51st Fighter Wing: Difference between revisions
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=== World War II === |
=== World War II === |
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During 1941, trained in the United States for fighter operations. After the Pearl Harbor attack of 7 Dec 1941, served as part of the defense force for the west coast. |
During 1941, trained in the United States for fighter operations. After the Pearl Harbor attack of 7 Dec 1941, served as part of the defense force for the west coast. Operational squadrons of the group were the 16th, 25th, 26th and 449th. |
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Moved to India via Australia and Ceylon, Jan-Mar 1942. Defended the Indian terminus of the "Hump" airlift route over the Himalaya Mountains between India and China and airfields in that area. Flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. |
Moved to India via Australia and Ceylon, Jan-Mar 1942 and assigned to [[Tenth Air Force]] equipped with P-40s and P-38s. Defended the Indian terminus of the "Hump" airlift route over the Himalaya Mountains between India and China and airfields in that area. Flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943. |
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After moving to China in Oct 1943 |
After moving to China in Oct 1943 was reassigned to [[Fourteenth Air Force]]. The grop defended the Chinese end of the Hump route and air bases in the Kunming area. Attached Japanese shipping in the Red River delta of Indochina and supported Chinese ground forces in their late 1944 drive along the Salween River. Equipped with P-51s in 1945 to defend the eastern end of the route over the Hump, guard air bases in the Kunming area, harass Japanese shipping in the Red River delta, and support Chinese ground forces in their drive along the Salween River. |
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Returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the US in Nov. Inactivated on 13 Dec 1945. |
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Between 1946 and 1950 |
Reactivated in Japan. Between 1946 and 1950 trained and served as part of the occupation force and provided air defense for Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. |
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=== Korean War === |
=== Korean War === |
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Revision as of 18:01, 20 July 2007
| 51st Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 15 January 1941 — present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Osan Air Base South Korea |
| Motto(s) | Leading The Charge |
The 51st Fighter Wing (51 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
The 51st Fighter Wing is under United States Pacific Air Forces Seventh Air Force. The unit is the most forward deployed wing in the world, providing combat ready forces for close air support, air strike control, counter air, interdiction, theater airlift, and communications in the defense of the Republic of Korea. The wing executes military operations to beddown, maintain and employ follow-on forces for the combined arms base that includes three major flying tenants and large multiservice fighting units.
The wing is equipped with 24 PAA, F-16 and A-10 squadrons, along with a C-12 airlift flight and a myriad of base support agencies conducts the full spectrum of missions providing for the defense of the Republic of Korea.
Mission
The mission of the 51st FW is to provide mission ready Airmen to execute combat operations and receive follow-on forces
Units
The 51st Fighter Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs maintenance of aircraft, ground equipment and aircraft components. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. While the Medical Group provides medical and dental care
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History
Lineage
- 51st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) (January 1941)
- 51st Pursuit Group (Fighter) (March 1941)
- 51st Fighter Group (May 1942)
- 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Feburary 1950)***
- 51st Air Base Wing (October 1971)
- 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) (September 1974)
- 51st Tactical Fighter Wing (July 1982)
- 51 Fighter Wing (October 1993)
.*** Honors, Lineage and History of USAAF World War II 51st Fighter Group bestowed on 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 1952
Stations Assigned
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World War II
During 1941, trained in the United States for fighter operations. After the Pearl Harbor attack of 7 Dec 1941, served as part of the defense force for the west coast. Operational squadrons of the group were the 16th, 25th, 26th and 449th.
Moved to India via Australia and Ceylon, Jan-Mar 1942 and assigned to Tenth Air Force equipped with P-40s and P-38s. Defended the Indian terminus of the "Hump" airlift route over the Himalaya Mountains between India and China and airfields in that area. Flew strafing, bombing, reconnaissance, and patrol missions in support of Allied ground troops during a Japanese offensive in northern Burma in 1943.
