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Twenty-Second Air Force
Shield of the Twenty-Second Air Force
Active	18 February 1942 – 31 October 1946; 1 July 1948 – present (82 years, 10 months)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Numbered Air Force
Role	Provide combat-ready reserve air forces
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Headquarters	Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, U.S.
Engagements	World War II - American Theater
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Maj Gen Melissa A. Coburn

Twenty-Second Air Force (22 AF) is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It was activated on 1 July 1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

In the event of mobilization, some of the Twenty-Second Air Force's subordinate units would come under the operational control (OPCON) of the Air Mobility Command's (AMC) 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, headquartered at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, while others would come under OPCON of Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force at Randolph AFB, Texas.

Mission

22 AF is responsible for recruiting and training reservists and for maintaining subordinate units at the highest level of combat readiness. A by-product of training is to coordinate daily support of the active duty air force.

22 AF's wartime mission is to provide combat-ready airlift and support units and augments personnel requirements to Air Mobility Command in the United States.

Twenty-Second Air Force manages more than 25,000 Reservists and has 149 unit-equipped aircraft. Reserve crews in 22 AF fly the C-130 Hercules, including the WC-130 "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft, which are located at nine different Air Force Reserve wings. The wings, flying squadrons and support units are spread throughout nine states – from New York to Mississippi, Ohio and Minnesota, with its westernmost wing in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Units

• 94th Airlift Wing (Dobbins ARB, Georgia)
• 302nd Airlift Wing (Peterson AFB, Colorado)
• 340th Flying Training Group (Joint Base San Antonio, Texas)
• 403rd Wing (Keesler AFB, Mississippi)
• 908th Airlift Wing (Maxwell AFB, Alabama)
• 910th Airlift Wing (Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio)
• 932nd Airlift Wing (Scott AFB, Illinois)
• 934th Airlift Wing (Minneapolis St Paul ARS, Minnesota)

History

Established as the Domestic Division, Air Corps Ferrying Command in the early days of World War II, the organization's mission was the transport of newly produced aircraft from points within the United States to Ports of Embarkation for shipment to Britain and other overseas Allies. In 1946, the organization was transferred to Air Transport Command and became, in essence, a military airline its Continental Division, managing transport routes within the United States.

When the USAF was created as a separate service in 1947, Military Air Transport Service was established to support the new Department of Defense, with responsibility for its support falling to the Department of the Air Force. Redesignated Western Transport Air Force (WESTAF), the organization managed all MATS operations from the Mississippi River west to the east coast of Africa until MATS was replaced by the Military Airlift Command in 1966. When MATS became MAC, WESTAF was redesignated 22d AF, with headquarters at Travis AFB, CA.

During the 1960s, Twenty-Second Air Force transports flew missions worldwide, supporting the efforts of the United States in Southeast Asia, Europe and other places around the world. In December 1974, the Twenty-Second Air Force absorbed Tactical Air Command's Twelfth Air Force C-130 Hercules tactical airlift operations.

On 29 March 1979, the Twenty-Second Air Force assumed responsibility for managing Military Airlift Command resources in the Pacific. For this mission, the unit provided a single commander for MAC airlift units in the Pacific theater; command and control of theater-assigned airlift forces for Pacific Air Forces; theater tactical airlift war planning and Pacific exercise planning; and aerial ports in the Pacific area to support the air movement of personnel, cargo, equipment, patients, and mail. The division participated in tactical exercises such as Team Spirit, Ulchi Focus Lens, and Capstan Dragon.

The unit was relieved from assignment to Military Airlift Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command on 1 June 1992. Activated the same day at Dobbins ARB, GA, with a change in assignment to the Air Force Reserve. It is under the peacetime command of Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, GA.

Lineage

Continental Division, Air Transport Command

• Established as the Domestic Wing, Air Corps Ferrying Command and activated on 18 February 1942

Redesignated Domestic Wing, Army Air Forces Ferry Command on 9 March 1942

Redesignated Domestic Wing, Army Air Forces Ferrying Command on 31 March 1942

Redesignated Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command on 20 June 1942

Redesignated Continental Division, Air Transport Command on 1 March 1946

Discontinued on 31 October 1946

Consolidated on 29 March 1979 with Twenty-Second Air Force as Twenty-Second Air Force

Twenty-Second Air Force

• Designated and organized as Continental Division, Military Air Transport Sservice on 1 July 1948

