r in which aviators of the U.S. Army Air Service, serving within the AEF, performed modern-day roles such as counter-air, counter-sea, close-air-support, interdiction and reconnaissance. Because no doctrine or standards existed to guide them, aircrews flew in a “trial-by-fire” atmosphere. Once pilots mastered their aircraft, airpower became a formidable force. World War II also brought about airpower’s maturity in battle. A good example of early joint forces was Henry “Hap” Arnold’s Army Air Force Air Commando Groups operating out of the Philippines and Burma. During Operation THURSDAY, these units seized Japanese airstrips and used them for Army ground troop placement. Once staged, they opposed and conquered the enemy under Allied close-air-support cover. Reflecting today’s EAF, these units consisted of multiple-role aircraft working with joint forces to achieve a common goal. During the first stage of United States intervention in the Korean War, initial Tactical Air Command operations flown four months after the decision to come to Korea’s aid failed to meet EAF standards of expediency and effectiveness. War planners realized that a more conventional response process was needed to tackle “hot” wars. The overall slow air response during the Korean conflict paved the way for the Composite Air Strike Force, the predecessor to EAF, in 1955. One of the most widely regarded expeditionary forces is the Third Marine Expeditionary Force. A descendant of the First and Third Marine Amphibious Corps, they have participated in numerous battles and contingency operations to include Saipan, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and disaster relief efforts such as Operation SEA ANGEL in Bangladesh, and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.Throughout history, expeditionary forces experienced many difficulties, largely due to logistical and geographical obstacles. Significant exam...
