With a tradition spreading across the Indo-Pacific from its beginning, the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific has its roots in the history of three great military musical organizations: the 752nd Air Force Band, the 600th Air Force Band, and the 501st Air Force Band. The 752nd Army Air Force Band, constituted in 1943 at Wright Field, Ohio, was stationed for nearly the entirety of its existence at what is now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska representing, for much of that time, the Alaskan Air Command (later 11th Air Force). The 600th Air Force Band was also constituted in 1941, at Eglin Field, Florida, before spending World War II stationed across the Pacific Theater at locations such as Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, The Solomon Islands, Morotai, and the Dutch Indies before spending over four decades at Clark Air Base, Philippines prior to its ultimate assignment at Yokota Air Base Japan in 1988.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii was home to The 501st Air Force Band for nearly thrity years, from 1947-1975. During which time the 35-piece unit performed for a variety of base and community functions. Following the Vietnam War, the band was deactivated. However, in 1995, a need was seen to bring an Air Force Band back to the Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces. At the time of its' reactivation, the Band of the Pacific consisted of 11 members performing in two musical groups, Pacific Vision and Pau Hana. While the groups that currently call the Band of the Pacific home might not share the same names, the musical direction of Pacific Vision and Pau Hana paved the way for the groups performing in the Indo-Pacific today. Over time band leadership saw the success of having a band stationed in Hawaii and deemed it necessary to add more personnel in order to accomodate the growing demand, and the 15-piece USAF Band of the Pacific, Hawaii was born.
Today, the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific, with locations at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, represents the men and women of the United States Pacific Air Forces throughout the Pacific Theater, providing strategic soft power to reinforce alliances and expand partnerships, increasing forward presence, amplifying strategic messaging, invigorating warfighter resiliency, and building cross-cultural trust.