- Organization of United States Air Force Units in the Gulf War
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Emblem of the United States Central Command Air Forces, 1990
The 1990-1991 Gulf War was the last major United States Air Force combat operation of the 20th Century. The command and control of forces deployed to the Middle East initially as part of Operation Desert Shield, later engaging in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, were assigned to United States Central Command Air Forces (USCENTAF), the USAF component of the Joint United States Central Command.
Contents
Overview
United States Air Force units were initially deployed to Saudi Arabia in August 1990, being assigned directly to CENTAF with a mission to defend the kingdom.
In November 1990 the decision was made to convert the CENTAF defense force into an offensive-capable force and additional units were ordered deployed to CENTAF. As a result CENTAF formed a table of organization which established provisional Air Divisions to prevent too many units reporting directly to HQ CENTAF:
- The 14th Air Division (Provisional) commanded deployed primarily Tactical Air Command and United States Air Forces in Europe units with the mission of destroying enemy air, missile, and ground forces, as well as enemy infrastructure targets. To accomplish this mission, the 14th controlled A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft; F-15C Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters; F-111F light tactical bombers; EF-111 Raven electronic combat aircraft and the F-117 stealth bomber. The division also provided electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and in-theater attached Strategic Air Command refueling support.
- The 15th Air Division (Provisional) commanded deployed Tactical Air Command units with a reconnaissance and electronic warfare mission focused on defeating enemy ground base air defenses and increasing the effectiveness of friendly formations. Aircraft deployed included RF-4C Phantom II tactical reconnaissance; F-4G Phantom II anti-radar; EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare and two prototype E-8A Joint Stars battle management and command and control aircraft.
- The 1610th Air Division (Provisional) controlled Military Airlift Command C-130E Hercules theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation and Air Force Special Operations Command forces. Strategic Air Command deployed strategic electronic warfare and reconnaissance units also attached.
- The 17th Air Division (Provisional) commanded primarily provisional air refueling wings created from active-duty KC-135/KC-10 units of the Strategic Air Command's Fifteenth Air Force and SAC Air National Guard KC-135 units deployed within the CENTAF AOR.
- The SAC 7th Air Division commanded deployed Air Refueling and B-52 Stratofortress Bombardment Wings located outside of the CENTAF AOR.
- 7440th Composite Wing (JTF Proven Force). Developed by the United States Air Forces in Europe to open a "Second Front" against Iraq through Turkey. By late December 1990, there was already a formidable arsenal of USAFE airpower deployed to Incirlik Air Base: 20 F-111Es, 24 F-16Cs, 10 F-15Cs, and 4 SAC KC-135s. These aircraft were in Turkey for various reasons including rotational training, a NATO exercise, and NATO alert duty, but remained under control of their respective home units. However, if Turkey approved the task force's activation, JTF Proven Force could absorb all of these assets and the others it required. The Turkish government finally approved the JTF on 15 January 1991. The following day, USAFE activated the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional) and began the command's largest Desert Shield deployment, bringing the total number of aircraft at Incirlik to 110. However, it was not until 17 January, the first day of Desert Storm, that Turkey approved operations from Incirlik. Therefore, JTF Proven Force entered the war on Day Two.
Epilogue
After the end of combat operations, most of the combat forces of CENTAF returned to their home stations. The provisional organizations established were inactivated; their temporary nature meaning that no official lineage or history was retained by the USAF. The residual units remaining active in the CENTAF AOR, were placed under the newly-established 4404th Composite Wing (Provisional) that was formed at King Khalid Air Base, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 1 May 1991 to replace the provisional Air Divisions.
The units that remained in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were charged with the mission to enforce the cease-fire agreement with Iraq which ended Operation Desert Storm; Operation Southern Watch. (Operation Provide Comfort and later Operation Northern Watch were commanded by the US European Command (EUCOM)). USAF units remained in Saudi Arabia until 26 August 2003, when U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony and the 363d Air Expeditionary Wing was inactivated.
The long-term effect of the deployment and organization of Air Force Wings and Groups to CENTAF for the Gulf War eventually led to an Air Force-Wide reorganization of its Cold War command structure; the result being the modern Air Force organization structure which exists today. Air Force Expeditionary units, which are activated and inactivated as needed to support deployments were developed, replacing the "Provisional" units of the Gulf War.
