Ninth Air Force
U.S. Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF)
U.S. Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF) located at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, executes and plans for contingency operations in the region ranging from humanitarian airlift to integration of multinational forces into coherent air operations in support of a major theater war. With tactical aircraft, strategic reconnaissance and intelligence collection capabilities, the air component orchestrates the multinational Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, through Joint Task Force - Southwest Asia. By being in place with lethal anti-armor capabilities, CENTAF forces create credible deterrence.
USCENTAF in-theater assets consist of approximately 120 aircraft and approximately 9,000 US Air Force personnel. This can be augmented (as needed) by an Air Expeditionary Force of 20-40 aircraft consisting of fighter, tanker and bomber aircraft
If deterrence fails, these air forces are postured to gain and maintain air superiority as the first step towards achieving victory in a major theater war. CENTAF has established and exercised procedures to integrate joint and combined forces, beginning with a common operations order and encompassing common language and operating procedures. When an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft commits a four-ship formation of fighters to intercept, identify, and destroy hostile airborne targets, it uses the same code words whether the fighters bear U.S., Saudi, Kuwaiti, or Egyptian markings. Integration ensures the full range of capabilities vested in airpower are applied in simultaneous and continuous operations.
CENTAF's global power projection capability has been greatly enhanced through infrastructure improvements, prepositioning of equipment and supplies and the development of rapidly deployable Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF). The first deployment to Bahrain validated this innovative concept for power projection. Subsequent deployments have supported exercises and operations and demonstrated CENTAF's global reach.
As a numbered air force, Headquarters 9th Air Force is an intermediate headquarters under Air Combat Command. Located at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 9th Air Force is responsible for six active duty flying wings. Ninth Air Force is also responsible for overseeing the operational readiness of 30 designated units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
The primary mission of 9th Air Force is to project decisive air and space power for United States Central Command and America. As such, 9th Air Force has the dual role of being the headquarters for U.S. Central Command Air Forces to conduct U.S. air operations throughout Southwest Asia.
As of early 2002, Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley was stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base outside of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The previous air commander, Lt. Gen. Charles F. Wald, moved his headquarters from Shaw Air Force Base, SC, to Saudi Arabia in mid-September 2001 to the Air Operations Center where 300 American military personnel now work.
Ninth Air Force began official operations in November 1942, when, at the height of the campaign to defend Egypt and the Suez Canal, it was decided to consolidate all of the aircraft in theatre under one command. Equipped with P-40s, B-17s and B-24s, the new air forces supported allied operations in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy before relocating to England. Reactivating in England in October 1943, 9th Air Force took over medium bomber units from 8th Air Force and added P-38, P-47 and troop carrier groups. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 9th Air Force provided tactical air support for the Normandy landings, flying some 3,500 aircraft. At this time, 9th Air Force was the largest tactical air force ever assembled.
Providing air cover for the advance of the Third Army sweep through France into Germany, one of its key missions was the defense of allied forces during the Battle of the Bulge. During this time, 9th Air Force flew 5,291 sorties to help blunt the German attack besieging the town of Bastogne.
On December 2, 1945, 9th Air Force inactivated. March 28, 1946 it was reactivated at Biggs Field, Texas, absorbing most of the assets of the 19th Tactical Air Command, which included only one fighter unit. October 13, 1946, 9th Air Force moved to Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina, where it absorbed 3rd Air Force’s assets. In Aug 1948, 9th Air Force moved to Langley AFB, Virginia, where it came under the Continental Air Command and became an administrative headquarters. Redesignated as 9th Air Force (Tactical), it then moved to Pope AFB, North Carolina and was reassigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command. Ninth Air Force's last move was in September 1954, when it was transferred to Shaw AFB, South Carolina and assumed its present role of preparing for combat across a broad range of contingencies.
Ninth Air Force has the responsibility of overseeing the management of six flying wings and four direct reporting units. Missions for the wings are wide and varied. They range from the state of the art F-15E Strike Eagle, dual role fighter to the E-8 JOINT STARS reconnaissance aircraft. Non-flying units include the Red Horse civil engineering squadrons for world-wide rapid deployment and combat communications groups for transportable command and control communications and air traffic control systems.
Ninth Air Force also has the responsibility to ensure the operational readiness of 30 designated gained units of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. During a national emergency or conflict, these forces will be mobilized to augment 9th Air Force flight operations.
