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{{Short description|Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for space forces}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name = Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)
|image = Fourteenth Air Force - Emblem.png
|caption = Shield of the Fourteenth Air Force
|dates = 4 April 2008 – 20 December 2019 (as Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic))<br/>24 May 2007 – 4 April 2008 (as Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic – Space))<br/>1 July 1993 – 24 May 2007<br/>1 December 1985 – 1 July 1993 (as Fourteenth Air Force)<br/>8 October 1976 – 1 December 1985 (as Fourteenth Air Force (Reserve))<br/>1 July 1968 – 1 October 1976 (as Fourteenth Aerospace Force)<br/>20 January 1966 – 1 July 1968<br/>24 May 1946 – 1 September 1960<br/>5 March 1943 – 6 January 1946 (as Fourteenth Air Force)<br/>({{Age in years and months|1943|03|05}})<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432827/fourteenth-air-force-air-forces-strategic-afspc/|title=Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (AFSPC|website=Air Force Historical Research Agency}}</ref>
|country = {{flag|United States of America|23px}}
|allegiance = 
|branch = {{air force|USA}} (18 September 1947 – 20 December 2019)<br/> [[File:Seal of the United States Department of War.png|23px]] [[United States Army]] ([[File:US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg|23px]] [[Army Air Forces]], 5 March 1943 – 18 September 1947)
|type = [[Numbered Air Force]]
|role = Provides [[space force|space forces]] and serves as the [[Joint Force Air Component Commander|space component]] for [[U.S. Strategic Command]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vandenberg.af.mil/Units/14th-Air-Force/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930231552/https://www.vandenberg.af.mil/Units/14th-Air-Force/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2018|title=14th Air Force|website=www.vandenberg.af.mil}}</ref>
|size = 
|command_structure = [[File:Air Force Space Command Logo.svg|23px]] [[Air Force Space Command]]<br/>[[File:Seal of the United States Strategic Command.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Strategic Command]]
|current_commander = 
|garrison = [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], California, U.S.
|garrison_label = Headquarters
|ceremonial_chief = 
|colonel_of_the_regiment = 
|nickname = 
|patron = 
|motto = 
|colors = 
|march = 
|mascot = 
|battles = [[File:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]<br/>[[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|World War II - Asiatic-Pacific Theater]]
*[[Second Sino-Japanese War|China Defensive]]
*[[Battle of West Hunan|China Offensive]]
<ref name="auto"/>
|decorations = [[File:US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Stremer.jpg|200px]]<BR>[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]]<br/>[[File:AFOEA Streamer.jpg|200px]]<BR>[[Air Force Organizational Excellence Award]]<ref name="auto"/>
|notable_commanders = LTG [[Claire Lee Chennault|Claire Chennault]]
|anniversaries = 
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol = 
|identification_symbol_label = 
}}

The '''Fourteenth Air Force''' ('''14 AF'''; '''Air Forces Strategic''') was a [[numbered air force]] of the United States [[Air Force Space Command]] (AFSPC). It was headquartered at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], California.

The command was responsible for the organization, training, equipping, command and control, and employment of Air Force space forces to support operational plans and missions for U.S. combatant commanders and their subordinate components and was the Air Force Component to U.S. Strategic Command for space operations.

Established on 5 March 1943 at [[Kunming]], China, 14 AF was a [[United States Army Air Forces]] combat air force activated in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater]] of World War II.  It primarily fought in China.  After World War II Fourteenth Air Force subsequently served [[Air Defense Command]], [[Continental Air Command]], and the Air Force Reserve (AFR).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afrc.af.mil/|title=Air Force Reserve Command|website=www.afrc.af.mil}}</ref> 

14 AF was commanded by [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[Stephen N. Whiting]].{{when|date=December 2020}} Its Command Chief Master Sergeant was Chief Master Sergeant [[Patrick F. McMahon]].{{cn|date=December 2020}} <sup>&{{0}}</sup>{{Relevance inline|date=December 2020}}

