mark (airplane)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*[https://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/Evolution.htm U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office]
*Bowman, Martin W., "Background to War", ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0
*Maurer, Maurer, ''[http://military.evendon.com#WW2 Air Force Combat Units of World War II]'', Office of Air Force history (1961). ISBN 0-40512-194-6
*Shiner, John F., ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'' (1997), ISBN 0-16-049009-X
**Vol. I, Chap. 4, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force, 1925-1935"
**Vol. I, Chap. 5, "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939"
*[http://www.afa.org/magazine/almanacs.asp 2006 Almanac, ''Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association'', May 2006, Volume 89 Number 5]

{{Aviation lists}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box
|before=[[United States Army Air Service]]
|title=[[United States Army Air Corps]]
|years=1926-1941
|after=[[United States Army Air Forces]]}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Military history of the United States 1900-1999]]
[[Category:History of the United States Army|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Army aviation|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Air Force|Air Corps]]
[[Category:Army aviation units and formations]]

[[es:Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército de los Estados Unidos]]
[[fr:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[it:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[ja:アメリカ陸軍航空隊]]
[[no:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[pl:United States Army Air Corps]]

United States Army Air Corps

2008-12-16T16:54:27Z

Ndunruh: /* General Headquarters Air Force */ 72 BS link

{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=United States Army Air Corps
|image=[[Image:USAAC Roundel.svg|200px|Army Air Corps aircraft roundel]]
|caption=
|dates=July 2, 1926–June 22, 1941
|country= [[United States of America]]
|allegiance=
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|type=
|role=
|size=14,650 men, 1,646 aircraft (1932) 16,863 men, 855 aircraft (1936) 152,125 men, 6,777 aircraft (1941)
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=Maj.Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]]
|anniversaries=
}}

The '''United States Army Air Corps''' (USAAC) was the predecessor of the [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) from 1926-41, which in turn was the forerunner of today's [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] (USAF), established in 1947. Although abolished as an organization in 1941, it existed as a branch subordinate to the USAAF from 1941-47.

The Air Corps was created from the [[United States Army Air Service|Air Service]] in 1926 largely as a compromise between advocates of a separate air arm and those of the command structure of the [[United States Army]] who viewed the aviation arm as an auxiliary branch to support the ground forces. Members worked to promote the concept of airpower between 1926 and 1941, but as a branch of the Army similar to the [[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] or [[Quartermaster Corps]], its primary purpose within that period remained support of ground forces rather than independent operations. Today, the Army maintains an [[United States Army Aviation Branch|Aviation Branch]] as a subordinate element fulfilling some roles of ground force support, although it is unrelated to the original USAAC.

==Lineage of the United States Air Force==

* [[Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps]] August 1, 1907–July 18, 1914
* [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]] July 18, 1914–May 20, 1918
* [[Division of Military Aeronautics]] May 20, 1918–May 24, 1918
* [[United States Army Air Service|U.S. Army Air Service]] May 24, 1918–July 2, 1926
* '''U.S. Army Air Corps''' July 2, 1926–June 20, 1941<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] June 20, 1941–September 18, 1947<nowiki>**</nowiki>
* [[United States Air Force]] September 18, 1947–Present

<nowiki>**</nowiki> The '''Air Corps''' became a subordinate element of the '''Army Air Forces''', and no longer an administrative organization, on June 20, 1941. It continued to exist as a combat arm of the Army (similar to Infantry) until disestablished by Congress with the creation of the U.S. Air Force in 1947.

==Creation of the Air Corps==
[[Image:USAAC,1930.jpg|thumb|Army Air Corps aerial maneuvers over Burbank, California, 1930]]
The Lassiter Board, a group of [[General Staff]] officers, recommended to the [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] in 1923 that the [[U.S. Army Air Service|Air Service]] be replaced by a force of bombardment and pursuit units to carry out independent missions under the command of an Army general headquarters in time of war. The Lampert Committee of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] went far beyond this modest proposal in its report to the House in December 1925. After eleven months of extensive hearings, the committee proposed a unified air force independent of the Army and Navy, plus a department of defense to coordinate the three armed services.

Another board, headed by [[Dwight Morrow]], had already reached an opposite conclusion in only two and one-half months. Appointed in September 1925 by [[U.S. president|President]] [[Calvin Coolidge]] ostensibly to study the "best means of developing and applying aircraft in national defense" but in actuality to minimize the political impact of the pending court-martial of [[Billy Mitchell]] and to preempt the findings of the Lampert Committee, the Morrow Board issued its report two weeks before the Lampert Committee's. In accordance with the views of the President, it rejected the idea of a department of defense and a separate department of air, but it recommended several minor reforms including that the Air Service be renamed the Air Corps to allow it more prestige, that it be given special representation on the General Staff, and that an Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation be appointed.

Congress accepted the Morrow Board proposal, and the Air Corps Act (44 Stat. 780) was enacted on July 2, 1926. The legislation changed the name of the Air Service to the Air Corps, "thereby strengthening the conception of military aviation as an offensive, striking arm rather than an auxiliary service." The act created an additional Assistant Secretary of War to help foster military aeronautics, and it established an air section in each division of the General Staff for a period of three years. Other provisions required that all flying units be commanded by rated personnel and that flight pay be continued. Two additional brigadier generals would serve as assistant chiefs of the Air Corps. The Chief of the Air Service, Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick]], then became Chief of the Air Corps.

The position of the air arm within the Department of War remained essentially the same as before, that is, the flying units were under the operational control of the various ground forces [[corps]] commands and not the Air Corps, which remained responsible only for procurement of aircraft, maintenance of bases, supply, and training. Even the new position of Assistant Secretary of War for Air, held by [[F. Trubee Davison]] from 1926 to 1932, was of little help in promoting autonomy for the air arm.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of the act for the Air Corps was the authorization to carry out a five-year expansion program. However, the lack of funding caused the beginning of the five-year expansion program to be delayed until July 1, 1927. The goal eventually adopted was 1,800 airplanes with 1,650 officers and 15,000 enlisted men, to be reached in regular increments over a five-year period. But even this modest increase never came about as planned because adequate funds were never appropriated in the budget and the coming of the [[Great Depression]] forced reductions in pay and modernization. Organizationally the Air Corps did double from seven to fifteen groups. ([[US Army Air Service#Groups of the Air Service|Origin of first seven groups shown here]])

<center>'''Air Corps Groups added 1927-1937'''</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Group''' ||align=center|'''Station''' ||align=center|'''Date activated'''||align=center|'''Aircraft type'''
|-
|18th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Wheeler Field]], [[Hawaii]]|| January, 1927|| [[PW-9]]
|-
|7th Bomb Group|| align=center|[[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 1, 1928|| [[Keystone LB-6|LB-7]], [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]]
|-
|12th Observation Group²|| align=center|[[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]|| align=center|1930|| [[Thomas-Morse O-19|O-19]]
|-
|20th Pursuit Group||align=center|[[Mather Air Force Base|Mather Field]], [[California]]|| November 15, 1930|| [[P-12]]
|-
|8th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]]|| April 1, 1931||[[P-6]]
|-
|17th Pursuit Group¹||align=center|[[March Air Force Base|March Field]], [[California]]|| July 1, 1931]||[[P-12]]
|-
|19th Bomb Group|| [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]|| June 24, 1932|| [[Martin B-10|B-10]]
|-
|16th Pursuit Group|| align=center|[[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field, Canal Zone]]|| December 1, 1932|| [[P-12]]
|-
|10th Transport Group|| align=center|[[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson Field]], [[Ohio]]|| May 20, 1937|| [[Bellanca Aircruiser|C-27]] [[Douglas DC-2|C-33]]
|}
<center>¹Redesignated 17th Attack Group (1935), 17th Bomb Group (1939)</center>
<center>²Disbanded on May 20, 1937</center>

[[Image:060421-F-1234P-024.jpg|thumb|right| B-6A of 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th BG, 1935]]
Most early pursuit fighters before 1935 were of the [[Curtiss]] [[P-1 Hawk]] (1926-1930) and [[Boeing P-12]] (1929-1935) families, and most front-line bombers before the 1934 introduction of the [[Martin B-10]] were variants of [[Keystone LB-6]] (36 planes) and [[Keystone B-3A|B-3A]] (127 planes) design.

Transport aircraft of the first ten years of the Air Corps were of largely [[trimotor]] design, such as the [[Fokker F.VII|Atlantic-Fokker C-2]] and the [[Ford trimotor|Ford C-3]], and were procured in such small numbers (66 total) that they were doled out one airplane to a base. As their numbers and utility declined, they were replaced by a series of 50 twin-engine and single-engine small transports, and used for staff duties. Pilot training was conducted between 1927 and 1937 in the [[Consolidated PT-3]] trainer, followed by the [[Boeing-Stearman Model 75|Stearman PT-13]] and variants after 1937.

In 1933 the Air Corps expanded to a tactical strength of 50 squadrons: 21 pursuit, 13 observation, 12 bombardment, and 4 attack. The last open-cockpit fighter used by the USAAC, the [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26]], came into service in 1933 and bridged the gap between the biplane and more modern fighters.

The Air Corps was called upon in early 1934 to deliver the mail in the wake of a scandal involving the [[United States Postmaster General|postmaster general]] and heads of the [[airline]]s. Despite an embarrassing performance that resulted in a number of crashes and fatalities, the investigating boards that followed recommended organizational and modernization changes that again set the Air Corps on the path to autonomy and eventual separation from the Army. A force of 2,320 aircraft was recommended by one board, and authorized by Congress in June 1936, but appropriations to build up the force were denied by the administration until 1939, when the probability of war became apparent. Instead the Air Corps inventory actually declined to 855 total aircraft in 1936, a year after the creation of GHQ Air Force, which by itself was recommended to have a strength of 980.<ref>Shiner, Lt.Col. John F. (1997) "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939", ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'', Vol.1 1907-1950. USAF. ISBN 0-16-049009-X, p.136, p.120 for the GHQAF figure.</ref>

{{main|Air Mail Scandal}}

==Doctrinal development and battles==
===Strategic bombardment in roles and missions===
In March of 1928, commenting on the lack of survivability in combat of his unit's [[Keystone LB-7]] and [[Martin NBS-1]] bombers, Lt. Col. Hugh J. Knerr, commander of the 2nd Bombardment Group at [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]], recommended that the Air Corps adopt two types of all-metal monoplane bombers, a short-range day bomber and a long-range night bomber. Instructors at the [[Air Corps Tactical School]], also then at Langley, took the concept one step further in March of 1930 by recommending that the types instead be ''light'' and ''heavy'', the latter capable of long range carrying a heavy bomb load.<ref>Tate, Dr. James P. (1998). ''The Army and its Air Corps: Army Policy Toward Aviation 1919-1941'', Air University Press. P.161.</ref>
{{quote box2 |width=30em | bgcolor=#B0C4DE |align=left|halign=left |quote=<div style="text-align:left;">The Naval Air Force will be based on the fleet and move with it as an important element in solving the primary missions confronting the fleet. The Army Air Forces will be land-based and employed as an essential element to the Army in the performance of its mission to defend the coasts at home and in our overseas possessions, thus assuring the fleet absolute freedom of action without any responsibility for coast defense.
|source= Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Adm. William V. Pratt, 7 Jan 1931<ref>Tate, p.78.</ref>
}}
The Air Corps in January 1931 "got its foot in the door" for developing a mission for which only it would have capability, while at the same time creating a need for technological advancement of its equipment. [[Chief of Naval Operations]] Admiral [[William V. Pratt]] was desirous of having all naval aviation including land-based coastal defense aircraft tied to carrier-based fleet operations. Pratt reached an agreement with new Army Chief of Staff [[Douglas MacArthur]] that the Air Corps would assume responsibility for coastal defense beyond the range of the Army's Coast Artillery guns, ending the Navy's role in coastal air operations. Though the Navy repudiated the statement when Adm. Pratt retired in 1934, the Air Corps clung to the mission, and provided itself with the basis for development of long range bombers and creating new doctrine to employ them.<ref>Shiner, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force", p.116.</ref>

The formulation of theories of [[strategic bombing]] gave new impetus to the argument for an independent air force. Strategic or long-range bombardment was intended to destroy an enemy nation's industry and war-making potential, and only an independent service would have a free hand to do so. But despite what it perceived as "obstruction" from the War Department, much of which was attributable to a shortage of funds, the Air Corps made great strides during the 1930s. A doctrine emerged that stressed precision bombing of industrial targets by heavily armed long-range aircraft.

This doctrine resulted because of several factors. The Air Corps Tactical School moved in July 1931 to [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]], where it taught a 36-week course for junior and mid-career officers that included military aviation theory. The Bombardment Section, under the direction of its chief, Major [[Harold L. George]], became influential in the development of doctrine and its dissemination throughout the Air Corps. Nine of its instructors became known throughout the Air Corps as the "Bomber Mafia", eight of whom (including George) went on to be generals during World War II. Conversely, pursuit tacticians, primarily Capt. [[Claire Chennault]], Chief of the school's Pursuit Section, found their influence waning because of repeated performance failures of pursuit aviation. Finally, the doctrine represented the Air Corps' attempt to develop autonomy from the General Staff, which enforced subordination of the air arm by limiting it to support of ground forces and defense of United States territory.
[[Image:Boeing Y1B-9 test flight USAF p29.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Test flight of the Boeing Y1B-9 bomber in 1932. At the time it was faster than any existing pursuit plane.]]

New bomber types under development clearly outperformed new pursuit types, particularly in speed and altitude. In both 1932 and 1933, large-scale maneuvers found fighters unable to climb to altitude quickly enough to intercept attacking [[Boeing Y1B-9|Y1B-9]] and [[Martin B-10|B-10]] prototypes, a failure so complete that Brig. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], following the 1933 maneuvers, actually proposed elimination of pursuits altogether.<ref>Bowman, Martin W., ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0, p.7.</ref>

The successful development of the [[Martin B-10]] and subsequent orders after 1935 for more than 150 (including its B-12 variant) continued the hegemony of the bomber within the AAC. The B-10 featured innovations that became standard for the next decade: an all-metal monoplane, closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets, retractable landing gear, internal bomb bay, and full engine cowlings.

The superiority of bombers resulted in a 1934 feasibility study for a 35-ton 4-engined bomber (the [[Boeing XB-15]]) that, while found to be unsuitable for combat because of inadequate engine size, led to the design of the Model 299, later to become the [[B-17 Flying Fortress]], whose first flight was in July 1935. In June 1936 the Air Corps requested 11 B-15s and 50 B-17s for reinforcing hemispheric defense forces in Hawaii, Alaska, and Panama. The request was rejected on the basis that there were no strategic requirements for aircraft of such capabilities.<ref>Cate, James L. (1945). USAF Historical Study 112: ''The History of the Twentieth Air Force: Genesis''. Air Force Historical research Agency, p.17.</ref>

The Army and Navy, both cognizant of the growing movement within the Air Corps for independence, cooperated to resist it. On September 11, 1935, the Joint Board, at the behest of the Navy and the concurrence of Gen. MacArthur, issued a "Joint Action Statement" that reasserted the limited role of the Air Corps as merely an auxiliary to the "mobile Army" in all its missions, including coastal defense.<ref>Cate, p.15.</ref> The edict was issued with the intent of shoving an upstart Air Corps back into its place. However, the bomber advocates interpreted its language to mean that the Air Corps could conduct long range reconnaissance, attack approaching fleets, reinforce distant bases, and attack enemy air bases, all in furtherance of its mission to prevent an air attack on America.<ref>Cate, p.16.</ref> The lack of inter-service cooperation on coastal defense fostered by the Joint Board agreement continued until culminating in the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]].

In 1937 the War Department, seeking to stifle procurement of the B-17, decided that it would develop and procure only twin-engined medium bombers in fiscal years 1939 and 1940, and refused funding for further experimental development of a very long range bomber. In collaboration with the Navy, it placed a moratorium on the long range bomber program in June 1938 by issuing a Joint Board ruling that it could foresee no use for a long range bomber in future conflict.<ref>Cate, p.17.</ref> However the moratorium would last only a year, as it went against not only the trends of technological development, but against the geopolitical realities of coming war.<ref>Cate, pp.17-18.</ref>

Between 1930 and 1938 the Air Corps had obtained a mission in coastal defense that justified both the creation of a centralized strike force and the development of 4-engined bombers, and was [[lobbying]] for another mission, strategic bombardment, with which it could persuasively argue for independence from the Army.<ref>Shiner, ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword'', p.133.</ref>

===GHQ Air Force===
The next major step toward creation of a separate air force occurred on March 1, 1935 with the activation of a centralized operational air force, commanded by an aviator and answering to the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]] of the Army. Called '''General Headquarters (GHQ) Air Force''', the command had existed in Army planning since 1924, as a subordinate element of an Army General Headquarters that would be activated to control all Army units in case of war mobilization.<ref>Correll, John T. "GHQ Air Force", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'', September 2008, Vol. 91 No. 9, p.63.</ref> In anticipation of war with Cuba in 1933, the headquarters had been created but not staffed on October 1. <ref>Maurer Maurer (1987). ''Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939'', Officer of Air Force History, Washington, D.C. ISBN 1410213919. P. 298.</ref> Among the findings of the Baker Board, established in the wake of the Air Mail Scandal, was that GHQ Air Force be set up as a permanent peacetime tactical organization to both ameliorate the pressures for a separate air force and to exploit emerging capabilities in airpower.<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", pp.63-64.</ref>

GHQ Air Force took all combat air units in the United States out of the control of corps area commanders, where they had resided since 1920, and organized them administratively into four geographical districts (which later became the first four numbered air forces) and operationally into a strike force of three wings. The General Staff perceived its creation as a means of lessening Air Corps autonomy, not increasing it, however, and GHQ Air Force was a "coordinate component" along with the Air Corps, and not subject to its control. However all its members, along with members of units stationed overseas and under the control of local ground commanders, remained part of the Air Corps. This dual status and division of authority hampered the development of Air Corps for the next six years, as it had the Air Service during World War I, and was not overcome until the necessity of expanding the force occurred with the onset of World War II.

The GHQ Air Force remained small in comparison to European air forces. On its first day of existence, the command consisted of 60 bombers, 42 attack aircraft, 146 pursuits, and 24 transports. Lines of authority were also difficult as GHQ Air Force controlled only combat flying units within the continental United States, with the Air Corps still responsible for training, aircraft development, doctrine, and supply, and the ground forces corps area commanders still controlling their installations and the support personnel manning them. The commanders of GHQ Air Force and the Air Corps, Major Generals [[Frank Maxwell Andrews]] and [[Oscar Westover]] respectively, clashed philosophically over the direction in which the air arm was heading, adding to the difficulties, with Andrews in favor of autonomy and Westover espousing subordination to the Army chain of command. The air arm embraced strategic bombing as its primary doctrine after the creation of GHQ Air Force, but could only buy a few of the new four-engined [[B-17 Flying Fortress]]es, so that by 1938 there were still only thirteen on hand and orders for more had been suspended.

[[Image:B-17s flyby Rex.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Interception of the ''Rex''. The navigator for the mission was 1st Lt. [[Curtis LeMay]]]]
In January 1936, the AAC contracted with [[Boeing]] for thirteen Y1B-17 prototypes, enough to equip one squadron for operational testing with the thirteenth aircraft for stress testing, with deliveries made from January to August 1937. The cost of the aircraft disturbed both Army Secretary [[Harry Woodring]], who denied requests for further purchases, and Army Chief of Staff [[Malin Craig]], who in 1938 reversed plans for five squadrons of B-17s (67 airplanes) to be purchased with carryover funds. The Air Corps also incurred the enmity of the Navy by widely publicizing an interception on May 12, 1938, of the [[Italy|Italian]] [[ocean liner]] [[SS Rex|''Rex'']] by three B-17s while it was 610 miles off-shore of [[New York City]].<ref>John T. Correll, "Rendezvous With the ''Rex''", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'' December 2008, Vol. 91 No. 12, p. 56. This is a common error. The ''Rex'' was 725 miles offshore on her last position report as the B-17s were taxiing for for takeoff.</ref> Craig placed a 100-mile restriction on all off-shore flights in response, and the services issued a joint statement reasserting that the mission of the Air Corps was only that of a support auxiliary for Army ground forces, or for supporting the Navy if called upon to do so.

Even with the doctrine of strategic bombardment as its priority, the Air Corps sought to modernize its tactical combat force under GHQ Air Force, bringing into service the [[Northrop A-17]] and [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]] in 1936, [[Seversky P-35]] in 1937, and the [[Curtiss P-36]] in 1938. However all of these aircraft were obsolete by the time they came into service, and development of more modern airplanes continued.
====Problems with unity of command====
The separation of the combat organization (GHQ Air Force) from the logistic organization (Air Corps) created serious problems of coordination. To correct this condition and coinciding with a change of command at GHQ Air Force, the combat force was nominally placed under the new Chief of the Air Corps, Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], in March 1939, but divisions were not entirely resolved. The two organizations were separated again on November 19, 1940, with the activation of GHQ Army (over five years after the activation of GHQ Air Force).<ref>Correll, "GHQ Air Force", p.66.</ref> Its combat units again placed under direct control of the Chief of Staff (then [[George C. Marshall]]) and its airfields under corps commanders. However Arnold had joined the [[General Staff]] as acting "Deputy Chief of Staff for Air" on November 11, 1940, a position that enabled him to coordinate the two sections of the air arm until the organizational problems were repaired.

