Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force
The Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force (17 EAF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during (1953–1996) and United States Air Forces Africa during 2008–2012. Upon reactivation on 1 October 2008, it became the air and space component of United States Africa Command. In this capacity, Seventeenth Air Force was referred to as U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA). 17 AF was reformed in April 2012 to become the 17th Expeditionary Air Force, sharing a commander and headquarters with the Third Air Force. As of March 2022, the Third Air Force is USAFE-AFAFRICA's sole numbered air force, with the 17 EAF having been inactivated in July 2018.
| Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force | |
|---|---|
Army General William E. "Kip" Ward (left), U.S. Africa Command commander, and Maj. Gen. Ronald R. Ladnier, commander of Seventeenth Air Force, unfurl the Seventeenth Air Force's guidon during an assumption-of-command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Members of the Senegal 3d Infantry Brigade Honor Platoon greet 17 AF Commander Brig. Gen. Mike Callan | |
| Active | 17 April 1953 – 30 September 1996 1 October 2008 – 24 April 2012 (as Seventeenth Air Force) 21 May 2012 – 19 July 2018 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Expeditionary Numbered Air Force |
| Role | Provide combat-ready air forces to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa |
| Garrison/HQ | Rabat-Sale, Morocco (1953–1956) Wheelus Air Base Libya (1956–1959) Ramstein Air Base West Germany (1959–1973) Sembach Air Base Germany (1973–1996) Ramstein Air Base Germany (2008–2012) |
| Insignia | |
| Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force emblem | |
| Seventeenth Air Force emblem | |
Seventeenth Air Force housed the traditional A-staff and special staff functions which are responsible for developing strategy and plans to execute air and space operations in support of U.S. Africa Command objectives. In addition, 17 AF housed the "tailored" 617th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) which provided command and control capabilities for the planning and execution of aerial missions on the African continent. Seventeenth Air Force also had a collaborative relationship with the 110th Air Operations Group, Michigan Air National Guard.