On 20 December 2019, the USAF's Fourteenth Air Force was redesignated as the [[United States Space Force]]'s [[Space Operations Command]] (SPOC).<ref name="Chiles">{{cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2048114/14th-air-force-redesignated-as-space-operations-command|title=14th Air Force Redesignated as Space Operations Command|last=Chiles|first=Cody|date=27 December 2019|publisher=Space Operations Command Public Affairs|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> On 21 October 2020, Space Operations Command headquarters was redesignated as the Fourteenth Air Force and inactivated.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}

==History==

===World War II===

====1st American Volunteer group====
{{See also|Flying Tigers}}
With the United States entry into World War II against the Empire of Japan in December 1941, [[Claire Chennault]], the commander of the [[American Volunteer Group]] (AVG) (known as the [[Flying Tigers]]) of the [[Republic of China Air Force|Chinese Air Force]] was called to [[Chongqing]], China, on 29 March 1942, for a conference to decide the fate of the AVG. Present at the conference were [[Chiang Kai-shek]]; his wife, [[Soong Mei-ling]]; [[Joseph W. Stilwell|Lt. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell]], commander of all U.S. forces in the [[China Burma India Theater]]; and Colonel [[Clayton Bissell|Clayton L. Bissell]], who had arrived in early March. Bissell was [[Henry H. Arnold|General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold's]] choice to command the USAAF's proposed combat organization in China.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

As early as 30 December 1941, the U.S. War Department in Washington, D.C., had authorized the induction of the Flying Tigers into the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). Chennault was opposed to inducting the Flying Tigers into the Army. Stilwell and Bissell made it clear to both Chennault and Chiang that unless the AVG became part of the U.S. Army Air Force, its supplies would be cut off. Chennault agreed to return to active duty but he made it clear to Stilwell that his men would have to speak for themselves.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

Chiang Kai-shek finally agreed to induction of the AVG into the USAAF, after Stilwell promised that the fighter group absorbing the induction would remain in China with Chennault in command. With the situation in Burma rapidly deteriorating, Stilwell and Bissell wanted the AVG dissolved by 30 April 1942. Chennault, wanting to keep the Flying Tigers going as long as possible, proposed the group disband on 4 July, when the AVG's contracts with the Nationalist Chinese government expired. Stilwell and Bissell accepted.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

====China Air Task Force====
Chennault was recalled to active duty in the USAAF on 15 April 1942 in the grade of Major General. Chennault was told that he would have to be satisfied with command of a ''[[China Air Task Force]]'' of fighters and bombers as part of the [[Tenth Air Force]]. Its mission was to defend the aerial supply operation over the [[Himalayan mountains]] between India and China – nicknamed [[the Hump]] – and to provide air support for Chinese ground forces. Bissell had been promoted to brigadier general with one day's seniority to Chennault in order to command all American air units in China as Stillwell's Air Commander (in August 1942 he became commanding general of the Tenth Air Force). Friction developed when Chennault and the Chinese government were disturbed by the possibility that Chennault would no longer control combat operations in China. However, when Tenth Air Force commanding general Lewis Brereton was transferred to Egypt on 26 June, Stillwell used the occasion to issue an announcement that Chennault would continue to command all air operations in China.

The CATF had 51 fighters in July 1942: 31 Curtiss 81A-1 (export Tomahawks) and P-40B Tomahawks, and 20 P-40E Warhawks. Only 29 were flyable. The 81A-1s and P-40Bs were from the original 100 fighters China had purchased for use by the Flying Tigers; the P-40E Warhawks had been flown from India to China in May 1942 as part of the [[23rd Fighter Group]], attached to the AVG to gain experience and provide continuity to the takeover of operations of the AVG. Both fighters were good medium-altitude day fighters, with their best performance between 15,000 and 18,000 feet, and they were excellent ground-strafing aircraft.

The [[11th Bombardment Squadron]] (Medium), consisting of the seven B-25s flown in from India, made up the bomber section of Chennault's command. These seven B-25C Mitchells were the remnants of an original 12 sent from India.  Four were lost on a bombing mission en route and a fifth developed mechanical problems such that it was grounded and used for spare parts.