General Arnold, at the direction of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in January 1939, oversaw an expansion of the Air Corps that saw it double in size from 15 to 30 groups by the end of 1940. In March 1939, with the replacement of Gen. Andrews as commander of GHQ Air Force by Maj. Gen. [[Delos Emmons|Delos C. Emmons]], Arnold was also nominally assigned to "supervise" the tactical force. The problems of lack of unity of command, however, were again exacerbated by the assignment to Army GHQ of GHQ Air Force. Gen. Emmons, who had begun his tour junior to Arnold, was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] to make him equal to the commanders of the field armies also controlled by Army GHQ. This forced him to report to and act under an inferior in rank (both Arnold and his acting replacement as chief of the Air Corps, [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], were [[major general]]s). On June 20, 1941, to end the divisions, the War Department revised Army Regulation 95-5 to create the [[U.S. Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]] with the Air Corps and GHQAF (the latter redesignated as Combat Command) as its major components, authorized an Air Staff to manage planning and execution of expansion of the air arm, and named Arnold as Chief of the Army Air Forces.

During [[World War II]] the role of the Air Corps changed again. On March 9, 1942, with the issuance of War Circular 59, the Air Corps was further subordinated to the USAAF as a combatant arm (as [[Infantry]] and [[Field Artillery]] were subordinate combatant arms of the Army Ground Forces) and the office of Chief of the Air Corps was abolished. The Congress did not disestablish the Army Air Corps until July 26, 1947, with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502).

==Modernization and expansion of the force==
===New aircraft===
[[Image:C-39-transport.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Douglas C-39 transport]]
The Air Corps tested and employed a profusion of pursuit, observation, and bomber aircraft during its 15-year history. The advent of the all-metal monoplane, enclosed cockpits, retracting landing gear, enclosed bomb bays, and the emergence of strategic bombardment doctrine led to many designs in the mid and late 1930s that were still in use when the United States entered World War II. Among the key technology developed were oxygen and cabin pressurization systems, engine [[supercharger]]s (systems essential for high-altitude combat), and the [[Norden bombsight]].

As a further consequence of the Air Mail Scandal, the Baker Board reviewed the performance of Air Corps aircraft and recognized that civilian aircraft were far superior to planes developed solely to Air Corps specifications. Following up on its recommendation, the Air Corps purchased and tested a [[Douglas DC-2]] as the XC-32, which subsequently became the flying headquarters of Gen. Andrews. The XC-32 so exceeded Air Corps specifications that 17 were purchased to equip the first operational transport unit, the 10th Transport Group, activated in June 1937 at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Patterson field]], [[Ohio]]. In 1939 the Air Corps recognized the importance of modern air transports and purchased 35 DC-2/[[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]] hybrids, designated the C-39, the forerunner of the thousands of [[C-47 Skytrain]]s that served in World War II.

Notable fighters developed during the late 1930s were the [[P-40]] (first flown October 1938), [[P-38]] (January 1939), [[P-39]] (April 1939), [[P-51 Mustang|P-51]] (October 1940), and [[P-47]] (May 1941). Bombers developed during this period were the [[A-20 Havoc|A-20]] (first flown October 1938), [[B-25]] (January 1939), [[B-24]] (December 1939), and [[B-26]] (November 1940). Except for the B-24, P-47 and P-51, all had production deliveries begun before June 1941. Three other long-range bombers began development during this period, though only mockups were produced before World War II: [[B-29]] (study begun in 1938), [[B-32 Dominator|B-32]] (June 1940), and [[B-36]] (April 1941).

{{main|Military aircraft of the United States}}

===Expansion of the Air Corps===
In a special message to Congress on January 12, 1939, President Roosevelt advised that the threat of a new war made the recommendations of the Baker Board inadequate for American defense and requested approval of a 6,000-plane Air Corps. On April 3, 1939 Congress allocated the $300 million requested by Roosevelt for expansion of the Air Corps, half of which was dedicated to purchasing planes to raise the inventory from 2,500 to 5,500 airplanes, and the other half for new personnel, training facilities, and bases. In June the Kilmer Board recommended several types of bombers needed to fulfill the Air Corps mission that included aircraft having tactical radii of both 3,000 miles (modified in 1940 to 4,000) and 2,000 miles. Chief of Staff Gen. Craig, long an impediment to Air Corps ambitions, was about to retire, and the General Staff reversed itself and concurred in the requirements, ending the brief moratorium on bomber development and paving the way for work on the B-29.<ref>Cate, p.18.</ref>

General Arnold transferred a group of experienced officers to his headquarters as an air staff to lay out a plan over the winter of 1938-1939 that would increase the Air Corps to 50,000 men by June 1941. The expansion program of the Air Corps was characterized by repeated upward revision of goals for increasing the numbers of combat units, aircraft production, training new personnel, and constructing new bases. New combat groups were created by detaching cadres from existing groups to provide the core of the new units, with the older groups providing the basis for an average of three new groups.<ref>Jerry White, USAF Historical Study 61: ''Combat Crew and Training Units in the AAF, 1939-45''. Air Force Historical Research Agency.</ref>

The initial "25-group program" for air defense of the hemisphere, developed in April 1939, called for 50,000 men. Following the successful [[Battle of France|German invasion of France and the Low Countries]] in May 1940, the "54-group program" followed, although funding approval could not keep pace and an inclusive "41-group program" was actually implemented.<ref>Robert Futrell, ''USAF Historical Study No. 69: ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 23-24.</ref> An "84-group program", with an eventual goal of 400,000 men by June 30, 1942, was begun in March 1941, although not publicly announced until October 23, 1941.<ref>The original goals of the final "hemispheric defense program" were 84 combat groups; 7,799 tactical aircraft; 30,000 new pilots annually; and 100,000 new technical personnel annually.</ref> <ref>Wesley F. Craven and James Cate, ''Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol. I: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942'', p.105-106.</ref>

When war broke out in September 1939 the plan was already halfway to its goal in manpower, but with only 800 first-line combat aircraft. The Air Corps had 17 major installations and four depots, and most of its 76 airfields were co-located at civil airports or were small fields on Army posts.<ref>Futrell, ''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', pp. 2-7. The 21 major bases were [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley]], [[Mitchel Field|Mitchel]], [[March Air Force Base|March]], [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott]], [[Selfridge Air Force Base|Selfridge]], [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton]], [[Moffett Field|Moffett]], [[Bolling Air Force Base|Bolling]], [[McChord Air Force Base|McChord]], [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks]], [[Randolph Air Force Base|Randolph]], [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute]], [[Lowry Air Force Base|Lowry]], [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell]], and [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|Wright Fields]], and San Antonio, Middletown, Fairfield, and Sacramento Air Depots.</ref> The acceleration of the expansion programs resulted in an Air Corps of 156 airfields and nearly 100,000 men by the end of 1940. 20 civilian flight schools and eight technical training schools were contracted to provide additional training facilities, and on August 10, 1940, [[Pan American Airways]] was enlisted to provide meteorolgical and navigation training at [[Coral Gables, Florida]], until military schools could be established.<ref>Futrell, ''''Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States, 1939-1945'', p. 26.</ref>

At this stage, public opinion support of airpower reached unprecedented highs, but General Arnold made a decision to postpone any attempts to exploit the opportunity to push for an independent Air Force. Assured of a free hand by Army Chief of Staff General [[George C. Marshall]], Arnold felt it would "be a serious mistake to change the existing setup" in the midst of the crucial expansion effort.

==Organization of the Air Corps==
===Army Air Corps, March 1, 1935===
:SOURCE: Maurer Maurer, ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''

[[Image:P26a.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[P-26 Peashooter|P-26A]] of 34th Pursuit Squadron, 17th PG 1934-1936]]
====General Headquarters Air Force====
(Maj. Gen. [[Frank M. Andrews]], [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
*'''1st Wing''' (Brig. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], [[March Air Force Base|March Field]], California)
**[[7th Bomb Wing#Components|7th Bombardment Group]], [[Hamilton Air Force Base|Hamilton Field]], California
***9th, 11th, & 31st Bombardment Squadrons
**[[17th Training Group|17th Attack Group]], March Field, California
***34th, 37th, & 95th Attack Squadrons
**[[19th Bombardment Group]], March Field, California
***23d, 30th, 32d, & [[72d Bombardment Squadron]]s (23rd & 72nd BS based in [[Hawaii]])
[[Image:060511-F-1234S-027.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Martin B-12A (variant of the [[Martin B-10|B-10]]) of 31st Bomb Squadron, 7th BG, Hamilton Field, California]]
*'''2nd Wing''' (Brig. Gen. H. Conger Pratt, [[Langley Air Force Base|Langley Field]], [[Virginia]])
**[[1st Operations Group|1st Pursuit Group]], [[Selfridge Field]], [[Michigan]]
***17th, 27th & 94th Pursuit Squadrons
**[[2nd Bomb Wing#Components|2nd Bombardment Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***20th, 49th, and 96th Bombardment Squadrons
**[[8th Pursuit Group]], Langley Field, Virginia
***33rd, 35th & 36th Pursuit Squadrons; 37th Attack Squadron
**[[9th Bomb Group|9th Bombardment Group]], [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
***1st, 5th, 14th & 99th Bombardment Squadrons
[[Image:A-12-33-229-3dwing.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[A-12 Shrike]] of the 13th Attack Squadron, 3rd AG, Barksdale Field, Louisiana]]
*'''3rd Wing''' (Col. Gerald C. Brant, [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale Field]], [[Louisiana]])
**[[3d Wing|3rd Attack Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***8th, 13th, & 90th Attack Squadrons
**[[20th Pursuit Group]], Barksdale Field, Louisiana
***55th, 77th & 79th Pursuit Squadrons

*21st Airship Group, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**9th Airship Squadron, Scott Field
**19th Airship Squadron, Langley Field

[[Image:stearman.e75.g-bswc.longshot.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|PT-13, Air Corps primary trainer]]
[[Image:Douglas O-46.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[Douglas O-46|O-46A]] At Wright Field]]

====Other flying units====
*'''Advanced Flying School''', [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly Field]], [[Texas]]
**40th Attack, 42nd Bombardment, 43rd Pursuit Squadrons (from 3rd Wing); 39th School Squadron
*'''Air Corps Technical School''', [[Chanute Air Force Base|Chanute Field]], [[Illinois]]
**48th Pursuit Squadron (from 3rd Wing)
*'''[[Air Corps Tactical School]]''', (Col. [[John F. Curry]]) [[Maxwell Air Force Base|Maxwell Field]], [[Alabama]]
**54th Bombardment, 86th Observation Squadrons (from 2nd Wing)
*'''Rockwell Air Depot''', [[Rockwell Field]], [[California]]
**4th Transport Squadron
*Second Corps Area, [[Mitchel Field]], [[New York]]
**97th Observation Squadron (from 2nd Wing)
*Sixth Corps Area, [[Scott Air Force Base|Scott Field]], [[Illinois]]
**15th Observation Squadron (from 2nd Wing)
*Ninth Corps Area, [[Crissy Field]], [[California]]
**91st Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
*[[12th Flying Training Group|12th Observation Group]], [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]
**11th Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**22nd Observation Squadron (from 1st Wing)
**88th Observation Squadron (long-range amphibian)
[[Image:Boeing P-12E USAF.jpg|thumb|right|250px| [[Boeing P-12|P-12E]] of 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th PG 1935-1938, Wheeler Field, Hawaii]]

