Fifth Air Force

5th Air Force
5th Air Force
Active	1942
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQ	Yokota Air Base
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Bruce A. Wright

Fifth Air Force is a United States Air Force Numbered Air Force in Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

Mission

Fifth Air Force's mission is three-fold. First, Fifth Plans, Conducts, Controls, and Coordinates Air Operations in accordance with tasks assigned by the PACAF Commander. Fifth Air Force maintains a level of readiness necessary for successful completion of directed military operations. And last, but certainly not least, Fifth Air Force assists in the mutual defense of Japan and enhances regional stability by planning, exercising, and executing joint air operations in partnership with Japan.

To achieve this mission, Fifth Air Force maintains its deterrent force posture to protect both U.S. and Japanese interests, and conducts appropriate air operations should deterrence fail.

Units

Major units of Fifth Air Force are:

• 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
  (F-15C/D, KC-135, E-3B/C, HH-60, MC-130H/P, WC-135)
• 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan (F-16 CJ/DJ)
• 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan (C-130E/H)

Non-Flying Units (Yokota Air Base)

• 605th Air Operations Group
• 605th Air Operations Squadron
• 605th Air Intelligence Squadron
• 605th Air Support Squadron
• 605th Air Communications Flight
• 20th Operational Weather Squadron

Lineage

• Philippine Department Air Force, 20 September 1941
• Far East Air Force, 28 October 1941
• 5th Air Force, 5 Feburary 1942
• Fifth Air Force, 18 September 1942

Note: Not to be confused with a second "Fifth" air force created as a temporary establishment to handle combat operations after the outbreak of hostilities on June 25, 1950, in Korea. This numbered air force was established as Fifth Air Force, Advance, and organized at Itazuki AB, Japan, assigned to Fifth Air Force, on July 14, 1950. It moved to Taegu AB, South Korea, on July 24, 1950, and was redesignated Fifth Air Force in Korea at the same time. After moving, it apparently received command control from Far East Air Forces. The establishment operated from Pusan, Taegu, and Seoul before being discontinued on December 1, 1950.

History

Fifth Air Force is one of very few numbered air forces of the United States Air Force never to have been based in the United States itself. It is also one of the oldest and continuously active US air forces.

World War II

See also: United States Far East Air Forces

Fifth Air Force traces its roots to the Philippines in the 1940's, U.S. military aviation made its first presence in the region there in March of 1912. Starting with a flight training school near Manila, its presence grew to the establishment of several aero squadrons over the next thirty years.

Then, in September of 1941, the Philippine Department Air Force was created. Also, the Far East Air Force (FEAF), was formed in the Philippines under Major General Lewis H. Brereton. It was under this name in which fifth air force saw its first combat action.

Immediately after the outbreak of the Pacific War in December, Brereton sought permission from theater commander Gen Douglas MacArthur to conduct air raids against Japanese forces in Formosa, but was refused. As a consequence, FEAF was largely destroyed on the ground by Japanese air attacks. Following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the remnants of FEAF relocated southwards to bases in the Dutch East Indies. After those islands also fell to Japanese forces early in 1942, FEAF headquarters moved to Australia.

While in Australia, the Far East Air Force was redesignated Fifth Air Force in 1942 and placed under the command of Major General George Kenney. United States Army Air Forces units in Australia, including FEAF, were eventually reinforced and re-organised following their initial defeats in the Philippines and the East Indies.

Kenney became General Douglas MacArthur's component commander for all allied air services. Under his leadership, Fifth Air Force provided the aerial spearhead for MacArthur's island hopping campaign. The 5AF, along with the Thirteenth Air Force (the other main combat command of the FEAF) devastated Japan's air, land, and sea forces in the South West Pacific Area for the remainder of World War II. Using General Kenney's innovative and devastating low-level parafrag, strafing, and skip-bombing tactics, the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces played a major role in pushing the Japanese back to their home islands by 1945

When the war ended, Fifth Air Force had an unmatched record of 3,445 aerial victories, led by the nation's two top fighter aces Major Richard Bong and Major Thomas Mcguire, with 40 and 38 confirmed victories respectively, and two of Fifth Air Force's ten Medal of Honor recipients.