Table of Organization
14th Air Division (Provisional)
- Deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
- Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 26°15′55″N 50°09′07″E / 26.26528°N 50.15194°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron FF F-15C Eagle Deployed: 8 August 1990-8 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron FF F-15C Eagle Deployed: 7 August 1990-8 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) - Deployed from: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
- Headquarters: Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia 24°03′46″N 047°34′50″E / 24.06278°N 47.58056°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron SJ F-15E Strike Eagle Deployed: 27 December 1990-24 June 1991 (24 Aircraft) 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron SJ F-15E Strike Eagle Deployed: 18 December 1990- 13 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 138th Tactical Fighter Squadron NY F-16A Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 174th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hancock Field, New York Air National Guard (16 Aircraft) 157th Tactical Fighter Squadron SC F-16A Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 169th Tactical Fighter Group, McEntire Air National Guard Base, South Carolina Air National Guard (24 Aircraft) - Deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
- Headquarters: King Faisal Naval Base, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 28°21′56″N 036°37′08″E / 28.36556°N 36.61889°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron OT F-15C Eagle Deployed: 28 August 1990–12 April 1991 (24 Aircraft) - 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
- Deployed from Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada
- Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia 18°17′59″N 042°48′09″E / 18.29972°N 42.8025°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron TR F-117A Nighthawk Deployed: 19 August 1990–1 April 1991 (18 Aircraft) 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron TR F-117A Nighthawk Deployed: 19 August 1990–1 April 1991 (18 Aircraft) 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron TR F-117A Nighthawk Deployed: 19 August 1990–1 April 1991 (6 Aircraft) - Deployed from RAF Lakenheath, England
- Headquarters: Taif Air Base, Taif, Saudi Arabia 21°28′59″N 040°32′39″E / 21.48306°N 40.54417°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 492d Tactical Fighter Squadron LN F-111F Deployed: 2 September 1990-15 March 1991 (22 Aircraft) 493d Tactical Fighter Squadron LN F-111F Deployed: 2 September 1990-15 March 1991 (22 Aircraft) 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron LN F-111F Deployed: 2 September 1990-15 March 1991 (22 Aircraft) 42d Electronic Combat Squadron LN EF-111 Deployed: 2 September 1990-15 March 1991 (5 Aircraft) 390th Electronic Combat Squadron MO EF-111 Deployed from: 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, 17 January 1991–6 March 1991 (5 Aircraft) - Deployed from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina
- Headquarters: King Fahd International Airport, Dammam, Saudi Arabia 26°28′16″N 049°47′52″E / 26.47111°N 49.79778°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron MB A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed: 15 August 1990-25 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron MB A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed: 15 August 1990-25 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron EL A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed from: 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, England AFB, Louisiana, 29 August 1990 - 20 April 1991 (24 Aircraft) 76th Tactical Fighter Squadron EL A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed from: 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, England AFB, Louisiana, 29 August 1990 - 20 April 1991 (24 Aircraft) 23d Tactical Air Support Squadron NF OA-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed from: 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 29 August 1990 - 20 April 1991 (12 Aircraft) 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron AR A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed from: 10th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Alconbury, England, 15 August 1990 – 25 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron NO A-10 Thunderbolt II Deployed from: 926th Tactical Fighter Group, NAS New Orleans, Louisiana Air National Guard, 15 August 1990 – 25 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) - 363d Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
- Deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
- Headquarters: Al Dhafra Air Base, Dubai, United Arab Emerates 24°14′53″N 054°32′51″E / 24.24806°N 54.5475°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron SW F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed: 9 August 1990 – 13 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 33d Tactical Fighter Squadron SW F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed: 9 August 1990 – 13 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron HR F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, Germany, 28 December 1990-10 May 1991 (24 Aircraft) 1705th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker Attached from SAC 7th Air Division. Composed of elements of the 11th (Altus), 905th (Grand Forks), 924th Air Refueling Squadrons (Castle). (7 Aircraft) - Deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah
- Headquarters: Al Minhad Air Base, Dubai, United Arab Emerates 25°01′36.55″N 055°21′58.48″E / 25.0268194°N 55.3662444°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron HL F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed: 28 August 1990 - 27 March 1991 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron HL F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed: 28 August 1990-27 March 1991 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron MY F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, 8–28 January 1991. Located at: King Fahd International Airport, 29 January - 4 March 1991 159th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16A Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 125th Fighter-Interceptor Group, Jacksonville International Airport, Florida Air National Guard 163d Tactical Fighter Squadron FW F-16A Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 122d Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Wayne International Airport, Indiana National Guard 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron HA F-16A Fighting Falcon (HA) Deployed from: 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Sioux Gateway Airport, Iowa National Guard 182d Tactical Fighter Squadron SA F-16A Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 149th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kelly AFB, Texas National Guard - 401st Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
- Deployed from Torrejón Air Base, Spain
- Headquarters: Doha International Airport, Qatar 25°15′40″N 051°33′54″E / 25.26111°N 51.565°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron TJ F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed: 28 August 1990 - 27 March 1991 (24 Aircraft) 15th Air Division (Provisional)
- Deployed from George Air Force Base, California
- Headquarters: Doha International Airport, Qatar
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron WW F-4G Phantom II Deployed: 16 Aug 1990-Mar 1991 (24 Aircraft) 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron SP F-4G Phantom II Deployed from: 52d Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, 16 Aug 1990-Mar 1991 (24 Aircraft) 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron BB RF-4C Phantom II Deployed from: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, 14 January-10 May 1991 (6 Aircraft) 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RH RF-4C Phantom II Deployed from: 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Birmingham International Airport, Alabama Air National Guard (6 Aircraft) 192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RJ RF-4C Phantom II Deployed from: 152d Reconnaissance Group, Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nevada Air National Guard (6 Aircraft) - Deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
- Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron E-3 Sentry Deployed: 17 January 1991-28 February 1991 - 41st Electronic Combat Squadron (Provisional)
- Deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
- Headquarters: Al Banteen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 24°25′42″N 054°27′19″E / 24.42833°N 54.45528°E
- EC-130H Compass Call (Tail Code: DM), 27 August 1990–17 April 1991
- 4411th Joint Stars Squadron
- Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
- E-8A Joint Stars, December 1990-March 1991 (2 Aircraft)
1610th Air Division (Provisional)
- Deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
- Headquarters: Al Bateen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron LR C-130E Hercules Deployed 27 December 1990-12 May 1991 - 317th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
- Deployed from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
- Headquarters: Thumrait Air Base, Oman 17°39′57″N 054°01′28″E / 17.66583°N 54.02444°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 1681st Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) PB C-130E Hercules. 16 Aircraft Composed of elements of the 39th, 40th and 41st Tactical Airlift Squadrons 1682d Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) PB C-130E Hercules 16 Aircraft Composed of elements of the 39th, 40th and 41st Tactical Airlift Squadrons - 435th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
- Deployed from Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany
- Headquarters: Al Ain International Airport, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates 24°15′41.0″N 55°36′32.7″E / 24.26139°N 55.609083°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130E Hercules Deployed: 15 August 1990-20 March 1991 - 1640th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- Headquarters: Masirah Air Base, Oman 20°40′31″N 058°53′25″E / 20.67528°N 58.89028°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 1640th Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) PB C-130E Hercules Composed of elements of the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, North Carolina. Deployed: 15 August 1990-20 March 1991 1707th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker Attached from SAC 7th Air Division. Composed of elements of the 901st, 905th, 919th Air Refueling Squadrons. (15 Aircraft) - 1650th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- Headquarters: Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 25°19′43″N 055°31′02″E / 25.32861°N 55.51722°E
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 1650th Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) C-130E Hercules 1611th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (P) C-130E Hercules Composed of elements of the 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), Pope AFB, North Carolina and 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), Rhein Main AB, Germany - 1670th Tactical Airlift Group (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- Headquarters: Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
Squadron Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 1670th Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) DY C-130E Hercules Composed of elements of the 773d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 463d Tactical Airlift Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas (4 Aircraft) 1671st Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) DY C-130E Hercules Composed of elements of the 773d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 463d Tactical Airlift Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas (4 Aircraft) - 1700th Strategic Wing (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters 7th Air Division, Strategic Air Command, Ramstein AB, Germany
- Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1700th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (P) RC-135 Deployed from the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Offutt AFB, Nebraska (4 Aircraft) 1704th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (P) U2/TR-1 Deployed from the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Reconnaissance Wing, RAF Alconbury, England 1700th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker 10 Aircraft Assigned 69th Bombardment Squadron (P) B-52D Stratofortresses Deployed from 42d Bombardment Wing, Loring AFB, Maine (7 Aircraft) - Air Force Special Operations Command (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Florida
- Headquarters: King Fahd International Airport, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 719th Special Operations Squadron AC-130A Spectre Gunship Deployed from 919th SOG, Duke Field, Florida 16th Special Operations Squadron AC-130H Spectre Gunship Deployed from 1st SOW, Hurlburt Field, Florida 850th Special Operations Squadron MC/EC-130 Hercules
HH-3Composed of elements from 1st SOW, Hurlburt Field, Florida; 919th SOG, Duke Field, Florida, 193d SOG, Harrisburg International Airport, Pennsylvania Air National Guard 1675th Tactical Airlift Squadron (P) C-130 Hercules 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) MH-60, MH-47 United States Army unit, located at King Khalid International Airport - 1612th Military Airlift Squadron (Provisional)
- Detached from Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Illinois
- Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
- C-21 Learjet, (8 Aircraft)
- C-12 Huron (7 Aircraft)
- RU-21 Learjet (7 Aircraft)
Provided Special Air Mission transport for CENTAF/CENTCOM leadership and civilian VIPs from coalition nations and the United States.
17th Air Division (Provisional)
- 1701st Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1709th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135E/A Stratotanker Deployed from: 336th Air Refueling Squadron, 452d Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, California (6 Aircraft, 31 December 1990, 5 January 1991-March 1991)
Deployed from: 68th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, (3 Aircraft, 31 December 1990-March 1991)
Deployed from: 72d Air Refueling Squadron, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom AFB, Indiana (4 Aircraft, 5 January 1991-March 1991)1710th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-10 Extender Deployed from: 336th Air Refueling Squadron, 452d Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, California (6 Aircraft, 31 December 1990, 5 January 1991-March 1991)
Deployed from: 68th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, (3 Aircraft, 31 December 1990-March 1991)- 1701st Strategic Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 21°40′46″N 039°09′24″E / 21.67944°N 39.15667°E
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 807th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135R Stratotanker Deployed from: 90th Air Refueling Squadron, 19th Air Refueling Wing, Robins AFB, Georgia (16 Aircraft, 11 August 1990-March 1991) - 1702d Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Seeb International Airport, Muscat, Oman. 23°35′36″N 58°17′04″E / 23.59333°N 58.28444°E
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1702d Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135R Stratotanker Deployed from: 41st Air Refueling Squadron, 416th Bombardment Wing, Griffiss AFB, New York (1 Aircraft, 28 August 1990)
Deployed from: 301st Air Refueling Squadron, 301st Air Refueling Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana (1 Aircraft, 29 August 1990)
Deployed from: 905th Air Refueling Squadron, 319th Bombardment Wing, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota (3 Aircraft, 28 August 1990) - March 1991- 1706th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Cairo West Airport, Egypt 30°06′59″N 30°54′55″E / 30.11639°N 30.91528°E
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1706th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135R Stratotanker Deployed from: 905th Air Refueling Squadron, 319th Bombardment Wing, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 28 September 1990 - March 1991 (3 Aircraft)
Deployed from: 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California, 9 October 1990 - March 1991KC-135E Stratotanker Deployed from: 126th Air Refueling Squadron, 128th Air Refueling Wing, Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin Air National Guard, 30 December 1990 - March 1991 (10 Aircraft)
Deployed from: 116th Air Refueling Squadron, 141st Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Washington Air National Guard, 30 December 1990 - March 1991 (3 Aircraft)- 1708th Bombardment Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- 20 B-52G Stratofortresses. The lead unit within the 1708th BW (P) was the 524th BS/379th BW from Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan. Aircraft and crews were also drawn from the 62d and 596th BS/2d BW Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; 69th BS/42d BW at Loring AFB, Maine; 328th BS/93d BW, Castle AFB, California, and the 668th BS/416 BW at Griffiss AFB, New York. B-52 operations at Jeddah were not possible prior to the initiation of combat so the wing gained its aircraft when the conflict began. Six aircraft from the 42d BW were moved to Jeddah from Diego Garcia on 17 January, and 10 more flew in from Wurthsmith, attacking targets en-route. Although launched from Wurtsmith and flown by 379th BW crews, three of the aircraft came from the 93d BW at Castle and two from the 42d BW at Loring.