====Overseas units====
*'''18th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. [[Delos Emmons]], [[Fort Shafter]], [[Hawaii]])
**[[5th Bomb Wing#Components|5th Composite Group]], [[Ford Island|Luke Field]], Hawaii
***26th Attack, 40th & 50th Observation Squadrons (23rd, 72nd BS attached)
**[[18th Wing|18th Pursuit Group]], [[Wheeler Field]], Hawaii
***6th, 19th Pursuit Squadrons
*'''19th Composite Wing''', (Lt. Col. William C. McCord, [[Albrook Air Force Base|Albrook Field]], [[Panama Canal Zone]])
**[[6th Composite Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***25th Bombardment, 7th & 44th Observation Squadrons
**[[16th Pursuit Group]], Albrook Field, Canal Zone
***24th, 29th, 74th & 78th Pursuit Squadrons
*[[4th Composite Group]], [[Clark Air Force Base|Clark Field]], [[Luzon]]
**3rd Pursuit & 28th Bombardment Squadrons

===Annual strength===
<center>Strength as of June 30 of each year</center>
{| table align=center class="wikitable"
! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-style="background: khaki"
| align=center|'''Year'''||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength''' ||||align=center|'''Year''' ||align=center|'''Strength'''
|-
| align=center|'''1927'''||align=center|9,979||||align=center|'''1932'''||align=center|14,650||||align=center|'''1937'''||align=center|18,572
|-
|align=center|'''1928'''||align=center|10,518||||align=center|'''1933'''||align=center|14,817||||align=center|'''1938'''||align=center|20,196
|-
|align=center|'''1929'''||align=center|12,080||||align=center|'''1934'''||align=center|15,621||||align=center|'''1939'''||align=center|22,387
|-
|align=center|'''1930'''||align=center|13,305||||align=center|'''1935'''||align=center|15,945||||align=center|'''1940'''||align=center|51,185
|-
|align=center|'''1931'''||align=center|14,485||||align=center|'''1936'''||align=center|16,863||||align=center|'''1941'''||align=center|152,125
|}
[[Image:052504-O-0000G-002.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Generals [[Benjamin Delahauf Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]] (left), [[James E. Fechet]] and H. Conger Pratt.]]

===Chiefs of the Air Corps===
*Maj. Gen. [[Mason Patrick|Mason M. Patrick]], July 2, 1926-December 13, 1927
*Maj. Gen. [[James E. Fechet]], December 14, 1927-December 19, 1931
*Maj. Gen. [[Benjamin Foulois|Benjamin D. Foulois]], December 20, 1931-December 21, 1935
*Maj. Gen. [[Oscar Westover]], December 22, 1935-September 21, 1938
*Maj. Gen. [[Henry H. Arnold]], September 29, 1938-June 20, 1941
*Maj. Gen. [[George Brett (military)|George H. Brett]], June 20, 1941-March 9, 1942

==See also==
*[[Air Corps Tactical School]]
*[[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
*[[United States Army Air Service]]
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
*[[Question Mark (airplane)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*[https://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/Evolution.htm U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office]
*Bowman, Martin W., "Background to War", ''USAAF Handbook 1939-1945'', ISBN 0-8117-1822-0
*Maurer, Maurer, ''[http://military.evendon.com#WW2 Air Force Combat Units of World War II]'', Office of Air Force history (1961). ISBN 0-40512-194-6
*Shiner, John F., ''Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force'' (1997), ISBN 0-16-049009-X
**Vol. I, Chap. 4, "The Coming of the GHQ Air Force, 1925-1935"
**Vol. I, Chap. 5, "The Heyday of the GHQ Air Force, 1935-1939"
*[http://www.afa.org/magazine/almanacs.asp 2006 Almanac, ''Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association'', May 2006, Volume 89 Number 5]

{{Aviation lists}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box
|before=[[United States Army Air Service]]
|title=[[United States Army Air Corps]]
|years=1926-1941
|after=[[United States Army Air Forces]]}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Military history of the United States 1900-1999]]
[[Category:History of the United States Army|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Army aviation|Air Corps]]
[[Category:United States Air Force|Air Corps]]
[[Category:Army aviation units and formations]]

[[es:Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército de los Estados Unidos]]
[[fr:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[it:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[ja:アメリカ陸軍航空隊]]
[[no:United States Army Air Corps]]
[[pl:United States Army Air Corps]]

Kutini-Payamu-Nationalpark

2008-12-08T15:30:24Z

Ndunruh: /* History of airbases */ fixed link

{{Infobox_protected_area_of_Australia | name = Iron Range National Park
| iucn_category = II
| image = Australia_Locator_Map.svg
| caption =
| locator_x = 204
| locator_y = 17
| nearest_town_or_city = [[Weipa, Queensland|Weipa]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|34|00|S|143|18|55|E|type:landmark_region:AU}}
| area = 346 km²
| established = 1977
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| managing_authorities = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| official_site = [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=195 Iron Range National Park]
}}
'''Iron Range''' is a National Park located in [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], 1940 km northwest of [[Brisbane]] and 100 km east of [[Weipa]] in the [[Cape York Peninsula]], Queensland.

Within the National Park is the Iron Range (Lockhart River Resources Reserve), Scrubby Creek mining area and [[Lockhart River, Queensland|Lockhart River]] Aboriginal Reserve.

During WW2 there were a number of [[Australian Army]] units located at this base.

==History of airbases==

In March 1940, [[Val Augenson]] of the Department of Civil Aviation inspected a possible site for an Emergency Landing Ground for the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF). He reported to the RAAF that a suitable all-weather Emergency Landing Ground could be built in the area.

On about [[18 April]] [[1942]], [[Walter Maiersperger]], the Commanding Officer of [[33 Bomb Squadron]] of the [[United States Army Air Force]]'s [[22nd Bomb Group]], carried out an aerial reconnaissance flight over the Iron Range area. He had been tasked with surveying coastal airfields in Queensland that would be suitable for operation of the [[B-26 Marauder]]s used by the 22nd Bomb Group.
[[Image:AIRFIELD.gif|left|thumb|300px||Airfield with B-24D Liberator. Circa 1942]]
Air Commodore Lukis, Air Officer Commanding, North East Area, reported on [[28 May]] [[1942]], that Pilot Officer Trench, RAAF had inspected the countryside near [[Portland Roads]] (also known as Weymouth Bay), with Colonel Mills and Captain Herman G. Cox of the USAAF. Their first attempt to fly to the Iron Range area from [[Coen]] was not successful. An engine failed in their Rapide and they returned to Coen. After being repaired they took off the next morning and landed on a beach at low tide a few miles south of Portland Roads. As the plane slowed down upon landing on the soft sand the Rapide swung towards the sea. The tips of the propeller started to thrash in the water but the skilful pilot was able to turn the aircraft back onto the beach.

The inspection party reported to Lukis that there were good jetty facilities at Portland Roads but that there was no suitable site for an aerodrome near the jetty. They reported that a fairly extensive site just to the west of Iron Range and east of the Claudie River was suitable for the construction of several airfields.<ref> Iron Range Airfield Nth Qld during WW2, accessed May 2006 http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/airfields/ironrange.htm</ref>
[[Image:ironrange01.jpg|right|thumb|200px||Plan of airbase. Circa 1942]]
On [[7 June]] [[1942]], an advance party of the US [[46 Engineer General Service Regiment]] and 26 Operational Base Unit RAAF boarded the [[USS Wandena|SS Wandana]] in [[Townsville]] headed for Portland Roads. 26 OBU arrived at Portland Roads and established radio communications with Townsville on the evening of [[10 June]] [[1942]].

A few weeks after his initial visit, Jim Trench returned to the Iron Range area with Colonel Mills and observed two American Battalions of Pioneer Engineers busily buildings the Iron Range runways. They managed to build two 7,000-feet runways and thirteen miles of sealed taxiways within three months.

On [[14 June]] [[1942]], Companies A, B and C of the 46th Engineers boarded the [[MS Dona Nati]] at Townsville and arrived at Portland Roads on [[16 June]] [[1942]].

Headquarters and Service Company (H & S Company) of the 46th Engineers left Townsville on [[10 July]] [[1942]] and arrived at Portland Roads on [[12 July]] [[1942]].
[[Image:ironrange13.jpg|right|thumb|200px||Remains of airbase today (2002)]]
On [[27 October]] [[1942]], Headquarters Detachment of the 46th Engineers left Townsville and arrived at Iron Range on 29 October 1942.

The [[90th Bombardment Group]] arrived in Queensland in early November 1942 with their forty-eight ('''48''') [[B 24 Liberator|B-24D Liberators]] ([http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b2-38.htm variant D]). They were initially based as follows at Iron Range, 16 km inland from the port facility of Portland Roads:

==List of the sections/units during World War II==
According to Peter Dunn, <ref> Iron Range bases during WW2), accessed May 2006 http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/locations/muironrange.htm</ref> the following sections were situated at Iron Range:

* 2 Section, 2 Australian Survey Company
* 3rd Portable Surgical Hospital (US Army)
* 5th AACS
* 13 Garrison Battalion 1 Aust Army, CMF
* 13 Australian Gun (less A, B & C Company)
* 15th Weather Squadron
* 18th Station Hospital (US)
* 18th Station Hospital (US)
* 22nd Bomb Group
* 26th AA Battery
* 26 OBU (RAAF)
* 28 Service Squadron (US)
* 36 Australian AA Battery Workshops Section, Cape Direction
* 36 Australian Supply Depot Pl
* 43rd Bomb Group
* 46 Engineer Regiment (US)
* 61 Service Group & 46 (EGS)
* 90th Bomb Group
* 197th Coastal Artillery (AA) Regiment
* 387th Port Battalion (US)
* 404 Signal
* 1909 Ordnance
* AASC 4 Australian DID, Cape Direction
* Attached Detachment 200 Supply Depot (AIF)
* Australian 446 - 447 Heavy AA Gun Static
* Australian 136 Coastal Artillery Searchlight Company
* Australian Army Airway Radio Range and Communication Station
* Allied Works Council
* Carrier Pl, 51 Australian Infantry Battalion
* Civil Construction Corps (CCC)
* D Section, 2/4th Australian Dental Unit
* Detachment 1 Australian Army AA Pool Under Command CA Artillery Portland Roads
* Detachment 2/1 Australian Field Butchery Company
* Detachment 2/109 Australian General Transport Company
* Detachment 3 Company Queensland AA & CA Signals
* Detachment 8 Australian Field Baker
* Detachment 19 Australian Field Bakery
* Detachment 21 Australian Field Bakery (AIF)
* Detachment 56 Australian Comp. AA Regiment Workshop (LE)
* Directorate of Air Transport
* HQ 36 Australian AA Battery
* Main Roads Commission (MRC)
* Portland Road Battery
* Port Detachment "A"
* RAAF AASC Station Base and Weather Station
* RAAF Key Communication Centre
* US 5 Air Force Command

==Aerial photos & maps - World War II bomber base==
{{Geolinks-AUS-suburbscale|long=143.305|lat=-12.786}}

==See also==
* [[Protected areas of Queensland (Australia)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:National parks of Queensland]]
[[Category:Far North Queensland]]
[[Category:Military history of Australia during World War II]]

[[es:Parque Nacional Montañas de Hierro]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-11-17T20:45:43Z

Ndunruh: /* Major units assigned */ 325 FIW link

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|75px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 250
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
{{Location map|Washington|label=McChord AFB|marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=47|lat_min=08 |lat_sec=15|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=122|lon_min=28|lon_sec=35|position=left|width=250|float=right|caption=Location of McChord AFB, Washington}}
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]], [[Washington]], [[United States]], about one mile south of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], and 40 miles south of [[Seattle]]. Much of the base is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP), which had a population of 4,096 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]]. Its primary mission is military airlift and is assigned to [[Air Mobility Command]].