The AVG was disbanded on 4 July 1942, simultaneous with the activation of the 23rd FG. Its personnel were offered USAAF commissions but only five of the AVG pilots accepted them. The remainder of the AVG pilots, many disgruntled with Bissell, became civilian transport pilots in China, went back to America into other jobs, or joined or rejoined the other military services and fought elsewhere in the war. An example was Fritz Wolf who returned to the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant, senior grade and assigned as fighter pilot instructor at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wolf |first=Rick |url=http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/bio-wolf.htm |title=Wolf biography |work=The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force}}</ref>

The 23rd Fighter Group with the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter squadrons, its table of organization rounded out by the transfer of men and P-40s from two squadrons of the [[51st Operations Group|51st Fighter Group]] in India. A fourth fighter squadron for the 23rd Group was obtained by subterfuge. In June and July 1942, Chennault got the Tenth Air Force to relocate the 51st FG's [[16th Fighter Squadron]], commanded by Major [[John Alison]], to his main base in Kunming, China, to gain combat experience. Chennault took them into the CATF – and never returned them. 

On 19 March 1943, the CATF was disbanded and its units made part of the newly activated Fourteenth Air Force, with Chennault, now a major general, still in command. In the nine months of its existence, the China Air Task Force shot down 149 Japanese planes, plus 85 probables, with a loss of only 16 P-40s. It had flown 65 bombing missions against Japanese targets in China, Burma and Indochina, dropping 311 tons of bombs and losing only one B-25 bomber.

The members of Fourteenth Air Force and the US press adopted the name Flying Tigers for themselves after the AVG's dissolution. Especially the 23d Fighter Group was often called by the same nickname.

====Fourteenth Air Force====
[[File:Fourteenth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).jpg|left|125px]]
[[File:Fourteenth Air Force - B-24 Liberators.jpg|thumb|Newly arrived Fourteenth Air Force B-24 Liberators on the line at [[Kunming Wujiaba International Airport|Kunming Wujiaba Airport]], China on 6 September 1944.]]
[[File:14th Air Force B-24.jpg|thumb|14th Air Force B-24, China, c. 1944.]]
The Fourteenth Air Force official web site<ref name="official">[https://archive.today/20051114011644/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/~associates/14af/14af_history/fact.html Fourteenth Airforce History] ''[http://www.defenselink.mil/warning/warn-dl.html Information presented on DefenseLINK is considered public information and may be distributed or copied unless otherwise specified]''</ref> says:
:After the China Air Task Force was discontinued, the Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF) was established by the special order of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] on 10 March 1943. Chennault was appointed the commander and promoted to Major General. The "Flying Tigers" of 14 AF (who adopted the "Flying Tigers" designation from the AVG) conducted highly effective fighter and bomber operations along a wide front that stretched from the bend of the [[Yellow River]] and [[Jinan]] in the north to [[Indochina]] in the south, from [[Chengdu]] and the [[Salween River]] in the west to both [[East China Sea|East]] and [[South China Sea]]s and the island of Formosa in the east. They were also instrumental in supplying Chinese forces through the airlift of cargo across "[[The Hump]]" in the China-Burma-India theater. By the end of World War II, 14 AF had achieved air superiority over the skies of China and established a ratio of 7.7 enemy planes destroyed for every American plane lost in combat. Over all, military officials estimated that over 4,000 Japanese planes were destroyed or damaged in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. In addition, they estimated that air units in China destroyed 1,100,000 tons of shipping, 1,079 locomotives, 4,836 trucks and 580 bridges. The United States Army Air Forces credits 14 AF with the destruction of 2,315 Japanese aircraft, 356 bridges, 1,225 locomotives and 712 railroad cars.

====Chinese-American Composite Wing====
{{redirect|CACW|the 2016 Marvel film|Captain America: Civil War}}
In addition to the core Fourteenth Air Force (14AF) structure, a second group, the [[Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)|Chinese-American Composite Wing]] (CACW), existed as a combined 1st Bomber, 3rd Fighter, and 5th Fighter Group with pilots from both the United States and the Republic of China. U.S. service personnel destined for the CACW entered the China theater in mid-July 1943. Aircraft assigned to the CACW included later series P-40 Warhawks (with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force blue sky and 12-pointed white sun national insignia, rudder markings, and squadron/aircraft numbering) and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. In late 1944, USAAF-marked P-51 Mustangs began to be assigned to CACW pilots—first P-51B and C series followed by, in early 1945, D and K series.  The latter were a reduced-weight versions sharing many of the external characteristics of the D series aircraft including the bubble canopy. All U.S. pilots assigned to the CACW were listed as rated pilots in Chinese Air Force and were authorized to wear the pilot's wings of both nations. One of the known Chinese pilots is Captain [[Ho Weng Toh]] of Singapore, the last known surviving Flying Tigers' member in Asia. Captain Ho flew the B-25 bomber, as part of the 1st Bomber Group. 

