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The 1st Fighter Wing ('''1 FW''') is the host unit at Langley Air Force Base , Virginia . See also 1st Fighter Group for complete timeline information. LINEAGE Established as the 1st Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947 . Organized on 15 August 1947 . Redesignated 1st Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 16 April 1950 . Inactivated on 6 February 1952 . Redesignated 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 September 1956 . Activated on 18 October 1956 . Redesignated 1st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 October 1970; 1st Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991 . ASSIGNMENTS - 19 September 1950 ; 27th Air Division , 20 September 1950 -c. 6 February 1952 ). 30th Air Division , 18 October 1956 ; Detroit Air Defense Sector , 1 April 1959 ; 34th Air Division , 1 April 1966 ; 23d Air Division , 1 December 1969 ; 26th Air Division , 31 December 1969 ; 836th Air Division , 1 October 1970 ; Ninth Air Force , 30 September 1971 -. COMPONENTS Wings Groups
Squadrons
Flights STATIONS March Field (later, AFB), CA, 15 August 1947 ; George AFB , CA, 18 July 1950 ; Norton AFB , CA, 1 December 1951 - 6 February 1952 . Selfridge AFB , MI, 18 October 1956 ; Hamilton AFB , CA, 31 December 1969 ; MacDill AFB , FL, 1 October 1970 ; Langley AFB , VA, 30 June 1975 -. COMMANDERS
AIRCRAFT P-80 (later F-80), 1947-1949; RF-80 , 1947-1949; FA (later, RB)-26, 1947-1949; L-13 , 1947-1949; B-26 , 1948-1949; L-4 , 1948-1949; L-5 , 1948-1949; F-86 , 1949-1952; B-29 , 1949; F-51 , 1951-1952. F-86 , 1956-1960; F/TF-102 , 1958-1960; F-106 , 1960-1969, 1969-1970; F-4 , 1970-1975; B-57 , 1970-1972; F-15 , 1975-; EC-135 , 1976-1992; HH-3 , 1993-1994; HC-130 , 1993-1997; C-21 , 1993-1997; HH-60 , 1994-1997; F-22 , 2004-. OPERATIONS Trained in fighter and reconnaissance operations and supported strategic bombardment training, 1947-1950. Was integrated experimentally with a reconnaissance wing, 1947-1949, and with a bombardment wing, 1949-1950, sharing commanders during much of this time. Supported Operation Haylift, a humanitarian effort to deliver food to snowbound cattle in the western United States, 1949. Provided air defense in southern California from mid-1950 until inactivated in 1952. Provided air defense in the upper Midwest area, 1956 through 1969, then moved to central California, still in an air defense role. Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam In response to the Cuban Missile crisis, the Wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Patrick AFB, Florida, in October 1962. During their six-week stay at Patrick, the 1st flew 620 sorties maintaining an 80 percent mission capable rating. During the Vietnam War, the Wing served as a transition unit for many pilots en route to or returning from Southeast Asia. As the decade came to a close, the units split again, serving across the nation: the 27th in Maine, the 71st in Montana, and the 94th in Michigan. In order to maintain the historic 1st Fighter Wing and provide a new combat training unit necessitated by the Vietnam War, Tactical Air Command inactivated the , 46th , and 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron s. Completing the Wing's historic preservation, the commanders of the three squadrons participated in a shoot-out at the Avon Park Gunnery Range to determine which squadrons would receive the designations of the 27th, 71st, and 94th. The commander of the 47 TFS marked the highest score, and chose the 94 TFS; the 46 TFS placed second, choosing the 27 TFS, leaving the 45 TFS with the squadron having the shortest history, the 71 TFS. The hostilities in Vietnam brought upon the Wing a new mission. Directed to "conduct combat aircrew academic and flight training in the tactics, techniques, and operations of assigned aircrew and associate equipment." the Wing provided training in the F-4E "Phantom II" and the B-57 "Canberra." After training, most pilots continued onto service in Southeast Asia. F-15 Eagle Era On 14 March 1974, the Air Force publicly announced plans to station the Air Force's first operational F-15 wing at Langley Air Force Base , Virginia. Langley was chosen due to its heritage and ideal location for TAC's secondary air defense mission. After studying the heritage of its wings, TAC selected the 1st Fighter Wing as the unit to receive the first Eagle. Therefore, the nation's most historic base and wing united to receive the Air Force's newest air weapon On 6 June 1975, Tactical Air Command directed Ninth Air Force to move the 1st Fighter Wing, and its associate squadrons, from MacDill to Langley AFB. Participated in the F-15 weapons system evaluation program in 1976. The F-15 Era Although the designation of the unit moved, the majority of MacDill personnel remained in place, and served under the newly designated 56th Tactical Fighter Wing . 