After moving to China in Oct 1943 was reassigned to Fourteenth Air Force. The grop defended the Chinese end of the Hump route and air bases in the Kunming area. Attached Japanese shipping in the Red River delta of Indochina and supported Chinese ground forces in their late 1944 drive along the Salween River. Equipped with P-51s in 1945 to defend the eastern end of the route over the Hump, guard air bases in the Kunming area, harass Japanese shipping in the Red River delta, and support Chinese ground forces in their drive along the Salween River.
Returned to India in the fall of 1945 and sailed for the US in Nov. Inactivated on 13 Dec 1945.
Reactivated in Japan. Between 1946 and 1950 trained and served as part of the occupation force and provided air defense for Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands.
Korean War
In September 1950, the 51st FIW moved from Okinawa to Japan. It entered combat service flying the F-80C Shooting Star in the Korean War on 22 September of that year, when it moved to Itazuke AB, Japan, to support the breakout of the U.S. Eighth Army from the Pusan Perimeter. For nearly 4 years thereafter, the 51st FIW played a key role in the defense of South Korea despite moving to four different locations within a year and operating under austere conditions.
The wing moved to South Korea in October only to return to Japan in December, leaving combat elements behind. In May 1951, the 51st FIW moved to Suwon AB, southwest of Seoul, but retained maintenance and supply elements at Tsuiki AB, Japan, to provide rear echelon support. In November 1951 the 51st FIW transitioned to the F-86 Sabre with two squadrons, adding a third squadron the following May.
Operated a detachment at Suwon AB, Korea, beginning in May 1951, and relocated there in Oct 1951, with maintenance and supply elements remaining in Japan until Aug 1954. Ceased combat 27 Jul 1953. The 51 FIW's war record was impressive. Wing pilots flew more than 45,000 sorties and shot down 312 MiG-15s; this produced 14 air aces including the top ace of the war, Captain Joseph C. McConnell. The ratio of aerial victories to losses was 10 to 1. Unfortunately, the wing lost 32 pilots to enemy action; however, nine that became prisoners of war were repatriated later.
Cold War
On 1 August 1954, the 51 FIW returned to Naha Air Base to resume air defense coverage of the Ryukyu Islands. At the same time, the wing demonstrated its mobility readiness in response to three regional crises.
From August 1958 to January 1959, the 51 FIW deployed eight F-86Ds to Taiwan to fly combat air support missions for Nationalist Chinese forces after mainland Communist Chinese forces shelled the Nationalist-held islands of Quemoy and Matsu. Six years later, the wing deployed 12 F-102s to the Philippines and South Vietnam from August to October 1964 for air defense against possible Communist North Vietnamese air attacks.
Finally, on 23 January 1968, North Korean naval forces seized the USS Pueblo. From January to February 1968, the 51st dispatched 12 F-102s to Suwon AB, South Korea.
The 51 FIW ended almost 17 years of service in the Pacific from Naha when it inactivated on 31 May 1971.
Redesignated and activated as the 51st Air Base Wing on 1 November 1971, the 51st assumed the host responsibilities of the inactivated 6314th Support Wing at Osan AB, to include the Koon-ni range and a variety of remote sites. In the first of many changes in name and combat capability over the next 20 years, the 51 ABW became the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) on 30 September 1974, when an F-4E fighter squadron and OV-10 tactical air support squadron were assigned. The defining changes of these decades included the addition of a squadron of A-10s on 1 January 1982, then based at Suwon AB; the transition from the F-4E to the F-16 in August 1988; and the assignment of a flight of turboprop C-12Js in August 1992.
Post Cold War Era
On 1 October 1993, after a half-dozen name changes, the wing returned to its original and current designation as the 51st Fighter Wing. Since then, the 51st has stayed true to its proud heritage, ensuring the defense of South Korea as a proven combat force and as an able host ready to receive and integrate follow-on forces on the peninsula.
See Also
References
Source: 51 FW History Office