Members of the 3rd FG were honored with a Distinguished Unit Citation (now Presidential Unit Citation) for a sustained campaign: Mission "A" in the late summer of 1944. Mission "A" halted a major Japanese ground offensive and resulted in the award of individual decorations for several of the group's pilots for the planning and execution of the mission.

Most CACW bases existed near the boundary of Japanese-Occupied China and one "Valley Field" existed in an area within Japanese-held territory. Specific field locations included [[Hanzhong Xiguan Airport|Hanzhong]], [[Ankang Wulipu Airport|Ankang]], [[Xi'an Xiguan Airport|Xi'an]], [[Laohekou]], [[Enshi Xujiaping Airport|Enshi]], [[Liangping Airport|Liangshan]], [[Chongqing Baishiyi Airport|Baishiyi]], [[Huaihua Zhijiang Airport|Zhijiang]], [[Hengyang Bajialing Airport|Hengyang]], [[Guilin Qifengling Airport|Guilin]], [[Liuzhou Bailian Airport|Liuzhou]], [[Zhanyi Airport|Zhanyi]], [[Suichwan Airfield|Suichwan]], and [[Yongzhou Lingling Airport|Lingling]]. Today, the 1st, 3rd and 5th Groups of CACW are still operating in Taiwan, reorganized as 443rd, 427th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings of the [[Republic of China Air Force]].<ref>''Wing to Wing Air Combat in China, 1943–1945'', Molesworth, Carl Orion Books, New York 1990 {{ISBN|0-517-57568-X}}</ref>

==== World War II Units ====
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* '''[[68th Composite Wing]]'''<br />Constituted as 68th Fighter Wing, 9 August 1943.<br />Redesignated 68th Composite Wing, December 1943.<br />Inactivated 10 October 1945.
: [[23rd Fighter Group]] (Flying Tigers) (P-40, P-51).{{efn|Transferred from the [[Tenth Air Force]]|name="tenth"}}<br />July 1942 – December 1945
: '''[[308th Armament Systems Wing|308th Bombardment Group]]''':(B-24)<br />March 1943 – February 1945

* '''[[69th Air Division (United States)|69th Composite Wing]]'''<br />Constituted as 69th Bombardment Wing, 9 August 1943.<br />Redesignated 69th Composite Wing, December 1943.<br />Reassigned to [[Tenth Air Force]], August 1945.
: [[51st Operations Group|51st Fighter Group]] (P-40, P-38, P-51)<br />October 1943 – August 1945
: [[341st Space Wing|341st Bombardment Group (Medium)]] (B-25)<br />January 1944 – August 1945,{{efn|name="tenth"}}

* '''[[312th Fighter Wing (World War II)|312th Fighter Wing]]'''<br />Constituted as 312th Fighter Wing, 7 March 1944.<br />Reassigned to United States, December 1945.
: [[81st Training Wing|81st Fighter Group]]: 1944–1945 (P-40, P-47)<br />May 1944 – December 1945
: [[33d Fighter Wing|33rd Fighter Group]]: 1944 Xfer from 10th AF (P-38, P-47)<br />April 1944 – September 1944
: [[311th Human Systems Wing|311th Fighter Group]]: 1944–1945 Xfer from 10th AF (A-36, P-51)<br />August 1944 – December 1945

{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* '''[[Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)|Chinese-American Composite Wing]] (1943-1945)'''
: '''3rd Fighter Group''' (P-40, P-51)
:: 7th Fighter Squadron
:: 8th Fighter Squadron
:: 28th Fighter Squadron
:: 32d Fighter Squadron
: '''5th Fighter Group''' (P-40, P-51)
::  17th Fighter Squadron
::  26th Fighter Squadron
::  27th Fighter Squadron
::  29th Fighter Squadron
: '''1st Bombardment Group (Medium)''' (B-25)
::  1st Bombardment Squadron
::  2d Bombardment Squadron
:: 3d Bombardment Squadron

* Other assigned units:
: '''[[402d Maintenance Wing|402d Fighter Group]]''':<br />May–July 1943. Assigned but never equipped.
: '''[[476th Fighter Group]]''':<br /> May–July 1943. Assigned but never equipped.
: '''[[341st Space Wing|341st Bombardment Group]]''': Xfer from Tenth AF (B-25)<br />January 1944 – November 1945
: '''[[443d Troop Carrier Group]]''': Xfer from Tenth AF (C-47/C-54)<br />August–November 1945
: '''[[426th Night Fighter Squadron]]''': Xfer from 10th AF (P-61)
:'''[[427th Night Fighter Squadron]]''': Xfer from 10th AF (P-61)
{{Col-end}}

====John Birch====
American missionary [[John Birch (missionary)|John Birch]] was recommended to Chennault for intelligence work by [[Jimmy Doolittle]], whom he had assisted when Doolittle's crew landed in China after the [[Doolittle Raid|raid on Tokyo]]. Inducted into the Fourteenth on its formation, and later seconded to the [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]], he built a formidable network of Chinese informants to provide the Flying Tigers with intelligence on Japanese land and sea military positions and the disposition of shipping and railways. He was killed by [[Chinese communists]] when he attempted to see a downed plane they had been assigned to guard ten days after the war ended, which led to him being chosen as the namesake of the [[John Birch Society]].  The incident is recounted in the memoir of [[Paul Frillmann]], ''China: The Remembered Life'', who had started the war as the chaplain for the Flying Tigers.

===Air Defense Command===
In March 1946, USAAF Chief General [[Carl Spaatz]] had undertaken a major re-organization of the postwar USAAF that had included the establishment of Major Commands (MAJCOM), who would report directly to HQ United States Army Air Forces.  Continental Air Forces was inactivated, and Tenth Air Force was assigned to the postwar '''[[Air Defense Command]]''' in March 1946 and subsequently to '''[[Continental Air Command]] (ConAC)''' in December 1948 being primarily concerned with air defense.

The command was re-activated on 24 May 1946 at [[Orlando Executive Airport|Orlando Army Air Base (later, AFB)]], Florida. It was originally assigned to provide air defense over a wide region of the Southeast United States along the border of North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma, including Texas south to the [[Rio Grande]]. In addition to the command and control of the active Air Force interceptor and radar units in its region, it also became the command organization for the Air Force Reserve and state Air National Guard units.

By 1949 with the establishment of the [[Western Air Defense Force]] (WADF) and [[Eastern Air Defense Force]] (EADF), the air defense mission of the command was transferred to primary to the EADF, leaving Fourteenth AF free to focus on its reserve training tasks.  It was then reassigned to [[Continental Air Command]] and moved to [[Robins AFB]], Georgia, in October 1949.

During the [[Korean War]], 14 AF participated in the mobilization of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units and individuals from its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia. After the Korean War, the reserve wings of 14 AF participated in various airlift operations, such as Operation SIXTEEN TONS, Operation SWIFT LIFT and Operation READY SWAP. 14 AF was inactivated on 1 September 1960.

Fourteenth Air Force was activated on 20 January 1966, at [[Gunter AFB]], Alabama as part of Air Defense Command with the inactivation of its organization of Air Defense Sectors.  Its area of responsibility was essentially the same as its 1948 region, with its region shifted slightly west to include New Mexico. Eastern North and South Carolina were under the activated First Air Force.

On 16 January 1968 Air Defense Command was re-designated [[Aerospace Defense Command]] (ADCOM) as part of a restructuring of USAF air defense forces.  The command was re designated as Fourteenth Aerospace Force on 1 July 1968 and moved to [[Ent AFB]], Colorado, absorbing the resources of the [[9th Aerospace Defense Division]].  As part of ADCOM's new emphasis on defenses against [[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile]]s (ICBMs) and [[Submarine-launched ballistic missile]] (SLBMs), the mission of the 14th Aerospace Force was to detect foreign missile launches, track missiles and satellites in space, launch space vehicles, maintain a satellite data base of all man-made objects in space, and performing anti-satellite actions.  Its former region of the southeast was reassigned to the 31st and 32d Air Divisions.