==Units==
McChord is home to a wide variety of units and missions. The [[62nd Airlift Wing ]]is the active duty host wing on McChord. The 62nd Airlift Wing is joined by its Reserve partner the [[446th Airlift Wing]]. Together, the two wings fly 50 [[C-17 Globemaster III]]s to provide combat airlift for America.

McChord also hosts the Western Air Defense Sector, an Air National Guard unit; the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron; the 361st Recruiting Squadron and a number of other units.

The McChord Air Museum is one of the largest and finest military aircraft museums in the United States.

==History==
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]].

On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] [http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/o/d/o/Patrick-R-Odonnell/PHOTO/0015photo.html William Caldwell McChord], who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] on August 18, 1937. Col McChord, (1881-1937), rated as a junior military aviator in 1918, died while trying to force-land his [[Northrop A-17]] near [[Maidens, Virginia]]. At the time of his death, he was Chief of the Training and Operations Division in HQ Army Air Corps. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

===Major Commands to which assigned===
* Northwest Air District, c. 25 Mar 1940
* GHQAF, United States Army Air Corps, 7 Jun 1940
* [[Second Air Force]], 15 Jan 1941
* [[Fourth Air Force]], 26 Jan 1942
* [[Continental Air Forces]], 16 Apr 1945
: Redesignated: [[Strategic Air Command]], 21 Mar 1946
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 Apr 1946
* [[Air Defense Command]], 1 Aug 1946
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 Jul 1947
* [[Continental Air Command]], 1 Dec 1948
* Air Defense Command, 1 Jan 1951
: [[Western Air Defense Force]]
: Redesignated: [[Aerospace Defense Command]], 15 Jan 1968
* [[Military Airlift Command]], 1 Jul 1968
* [[Air Mobility Command]], 1 Jun 1992 - Present

===Major units assigned===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* 19th Air Base Group, 5 Jun 1940 - 4 Jun 1941
* [[17th Air Division|17th Bombardment Group]], 24 Jun 1940 - 29 Jun 1941
* [[5th Air Division|5th Bombardment Wing]], 19 Oct 1940 - 9 Jan 1941
* Northwest Air District, 18 Dec 1940 - 6 Jan 1941
* [[12th Flying Training Wing|12th Bombardment Group]], 15 Jan 1941 - 18 Feb 1942
* [[47th Flying Training Wing|47th Bombardment Group]], 15 Jan - 14 Aug 1941
* 44th Air Base Group, 15 Jan 1941 - 15 Dec 1942
* [[42d Air Base Wing|42d Bombardment Group]], 20 Jan 1942 - 16 Mar 1943
* [[55th Wing|55th Fighter Group]], 22 Jun 1942 - 23 Aug 1943
* 20th Altitude Training Unit, 10 Apr 1943 - 31 Mar 1944
* 464th AAF Base Unit, 1 Apr 1944 - 9 Apr 1946
* [[491st Bombardment Group]], 17 Jul - 8 Sep 1945
* 1st Bombardment Wing, 6 Sep - 7 Nov 1945
* 2d Bombardment Wing, 6 Sep - 7 Nov 1945
* 314th AAF Base Unit, 28 Mar 1946 - 16 Aug 1947
* 732d AAF Base Unit, 21 Oct 1946 - 3 Jun 1948
* [[454th Bombardment Wing|454th Bombardment Group]], 27 Apr 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[456th Bomb Group|456th Bombardment Group]], 12 Jun 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[305th Air Mobility Wing|305th Bombardment Wing]], 12 Jul 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[445th Airlift Wing|445th Bombardment Group]], 12 Jul 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[62d Airlift Wing|62d Troop Carrier Wing]], 15 Aug 1947 - 20 Apr 1952
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 May 1947 - 26 Sep 1949
* 531st AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 Jun 1948 - 5 Jul 1949
* 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 28 Nov 1948 - 9 Jun 1953
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* [[302d Airlift Wing|302d Troop Carrier Wing]], 27 Jun 1949 - 8 Jun 1951
* 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 23 Apr 1950 - 15 Aug 1957
* [[325th Fighter Wing|325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing]], 20 Apr 1950 - 6 Feb 1952
* 1705th Air Transport Wing, 24 Aug 1950 - 1 Oct 1951
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 25 Jun 1951 - 6 Feb 1952
* [[25th Air Division]], 14 Sep 1951 - 30 Sep 1990
* 1705th Air Transport Group, 24 Jan 1952 - 18 Jun 1960
* 567th Air Defense Group, 1 Feb 1952 - 18 Aug 1955
* 4704th Air Defense Wing, 1 Feb 1952 - 8 Oct 1954
* 318th Figher-Interceptor Squadron, 18 Aug 1955 - 30 Sep 1979
* 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 Aug 1955 - 18 Oct 1956
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 18 Oct 1956 - 1 Jul 1968
* 64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18 Aug 1957 - 15 Mar 1960
* Seattle Air Defense Sector, 18 Jan 1958 - 1 Apr 1966
* [[Western Air Defense Sector]], 1 Jan 1960 - Present
* [[62d Airlift Wing|62d Troop Carrier (later Airlift) Wing]], 13 Jun 1960 - Present
* 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 Jul 1963 - 15 Jun 1966
* 941st Military Airlift Group, 9 Nov 1965 - 25 Jul 1989
* [[939th Air Refueling Wing|939th Military Airlift Group]], 25 Jul 1968 - 1 Jul 1973
* 4628th Air Defense Group, 1 Jul 1972 - 1 Jan 1975
* [[446th Airlift Wing|446th Military Airlift (later Airlift) Wing]], 1 Jul 1973 - Present
{{col-end}}

===Operational History===
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]] ([[Aerospace Defense Command|ADC]]). In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to the subsequently renamed [[Aerospace Defense Command]] when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) as one of three MAC bases in the western United States operating the [[C-141 Starlifter]]. ADC, and later [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) continued to maintain a fighter alert detachment at McChord with [[F-106 Delta Dart]] and later [[F-15 Eagle]] aircraft.

In 1975, TAC divested itself of its [[C-130 Hercules]] tactical airlift fleet, transferring all tactical airlift wings, groups and squadrons to MAC. For the 62 AW, this resulted in a significant increase in the wing's total mission capabilities beyond strictly strategic airlift with the arrival of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft and personnel from [[Langley AFB]], VA.

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]], a 36 TAS [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991, [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, with th disestablishment of Military Airlift Command, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at McChord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB and its 62 AW was the second AMC base to receive this aircraft for active duty, the first having been the [[437th Airlift Wing]] (437 AW) at [[Charleston AFB]], South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in 1998, 2005, and 2007.

Like most US military installations, McChord AFB is closed to the general public. There is a museum on the base, however, it cannot be visited by the public without prior coordination due to lack of public access.

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline,title}}{{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

==Emblem Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>
</center>

==See also==
* [[Washington World War II Army Airfields]]

==References==
{{User:NDCompuGeek/templates/Template:AFHRA}}
<references />

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}

*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{USAAF 4th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[eo:Aerbazo McChord]]
[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-11-12T15:06:51Z

Ndunruh: /* Major units assigned */ 47 BG added

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|75px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 250
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
{{Location map|Washington|label=McChord AFB|marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=47|lat_min=08 |lat_sec=15|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=122|lon_min=28|lon_sec=35|position=left|width=250|float=right|caption=Location of McChord AFB, Washington}}
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]], [[Washington]], [[United States]], about one mile south of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], and 40 miles south of [[Seattle]]. Much of the base is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP), which had a population of 4,096 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]]. Its primary mission is military airlift and is assigned to [[Air Mobility Command]].

==Units==
McChord is home to a wide variety of units and missions. The [[62nd Airlift Wing ]]is the active duty host wing on McChord. The 62nd Airlift Wing is joined by its Reserve partner the [[446th Airlift Wing]]. Together, the two wings fly 50 [[C-17 Globemaster III]]s to provide combat airlift for America.

McChord also hosts the Western Air Defense Sector, an Air National Guard unit; the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron; the 361st Recruiting Squadron and a number of other units.

The McChord Air Museum is one of the largest and finest military aircraft museums in the United States.

==History==
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]].

On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] [http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/o/d/o/Patrick-R-Odonnell/PHOTO/0015photo.html William Caldwell McChord], who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] on August 18, 1937. Col McChord, (1881-1937), rated as a junior military aviator in 1918, died while trying to force-land his [[Northrop A-17]] near [[Maidens, Virginia]]. At the time of his death, he was Chief of the Training and Operations Division in HQ Army Air Corps. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

===Major Commands to which assigned===
* Northwest Air District, c. 25 Mar 1940
* GHQAF, United States Army Air Corps, 7 Jun 1940
* [[Second Air Force]], 15 Jan 1941
* [[Fourth Air Force]], 26 Jan 1942
* [[Continental Air Forces]], 16 Apr 1945
: Redesignated: [[Strategic Air Command]], 21 Mar 1946
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 Apr 1946
* [[Air Defense Command]], 1 Aug 1946
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 1 Jul 1947
* [[Continental Air Command]], 1 Dec 1948
* Air Defense Command, 1 Jan 1951
: [[Western Air Defense Force]]
: Redesignated: [[Aerospace Defense Command]], 15 Jan 1968
* [[Military Airlift Command]], 1 Jul 1968
* [[Air Mobility Command]], 1 Jun 1992 - Present

