Twenty-Third Air Force
Encyclopedia
Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF) is a Numbered Air Force assigned to United States Air Force Special Operations Command
(AFSOC). It is stationed at Hurlburt Field
, Florida. It was reactivated on 1 January 2008
Mission tasks include:
Once fully operational, 23 AF will provide a special operations liaison element to regional air operations centers and a forward command and control team to be the air component to a joint special operations task force commander.
Note: this 23 AF is not to be confused with the first 23 AF. It's lineage is listed below:
from Tactical Air Command
(TAC) to Military Airlift Command
(MAC). Consequently, in March 1983, MAC activated Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF) at Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois
. This new numbered air force's responsibilities included worldwide missions of special operations
, combat rescue, weather reconnaissance
and aerial sampling, security support for intercontinental ballistic missile
sites, training of USAF helicopter and HC-130 crewmen, pararescue training, and medical evacuation.
. During the 7-day operation, centered at Point Salines Airport, 23 AF furnished MC-130s, AC-130s, aircrews, maintenance, and support people. An EC-130 from the 193d Special Operations Wing
of the Air National Guard
(ANG), played a significant psy-war role. An MC-130 pilot from the 8th Special Operations Squadron won the MacKay Trophy
for his actions in leading the air drop on the Point Salines Airport.
. Senator
s William Cohen
and Sam Nunn
introduced the Senate bill, and the following month Congressman Dan Daniel
introduced a like measure in the House of Representatives
. The key provisions of the legislation formed the basis to amend the 1986 Defense Authorizations Bill. This bill, signed into law in October 1986, in part directed the formation of a unified command responsible for special operations. In April 1987 the DoD established the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida, and Army GEN James J. Lindsay
assumed command. Four months later, 23 AF moved to Hurlburt Field
, Florida.
In August 1989, Gen Duane H. Cassidy, MAC Commander in Chief, divested 23rd AF of its non-special operations units. Thus, 23 AF served a dual role—still reporting to MAC, but also functioning as the air component to USSOCOM.
Spectre gunship crews of the 1st SOW earned the Mackay Trophy and Tunner Award for their efforts, a 919th SOG Spectre crew earned the President's Award, and a 1st SOW Combat Talon crew ferried the captured Panamanian President, Manuel Noriega
, to prison in the United States. Likewise, the efforts of the 1st SOW maintenance people earned them the Daedalian Award.
On 22 May 1990, Gen. Larry D. Welch
, Air Force Chief of Staff, redesignated 23 AF as Air Force Special Operations Command
(AFSOC).
Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
(AFSOC). It is stationed at Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida. It was reactivated on 1 January 2008
Mission
The mission of 23 AF is to provide highly trained special operations command and control (C2), intelligence, and reachback support forces to deployed air commanders for execution of assigned missions.Mission tasks include:
- Monitor, implement, guide, and report global air operations activity to senior AFSOC/23AF leadership.
- Provide trained special operations C2, intelligence, and reachback support elements to theater special operations commanders.
- Execute C2 for air, space and cyberspace operations supporting USSOCOM.
Once fully operational, 23 AF will provide a special operations liaison element to regional air operations centers and a forward command and control team to be the air component to a joint special operations task force commander.
Units
- 623rd Air and Space Operations Center (AOC)
- 23rd Weather Squadron
- 11th Intelligence Squadron11th Intelligence Squadron-Mission:The 11th Intelligence Squadron , provides tailored full-motion video processing, exploitation and dissemination for special operations forces engaged in both combat and non-combat operations worldwide.-History:...
- 18th Flight Test Squadron18th Flight Test SquadronThe 18th Flight Test Squadron is an independent field test agency of the Air Force Special Operations Command located at Hurlburt Field, Florida with one detachment at Edwards Air Force Base, California...
Lineage
- Established as Twenty-Third Air Force on 1 January 2008
- Activated on 1 January 2008
Note: this 23 AF is not to be confused with the first 23 AF. It's lineage is listed below:
- Established as Twenty-Third Air Force on 10 February 1983
- Activated on 1 March 1983
- Redesignated Air Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
, with the status of a major command, on 22 May 1990
- Redesignated Air Force Special Operations Command
Assignments
- Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, 10 February 1983 – 22 May 1990 - Air Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
, 1 January 2008 – present
Stations
- Scott AFB, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, 1 March 1983 - Hurlburt FieldHurlburt FieldHurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida, 1 August 1987 – 22 May 1990; 1 January 2008 – present
Components
- 2d Air Division, 1 March 1983 – 1 February 1987
- Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 1 March 1983 – 1 August 1989
- 1st Special Operations Wing (later, 16th Special Operations; 1st Special Operations)1st Special Operations WingThe 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of two United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command ....