As the 14th Aerospace Force, the command supervised the [[Ballistic Missile Early Warning System]] (BMEWS) network of Radars along the [[Arctic Circle]]. Additional radars came under the command's control for the sole purpose of detecting, identifying, tracking and sending back to [[NORAD]] data on any SLBM.  All man-made objects became numbers in the [[United States Space Surveillance Network|USAF SPACETRACK network]] operated by the 14th Aerospace Force.

===Air Force Reserve===
Budget reductions and reorganizations within ADCOM brought many changes and reductions in aerospace resources along with almost continual turmoil in the command structure of 14 AF during the 1970s.  In 1976 the headquarters of the 14th Aerospace Force was inactivated, being moved to [[Dobbins AFB]], Georgia and activated as the Fourteenth Air Force (Reserve).

The mission of the command at Dobbins was changed to the supervision, management and support of Air Force Reserve airlift forces for [[Military Airlift Command]] and participated in such missions as [[Operation Just Cause]]. It was again re-designated '''Fourteenth Air Force''' on 1 December 1985, and inactivated on 1 July 1993.

===Air Force Space Command===
On 1 July 1993, 14 AF returned to its former space role and became a Numbered Air Force for [[Air Force Space Command]], responsible for performing space operations. In 1997, 14 AF established the Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB in California for the 24-hour command and control of all space operations resources. In 2002, 14 AF became the Air Force space operational component of United States Strategic Command.

As the Air Force's sole Numbered Air Force for space and its concurrent United States Strategic Command mission of Joint Space Operations, the operational mission of 14 AF included space launch from the east and west coasts, satellite command and control, missile warning, space surveillance and command and control of assigned and attached joint space forces. The overall mission was to control and exploit space for global and theater operations, thereby ensuring U.S. warfighters were supported by the best space capabilities available.

In 2005, 14 AF officially opened up its newly renovated operations center. The new command and control capabilities of the [[Joint Space Operations Center]] ensured [[unity of effort]] for all space capabilities supporting joint military operations around the globe.

On 20 December 2019, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett redesignated the 14 AF as [[Space Operations Command]] (SPOC), part of the newly established U.S. Space Force.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCullough |first1=Amy |title=14th Air Force Redesignated as Space Operations Command |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/14th-air-force-redesignated-as-space-operations-command/ |website=Air Force Magazine |date=30 December 2019 |access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>  On 21 Oct 2020, Space Operations Command, HQ was redesignated back to Fourteenth Air Force and inactivated.

14th Air Force's component wings and groups in 2019 were:
* [[614th Air and Space Operations Center]], operates [[Joint Space Operations Center]]
* [[21st Space Wing]], [[Peterson Air Force Base]], Colorado
* [[30th Space Wing]], [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], California
* [[45th Space Wing]], [[Patrick Air Force Base]], Florida
* [[50th Space Wing]], [[Schriever Air Force Base]], Colorado
* [[460th Space Wing]], [[Buckley Air Force Base]], Colorado<ref name="wings">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/units/14thairforce.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421025937/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/units/14thairforce.asp|url-status=dead|title=Fourteenth Air Force official website|archive-date=21 April 2013}}</ref>

== Lineage ==
* Established as '''China Air Task Force (CATF) **''', 14 July 1942
: Activated on 14 July 1942 absorbing equipment and personnel of the [[Flying Tigers|1st American Volunteer Group]]
: Inactivated on 19 March 1943
* Established as '''Fourteenth Air Force''' on 5 March 1943
: Activated on 19 March 1943 absorbing equipment and personnel of the [[China Air Task Force|China Air Task Force (CATF)]]
: Inactivated on 6 January 1946
* Activated on 24 May 1946
: Inactivated on 1 September 1960.
* Activated on 20 January 1966
* Redesignated '''Fourteenth Aerospace Force''' on 1 July 1968.
: Inactivated on 1 October 1976.
* Redesignated '''Fourteenth Air Force (Reserve)''', and activated on 8 October 1976
* Redesignated '''Fourteenth Air Force''' on 1 December 1985.
: Inactivated on 1 July 1993.
* Activated 1 July 1993

