Editing Tactical Air Command (section)

==== 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.