Eleventh Air Force

Eleventh Air Force
Shield of the Eleventh Air Force
Active9 August 1990 – present (as Eleventh Air Force)
18 December 1945 – 9 August 1990 (as Alaskan Air Command)
18 September 1942 – 18 December 1945 (as Eleventh Air Force)
5 February 1942 – 18 September 1942 (as 11 Air Force)
28 December 1941 – 5 February 1942 (as Alaskan Air Force)
(82 years, 10 months)[1]
Country United States of America
Branch United States Air Force (18 September 1947 – present)
United States Army ( Army Air Forces, 28 December 1941 – 18 September 1947)
TypeNumbered Air Force
RoleProvide combat-ready air forces for U.S. Pacific Command and Alaskan Command, along with serving as the air component for Alaskan Command and the Alaskan NORAD Region[2]
Part of Pacific Air Forces
United States Northern Command[3]
Alaskan Command
Alaskan NORAD Region
HeadquartersElmendorf Air Force Base, Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, U.S.[4]
Engagements
World War II - Asiatic-Pacific Theater[5]
Decorations
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant General Case Cunningham
Deputy CommanderCol Philip D. Lancaster[6]
Senior Enlisted LeaderChief Master Sergeant Heath T. Tempel

The Eleventh Air Force (11 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska.[note 1]

11 AF plans, conducts, controls and coordinates air operations in accordance with the tasks assigned by the commander, Pacific Air Forces, and is the force provider for Alaskan Command, the Alaska North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and other unified commanders. The Commander, Eleventh Air Force, also serves as Commander, Alaskan Command, and as commander of the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. The NORAD mission is accomplished largely through the PACAF Regional Support Center (PRSC), the 611th Air and Space Operations Center, and units of the Alaska Air National Guard (AK ANG). Together, they carry out air surveillance, and command and control forces that provide tactical warning and attack assessment in defense of Alaska.

Established on 28 December 1941 as the Alaskan Air Force at Elmendorf Field, Alaska Territory. it was initially part of the United States Army Air Forces. It provided air defense of Alaska during World War II and fought in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. It was re-designated as the Alaskan Air Command in late 1945, and became responsible for the air defense of Alaska. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was transferred to the control of PACAF in 1990 and reduced to the status of a Numbered Air Force.

  1. ^ "Eleventh Air Force (PACAF)".
  2. ^ "11th Air Force > Pacific Air Forces > Display". Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
  3. ^ "11th Air Force > Pacific Air Forces > Display". Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Eleventh Air Force (PACAF)".
  5. ^ "Eleventh Air Force (PACAF)".
  6. ^ "Colonel Philip Lancaster". Biographies. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.


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