Pacific Air Forces
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command of the United States Air Force. PACAF is also the air component of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii. It is one of two USAF Major Commands assigned outside of the Continental United States, the other being the United States Air Forces in Europe. Over the past sixty plus years, PACAF has been engaged in combat twice during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
The mission of Pacific Air Forces is to provide ready air and space power to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region during peacetime, through crisis, and in war. PACAF organizes, trains, and equips the 45,000 Total Force personnel with the tools necessary to support the Commander of United States Pacific Command. PACAF comprises four numbered Air Forces, nine main bases and nearly 375 aircraft.
The command's area of responsibility extends from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic, more than 100,000,000 square miles (260,000,000 km2). The area is home to nearly two billion people who live in 44 countries.
Read more about Pacific Air Forces: Current Operating Units
Famous quotes containing the words pacific, air and/or forces:
“American future lies in the East. The great free markets of the Pacific Rim are the American destiny.”
—Donald Freed, U.S. screenwriter, and Arnold M. Stone. Robert Altman. Richard Nixon (Philip Baker Hall)
“Hast not thy share? On winged feet,
Lo! it rushes thee to meet;
And all that Nature made thy own,
Floating in air or pent in stone,
Will rive the hills and swim the sea,
And, like thy shadow, follow thee.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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—José Ortega Y Gasset (1883–1955)