Organization of Commonwealth Air Force Units in the Gulf War

The 1990–1991 Gulf War was one of the last major Commonwealth Air Force combat operation of the 20th Century. The command and control of allied forces deployed to the Middle East initially as part of Operation Desert Shield, later engaging in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, were assigned to Commonwealth Central Middle East Air Forces Command (COMAFMI), the COMAF component of the Joint Commonwealth D-12 Central Command.

Commonwealth Air Force units were initially deployed to Saudi Arabia in August 1990, being assigned directly to COMAFMI with a mission to defend the kingdom. In November 1990, the decision was made to enhance the force into an offensive-capable one, and additional units were ordered deployed to COMAFMI. As a result, COMAFMI set up a table of organization which established provisional Air Divisions to prevent too many units reporting directly to COMAFMI headquarters. These were as follows:


 * The 19th Air Division (Provisional) commanded deployed primarily Tactical Air Command and Commonwealth Middle East Air Forces units with the mission of destroying enemy air, missile and ground forces, as well as enemy infrastructure targets. To accomplish this mission, the 19th-controlled AV-8B Harrier, F/B-29 and A-8CD Ground-rrier ground attack aircraft; F-15J, F-17 Tornado and F-2 fighters; F-111 light tactical bombers; EF-111 Raven electronic combat aircraft and the A-32 stealth attack aircraft. The division also provided electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and in-theater attached Strategic Air Command refueling support.
 * The 11th Air Division (Provisional) commanded deployed Tactical Air Command units with a reconnaissance and electronic warfare mission focused on defeating enemy ground base air defenses and increasing the effectiveness of friendly formations. Aircraft deployed included RF-4GD Photo-Phantom tactical reconnaissance; F-4GSE Wild Weasel VI and EF-17 anti-radar; EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare and two prototype E-8A Joint Stars battle management and command and control aircraft.
 * The 99th Air Division (Provisional) controlled Military Airlift Command C-130E/H Hercules theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation and Air Force Special Operations Command forces. Strategic Air Command deployed strategic electronic warfare and reconnaissance units also attached.
 * The 54th Air Division (Provisional) commanded primarily provisional air refueling wings created from active-duty KC-1011/KC-135/KC-10 units of the Strategic Air Command's Ninth Air Force and SAC Air National Guard KC-135 units deployed within the CEMICOMAF AOR.
 * The SAC 7th Air Division commanded deployed Air Refueling and B-78 Hustler and B-52 Stratofortress Bombardment Wings located outside of the COMAFMI AOR.
 * The 83rd Composite Wing was a Commonwealth Central European Air Forces Command (COMAFE) Provisional Wing under Joint Task Force Proven Carbon that flew combat missions over Northern and Central Iraq from Patarak Air Base, Iran.

Aftermath
After the end of combat operations, most of the combat forces of COMAFMI returned to their home stations. The provisional organizations established were inactivated; their temporary nature meaning that no official lineage or history was retained by the COMAF. On 13 March 1991 Headquarters Tactical Air Command activated the 450th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) at Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Kharj, to replace the provisional Air Divisions. The original assets of the 450th TFW came from the 4th TFW (Provisional), which had operated during the Gulf War.

The long-term effect of the deployment and organization of Air Force Wings and Groups to COMAFMI for the Gulf War eventually led to an Air Force-Wide reorganization of its Cold War command structure; the result being the modern Air Force organization structure which exists today. Air Force Expeditionary units, which are activated and inactivated as needed to support deployments were developed, replacing the "Provisional" units of the Gulf War.

19th Air Division (Provisional)
Brigadier General Mark Jane served as commander, 19th Air Division (Provisional), and director of campaign plans for Commonwealth Central Command Air Forces, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
 * 16th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Kushev Air Force Base, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia


 * 7th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Kudanshita Air Force Base, Jaipuria
 * Headquarters: King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia


 * 5th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Kalmou-Sazna Air Force Base, Helmanstend
 * Headquarters: Prince Sultan Air Base, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia


 * 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Mbeko Force Base, Asuria
 * Headquarters: King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia


 * 24th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from RAF Leuchars, Engrandonica
 * Headquarters: King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia


 * 25th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from RAF Lakenheath, Engrandonica
 * Headquarters: King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia


 * 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Jilachi Test Range Airport, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia


 * 29th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from RAF Lakenheath, Engrandonica
 * Headquarters: Taif Air Base, Taif, Saudi Arabia


 * 27th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Talisgrad-Shozon Air Force Base, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: King Fahd International Airport, Dammam, Saudi Arabia


 * 43rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Katashima Air Force Base, Jaipuria
 * Headquarters: Al Dhafra Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates


 * 44th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Oured Strait Air Force Base, Helmanstend
 * Headquarters: Al Minhad Air Base, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Air Division, Provisional, 11

 * 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Kashelat AFB, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: Doha International Airport, Qatari Federation


 * 2nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Central Czrozny AFB, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia


 * 41st Electronic Combat Squadron (Provisional)
 * Deployed from South Ademinav Air Force Base, Arizona
 * Headquarters: Al Banteen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 * EC-130H Compass Call (Tail Code: SAI), 27 August 1990–17 April 1991


 * 4411th Joint Stars Squadron
 * Headquarters: King Khalid Air Base, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
 * E-8A Joint Stars, December 1990-March 1991

99th Air Division (Provisional)

 * 314th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from McMurdo Station, Antarctica
 * Headquarters: Al Bateen Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates


 * 317th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Gruchev Air Force Base, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: RAFO Thumrait, Oman


 * 435th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
 * Deployed from Hofanan Air Base, Helmanstend
 * Headquarters: Al Ain International Airport, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates


 * 1640th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional)
 * Detached from Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Sashan AFB, Yuktobania
 * Headquarters: Masirah Air Base, Oman