Editing Tactical Air Command (section)

===Operational history===
[[Image:F-84g-dow-1948.jpg|thumb|300px|Republic F-84B-21-RE Thunderjets of the 14th Fighter Group, [[Dow AFB]], Maine, 1948. Visible AF serial numbers are 46–0548, 46–0535 and 46-0581.]]
[[Image:F-80-f-47-86-36-germany-1948.jpg|thumb|300px|F-80s and F-47s of the 36th Fighter and 86th Composite Groups over Germany, 1948.]]
World War II showed the effectiveness of tactical air power in supporting army ground forces. However, the rapid demobilization in late 1945 meant that the huge air armada that had brought Germany to her knees and victory in Europe had been downsized to a shadow of its former self.

Following the end of [[World War II]], Headquarters [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) had little funding and most wartime personnel had been released from active duty and returned to civilian life. Many USAAF aircraft were being sent to storage or scrapyards, although the increasing tension with the [[Soviet Union]] meant that combat military air forces were still needed. The big questions were how large and what kind of forces.<ref name="multi3">Hill, Mike and Campbell, John, Tactical Air Command – An Illustrated History 1946–1992, 2001</ref>

A major realignment of the USAAF was undertaken in early 1946. As part of the realignment, three major command divisions within the Continental United States (CONUS) were formed: [[Strategic Air Command]], Tactical Air Command, and [[Air Defense Command]]. Each was given a specific responsibility, using assets prescribed to accomplish the assigned mission. Tactical Air Command was formed to command, organize, equip, train and administer assigned or attached forces. It was to plan for and participate in tactics for fighter, light bombardment and other aircraft. These included tactical fighters, tactical bombers, tactical missiles, troop carrier aircraft, assault, reconnaissance, and support units. TAC also planned for and developed the capability to deploy tactical striking forces anywhere in the world.

During its existence, Tactical Air Command deployed personnel, material and/or aircraft to Asia (both Pacific Rim/Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia/Middle East), Africa, North America, South America, Europe and [[Australia (continent)|Australia]] in support of its prescribed mission.

TAC's original authorization was 25,500 officers and enlisted men. Aircraft assets available consisted of propeller-driven [[P-51 Mustang|North American P-51 Mustangs]], [[P-47 Thunderbolt|Republic P-47 Thunderbolts]] and a handful of the new jet-powered [[P-80 Shooting Star|Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars]]. TAC was also given control of the [[Third Air Force]], [[Ninth Air Force]] and [[Twelfth Air Force]].<ref name="multi3"/>

==== Berlin Airlift ====
{{Further|United States Air Forces in Europe}} 
On 18 September 1947, the United States Air Force was established as a separate military force, with TAC as one of its major commands. Six months later, in March 1948, the first test of the United States' resolve began with the [[Berlin Blockade|blockade of Berlin]] by the Soviet Union and the need for tactical air power in Europe to underscore the airlift mission was necessary.

At the time, there was only one [[U.S. Air Forces in Europe]] ([[USAFE]]) tactical air unit available in Europe, the '''86th Composite Group''' at [[Neubiberg Air Base]] near [[Munich]], flying P-47Ds. TAC was called upon to send additional units and aircraft to Europe to reinforce the 86 FG. The '''36th Fighter Group''', flying Lockheed F-80B "Shooting Stars," was transferred from [[Howard AFB]] in the [[Panama Canal Zone]] to [[Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base]] near Munich.  In addition to tactical fighter aircraft, TAC also deployed available [[C-47 Skytrain]] transports to Europe, transferring them to USAFE, which was in control of the airlift. As the airlift continued, TAC also transferred available [[C-54 Skymaster]] transports to Europe, where they were assigned to the troop carrier groups that had been sent to Germany for the airlift.

Consequently, the Soviet Union entered into negotiations with the United States, the United Kingdom and France which culminated in an agreement, signed on 5 May 1949, that resulted in the lifting of the blockade, but it did not settle the basic issue of freedom of access. Despite the resumption of surface traffic into the city, the airlift continued until 30 September to mass a reserve of food, fuel, and other supplies in the event the Soviets reimposed the blockade.

==== Continental Air Command ====
{{Further|Continental Air Command}}
In December 1948, [[Aerospace Defense Command|Air Defense Command]] (ADC) and TAC were brought together to form Continental Air Command (ConAC). HQ TAC was reduced to the status of an operational headquarters under CONAC. This move reflected an effort to concentrate all fighter forces deployed within the continental United States (CONUS) to strengthen the air defense of the North American continent.<ref name="multi3"/> The creation of ConAC was largely an administrative convenience: the units assigned to ConAC were dual-trained and expected to revert to their primary strategic or tactical roles after the air defense battle was won.  Two years later, on 1 December 1950, the Air Force reestablished Tactical Air Command as a major command and removed it from assignment to ConAC in large part due to the need to deploy personnel and aircraft to Japan and South Korea due to the [[Korean War]].<ref name="multi3"/>