===Major units assigned===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* 19th Air Base Group, 5 Jun 1940 - 4 Jun 1941
* [[17th Air Division|17th Bombardment Group]], 24 Jun 1940 - 29 Jun 1941
* [[5th Air Division|5th Bombardment Wing]], 19 Oct 1940 - 9 Jan 1941
* Northwest Air District, 18 Dec 1940 - 6 Jan 1941
* [[12th Flying Training Wing|12th Bombardment Group]], 15 Jan 1941 - 18 Feb 1942
* [[47th Flying Training Wing|47th Bombardment Group]], 15 Jan - 14 Aug 1941
* 44th Air Base Group, 15 Jan 1941 - 15 Dec 1942
* [[42d Air Base Wing|42d Bombardment Group]], 20 Jan 1942 - 16 Mar 1943
* [[55th Wing|55th Fighter Group]], 22 Jun 1942 - 23 Aug 1943
* 20th Altitude Training Unit, 10 Apr 1943 - 31 Mar 1944
* 464th AAF Base Unit, 1 Apr 1944 - 9 Apr 1946
* [[491st Bombardment Group]], 17 Jul - 8 Sep 1945
* 1st Bombardment Wing, 6 Sep - 7 Nov 1945
* 2d Bombardment Wing, 6 Sep - 7 Nov 1945
* 314th AAF Base Unit, 28 Mar 1946 - 16 Aug 1947
* 732d AAF Base Unit, 21 Oct 1946 - 3 Jun 1948
* [[454th Bombardment Wing|454th Bombardment Group]], 27 Apr 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[456th Bomb Group|456th Bombardment Group]], 12 Jun 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[305th Air Mobility Wing|305th Bombardment Wing]], 12 Jul 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[445th Airlift Wing|445th Bombardment Group]], 12 Jul 1947 - 27 Jun 1949
* [[62d Airlift Wing|62d Troop Carrier Wing]], 15 Aug 1947 - 20 Apr 1952
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 May 1947 - 26 Sep 1949
* 531st AC&W (RADAR) Group, 21 Jun 1948 - 5 Jul 1949
* 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 28 Nov 1948 - 9 Jun 1953
{{col-break|width=50%}}
* [[302d Airlift Wing|302d Troop Carrier Wing]], 27 Jun 1949 - 8 Jun 1951
* 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 23 Apr 1950 - 15 Aug 1957
* 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 20 Apr 1950 - 6 Feb 1952
* 1705th Air Transport Wing, 24 Aug 1950 - 1 Oct 1951
* 505th AC&W (RADAR) Group, 25 Jun 1951 - 6 Feb 1952
* [[25th Air Division]], 14 Sep 1951 - 30 Sep 1990
* 1705th Air Transport Group, 24 Jan 1952 - 18 Jun 1960
* 567th Air Defense Group, 1 Feb 1952 - 18 Aug 1955
* 4704th Air Defense Wing, 1 Feb 1952 - 8 Oct 1954
* 318th Figher-Interceptor Squadron, 18 Aug 1955 - 30 Sep 1979
* 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 Aug 1955 - 18 Oct 1956
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 18 Oct 1956 - 1 Jul 1968
* 64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18 Aug 1957 - 15 Mar 1960
* Seattle Air Defense Sector, 18 Jan 1958 - 1 Apr 1966
* [[Western Air Defense Sector]], 1 Jan 1960 - Present
* [[62d Airlift Wing|62d Troop Carrier (later Airlift) Wing]], 13 Jun 1960 - Present
* 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 Jul 1963 - 15 Jun 1966
* 941st Military Airlift Group, 9 Nov 1965 - 25 Jul 1989
* [[939th Air Refueling Wing|939th Military Airlift Group]], 25 Jul 1968 - 1 Jul 1973
* 4628th Air Defense Group, 1 Jul 1972 - 1 Jan 1975
* [[446th Airlift Wing|446th Military Airlift (later Airlift) Wing]], 1 Jul 1973 - Present
{{col-end}}

===Operational History===
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]] ([[Aerospace Defense Command|ADC]]). In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to the subsequently renamed [[Aerospace Defense Command]] when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) as one of three MAC bases in the western United States operating the [[C-141 Starlifter]]. ADC, and later [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) continued to maintain a fighter alert detachment at McChord with [[F-106 Delta Dart]] and later [[F-15 Eagle]] aircraft.

In 1975, TAC divested itself of its [[C-130 Hercules]] tactical airlift fleet, transferring all tactical airlift wings, groups and squadrons to MAC. For the 62 AW, this resulted in a significant increase in the wing's total mission capabilities beyond strictly strategic airlift with the arrival of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft and personnel from [[Langley AFB]], VA.

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]], a 36 TAS [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991, [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, with th disestablishment of Military Airlift Command, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at McChord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB and its 62 AW was the second AMC base to receive this aircraft for active duty, the first having been the [[437th Airlift Wing]] (437 AW) at [[Charleston AFB]], South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in 1998, 2005, and 2007.

Like most US military installations, McChord AFB is closed to the general public. There is a museum on the base, however, it cannot be visited by the public without prior coordination due to lack of public access.

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline,title}}{{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

==Emblem Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>
</center>

==See also==
* [[Washington World War II Army Airfields]]

==References==
{{User:NDCompuGeek/templates/Template:AFHRA}}
<references />

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}

*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{USAAF 4th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[eo:Aerbazo McChord]]
[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-10-15T14:53:09Z

Ndunruh: /* Units (Past and Present) */ 567 ADG added

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|80px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 300
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| image2 = Mcchordafb-map.jpg
| image2-width = 200
| caption2 = Location map of McChord Air Force Base
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
[[Image:TCM - FAA airport diagram.png|right|200px]]
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]] (62 AW) of the [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC), the [[Air Mobility Command|AMC]]-gained [[446th Airlift Wing]] (446 AW) of the [[Air Force Reserve Command]] (AFRC), and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS) of the [[Air Combat Command]] ([[ACC]]).

==History==
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|left|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William Caldwell McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] on August 18, 1937. Col McChord, (1881-1937), rated as a junior military aviator in 1918, died while trying to force-land his [[Northrop A-17]] near [[Maidens, Virginia]]. At the time of his death, he was Chief of the Training and Operations Division in HQ Army Air Corps. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]] ([[Aerospace Defense Command|ADC]]). In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to the subsequently renamed [[Aerospace Defense Command]] when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) as one of three MAC bases in the western United States operating the [[C-141 Starlifter]]. ADC, and later [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) continued to maintain a fighter alert detachment at McChord with [[F-106 Delta Dart]] and later [[F-15 Eagle]] aircraft.

In 1975, TAC divested itself of its [[C-130 Hercules]] tactical airlift fleet, transferring all tactical airlift wings, groups and squadrons to MAC. For the 62 AW, this resulted in a significant increase in the wing's total mission capabilities beyond strictly strategic airlift with the arrival of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft and personnel from [[Langley AFB]], VA.

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]], a 36 TAS [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991, [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, with th disestablishment of Military Airlift Command, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at McChord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB and its 62 AW was the second AMC base to receive this aircraft for active duty, the first having been the [[437th Airlift Wing]] (437 AW) at [[Charleston AFB]], South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in 1998, 2005, and 2007.

Like most US military installations, McChord AFB is closed to the general public. There is a museum on the base, however, it cannot be visited by the public without prior coordination due to lack of public access.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
**[[36th Airlift Squadron|36th Tactical Airlift Squadron]]
*[[62d Airlift Wing]]
*262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (Air National Guard)
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*[[354th Fighter Squadron]]
*[[425th Fighter Squadron|425th Night Fighter Squadron]]
*[[446th Airlift Wing]]
*567th Air Defense Group
*[[Western Air Defense Sector]]

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[A-17 Nomad]]
*[[A-24 Banshee]]
*[[A-29 Hudson]]
*[[Martin B-10]]
*[[B-17 Flying Fortress]]
*[[B-18 Bolo]]
*[[B-23 Dragon]]
*[[B-24 Liberator]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[B-26 Marauder]]
*[[B-34 Ventura]]
*LB-30 Liberator
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-45 Expeditor]]
*[[C-46 Commando]]
*[[C-47 Skytrain]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-118 Liftmaster]]
*[[C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[F-51 Mustang]]
*[[F-82 Twin Mustang]]
*[[F-86 Sabre]]
*[[F-94 Starfire]]
*[[F-102 Delta Dagger]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[H-13 Sioux]]
*[[H-19 Chickasaw]]
*[[HH-43 Huskie]]
*[[KC-135 Stratotanker]]
*[[L-1 Vigilant]]
*[[Piper J-3|L-4 Grasshopper]]
*[[L-5 Sentinel]]
*[[North American O-47|O-47]]
*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II|OA-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]
*[[P-47 Thunderbolt]]
*[[P-61 Black Widow]]
*SA-10 Catalina
*SA-16 Albatross
*SB-17 Flying Fortress
*[[T-6 Texan]]
*[[T-11 Kansan]]
*[[C-131 Samaritan|T-29 Samaritan]]
*[[T-33 Shooting Star]]
*[[T-39 Sabreliner]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline,title}}{{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Washington World War II Army Airfields]]
* [[Western Air Defense Force]] (Air Defense Command)
* [[25th Air Division]]

==References==
{{User:NDCompuGeek/templates/Template:AFHRA}}
<references />

==External links==
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}

*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[eo:Aerbazo McChord]]
[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-06-09T14:38:18Z

Ndunruh: /* Units (Past and Present) */ 425 FS link added

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|80px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 300
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| image2 = Mcchordafb-map.jpg
| image2-width = 200
| caption2 = Location map of McChord Air Force Base
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
[[Image:TCM - FAA airport diagram.png|right|200px]]
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|left|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in [[1998]], [[2005]], and [[2007]].

The base is closed to the public. There is a museum on the base. However, it cannot be visited by the public due to lack of public access to the base. In contrast, some museums located on other U.S.A.F. bases are accessible to the public.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*[[354th Fighter Squadron]]
*[[425th Fighter Squadron|425th Night Fighter Squadron]]
*[[446th Airlift Wing]]
*[[Western Air Defense Sector]]
*262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (Air National Guard)

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47|S|122|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[eo:Aerbazo McChord]]
[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-06-03T14:59:59Z

Ndunruh: /* Units (Past and Present) */ 354 FS link

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|80px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 300
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| image2 = Mcchordafb-map.jpg
| image2-width = 200
| caption2 = Location map of McChord Air Force Base
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
[[Image:TCM - FAA airport diagram.png|right|200px]]
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|left|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in [[1998]], [[2005]], and [[2007]].

The base is closed to the public. There is a museum on the base. However, it cannot be visited by the public due to lack of public access to the base. In contrast, some museums located on other U.S.A.F. bases are accessible to the public.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*[[354th Fighter Squadron]]
*[[446th Airlift Wing]]
*[[Western Air Defense Sector]]
*262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (Air National Guard)

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47|S|122|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[eo:Aerbazo McChord]]
[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2008-05-05T15:38:17Z

Ndunruh: /* History */ gate photo added

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
[[Image:Air Mobility Command.png|80px]]
| nativename = Part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)
| image = Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg
| image-width = 300
| caption = McChord AFB 20 June 2002
| image2 = Mcchordafb-map.jpg
| image2-width = 200
| caption2 = Location map of McChord Air Force Base
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| FAA = TCM
| type = Military: [[Air Force Base]]
| owner = [[U.S. Air Force]]
| operator =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| built =
| used =
| commander =
| occupants =
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{coord|47|08|15|N|122|28|35|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| footnotes =
}}
[[Image:TCM - FAA airport diagram.png|right|200px]]
'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
[[Image:McChord Main Gate.jpg|thumb|left|McChord Main Gate in the late 1940s or early 1950s. [[Mt. Rainier]] in the background.]]
In 1917, the [[citizens]] of [[Pierce County, Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in [[1998]], [[2005]], and [[2007]].

