It also has a unique mission as the U.S. military's primary liaison to the British government, which is conducted through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, England.

Activated about November 1940 at Savannah, Georgia, the Wing was assigned supervision of the 50th and 53d Pursuit Groups (15 January 1941), but was inactivated in October 1941.

MacDill Field was one of two major Army Air Corps bases established in the Tampa Bay area in the buildup prior to World War II.

It also trained replacement fighter pilots, initially using P-39 Airacobra and P-40 Warhawks in 1942, later with P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs beginning in 1943 and 1944 as they became available.

In August 1948, in response to the Berlin Blockade, the U.S. deployed long-range Boeing B-29 Superfortress strategic bombers to four UK bases in East Anglia.

The resulting growing size and complexity of the American military presence required a larger command and organizational structure that could meet the needs of the increased operations.

The first tactical unit to come to England under Third Air Force was the 81st Fighter-Bomber Wing based at RAF Bentwaters on 6 September 1951.

Initially the 49th Air Division functioned as the intermediate-level command authority for USAFE's wings in the UK, no operational combat groups were attached.

The division supervised and participated in numerous training missions such as Quick Shot, Kingpin, and Bear Claw.

During the 1960s, Third Air Force had four to five combat wings and major changes occurred in the types of aircraft deployed in the United Kingdom.

With the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in December 1987, GLCMs deployed to RAF Molesworth were removed to the U.S. and the 303rd TMW inactivated 30 January 1989.

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Third Air Force, like many other U.S. military units, received their trial by fire.

It also drew attention to the need for American military forces to operate in ways and locations outside the traditional NATO construct.

In addition to a larger area of responsibility, the command reorganization also brought about a subtle change in the mission of the Third Air Force headquarters element.

In 1998, Third Air Force provided the headquarters for JTF Eagle Vista, supporting the President's trip to Africa.

Third Air Force was inactivated on 1 November, ending the unit's prestigious 50-plus year legacy in the UK.

Its new mission was to support the EUCOM commander's strategic objectives across the full range of military operations.

Third Air Force is also responsible for contingency planning and support of American security interests in Africa.

Commands Division Other components Footnotes Citations This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency