VIETNAM

From April 1966 until 1973, the 7th Air Force command, Tan Son Nhut AB, assumed responsibility for most Air Force operations in Vietnam,
and shared responsibility with the 13th Air Force for operations conducted from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB: Thailand, as the: 7/13 Air Force.

HEADQUARTERS 7th/13 AIR FORCE
Vietnam and Thailand

HEADQUARTERS 7th AIR FORCE
Tan Son Nhut AB, SVN, 28 March 1966–30 June 1975

Dual Responsibility

7th/13th AIR FORCES
Thailand, 29 March 1973–30 June 1975
VIETNAM WAR
( Courtesy: Wikipedia )

"Seventh Air Force was revived under the command of Lt. Gen. Joseph H. Moore to serve Pacific Air Forces during the Vietnam War when the growth of forces required a replacement for the 2d Air Division. In this capacity Seventh Air Force was the Air Component Command of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).

Upon reactivation on 28 March 1966, Seventh Air Force was designated a combat command at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, overseeing the operations of the ten primary USAF bases in the Republic of Vietnam. From April 1966 until 1973, the command assumed responsibility for most Air Force operations in Vietnam and shared responsibility with the Thirteenth Air Force for operations conducted from Thailand as 7/13 Air Force.

In June 1966, the first US air attacks near Hanoi and Haiphong occurred when 7AF planes bombed nearby oil installations. The following month, US aircraft struck North Vietnamese forces inside the Vietnamese Demilitarized zone (DMZ).

One of the most publicized battles of the war was the siege of Khe Sanh in early 1968, known as "Operation Niagara." More than 24,000 tactical and 2700 B-52 strikes dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. At night, AC-47 gunships kept up fire against enemy troops. In August 1968, General George S. Brown began to oversee the "Vietnamization" of the air war. By 1970, this effort was successful enough that General Brown released the first USAF units to leave Vietnam.

On 29 March 1973, the command transferred to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where it accepted dual responsibility as the US Support Activities Group and Seventh Air Force. As a result, 7AF controlled air assets and operations in Thailand. On 30 June 1975, it was deactivated."

Lineage
  • Established as Hawaiian Air Force on 19 October 1940
Activated on 1 November 1940
Redesignated: 7th Air Force on 5 February 1942
Redesignated: Seventh Air Force on 18 September 1942
Redesignated: Pacific Air Command on 15 December 1947
Upgraded to Major Command 15 December 1947
Discontinued on 1 June 1949
  • Redesignated Seventh Air Force on 10 December 1954
Activated on 5 January 1955
Inactivated on 1 July 1957
  • Activated on 28 March 1966
    Organized on 1 April 1966
    Inactivated on 30 June 1975
  • Activated on 8 September 1986
Assignments
  • Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, 1 November 1940
  • U.S. Army Forces in Central Pacific Area, c. 16 August 1943
  • Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, 1 August 1944
  • Far East Air Forces (later, Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army), 14 July 1945
  • Army Air Forces (later, United States Air Force), 1 January 1947 – 1 June 1949
  • Pacific Air Force (later, Pacific Air Force/Far East Air Forces [Rear]), 5 January 1955 – 1 July 1957
  • Pacific Air Forces, 28 March 1966 – 30 June 1975
  • Pacific Air Forces, 8 September 1986—present
Stations
  • Fort Shafter, Hawaii, 1 November 1940
  • Hickam Field (later, Hickam AFB), Hawaii, c. 12 July 1941
  • East Field, Saipan, Mariana Islands, 19 December 1944
  • Yontan Air Field, Okinawa, 12 July 1945
  • Hickam Field, Hawaii, 1 January 1946 – 1 June 1949
  • Hickam AFB, Hawaii, 5 January 1955
  • Wheeler AFB, Hawaii, 24 March 1955 – 1 July 1957
  • Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, 1 April 1966
  • Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base, Thailand, 29 March 1973 – 30 June 1975
  • Osan AB, Republic of Korea, 8 September 1986
Components

Commands

  • 7th Air Force Base (later, VII Air Force Base; VII Air Force Service): 19 February 1942 – 15 August 1944
  • VII Air Service Area: 3 August 1944 – 12 August 1945
  • 7th Bomber (later, VII Bomber): 29 January 1942 – 1 January 1946
  • 7th Interceptor (later, 7th Fighter; VII Fighter): 2 February 1942 – 1 March 1945; 14–16 July 1945

Divisions

  • 7th Air (formerly, 7th Fighter Wing): 1 January 1946 – 3 September 1948
  • 834th Air: 15 October 1966 – 1 December 1971.

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