USAF Patch a Cmd PACAF b13 AF Thirteenth Air Force Shield Taiwanese Made

USAF PACAF 13 Thirteenth Air Force Shield Patch 1970s Taiwanese Made Fully embroidered cut edge 103mm x103mm four by four inches

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History USAF PACAF 13 Thirteenth Air Force

Thirteenth Air Force 13 AF established its headquarters at Clark Field Philippines in January 1946 moving to Fort William McKinley Luzon in May 1946 returning to Clark Field in August 1947. 13 AF relocated to Kadena AB Okinawa in December 1948 finally returning to Clark Field in May 1949.

Thirteenth Air Force unit 6204 Photo Mapping Flight equipped with RB 17 aircraft deployed to Johnson AB Japan in June 1950 and commenced photo mapping missions over Korea including North Korea in August 1950 completing the mapping and returning to Clark in December 1950. During the Korean War 13 AF units provided staging areas for personnel and equipment destined for the war zone and following the War concentrated on training and surveillance activities to maintain a high state of readiness.

With the escalation of the Vietnam War during the late 1960s 13 Air Force responsible for operations in Thailand served as a staging base and logistics manager for units fighting in Vietnam Southeast Asia. As more American aircraft and people were poured into the war effort combat units and facilities under 13 AF in Thailand increased and at its peak comprised seven combat wings nine major bases eleven smaller installations and more than 31000 military personnel.

Responsibility for Operations over Vietnam conducted from Thailand was shared with 7 Air Force and was designated 7/13 Air Force. 7 Air Force took over control of air assets and operations in Thailand on 29 March 1973 when command of USAF activities in Vietnam was relocated to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand.

13 AF provided aircraft and support staff vital to the coalition for the execution of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia September 1990 to March 1991. In June 1991 the volcano Mount Pinatubo erupted and buried Clark in ash forcing the base to close on 26 November 1990 and the evacuation of military personnel and families in Operation Fiery Vigil. Thirteenth Air Force reestablished its headquarters at Andersen Air Force Base on 2 December 1991.

In June 2005 Thirteenth Air Force moved to Hickam AFB and was redesignated the Kenney Warfighting Headquarters for PACAF, which was activated in provisional status in June, 2005.

On 6 October 2006 the Headquarters was redesignated 13 Air Force and became one of 10 organizations designed to enhance the operational level support planning command control and execution of air space and information operations throughout the US Pacific Commands area of responsibility except for the Korea theatre of operations. 13 AF was inactivated In September 2012 and its functions merged into PACAF.

This patch dates from 1970s