The base is closed to the public. There is a museum on the base. However, it cannot be visited by the public due to lack of public access to the base. In contrast, some museums located on other U.S.A.F. bases are accessible to the public.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*354th Fighter Squadron
*[[446th Airlift Wing]]
*[[Western Air Defense Sector]]
*262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (Air National Guard)

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coord|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47|S|122|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] was 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There were 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²). The racial makeup was 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races. 8.08% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,004 households out of which 77.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% were non-families. 2.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.49.

On the base the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age wes 22 years. For every 100 females there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.1 males.

The median income for a household was $35,319, and the median income for a family was $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the base was $12,454. About 5.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
{{commonscat|McChord Air Force Base}}
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

 
{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}
{{Tactical Air Command}}
{{Pierce County, Washington}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[nl:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[pt:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2007-08-13T14:45:58Z

Ndunruh: /* External links */ info box added

{{Infobox Airport
| name = McChord Air Force Base
| nativename =
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image = TCM - FAA airport diagram.png
| image-width =
| caption =
| IATA = TCM
| ICAO = KTCM
| type = Military
| owner =
| operator = [[US Air Force]]
| city-served =
| location = [[Pierce County, Washington]]
| elevation-f = 322
| elevation-m = 98
| coordinates = {{Coord|47|08|15.64|N|122|28|35.31|W|type:airport}}
| website =
| metric-elev =
| metric-rwy =
| r1-number = 16/34
| r1-length-f = 10,108
| r1-length-m = 3,081
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]/Grooved
| r2-number = 160/340
| r2-length-f = 3,300
| r2-length-m = 1,006
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes =
}}

'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
In 1917 the [[citizens]] of Pierce [[County]], [[Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan]]ese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

McChord has been the host base for the [[Air Mobility Rodeo]] in [[1998]], [[2005]], and [[2007]].
[[Image:Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg|thumb|McChord AFB from a satellite]]
===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*354th Fighter Squadron
*446th Airlift Wing
*Western Air Defense Sector

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coor dms|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47.138044|S|122.499327|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:McChord AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there are 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] is 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There are 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²).

===Racial makeup===
The racial makeup of the town is 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races.

8.08% of the population are [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===Households===
There are 1,004 households, out of which 77.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% are [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% are non-families. 2.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.46 and the average family size is 3.49.

The population is spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 137.1 males.

===Income===
The median income for a household is $35,319, and the median income for a family is $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town is $12,454. 7.3% of the population and 5.5% of families are below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62d Airlift Wing.png|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446th Airlift Wing.png|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

== External links ==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

{{USAF Air Mobility Command}}

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:SAGE sites]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[lmo:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]

McChord Air Force Base

2007-06-25T16:03:07Z

Ndunruh: /* Units (Past and Present) */ 325 FW link added

{{Airport frame}}
{{Airport title|name=McChord Air Force Base|nativename= |nativename-a= |nativename-r= }}
{{Airport image|airport_image=TCM - FAA airport diagram.png}}
{{Airport infobox |
IATA = TCM |
ICAO = KTCM |
type = Military |
run by = [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] |
elevation_ft = 322 |
elevation_m = 98 |
coordinates = {{coor dms|47|08|15.64|N|122|28|35.31|W|type:airport}}
}}
{{Runway title}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle = 16/34 |
runway_length_f = 10,108 |
runway_length_m = 3,081 |
runway_surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]/Grooved |
}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle = 160/340 |
runway_length_f = 3,300 |
runway_length_m = 1,006 |
runway_surface = Asphalt |
}}
{{Airport end frame}}

'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
In 1917 the [[citizens]] of Pierce [[County]], [[Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan|Japanese]] attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*[[325th Fighter Wing]]
*354th Fighter Squadron
*446th Airlift Wing
*Western Air Defense Sector

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coor dms|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47.138044|S|122.499327|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg|thumb|McChord AFB from a satellite]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there are 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] is 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There are 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²).

===Racial makeup===
The racial makeup of the town is 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races.

8.08% of the population are [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===Households===
There are 1,004 households, out of which 77.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% are [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% are non-families. 2.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.46 and the average family size is 3.49.

The population is spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 137.1 males.

===Income===
The median income for a household is $35,319, and the median income for a family is $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town is $12,454. 7.3% of the population and 5.5% of families are below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
[[Image:McChord_AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62_AW_English.jpg|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446_AW.jpg|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

== External links ==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[lmo:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]

Norwich International Airport

2007-06-22T16:11:55Z

Ndunruh: /* USAAF use */

{{GBthumb|164|178|TG221137}}
{{Airport frame}}
{{Airport title|name=Norwich International Airport|}}
[[Image:Nwia22.jpg]]
{{Airport infobox|
IATA=NWI|
ICAO=EGSH|
type=Public|
run by=Omniport|
closest town=Norwich|
elevation_ft=117|
elevation_m=36|
coordinates={{coor dms|52|40|33|N|01|16|58|E|type:airport_region:GB}}
}}
{{Runway title}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle=09/27|
runway_length_f=6,040|
runway_length_m=1,841|
runway_surface=[[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]|
}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle=04/22|
runway_length_f=4,154|
runway_length_m=1,266|
runway_surface=Asphalt|
}}
{{Airport end frame}}

'''Norwich International Airport''' {{Airport codes|NWI|EGSH}} also just Norwich Airport, is an [[airport]] 2.5 [[nautical mile]]s (5.2 km) north of the city centre of [[Norwich]], [[Norfolk]] on the edge of the city's suburbs.

Along with a long history of flights to [[Schiphol Airport]], [[Amsterdam]] via [[KLM Cityhopper]] (formerly [[KLM uk]]), it offers flights to various destinations in the [[United Kingdom]] and Europe. Besides the commercial flights, charter helicopters also operate out of Norwich flying crews to [[North Sea]] gas rigs.

Norwich Airport has a [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority|CAA]] Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P723) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.

==Facilities==
NWI has two runways, one 1,842 m (6,043 ft) long (09/27), the other 1,285 m (4,215 ft)(04/22).
It has 9 Parking stands.

==Airlines and Destinations==
* [[Bmi (airline)|bmi]] (Aberdeen)
* [[Eastern Airways]] (Aberdeen)
* [[Flybe]] (Alicante, Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Chambery, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter, Faro, Geneva [''Winter Only''], Glasgow-International, Guernsey, Jersey, Málaga, Manchester, Murcia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
* [[KLM]]
**[[KLM Cityhopper]] (Amsterdam)
* [[Thomsonfly]] (Corfu - ''Summer only'')

==History==
The first Norwich airport was set up on a former [[World War I|First World War]] aerodrome on [[Mousehold Heath]] under what is now the Heartsease [[housing estate]]. This fell into disuse in the early part of the [[World War II|Second World War]].

=== RAF use ===
The current site, known as '''RAF Horsham St Faith''' was first developed in 1939 and officially opened on [[1 June]] [[1940]] as a bomber station. It had been built pre-war and had five C-type hangars, permanent brick and tiled buildings with central-heating and a high standard of domestic accommodation.

The first aircraft there were [[Bristol Blenheim]]s dispersed from [[No. 21 Squadron RAF]] at [[RAF Watton]] in 1939 but the first operational aircraft there were fighters: Supermarine Spitfires of [[No. 19 Squadron RAF|No. 19]] and [[No. 66 Squadron RAF|No. 66]] squadrons from [[RAF Duxford]].

[[Boulton Paul Defiant]]s of A Flight [[No. 264 Squadron RAF]] began sorties on [[12 May]] [[1940]].

The first operational bomber units were [[No. 139 Squadron RAF]] and [[No. 114 Squadron RAF]] of [[No. 2 Group RAF|No. 2 Group]] of [[Bomber Command]] with the Blenheim IV. No. 114 then moved onto [[RAF Oulton]] which was a new satellite station for Horsham

Two of the early visitors to the new airfield were the Right Honourable [[Neville Chamberlain]] and General Sir [[Alan Brooke]].

In August 1941, an aircraft from [[No. 18 Squadron RAF]] flying from Horsham St. Faith en route to attack a power station at [[Gosnay]], dropped a box by parachute over the south-west corner of the airfield at St. Omer-Longeunesse, containing a pair of legs for Wing Commander [[Douglas Bader]] who had been shot down over [[France]] and had lost his artificial limbs in the process.

In December 1941 [[No. 105 Squadron RAF]] arrived from [[RAF Swanton Morley]] to begin training on the new [[de Havilland Mosquito]] fast bomber and from June 1942, the squadron carried out photographic and bombing missions over [[Germany]].

=== USAAF use ===
In September 1942 Horsham St. Faith was made available to the [[United States Army Air Force]] for use by the [[Eighth Air Force]]. The USAAF designated the airfield as Station 123 (HF).

;319th Bombardment Group (Medium)
The first USAAF tennants at the airfield was the [[319th Air Refueling Wing|319th Bombardment Group (Medium)]], arriving from [[RAF Shipdham]] on [[4 October]] 1942. Flying the [[B-25 Mitchell]] bomber, the group only stayed until [[11 November]] when the group was transferred to [[Twelfth Air Force]] at St-Leu, [[Algeria]].

The airfield then lay unused over the winter.

;56th Fighter Group
[[Image:56fg-p47.jpg|thumb|P-47 of the 61st Fighter Squadron]]
With the departure of the Mitchells to North Africa, the next USAAF group to use Horsham St. Faith was the [[56th Fighter Group]], transferring from [[RAF Kings Cliffe]] on [[6 April]] [[1943]]. Aircraft of the 56th were identified by white cowl bands.
The group consisted of the following squadrons:

* 61st Fighter Squadron (HV)
* 62d Fighter Squadron (LM)
* 63d Fighter Squadron (UN)

The group entered combat with a fighter sweep in the area of St Omer on [[13 April]] [[1943]], and flew numerous missions over [[France]], the [[Low Countries]], and [[Germany]] to escort bombers that attacked industrial establishments, V-weapon sites, [[submarine pen]]s, and other targets on the Continent.

On [[8 July]], the group had to move to [[RAF Halesworth]] when work started on enlarging Horsham St. Faith for use as a heavy bomber station with hard surface runways and concrete hardstands and a perimeter track. The move was not particularly popular with the men of the 56th who had to give up the comparative comfort of Horsham's barracks for the temporary hut (and muddy) accommodations at Halesworth.

;458th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
[[Image:458bg-b24s.jpg|thumb|B-24s of the 753d and 754th Bomb Squadrons on a mission from Horsham St. Faith.]]
{{main|458th Bombardment Group}}

With runway construction finished, The [[458th Bomb Group (Heavy)]], arrived at Horsham St. Faith late in January 1944 from [[Tonopah, Nevada|Tonopah]] AAF [[Nevada]]. The group flew its first mission on [[February 24]] with [[B-24 Liberator]]s.