1st Tactical Fighter Wing personnel, with their commander Col Larry D. Welch (who went on to become the Air Force Chief of Staff), spent the next six months preparing for the arrival of the F-15. By the end of 1975, the Wing was ready for its new air superiority weapon, and on 18 December 1975, Lt Col John Britt, Operations Officer, flew the Wing's first F-15 (a two-seat trainer) into Langley. Official welcoming ceremonies were held on 9 January 1976, when Lt Col Larry Craft, 27th Fighter Squadron Commander, landed with the Wing's first single seat F-15. In recognition of its accomplishment of introducing the F-15 into the Air Force's operational inventory, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing received its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, for the period 1 July 1975-31 October 1976. After achieving operational ready status, the Wing took the experience they had earned and utilized it on a program nicknamed "Ready Eagle." The 1st helped prepare the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, for their reception of the F-15. The 1st assisted in the training of maintenance personnel and pilots. By 23 September 1977, the wing provided Bitburg with 88 operational ready pilots, 522 maintenance specialists, and later trained an additional 1,100 maintenance personnel at Bitburg. On 15 April 1977, the 1 TFW acquired a new mission, it assumed responsibility for the 6th Airborne Command And Control Squadron 's EC-135 aircraft and crews, previously assigned to the 4500th Air Base Wing at Langley. The 6 ACCS flew EC-135 airborne command posts in support of US Commander-in-Chief Atlantic (USCINCLANT) with deployments throughout the Atlantic region until early 1992. 1st Fighter Wing participation in world-wide deployments and training exercises continued through the 1980s. The Wing served in countries throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Central America. Operated UH-1 helicopters to meet command requirements and range support, 1975-1995. First Gulf War The training and experience gained was called upon in the summer of 1990, when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait. On 7 August 1990, the 27th and 71st Tactical Fghter Squadrons began deploying to Saudi Arabia as the first American combat units on the ground in Saudi Arabia , in support of the defense of the Arabian peninsula from further Iraqi aggression -- an operation dubbed Operation Desert Shield . In all, the 1 TFW deployed 48 aircraft to the Persian Gulf. By 16 January 1991, when Desert Shield came to a close, the Wing amassed 4,207 sorties patrolling the Kuwait and Iraq border areas. At 0115 local Saudi Arabia time, on 17 January 1991, sixteen 1st Tactical Fighter Wing F-15s departed King Abdul-Aziz Air Base and flew toward Iraq to participate in Operation Desert Storm , the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqis. During the first night of the operation, Captain Steve Tate of the 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron, shot down an Iraqi F-1 Mirage , which turned out to be the wing's only kill during the war. It was also the first combat credit awarded to the wing under command of the U.S. Air Force. Upon its return on 8 March 1991, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing had amassed a total of 2,564 sorties during Operation Desert Storm. Post Cold War The end of the Gulf War did not bring an end to the Wing's support in Southwest Asia. Monitoring the southern no-fly zone, the 1st provided six-month coverage every year under Operation Southern Watch . In October 1994, when Saddam Hussein tested U.S. resolve by placing forces near the Kuwaiti border, the Wing participated in a short-notice deployment, Operation Vigilant Warrior . When Iraqi troop movements began again in September 1996, the Wing was prepared to deploy under Operation Desert Focus . Following the end of the cold war, the Air Force underwent several reorganizations. Since Mar 1991, continued deployments of full- and partial-squadron elements on a rotational basis primarily to Southwest Asia as part of peacekeeping forces. Controlled an air rescue mission at Patrick AFB, FL, from Feb 1993, including deploying combat search and rescue forces to Southwest Asia, Iceland, and elsewhere, until those forces were reassigned on 1 April 1997. Fulfilled an operational support airlift role, 1 April 1993-1 April 1997. Tested the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) rapid deployment concept, Apr-Jun 1996. For several months following 11 September 2001 , performed homeland defense operations, maintained aircraft on alert, and flew combat air patrol missions. Deployed units and elements to support the war against terrorism. First wing to implement the Combat Wing Organization reorganization in 2003. Prepared to convert to the F-22 Raptor in 2004. HONORS Authorized to display honors earned by the 1st Operations Group prior to 15 August 1947 . Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. ;World War I: Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; Oise-Aisne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Lorraine Defensive Sector; Champagne Defensive Sector. ;World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy, 25 August 1943 ; Italy, 30 August 1943 ; Ploesti, Rumania, 18 May 1944 . ;Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Decorations. ;Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1975 - 31 October 1976 ; 15 June 1982 - 15 June 1984 ; 16 June 1984 - 15 June 1986 ; 1 June 1995 - 31 May 1997 ; 1 June 1998 - 31 May 2000 ; 1 June 2000 - 31 May 2001 . EMBLEM Approved for 1st Operations Group on 10 February 1924 and for 1st Fighter Wing on 22 May 1957 . COMPONENT UNITS The 1st Operations Group currently flies the F-15C/D Eagle in the 71st Fighter Squadron . The 27th Fighter Squadron is equipped with the F-22A Raptor; the 94th Fighter Squadron is in the process of converting to the F-22A. |
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