List of United States Air Force bands explained

The United States Air Force has many bands that perform entertainment and public affairs functions. In mid-2012, there were 11 Air National Guard bands containing a total of 350 musicians. Six bands will be inactivated.^[1]

Current military bands

^[2]

Active duty bands

• United States Air Force Band
  • The Airmen of Note
• United States Air Force Academy Band
• United States Air Force Band of Flight (661st Air Force Band)
• United States Air Force Band of the Golden West (523rd Air Force Band)
• United States Air Force Band of Mid-America
• United States Air Force Band of the Pacific
  • United States Air Force Band of Pacific-Asia
  • United States Air Force Band of Pacific-Hawaii
• United States Air Force Band of the West (539th Air Force Band)
• United States Air Force Heartland of America Band (702nd Air Force Band)
• United States Air Force Heritage of America Band (564th Air Force Band)
• United States Air Forces in Europe Band (686th Air Force Band)
• United States Air Forces Central Command Band

National Guard Bands

• Air National Guard Band of the Midwest (566th Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the Northeast (567th Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the South (530th Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the Southwest (531st Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the West Coast (562nd Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the West Coast

Other bands

• United States Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps
• United States Air Force Academy Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps

Former bands

Army Air Force Bands

• 3rd Air Force Band
• 16th Air Force Band
• 501st Air Force Band
• 523rd Air Force Band (March AFB, CA)
• 524th Air Force Band (Sheppard AFB, TX))
• 525th Air Force Band (Sheppard AFB/Cannon AFB, TX)
• 526th Air Force Band (Sheppard AFB, TX)
• 547th Air Force Band (North Malir, Pakistan)
• 548th Air Force Band (Hollandia, New Guinea)
• 640th Army Air Forces Band
• 511th Army Air Force Band (Gulfport, MS)

Other bands

• United States Air Force Band of Liberty (541st Air Force Band)
• WAF Band (543rd Air Force Band)
• United States Air Force Pipe Band
• Band of the United States Air Force Reserve (581st Air Force Band), disbanded in 2012^[3]
• 502nd Air Force Band (Keesler AFB, MS)
• 505th Air Force Band (Chanute AFB, IL)
• 509th Air Force Band (Webb AFB, TX
• 515th Air Force Band (Bryan AFB, TX)
• 521st Air Force Band (F.E. Warren AFB, WY)
• 522nd Air Force Band (Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico)
• 523rd Air Force Band (March AFB, CA)
• 528th Air Force Band (Scott AFB, IL)
• 538th Air Force Band (Hunter AFB, GA)
• 539th Air Force Band
• Empire Band of The Air Force (544th Air Force Band)^[4]
• 545th Air Force Band (Lackland AFB, TX)
• 549th Air Force Band (Hill AFB, UT)
• 552nd Air Force Band (Roslyn ANG Station, NY)
• 573rd Air Force Band (Hamilton AFB, CA)
• 579th Air Force Band (Stewart AFB, NY)
• 583rd Air Force Band
• 589th Air Force Band
• 590th Air Force Band (McGuire AFB, NJ)
• 591st Air Force Band
• 600th Air Force Band
• 604th Air Force Band
• 626th Air Force Band
• 648th Air Force Band
• 683rd Air Force Band
• 695th Air Force Band
• Strategic Air Command Band (702nd Air Force Band)^[5]
• 724th Air Force Band
• 730th Air Force Band
• 745th Air Force Band (Barksdale AFB, LA)
• 746th Air Force Band
• 748th Air Force Band
• 751st Air Force Band
• 753rd Air Force Band
• 774th Air Force Band (Ladd AFB, AK)^[6]
• 775th Air Force Band
• 776th Air Force Band
• Air National Guard Band of the Central States (571st Air Force Band), under the 131st Bomb Wing^{[7] [8]}
• Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes "Triple Nickel" (555th Air Force Band)^[9]
• Air National Guard Band of the Gulf Coast (531st Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the Mid-Atlantic (553rd Air Force Band)
• Air National Guard Band of the Northwest (560th Air Force Band)^[10]
• Air National Guard Band of the Smoky Mountains (572nd Air Force Band)

See also

• United States military bands
• Fleet Band Activities

External links

• Air Force Bands Program - Bands
• Afmusic.org
• Air Force bands program restructure 2013
• Air Force Musicians Association

Notes and References

1. http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force/closing-down-of-air-force-band-ends-a-tradition-1.182258 Closing down of Air Force band ends a tradition
2. Web site: USAF Orders of Battle.
3. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/07/air-force-reserve-band-airmen-focus-performing-not-demise-070812w/ Band airmen focus on performing, not demise
4. Book: The Force of Destiny: The Life and Times of Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel. 9781491788509. Gabriel. Michael A.. 16 March 2016.
5. Web site: Offutt's getting the band back together.
6. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5688731/ New Replacements Find Ladd AFB One of Friendliest
7. http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123297720 Missouri Air Guard band performs at White House
8. https://archive.today/20120905102344/http://www.moguard.com/09-03-11-missouri-air-national-guard-band-sidewinder-returns-home-to-saint-louis.html Missouri Air National Guard Band Sidewinder returns home to Saint Louis
9. Web site: The Final Notes Have Been Played: 555th Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes Deactiv.
10. Web site: Air Force Deactivates Fabled Northwest Military Band. 6 September 2013.