On [[2 March]] a returning bomber crashed on nearby [[Hellesdon]] which was under the flightpath.
In September 1944, like other bomber groups in the area it participated in shipping fuel for American forces to France.

The group flew its last combat mission on [[25 April]] [[1945]], flying 240 missions losing 47 aircraft in combat along with another 18 before returning to [[Sioux Falls Regional Airport|Sioux Falls AAF]] [[South Dakota]] in July 1945.

=== Postwar military use ===
The airfield was transferred to [[RAF Fighter Command]] on [[10 July]] when it was occupied by four [[Gloster Meteor]] Squadrons one of which. No. 307, was entirely composed of Polish personnel. Meteor jet aircraft arrived during 1946-48 and in June, an echo of the airfield's former occupants was provided by a visit from a Swedish [[P-51 Mustang]] squadron.

RAF Horsham St. Faith was a front-line RAF station for many years, and its squadrons participated in many post-war exercises. The station was inactivated on [[1 August]] [[1963]].

=== Public use ===
The Royal Air Force left Horsham on [[24 March]] [[1967]]. Over the following two years the major part of the airfield and buildings were sold to Norwich City and Norfolk County Council, a small part being retained by the MOD. Norwich Airport Ltd under ownership of the County and City Councils developed the modern day Norwich International Airport.

Most of the World War II buildings used by the United States Army Air Force remain, although converted for a variety of purposes. Three of the five large pre-war hangars are still being used for aircraft maintenance. Two have been converted for commercial use. The control tower still exists although the top has been restored and a new tower has been built adjacent to the present main runway. Other wartime buildings now form part of the airport industrial estate (owned by the County and City Councils) and are intermingled with many newer structures.

The former RAF accommodation blocks situated towards [[Catton]] were until 1993 used by the [[University of East Anglia]] as accommodation for students, known to students as "Fifers Lane" halls these have since been demolished and the site redeveloped as housing. The remaining MOD property, formerly enlisted men's quarters, has become married quarters for nearby RAF stations.

Whilst most runways and taxi-tracks from the military airfield remain, only one runway is primarily used, east-west runway 09-27, which was extended eastwards by the RAF in 1956, to avoid take-offs and landings over built-up areas. A section of the old main runway is currently used for light aircraft.

Adjacent to the airport terminal building opened in 1988 there is a memorial display relating to the USAAF, consisting of photographs, paintings, and a plaque commemorating the American use of the airfield.

In March 2004, the City and County Councils sold 80.1% of Norwich Airport Ltd to Omniport whilst retaining the further 19.9%. Omniport has also acquired 100% of Norwich Airport Travel Ltd. Since the sale to Omniport the airport has become one of the UK hubs for budget carrier Flybe and the number of flights and destinations served have rapidly increased. In 2005 a £3.5M terminal expansion programme began.

== See also ==
* [[List of RAF stations]]
* [[Eighth Air Force|USAAF Eighth Air Force - World War II]]

==References==
*[[United Kingdom]] [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]]
* Freeman, Roger A., ''Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now'', 1978
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/H-K/Horsham_St_Faith.htm www.controltowers.co.uk Horsham St Faith]
* Maurer Maurer, ''Air Force Combat Units Of World War II'', Office of Air Force History, 1983
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]

==External links==
* [http://www.norwichairport.co.uk Official site]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s23.html RAF Bomber Command History of Horsham St Faith]
* [http://www.458bg.com/index.htm 458th Bombardment Group website]
* [http://www.cnam.co.uk City of Norwich Aviation Museum website]

{{UKAirports}}

[[Category:Airports in England]]
[[Category:Norwich]]
[[Category:Transport in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Defunct World War II USAAF Fields]]

[[lmo:Norwich International Airport]]

McChord Air Force Base

2007-06-18T15:53:14Z

Ndunruh: /* Units (Past and Present) */ added unit

{{Airport frame}}
{{Airport title|name=McChord Air Force Base|nativename= |nativename-a= |nativename-r= }}
{{Airport image|airport_image=TCM - FAA airport diagram.png}}
{{Airport infobox |
IATA = TCM |
ICAO = KTCM |
type = Military |
run by = [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] |
elevation_ft = 322 |
elevation_m = 98 |
coordinates = {{coor dms|47|08|15.64|N|122|28|35.31|W|type:airport}}
}}
{{Runway title}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle = 16/34 |
runway_length_f = 10,108 |
runway_length_m = 3,081 |
runway_surface = [[Asphalt]]/[[Concrete]]/Grooved |
}}
{{Runway|
runway_angle = 160/340 |
runway_length_f = 3,300 |
runway_length_m = 1,006 |
runway_surface = Asphalt |
}}
{{Airport end frame}}

'''McChord Air Force Base''' {{Airport codes|TCM|KTCM}} is a [[United States Air Force]] [[airbase|base]] in [[Pierce County, Washington]]. As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 census]], it had a total population of 4,096. It is current home to the [[62d Airlift Wing]], [[446th Airlift Wing]], and the [[Western Air Defense Sector]] (WADS).

==History==
In 1917 the [[citizens]] of Pierce [[County]], [[Washington]] approved a [[Government bond|bond]] measure for $2,000,000 to buy 70,000 [[acres]] (280 km²) of land to be donated to the [[Federal government of the United States|Federal Government]] for use as a [[military reservation]]. This land became Camp Lewis (and later [[Fort Lewis]]). Ten years later, in 1927, another bond measure was passed to establish an airfield just north of the military reservation. The airfield, named [[Tacoma]] Field, officially opened [[14 March]] [[1930]]. On [[28 February]] [[1938]] the airfield was officially transferred to the United States Government. Three years after the transfer, on [[3 July]] [[1940]], the airfield was renamed McChord Field, in honor of [[Colonel]] William C. McChord, who had been killed in an accident near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]] the year before. Over the subsequent two decades McChord Field grew to roughly 3,000 acres (12 km²), encompassing the northern tip of the 70,000 acre (280 km²) Ft. Lewis. It became independent of Ft. Lewis in 1947 following the creation of the Air Force under provisions of the [[National Security Act of 1947]].

After the [[Japan|Japanese]] attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], McChord was camouflaged and windows were blacked out. Squadrons of [[P-40]] and [[P-43]] fighters were assigned to the field. In addition to training pilots, McChord was a clearing station for planes and crews headed for [[Alaska]] and the war in the [[Pacific]]. Following the end of the war in [[Europe]], McChord redeployed thousands of troops arriving from the European theater to the Pacific.

In 1948, the field was re-designated McChord Air Force Base.
[[Image:Mcchord Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|left|Main hangar and control tower in July 2005]]

McChord was instrumental in the development of the Alaskan air defense system. In 1950, McChord became part of the [[Air Defense Command]]. In 1968, the base was relieved of its assignment to Air Defense Command, when it was turned over to the [[Military Airlift Command]].

In 1980, following the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]] , a [[C-130]] crew provided communications support during the search for survivors. One week after St Helen's first eruption, a second one occurred. All of the base's flyable aircraft were evacuated following reports that ash was drifting northwest toward McChord. In 1988 McChord became involved in combating devastating [[Yellowstone National Park]] forest fires, carrying troops from [[Fort Lewis]] to the fire areas.

In 1991 [[Clark Air Base]] in the [[Philippines]] was evacuated due to the eruption of [[Mount Pinatubo]]. By 16 June, the evacuation order was issued and the first plane load of evacuees arrived at McChord on the 18th. In 1992, McChord became an [[Air Mobility Command]] base. In November of that same year, two McChord [[C-141]] Starlifters, participating in an air refueling training mission over north central [[Montana]], collided in mid-air, killing all 13 crewmen.

As the [[C-141]] was phased out at Mcchord, it was replaced with the [[C-17 Globemaster III]]. McChord AFB was the second Base to receive this aircraft for active duty. The first was [[Charleston AFB]] in South Carolina.

===Units (Past and Present)===

*17th Bombardment Group
*22d Special Tactics Squadron
*62d Airlift Wing
*[[302d Airlift Wing|302nd Troop Carrier Wing]]
*318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
*354th Fighter Squadron
*446th Airlift Wing
*Western Air Defense Sector

===Aircraft Stationed (Past and Present)===

*[[A-10 Thunderbolt II]]
*[[B-25 Mitchell]]
*[[C-17 Globemaster III]]
*[[C-141|C-141 Starlifter]]
*[[C-130 Hercules]]
*[[C-124|C-124 Globemaster II]]
*[[C-82 Packet]]
*[[C-54 Skymaster]]
*[[F-106 Delta Dart]]
*[[F-15 Eagle]]
*[[Curtiss P-40|P-40 Warhawk]]
*[[P-43 Lancer]]

== Geography ==
McChord AFB is at {{coor dms|47|8|17|N|122|29|58|W|}} ({{coor d|47.138044|S|122.499327|N|}}){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], it has a total area of 15.0 [[square kilometer|km²]] (5.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

== Demographics ==
[[Image:Mcchord-afb-20-06-02-01.jpg|thumb|McChord AFB from a satellite]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there are 4,096 people, 1,004 households, and 978 families residing on the base. The [[population density]] is 272.7/km² (706.5/mi²). There are 1,010 housing units, with an average density of 67.2/km² (174.2/mi²).

===Racial makeup===
The racial makeup of the town is 76.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.17% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 6.25% from two or more races.

8.08% of the population are [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===Households===
There are 1,004 households, out of which 77.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.9% are [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 2.5% are non-families. 2.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.46 and the average family size is 3.49.

The population is spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 22.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 1.8% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 137.1 males.

===Income===
The median income for a household is $35,319, and the median income for a family is $35,205. Males have a median income of $23,004 versus $22,216 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town is $12,454. 7.3% of the population and 5.5% of families are below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

==Base Realignment and Closure, 2005==
[[Image:McChord_AFB.jpg|thumb|McChord airfield]]
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|Base Realignment and Closure]] program announced on [[May 13]], [[2005]].

<gallery>
Image:TeamMcChord.jpg|Team McChord
Image:62_AW_English.jpg|62d Airlift Wing
Image:446_AW.jpg|446th Airlift Wing
Image:WADS.jpg|Western Air Defense Sector
Image:22_STS.jpg|22d Special Tactics Squadron
</gallery>

== External links ==
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Naval Jack of the United States.svg|65}}
*[http://www.mcchordinfo.com/ McChord AFB information, base phone numbers, realtors, local links, and more.]
*[http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/REV%20B%20MAM%20HOME%20PAGE.htm McChord Air Museum]
{{US-airport-mil|TCM|KTCM}}
*[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050513_1081.html BRAC 2005: Closings, Realignments to Reshape Infrastructure]
*[http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/ 446 Airlift Wing Official Website]

[[Category:Bases of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Military in Washington]]
[[Category:Airports in Washington]]

[[fr:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[lmo:McChord Air Force Base]]
[[no:McChord Air Force Base]]