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes B-52G Stratofortress Deployed from: 524th BS/379th BW (5 Aircraft); 668th BS/416 BW (3 Aircraft); 596th BS/2d BW (1 Aircraft) B-52G Stratofortress Deployed from: 69th BS/42d BW (5 Aircraft); 328th BS/93d BW (3 Aircraft); 668th BS/416 BW (3 Aircraft) - 1709th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- 1712th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Al Banteen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1712th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135E Stratotanker Deployed from: 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott AFB, Illinois Air National Guard. Deployed 19 December 1990-March 1991 - 1713th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Al Banteen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 1713th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135E Stratotanker Deployed from: 134th Air Refueling Wing, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee Air National Guard, 19 December 1990 - March 1991 7th Air Division
- 801st Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Morón Air Base, Spain 37°10′29″N 05°36′57″W / 37.17472°N 5.61583°W
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 801st Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker Deployed from: 2d Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (15 Aircraft) August 1990-March 1991 - 801st Bombardment Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Morón Air Base, Spain
- The 801st BW (P) consisted of 28 B-52G Stratofortresses and was formed around a nucleus provided by he 2d Bombardment Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and drew aircraft from the crews of the 524th BS/379th BW, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan; the 668th BS/416th BW at Griffiss AFB, New York and from 69th BS/42d BW at Loring AFB, Maine. One B-52G (52-6503) was sent from the 340th BS/97th BW at Eaker AFB, Arkansas.
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 801st Bombardment Squadron (P) B-52G Stratofortress Deployed from: 2d BW (7 Aircraft); 69th BS/42d BW (2 Aircraft); 668th BS/416th BW (8 Aircraft) January–March 1991 802d Bombardment Squadron (P) B-52G Stratofortress Deployed from: 524th BS/379th BW (8 Aircraft); 340th BS/97th BW (1 Aircraft); 524th BS/379th BW (8 Aircraft) January–March 1991 - 802d Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal 38°45′42″N 027°05′26″W / 38.76167°N 27.09056°W
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 802d Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-10 ExtenderComposed of flights (August 1990-March 1991) from: - 97th Bombardment Wing, Eaker AFB, Arkansas (KC-135)
- 2d Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (KC-135) (KC-10)
- 92d Bombardment Wing, Fairchild AFB, Washington (KC-135)
- 7th Bombardment Wing, Carswell AFB, Texas (KC-135)
- 804th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Incirlik Air Base, Turkey 37°00′07″N 035°25′33″E / 37.00194°N 35.42583°E
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 804th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker August 1990-March 1991 - 806th Bombardment Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: RAF Fairford, England 51°40′56″N 001°47′24″W / 51.68222°N 1.79°W
- The 806th BW (P) was formed around a cadre of air and ground crews provided by the 97th Bombardment Wing, Eaker AFB, Arkansas. It consisted of a total of 11 B-52G Stratofortresses, also being drawn from the 668th BS/416th BW at Griffiss AFB, New York; 596th BS/2d BW, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and the 328th BS/93d BW at Castle AFB, California.
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 806th Bombardment Squadron B-52G Stratofortress 97th BW (6 Aircraft); 596th BS/2d BW (2 Aircraft); 668th BS/416th BW (2 Aircraft); 328th BS/93d BW (1 Aircraft) January–March 1991 - 807th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 807th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker August 1990-March 1991 - 810th Air Refueling Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes 810th Air Refueling Squadron (P) KC-135 Stratotanker August 1990-March 1991 - 4300th Bombardment Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory [BIOT] 7°18′48″S 72°24′40″E / 7.31333°S 72.41111°E
- The lead unit for the 4300th BW (P) was the 69th BS/42d BW from Loring AFB, Maine. Aircraft were also drawn from the 328th BS/93d BW at Castle AFB, California. Six aircraft were transferred to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 17 January 1991 and they were replaced by six B-52Gs from the 1500th SW (P) at Andersen AFB, Guam.
