participated in more than 140 humanitarian operations within its area of responsibility and beyond. In these operations PACAF people quickly and efficiently airlifted food, medicine and other supplies to areas devastated by storms, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters. As PACAF entered the second decade of the 21st century, expanding theatre challenges and simultaneous resource constraints have forced continuing innovation and adjustments by PACAF in order to meet mission requirements. Previously assigned four numbered air forces, PACAF downscoped to three numbered air forces in September 2012, inactivating 13th Air Force and merging its functions into PACAF. Base consolidations and infrastructure limitations have also required the Air Force and PACAF to developed increased capability while striving to remain within budgetary resource constraints. One such example has been the evaluation of alternate runway(s)/divert field(s) in the Marianas since late 2011 as a backup to Andersen AFB on Guam, a process that remains on-going as of 2014. In 2023, The first Royal Australian Air Force Deputy Commander took up position along side the USAF Command Chain. Lineage Established as Far East Air Forces (Provisional) on 31 July 1944 Reestablished: Far East Air Forces on 3 August 1944 Activated on 3 August 1944 Redesignated: Pacific Air Command, United States Army, on 6 December 1945 Redesignated: Far East Air Forces on 1 January 1947 Redesignated Pacific Air Forces on 1 July 1957 Assignments Southwest Pacific Area, 3 August 1944 US Army Forces, Pacific, 6 December 1945 United States Air Force, 26 September 1947 – Present Historical Operational Components Commands Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, Provisional: 8 July 1950 – 18 June 1954 Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command, Provisional: 20 August 1950 – 25 January 1951 Far East (later, Pacific) Air Service Command, later Far East Air Materiel Command (from 1 January 1947) later, Far East Air Logistics Force): 18 August 1944 – 1 October 1955. Force Japan Air Defense: 1 March 1952 – 1 September 1954 Air Forces Fifth Air Force 3 August 1944 – Present Seventh Air Force 14 July 1945 – 1 January 1947; 5 January 1955 – 1 July 1957; 1 April 1966 – 30 June 1975; 8 September 1986 – Present Eighth Air Force: 6 December 1945 – 7 June 1946 Eleventh Air Force: 9 August 1990 – Present Thirteenth Air Force: 3 August 1944 – 1 June 1955; 1 July 1957 – 28 September 2012 Twentieth