Shortly after World War II ended in August, the 5AF relocated to Japan as part of the Allied occupation forces.

Korean War

In 1950, Fifth air force was called upon again, becoming the main United Nations combat air command during the Korean War, and was instrumental in bringing about the cease-fire that formally ended that conflict in 1953.

In the early morning hours of June 25th, North Korea launched a sudden, all-out attack against the south. Reacting quickly to the invasion, fifth air force provided air cover over the skies of Seoul. In this first Jet War, Fifth Air Force racked up an unprecedented 14.5 to 1 victory ratio. By the time the truce was signed in 1953, fifth air force had flown over 625,000 missions, downing 953 North Korean and Chinese aircraft, while close air support accounted for 47 percent of all enemy troop casualties.

Thirty-eight fighter pilots were identified as aces, including Lieutenant Colonel James Jabara, America's first jet ace; and Captain Joseph McConnell, the leading Korean War ace with 16 confirmed victories. Additionally, four Medals of Honor were awarded to Fifth Air Force members. One other pilot of note was Marine Major John Glenn, who flew for Fifth Air Force as part of an exchange program.

Cold War

Following the Korean War, Fifth Air Force returned its headquarters to Japan. Not only concerned with maintaining a strong tactical posture for the defense of both Japan and South Korea, Fifth Air Force played a critical role in helping the establishment of the Japan Air Self Defense Force as well as the Republic of Korea Air Force. These and other peacetime efforts lasted a decade before war clouds once again developed in the Pacific.

This time, the area of concern was Southeast Asia, beginning in 1964 with the Gulf of Tonkin Crisis. Fifth air force furnished aircraft, Aircrews, Support personnel, and supplies throughout the eight years of combat operations in South Vietnam and Laos.

Since 1972, the Pacific Region has seen relative calm, thanks in large part to the deterrent role Fifth Air Force has played in this part of the world. But that doesn't mean fifth air force hasn't been active in other roles. We have played active or supporting roles in a variety of issues ranging from being first on the scene at the KAL shoot down in 1983 to deploying personnel and supplies for the Persian Gulf war in 1990.

During this time span, the size of fifth air force changed as well. With the activation of Seventh Air Force in 1986, fifth left the Korean Peninsula and focused its energy on continuing the growing bilateral relationship with Japan.

Post Cold War

The Fifth Air Force's efforts also go beyond combat operations. Fifth Air force has reacted to natural disasters in Japan and abroad. These efforts include the Kobe earthquake in 1995 and Super Typhoon Paka which hit Guam in 1997. Fifth Air Force has reached out to provide assistance to victims of floods, Typhoons, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes throughout the region.

Fifth Air Force Units During World War II

! FIGHTER GROUPS ! NIGHT FIGHTER GROUP ! BOMB GROUPS ! RECCE AND PHOTO GROUPS ! TRANSPORT GROUPS |-

| 35 FG, P-47, P-51 | 418 NFS | 3 BG, B-25,A-20 | 6 RG, F-5, F-7 | 374 TCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| 49 FG, P-40, P-47, P-38 | 421 NFS | 417 BG, A-20 | 71 RS, B-25 | 317 TCG |-

| 8 FG, P-40, P-38 | 547 NFS | 43 BG, B-24 | | 375 TCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| 348 FG, P-47, P-51 | | 38 BG, B-25 | | 433 TCG |-

| 475 FG, P-38 | | 22 BG, B-26, B-24 | | 2 CCG |-Template:Ligne grise

| | | 90 BG, B-24 | | |-

| | | 380 BG, B-24 | | |-Template:Ligne grise

| | | 345 BG, B-25 | | |-

| | | 312 BG, A-20 | | |-Template:Ligne grise

|- |}

See also

• Pacific Air Forces
• United States Far East Air Force
• United States Air Force Aircraft of the Korean War
• United States Air Force Korean War Campaigns

References

This article includes content from Fifth Air Force Website history page.