Alaskan Air Command

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Branch

U.S. Air Force

Members

About Alaskan Air Command

The Alaskan Air Command (AAC) was established on 18 December 1945 as a major command of the United States Air Force, tasked with the air defense of Alaska and the northern approaches to North America during the early Cold War. Throughout its existence, the AAC operated a network of radar sites, interceptor squadrons, and early warning systems to monitor and defend against potential Soviet incursions. The command played a vital role during the Korean War and throughout the Cold War, participating in exercises and maintaining readiness in the challenging Arctic environment. In 1990, the Alaskan Air Command was inactivated and its responsibilities were assumed by the newly formed Eleventh Air Force under Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

Unit Members

Charles Engle

U.S. Air Force

Alaskan Air CommandView Profile

Leo Allor

U.S. Air Force

Alaskan Air CommandView Profile

Photos

U.S. Air Force • 1976

stationed at johnson air force base in japan

U.S. Air Force • 1949

About Alaskan Air Command

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Origins during WWII: The Alaskan Air Command (AAC) traces its roots to WWII, when the US recognized the strategic importance of Alaska as a defense against Japanese advances in the Pacific and Arctic. • Formation in 1945: Officially activated on 18 December 1945, AAC was responsible for the air defense of Alaska, replacing the Eleventh Air Force after WWII. • Cold War Frontline: During the Cold War, AAC was a critical frontline in early warning and defense against potential Soviet attacks, especially bomber and missile threats via the polar route. • Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line: AAC managed parts of the DEW Line, a chain of radar stations across the Arctic, designed to detect incoming Soviet aircraft and missiles. • Operation White Alice: The command oversaw "White Alice," a complex communication system using tropospheric scatter and microwave relay to link remote radar sites across Alaska. • Adversary Intercepts: AAC fighter-interceptors frequently scrambled to identify and escort Soviet bombers that approached or skirted Alaska's airspace. • Strategic Air Bases: Major bases under AAC included Elmendorf AFB and Eielson AFB, which served as launch points for both defense and Arctic research missions. • Transition to Eleventh Air Force: In 1990, the Alaskan Air Command was redesignated as the Eleventh Air Force, reflecting changes in the geopolitical climate after the Cold War. • Unique Arctic Challenges: AAC personnel operated in some of the harshest conditions on earth, facing extreme cold, darkness, and isolation while maintaining readiness. • Legacy of Innovation: The AAC pioneered cold-weather operations, arctic survival training, and developed techniques and equipment still used by the US military in polar regions today.