7th Air Force
February 1942 to present
United States of America
TYPE: USAAF Unit
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
HEADQUARTERS: Osan AB, South Korea
FORMER NAME: Hawaiian Air Command
OTHER NAMES: Pacific Air Command (1947-1949), Air Forces Korea (since 2008)
The 7th Air Force was formed on 5 February 1942 from remnants of the Hawaiian Air Command following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Its initial mission during WWII was the defense of Hawaii, yet it ended up deploying to most Pacific islands following the US advance. At the war's end, its units were present in the Gilberts, Marshalls, at Midway and on the Japanese home islands. During the Cold War, the Seventh was assigned to the defense of the Pacific east of the 140°W meridian. It soon deployed into Vietnam where it ensured combat command along with the Thirteenth Air Force. Post Cold War, the Seventh redeployed to South Korea.
The 7th Air Force operated a few Commandos during WWII in the Troop Carrier roles, and during the Cold War for Special Operations under the following units: