Air Forces Panama
Encyclopedia
The Air Forces Panama, formerly 830th Air Division, is an inactive United States Air Force
Division. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command
, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Howard Air Force Base
, Panama
. It was inactivated on 11 February 1992.
The USAF Southern Airlift Division replaced the USAF Southern Air Command as the Air Force component of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Panama Canal Zone in January 1976.
It assumed responsibility for the air defense of the Panama Canal
and for USAF relations, including foreign military sales (FMS) and disaster relief assistance, with the Latin American nations. The division supported disaster relief to countries such as Guatemala
, Jamaica
, Nicaragua
, the Dominican Republic
, Panama
and Colombia
. It also assisted Mexico
in its purchase of F-5s and trained Mexican technicians in logistics and maintenance for the new aircraft.
s to Ecuador
and A-37
Bs to the Dominican Republic
. The division participated annually in various training exercises, including paratroop drops and close air support for Army troops. It also conducted numerous combined exercises with various Latin American countries. Through the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, it provided technical training and education for airmen and officers from approximately 14 Latin American countries.
Inactivated in 1992 when responsibility for AOR was taken over by Twelfth Air Force as Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH)
Assigned aircraft
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Division. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. It was inactivated on 11 February 1992.
The USAF Southern Airlift Division replaced the USAF Southern Air Command as the Air Force component of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Panama Canal Zone in January 1976.
It assumed responsibility for the air defense of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and for USAF relations, including foreign military sales (FMS) and disaster relief assistance, with the Latin American nations. The division supported disaster relief to countries such as Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It also assisted Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in its purchase of F-5s and trained Mexican technicians in logistics and maintenance for the new aircraft.
History
In 1984 the division, through the FMS program, delivered T-33T-33 Shooting Star
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
s to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and A-37
A-37 Dragonfly
The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is a United States light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer in the 1960s and 1970s...
Bs to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. The division participated annually in various training exercises, including paratroop drops and close air support for Army troops. It also conducted numerous combined exercises with various Latin American countries. Through the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, it provided technical training and education for airmen and officers from approximately 14 Latin American countries.
Inactivated in 1992 when responsibility for AOR was taken over by Twelfth Air Force as Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH)
Lineage
- Established as USAF Southern Air Division on 24 November 1975
- Activated on 1 January 1976 by redesignation of United States Air Forces Southern CommandUnited States Air Forces Southern CommandThe United States Air Forces Southern Command is an inactive Major Command of the United States Air Force. It was headquartered at Albrook Air Force Base, Canal Zone, being inactivated on 1 January 1976....
. - Redesignated: 830 Airlift Division on 1 January 1989
- Redesignated: 830 Air Division, May 1990 - February 1991 under BG David Oakes
- Redesignated: Air Forces Panama on 15 February 1991
- Inactivated on 11 February 1992.
Assignments
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 1 January 1976 - Twelfth Air Force, 31 January 1987-11 February 1992.
Stations
- Albrook Air Force Station, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 1 January 1976 - Howard Air Force BaseHoward Air Force BaseHoward Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 15 August 1977 - Albrook Air Force Station, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 1 March 1989 - Howard Air Force BaseHoward Air Force BaseHoward Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 15 February 1991-11 February 1992.
Components
- 24th Composite Wing (See 24 Composite Group)24th WingThe 24th Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama...
- 24th Composite Group (later, 24 Composite Wing): 1 January 1976-31 January 1987; 1 January 1989-15 February 1991.
- 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron: 31 January 1987-1 January 1989; 15 February-1 March 1991.
Commanders
- Maj Gen James M. Breedlove, 1 January 1976
- Maj Gen Robert B. Tanguy, 6 April 1977
- Brig Gen Thomas E. Wolters, 27 June 1980
- Maj Gen William E. Masterson, 1 February 1981
- Maj Gen Henry D. Canterbury, 13 December 1984
- Col Harold E. Watson, 17 January 1987
- Brig Gen Robin G. TornowRobin G. TornowRobin Gene Tornow was a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.-Biography:Tornow was born in Monroe, Wisconsin in 1942. He attended the University of Texas at Austin. Tornow died on August 22, 2010.-Career:...
, 22 June 1988 - Brig Gen David Oakes, 24 May 1990-c. 11 February 1992
Aircraft
Rotational aircraft:- A-7, 1974–1990
- A-10, 1985-c.1988
- C-130, 1976–1984
- F-15, 1990–1992
- F-16, 1990–1992
Assigned aircraft
- A-37, 1985–1992
- O-2, 1976–1986
- UH-1, 1976–1986.
Honors
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers; Panama, 1989-1990.
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 20 December 1989-14 February 1991.
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards: 1 February 1981-31 January 1983; 1 January 1986-31 December 1987.