The 21st Air Force (21st AF) was established as part of the United States Air Force’s air mobility structure, initially activated in 1942 as the 21st Ferrying Group. Over the decades, it evolved into a major component of the Military Airlift Command (MAC) and later Air Mobility Command (AMC), overseeing strategic airlift and air refueling operations. Headquartered at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, the 21st AF played a critical role in supporting global operations, humanitarian missions, and rapid deployment of U.S. forces. In 2003, it was redesignated as the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force before its inactivation in 2012 as part of a broader restructuring of Air Force mobility forces.