<small>* Authorized as a "Special Air Unit" by President Roosevelt in 1941 and equipped with United States equipment, however not officially affiliated with the United States military.  The 1st American Volunteer Group was formally disbanded on 4 July 1942.  Each member was offered a commission in the United States Army Air Forces.  Some accepted the offer, once again put on their American uniforms, and remained in China.  Others later returned to the ranks of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps but fought in other areas of the world.  Eighteen accepted offers to fly for the China National Aviation Corporation.  The equipment and those members of the [[Flying Tigers|1st AVG]] choosing to join the USAAF were absorbed into United States Army Air Forces China Air Task Force on 14 July 1942 as the 23rd Fighter Group.<br />** Assigned to Tenth Air Force.</small>

== Assignments ==
* Assigned to U.S. Army Forces, China-Burma-India Theater, 10 March 1943
* Assigned to U.S. Forces, China Theater, about 24 October 1944
* [[Air Defense Command]], 20 January 1946
* [[Continental Air Command]], 1 December 1948
* [[Air Defense Command|Air (later, Aerospace) Defense Command]], 1 July 1968
: Absorbed Resources of [[9th Space Division|9th Aerospace Defense Division]]
* [[Air Force Reserve]], 8 October 1976
* [[Air Force Space Command]] 1 July 1993 - 2019

== Components ==

=== Air Divisions ===
* [[8th Air Division]], 1 May 1949 – 1 August 1950
* [[9th Space Division|9th Air Division]], 1 May 1949 – 1 August 1950
* [[31st Air Division]], 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968
* [[32d Air Division]], 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968

=== Wings ===
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{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[71st Missile Warning Wing]]
: Reassigned from 9th Aerospace Defense Division, 1 July 1968
: Stationed at [[Ent AFB]], Colorado
: Moved to [[McGuire AFB]], New Jersey, 21 July 1969
: Inactivated, 30 April 1971

* [[73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing]]
: Reassigned from 9th Aerospace Defense Division, 1 July 1968
: Stationed at [[Ent AFB]], Colorado
: Moved to [[Tyndall AFB]], Florida and inactivated 30 April 1971

{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[4756th Air Defense Wing]] (Training)
: Reassigned from [[73d Air Division]], 1 April 1966
: Stationed at [[Tyndall AFB]], Florida
: Discontinued, 1 January 1968

* [[4780th Air Defense Wing]] (Training)
: Reassigned from [[73d Air Division]], 1 April 1966
: Stationed at [[Perrin AFB]], Texas
: Reassigned to [[Tenth Air Force]], 1 July 1968
{{col-end}}

=== Groups ===
* [[10th Aerospace Defense Group]]
: Reassigned from 9th Aerospace Defense Division, 1 July 1968
: Stationed at [[Vandenberg AFB]], California
: Inactivated on 1 November 1979

* [[12th Missile Warning Group]]
: Reassigned from 71st Missile Warning Wing, 30 April 1971
: Stationed at [[Thule Air Base]], Greenland
: Reassigned to [[21st Air Division]], 1 October 1976

=== Squadrons ===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* 4751st Air Defense Squadron (Missile)
: Reassigned from 4756th Air Defense Wing, 15 June 1966
: Stationed at [[Tyndall AFB]], Florida
: Reassigned to Air Defense Weapons Center (ADC), 1 January 1968

* [[14th Missile Warning Squadron]]
: Activated at [[Laredo AFB]], Texas, 8 July 1972
: Moved to [[MacDill AFB]], Florida, 30 June 1975
: Reassigned to ADCOM, 1 October 1976

* [[16th Surveillance Squadron]]
: Reassigned from 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 30 April 1971
: Stationed at [[Shemya AFS]], Alaska
: Reassigned Alaskan ADCOM Region, 1 October 1976

* [[18th Surveillance Squadron]]
: Reassigned from 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 30 April 1971
: Stationed at [[Edwards AFB]], California
: Inactivated 1 October 1975

{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[19th Surveillance Squadron]]
: Reassigned from 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 30 April 1971
: Stationed at Diyarbakir, Turkey
: Reassigned to [[21st Air Division]], 1 October 1976

