High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Third Air Force (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.3 AF is responsible for all United States Air Forces in Europe operations and support activities north of the Alps.One of the four original pre-World War II numbered air forces, 3 AF was activated on 18 December 1940, at MacDill Field, Florida with a mission of air defense of the Southeastern United States and Gulf Coast regions. During the war, its primary mission became the organization and training of combat units prior to their deployment to the overseas combat air forces.