Redesignated Western Transport Air Force on 1 July 1958

Redesignated Twenty-Second Air Force on 8 January 1966

Consolidated on 29 March 1979 with Continental Division, Air Transport Command

Inactivated on 1 July 1993

Activated on 1 July 1993

Assignments

• Air Corps Ferrying Command (later Army Air Forces Ferry Command, Army Air Forces Ferrying Command, Air Transport Command, 18 February 1942 – 31 October 1946
• Military Air Transport Service (later Military Airlift Command), 1 July 1948
• Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993
• Air Force Reserve (later Air Force Reserve Command), 1 July 1993 – present

Components

Continental Division, Air Transport Command

Sectors

• California Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 6th Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Long Beach Municipal Airport, California

Replaced by 556th AAF Base Unit (6th Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944 – 1 December 1946

• Detroit Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 3d Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Wayne County Airport, Michigan

Replaced by 553d AAF Base Unit (3d Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944 – 15 January 1946

• Midwest Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 5th Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Hensley Field, Texas

Replaced by 555th AAF Base Unit(5th Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944 – 9 August 1946

• Nashville Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 4th Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Nashville Municipal Airport, Tennessee

Replaced by 554th AAF Base Unit (4th Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944-c. December 1945

• Northeast Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 2d Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Logan Field, New Castle Army Air Field, Delaware

Replaced by 552d AAF Base Unit (2d Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944 – 31 December 1945

• Northwest Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later 7th Ferrying Group), 18 February 1942 – 31 March 1944

Boeing Field, Washington, Gore Field, Montana

Replaced by 557th AAF Base Unit (7th Ferrying Group), 31 March 1944 – 14 December 1945

• Central Sector, Air Transport Command, 25–31 March 1944
• Western Sector, Air Transport Command, 25–31 March 1944
• Eastern Sector, Air Transport Command, 25–31 March 1944

Wings

• 23d AAF Ferrying Wing (later North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command), Ferrying Command, 20 Jun 1942 – 1 Sep 1943

Presque Isle Army Air Field, Maine

• 24th AAF Ferrying Wing (later South Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command), 27 Jun 1942 – 9 October 1943

Atkinson Field, Georgetown, British Guiana

• 25th AAF Ferrying Wing (later South Pacific Wing, Air Transport Command), 27 Jun 1942 – 30 September 1943

Hamilton Field, California

• 26th AAF Ferrying Wing (later Africa Middle East Wing, Air Transport Command), 27 Jun 1942 – 30 Sep 1943

Payne Airfield, Cairo, Egypt

• 27th AAF Ferrying Wing (later Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command), 19 Jun 1942 – 16 Oct 1943
• Foreign Wing, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb – 19 Jun 1942
• Domestic Transportation Wing, Air Transport Command, 27 Nov 1944 – 15 Jan 1945
• Central Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945
• Western Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945
• Eastern Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945

Groups

• 2d Ferrying Group (see Northeast Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 3d Ferrying Group (see Detroit Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 4th Ferrying Group (see Nashville Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 5th Ferrying Group (see Midwest Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 6th Ferrying Group (see California Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 7th Ferrying Group (see Northwest Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command)
• 20th Ferrying Group, 3 Feb 1943 – 31 March 1944

Nashville Municipal Airport, Tennessee

Replaced by 558 AAF Base Unit (20th Ferrying Group), 31 Mar 1944 – 9 Apr 1946

• 21st Ferrying Group, 17 Nov 1943 – 31 March 1944

Palm Springs Army Airfield, California

Replaced by 560 AAF Base Unit (21st Ferrying Group), 31 Mar 1944 – 20 May 1946

• 33d Ferrying Group, 4 Mar 1943 – 31 Mar 1944

Fairfax Field, Kansas

Replaced by 569 AAF Base Unit (33d Ferrying Group), 31 Mar 1944 – 15 Apr 1945

Twenty-Second Air Force

Divisions

• 323d Air Division, 1 Jul 1958 – 8 May 1960
• 834th Air (later Airlift) Division, 1 – 31 Dec 1974, 1 Oct 1978 – 1 Apr 1992

Wings

Groups

Squadrons

• 16th Air Transport (later 1254 Air Transport) Squadron, 1 Sep 1948 – 12 Mar 1951
• 1726th Air Transport Squadron (Special), 1 Oct 1948 – 23 Apr 1949
• 1737th Ferrying Squadron, 24 Sep 1950 – 16 Jul 1951
• Air Transport Squadron (VR-3), USN, 1 Oct 1948-c. Dec 1948, 1 Dec 1949 – 1 Jul 1957.