* [[20th Surveillance Squadron]]
: Reassigned from 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 30 April 1971
: Stationed at [[Eglin AFB]], Florida
: Inactivated 1 October 1975
: Reassigned to [[20th Air Division]], 1 October 1976

* [[17th Radar Squadron]]
: Activated 1 September 1972 at Ko Kha ASN, Thailand
: Inactivated 31 May 1976
{{col-end}}

== Stations ==
* [[Kunming]], China, 10 March 1943
* [[Chongqing Baishiyi Air Base|Peishiyi]], China, 7 August – 15 December 1945
* [[Fort Lawton]], Washington, 5–6 January 1946
* [[Orlando Executive Airport|Orlando AB]], Florida, 24 May 1946
* [[Robins AFB]], Georgia, October 1949
* [[Gunter AFB]], Alabama, 1 April 1966
* [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], Colorado, 1 July 1968
* [[Dobbins ARB|Dobbins AFB (later, ARB)]], Georgia, 8 October 1976
* [[Vandenberg AFB]], California, 1 July 1993

== List of commanders ==
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2020}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! colspan=2| Commander
! colspan=3| Term
|-
! Portrait
! Name
! Took office
! Left office
! Duration
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Lieutenant General
| image             = William shelton.jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[William L. Shelton]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 4 April 2008
| term_end          = 9 December 2008
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2008|04|04|2008|12|09}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Lieutenant General
| image             = Larry james.jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[Larry D. James]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 9 December 2008
| term_end          = 21 January 2011
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2008|12|09|2011|01|21}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Lieutenant General
| image             = Helms sj4.jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[Susan Helms]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 21 January 2011
| term_end          = 31 January 2014
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2011|01|21|2014|01|31}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Lieutenant General
| image             = Lt Gen John W. Raymond (1).jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[John W. Raymond]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 31 January 2014
| term_end          = 14 August 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2014|01|31|2015|08|14}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Lieutenant General
| image             = LIEUTENANT GENERAL DAVID J. BUCK.JPG | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[David J. Buck]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 14 August 2015
| term_end          = 1 December 2017
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2015|08|14|2017|12|01}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = Maj Gen Stephen N. Whiting (2).jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[Stephen N. Whiting]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 1 December 2017
| term_end          = 20 November 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2017|12|01|2019|11|20}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = n
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = Maj Gen John E. Shaw.jpg | bSize=120px
| officeholder      = [[John E. Shaw]]
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 20 November 2019
| term_end          = 20 December 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2019|11|20|2019|12|20}}
}}
|}

==See also==

* [[Combined Force Space Component Command]]
* [[South-East Asian Theatre of World War II]]
* [[Burma Campaign]]
* [[Operation Ichi-Go]]
* [[RAF Third Tactical Air Force]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W. ''A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980'', Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. {{ISBN|0-89201-092-4}}.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Hon
* Rust, Kenn C. and Stephen Muth. ''Fourteenth Air Force Story...in World War II''. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album, 1977. {{Listed Invalid ISBN|0-911852-20-8}}.
* Author unknown. ''This is the Fourteenth Air Force''. Mitchell AIr Force Base, New York: Office of Information Services, Continental Air Command, 1957.
* Author unknown. ''A Short History of the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers, 1943–1959''. Robins Air Force Base, Georgia: Headquarters Fourteenth Air Force (CONAC), 1959.
{{refend}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

==External links==
* [https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/?id=4684 Fourteenth Air Force Factsheet]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130421025937/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/units/14thairforce.asp Fourteenth Air Force official website]
* [http://www.warbirdforum.com/avg.htm Annals of the Flying Tigers]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130503233407/http://www.341stbombgroup.org/intel/hq_14.htm Fourteenth Air Force in China 1943–1945]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509143845/http://www.zianet.com/jpage/airforce/history/naf/14af.html 14th Air Force]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060821214710/http://www.nightfighter.info/ Night Fighter by J R Smith – a first-hand account of a P-61 radar observer in World War II China]

{{USAF Space Command}}
{{Aerospace Defense Command|state=collapsed}}
{{USAAF 14th Air Force World War II}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

[[Category:Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force|14]]
[[Category:Air Forces of the United States Army Air Forces|14]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in China]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in California]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States Air Force Reserves| Air Force 14]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2019]]