1st Tactical Air Command (United States)

The 1st Tactical Air Command (TAC) was a United States Air Force unit responsible for managing and directing fighter, bomber, and support aircraft for regional defense and offensive operations from 1948 until 1959. Its role was to prepare, train, and deploy airpower quickly during the Cold War, focusing on tactical missions rather than strategic nuclear strikes. The command coordinated aircraft readiness, training exercises, and wartime planning to ensure effective air combat capabilities. In 1959, 1st TAC was reorganized into other units as the Air Force's structure evolved, but it played a key role in developing tactical air operations during its existence.