Squadron Aircraft Type Notes B-52G Stratofortress Composed of 69th BS/42d BW (16 Aircraft); 328th BS/93d BW (16 Aircraft) 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional)
- Headquarters: Incirlik Air Base, Turkey (Attached to HQ USAFE)
Unit Tail Code Aircraft Type Notes 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron AK F-4E Phantom II Deployed from: 343d Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska (Alaskan Air Command) (6 Aircraft) 7th Special Operations Squadron MC/HC-130 Deployed from: 39th Special Operations Wing, Rhein-Main AB, Germany (7 Aircraft) 20th Tactical Fighter Wing * UH F-111E * Composed of flights from the 55th, 77th, 79th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, RAF Upper Heyford, England (22 Aircraft) 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130E Deployed from: 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, Rhein-Main AB, Germany (11 Aircraft) 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron ZR RF-4C Phantom II Deployed from: 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Zweibrücken AB, Germany (6 Aircraft) 42d Electronic Combat Squadron UH EF-111A Deployed from: 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Upper Heyford, England (6 Aircraft) 43d Electronic Combat Squadron SB EC-130H Compass Call Deployed from: 66th Electronic Combat Wing, Sembach AB, Germany (3 Aircraft) 52d Tactical Fighter Wing * SP F-4G Phantom II * Composed of flights from the 22d and 23d Tactical Fighter Squadrons, Spangdahlem AB, Germany (12 Aircraft) 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron C-130E Deployed from: 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, Rhein-Main AB, Germany (8 Aircraft) 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron BT F-15C Eagle Deployed from: 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg AB, Germany (24 Aircraft) 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron TJ F-16C Fighting Falcon Deployed from: 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon AB, Spain (37 Aircraft) 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing E-3B Sentry Deployed from: Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (Tactical Air Command) (3 Aircraft) References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.- HQ TAC/XPM "USCENTAF Provisional Divisions" (U) 15 January 1991
- Department of Defense Final Report to Congress, "Conduct of the Persian Gulf War," April 1992
- Smallwood, 2005, Warthog: Flying the A-10 in the Gulf War, Potomac Books Inc, ISBN 1574888862
- Mixer, Ronald E., Genealogy of the STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND, Battermix Publishing Company, 1999 and Mixer, Ronald E., STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND, An Organizational History, Battermix Publishing Company, 2006.
- Steijger, Cees 1991, A History of USAFE, Airlife Publishing Limited, ISBN 1-85310-075-7
- Baugher, Joe, 2003, Service of Boeing B-52G Stratofortress
- Baugher, Joe, 1999, McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II
- Baugher, Joe, 2003, McDonnell F-4G Phantom II
- Baugher, Joe, 2000, F-15 Eagle in Desert Storm
- Baugher, Joe, 2000, Service of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon with USAF
- Baugher, Joe, 2005, Developmental and Operational History of the F-117 Nighthawk
- F-117A: Desert Storm
- Baugher, Joe, 1999, General Dynamics F-111F
- Baugher, Joe, 1999, Grumman EF-111A Raven
- Globalsecurity.org Operation Desert Storm Air Forces
External links
Gulf War Invasion of Kuwait Battle of Dasman Palace · The Battle of the Bridges · Battle of Failaka · UN Resolution 660
Coalition Invasion UN Resolution 661 · Coalition · Iraq-United States relations · Carter Doctrine · Military equipment
Battles Air Campaign · "Package Q" Air Strike · Khafji · Wadi Al-Batin · 67 Easting · 73 Easting · Al Busayyah · Phase Line Bullet · Medina Ridge · 2nd Kuwait · Highway of Death · Jalibah · Norfolk · Rumaila · Safwan
Aftermath Outline Timeline of the conflict · Disarmament timeline
Categories:- Gulf War
- Conflicts in 1991
- Military history of the United States (1900–1999)
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