, 1 February 1987 – 22 May 1990 - 39th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery (later, 39th Special Operations; 352d Special Operations Group), 1 October 1983 – 22 May 1990
- 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 October 1983 – 1 August 1989
- 353d Special Operations Wing (later, 353d Special Operations Group)353d Special Operations GroupThe 353d Special Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. It is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.The 353 SOG is the United States Air Force special forces contribution to the U.S...
: 6 April 1989 – 22 May 1990 - 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing375th Airlift WingThe 375th Air Mobility Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It is part of Air Mobility Command ....
: 1 January 1984 – 1 February 1990 - 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing (later, 1550th Combat Crew Training): 1 October 1983 – 21 May 1990
- 720th Special Tactics Group: 1 October 1987 – 22 May 1990
- USAF Special Operations School, 1 February 1987 – 22 May 1990
Operational history of the first Twenty-Third Air Force
In December 1982, the Air Force transferred responsibility for Air Force special operationsSpecial operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
from Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(TAC) to Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC). Consequently, in March 1983, MAC activated Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF) at Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. This new numbered air force's responsibilities included worldwide missions of special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
, combat rescue, weather reconnaissance
Weather reconnaissance
Weather reconnaissance is the acquisition of weather data used for research and planning. Typically the term reconnaissance refers to observing weather from the air, as opposed to the ground .- Aircraft :Balloon...
and aerial sampling, security support for intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
sites, training of USAF helicopter and HC-130 crewmen, pararescue training, and medical evacuation.
Operation Urgent Fury
In October 1983, 23 AF participated in the successful rescue of Americans from the island nation of GrenadaInvasion of Grenada
The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was a 1983 United States-led invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 100,000 located north of Venezuela. Triggered by a military coup which had ousted a four-year revolutionary government, the invasion...
. During the 7-day operation, centered at Point Salines Airport, 23 AF furnished MC-130s, AC-130s, aircrews, maintenance, and support people. An EC-130 from the 193d Special Operations Wing
193d Special Operations Wing
The 193d Special Operations Wing is a special operation unit assigned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard which flies the EC-130J Commando Solo...
of the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
(ANG), played a significant psy-war role. An MC-130 pilot from the 8th Special Operations Squadron won the MacKay Trophy
MacKay trophy
The Mackay Trophy was established on 27 January 1911 by Clarence Hungerford Mackay, who was then head of the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company and the Commercial Cable Company. Originally, aviators could compete for the trophy annually under rules made each year or the War Department could award the...
for his actions in leading the air drop on the Point Salines Airport.
US Special Operations Command
In May 1986, legislation led to the formation of the United States Special Operations CommandUnited States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
s William Cohen
William Cohen
William Sebastian Cohen is an author and American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. A Republican, Cohen served as Secretary of Defense under Democratic President Bill Clinton.-Early life and education:...
and Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
introduced the Senate bill, and the following month Congressman Dan Daniel
Dan Daniel (politician)
Wilbur Clarence Daniel was a U.S. Representative from Virginia, USA.Born in Chatham, Virginia, Daniel grew up on a tobacco farm in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He was educated in Virginia schools, and was a graduate of Dan River Textile School, Danville, Virginia...
introduced a like measure in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The key provisions of the legislation formed the basis to amend the 1986 Defense Authorizations Bill. This bill, signed into law in October 1986, in part directed the formation of a unified command responsible for special operations. In April 1987 the DoD established the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida, and Army GEN James J. Lindsay
James J. Lindsay
General James Joseph Lindsay is a retired United States Army four star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.Military career=...
assumed command. Four months later, 23 AF moved to Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida.
In August 1989, Gen Duane H. Cassidy, MAC Commander in Chief, divested 23rd AF of its non-special operations units. Thus, 23 AF served a dual role—still reporting to MAC, but also functioning as the air component to USSOCOM.
Operation Just Cause
From late December 1989 to early January 1990, 23 AF participated in the re-establishment of democracy in the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause. Special operations aircraft included active and AFRES AC-130 Spectre gunships, EC-130 Volant Solo psychological operations aircraft from the ANG, HC-130P/N Combat Shadow tankers, MC-130E Combat Talons, and MH-53J Pave Low and MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. Special tactics combat controllers and medics provided important support to combat units during this operation.Spectre gunship crews of the 1st SOW earned the Mackay Trophy and Tunner Award for their efforts, a 919th SOG Spectre crew earned the President's Award, and a 1st SOW Combat Talon crew ferried the captured Panamanian President, Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
, to prison in the United States. Likewise, the efforts of the 1st SOW maintenance people earned them the Daedalian Award.
On 22 May 1990, Gen. Larry D. Welch
Larry D. Welch
General Larry D. Welch was the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United...
, Air Force Chief of Staff, redesignated 23 AF as Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command
Air Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
(AFSOC).