Stations

• Bolling Airfield, Washington D.C., 28 December 1941
• Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 February 1943
• Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1948
• Travis Air Force Base, California, 25 June 1958
• Dobbins ARB, Georgia, 1 July 1993

List of commanders

No.	Commander		Term
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
-		Major General Robert A. McIntosh	1 July 1993	1 November 1994	1 year, 123 days
-		Major General James E. Sherrard III	1 November 1994	17 January 1995	77 days
-		Brigadier General Joseph McNeil	17 January 1995	6 August 1995	201 days
-		Brigadier General Michael R. Lee	6 August 1995	11 January 1998	2 years, 158 days
-		Major General James E. Sherrard III	11 January 1998	25 September 1998	257 days
-		Major General John J. Batbie Jr.	25 September 1998	7 May 2000	1 year, 225 days
-		Major General James D. Bankers	7 May 2000	11 March 2006	5 years, 308 days
-		Major General Martin M. Mazick	11 March 2006	4 April 2009	3 years, 24 days
-		Major General James T. Rubeor	4 April 2009	16 September 2011	2 years, 165 days
-		Major General Wallace W. Farris Jr.	16 September 2011	October 2013	~2 years, 15 days
-		Major General Mark A. Kyle	October 2013	July 2014	~273 days
-		Major General Stayce Harris	July 2014	November 2017	~2 years, 38 days
-		Major General John P. Stokes	8 August 2016	November 2017	~1 year, 85 days
-		Major General Craig L. La Fave	November 2017	10 July 2021	~1 year, 267 days
-		Major General John P. Healy	26 July 2019	10 July 2021	1 year, 349 days
-		Major General Bret C. Larson	10 July 2021	2 April 2023	1 year, 266 days
-		Major General Melissa A. Coburn	2 April 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 261 days

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. In an apparent typographical error, Kane gives the assignment date for these sectors as beginning on 28 February. But see Administrative History, pp. 64-66.

Citations

1. ^ Kane, Robert B. "Twenty-Second Air Force (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
2. "About Us". 22af.afrc.af.mil.
3. ^ Kane, Factsheet, Twenty-Second Air Force for assignment information only.
4. "22 AF Change of Command". dobbins.afrc.af.mil.
5. "Healy takes command of 22nd Air Force". Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
6. "Larson Takes Command of Reserve's 22nd Air Force". 13 July 2021.
7. "Coburn takes command of 22nd Air Force". 4 April 2023.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Historical Branch, Air Transport Command (June 1945). "Administrative History of the Ferrying Command, 29 May 1941-30 June 1942, USAF Historical Study No. 33" (PDF). Assistant Chief of Air Staff Intelligence, Historical Division. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

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v t e Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
Air Forces	Fourth Tenth Twenty-Second
Bases	Dobbins Duke Field General Mitchell Grissom Homestead March Minneapolis-Saint Paul Niagara Falls Pittsburgh Westover Youngstown
Command	Air Reserve Personnel Center
Wings/Groups	Air Refueling 434th 459th 507th 916th 939th 940th Airlift 94th 302nd 315th 433rd 439th 440th 445th 446th 512th 908th 910th 911th 914th 927th 932nd 934th Fighter 301st 414th 419th 442nd 476th 477th 482nd 944th other 307th Bomb 310th Space 349th Air Mobility 403rd 452nd Air Mobility 514th Air Mobility 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance 919th Special Operations 920th Rescue

v t e Military Airlift Command (MAC)
Air Forces	Twenty-First Twenty-Second Twenty-Third
Air Divisions Named Units	2d 76th 322d 834th Air Weather Service Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service Special Air Mission Air Photographic Service Aeromedical Transport
Wings	MAW 60th 62d 63d 436th 437th 438th 443d TAW 314th 316th 317th 433d 463d
Bases	Altus AFB Andrews AFB Charleston AFB Dover AFB Dyess AFB Hurlburt Field Kelly AFB Langley AFB Little Rock AFB McChord AFB McGuire AFB Norton AFB Pope AFB Scott AFB Sewart AFB Travis AFB
Aircraft	C-5 Galaxy C-9 Nightingale C-47 Skytrain C-54 Skymaster C-119 Flying Boxcar C-121 Constellation C-130 Hercules C-133 Cargomaster C-135 Stratolifter C-141 Starlifter VC-25

• Military units and formations of the United States Air Force Reserves
• Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force