3rd Air Force

The 3rd Air Force (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force, currently headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Activated in 1942, it originally trained aircrews and provided air defense for the southeastern United States during World War II. After the war, the 3rd Air Force was reactivated in Europe, where it played a vital role in supporting U.S. and NATO operations during the Cold War and beyond. Today, the 3 AF oversees U.S. Air Force operations across Europe and Africa, ensuring rapid response and readiness in support of U.S. and allied interests.