405th Air Expeditionary Wing

405th Air Expeditionary Wing
Emblem of the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Thumrait AB, Oman
Mascot(s)	NOVERE ET AGGREDI - "Deploy and Attack"
Commanders
Notable commanders	James Ferguson James E. Hill William T. Hobbins Chuck Horner Chuck Yeager

Air Force security forces from the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing listen to instruction during guard mount at an Operation Enduring Freedom location. A guard mount is conducted to brief security forces troops before a shift change.

The 405th Air Expeditionary Wing (405 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. It may be activated or inactivated at any time.

Currently, it is believed that the 405 AEW is stationed at Thumrait AB, Oman. Its current mission and operational components are undetermined, however it appears to be a combat organization flying strategic bombers and support aircraft.

Overview

Through its Operational component, 405th Air Expeditionary Operations Group (405 AEOG), the 405 AEW is believed to control Boeing B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress operations over combat areas in the Middle East and Central Asia as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Aircraft and personnel are drawn from both CONUS-based units as well as units assigned to USAFE or PACAF on regular deployment cycles. The unit's organization structure has not been disclosed.

History

For additional history and lineage, see 405th Air Expeditionary Operations Group

Lineage

• Established as 405th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Oct 1952

Activated on 1 Dec 1952

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1958

• Redesignated 405th Fighter Wing on 11 Mar 1959

Activated on 9 Apr 1959

Inactivated on 16 Sep 1974

• Redesignated 405th Tactical Training Wing, and activated on 29 Aug 1979

Inactivated 1 Oct 1991

• Redesignated 405th Air Expeditionary Wing and converted to provisional status in Sep 2001

Components

• 1st Test: 30 April 1970-16 September 1974
• 8th Bombardment (later, 8th Special Operations; 8th Fighter): 18 November 1964-15 January 1968
• 13th Bombardment (later, 13th Fighter): 18 November 1964-15 January 1968
• 20th Operations: 31 December 1971-16 September 1974
• 64th Tactical Fighter: 10 June 1966-15 December 1969
• 90th Tactical Fighter: 15 December 1972-16 September 1974
• 425th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 August 1979-30 September 1991
• 426th Tactical Fighter Training: 1 January 1981-29 November 1990
• 461st Tactical Fighter Training: 29 August 1979-30 September 1991
• 508th: 8 October 1957-1 April 1958
• 509th: 8 October 1957-1 July 1958, 9 April 1959-24 July 1970
• 510th: 8 October 1957-1 July 1958, 9 April 1959-16 March 1964
• 511th: 8 October 1957-1 July 1958
• 523d Tactical Fighter: 8 October 1957-1 July 1958, 20 November 1965-31 August 1973
• 550th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 August 1979-30 September 1991
• 555th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 August 1979-30 September 1991
• 774th Tactical Airlift: 31 December 1971-15 September 1972
• Note: Numerous Temporary Duty (TDY) Squadrons Attached During Vietnam War.

Aircraft

• F-15E (1979-1991)
• C-9A (1972-1974)
• C-118 (1972)
• C-130 (1972)
• B-57 (1964-1968)

• F-4 (1965; 1967-1974)
• F-102 (1960-1970)
• F-86 (1959-1960)
• F-100 (1959-1967)

Operations

Cold War

Operated Godman AFB, Ky, Dec 1952-Apr 1953, and Langley AFB, Va, May 1953-Oct 1957. At the latter base, replaced 4430th Air Base Wing and operationally controlled numerous tactical and support components until Oct 1957.

Operations included gunnery and bombardment training, firepower demonstrations, weapons delivery training, and numerous tactical exercises, 1952-1958, plus air refueling, 1954-1958.

405th Fighter Wing (1959-74)

Replaced 6200th Air Base Wing at Clark AB, Philippines, in Apr 1959. Provided air defense and offensive fighter operations in the Philip-pines, Taiwan, and other Far Eastern points, Apr 1959-Jun 1962.

Operated Clark AB and its satellite facilities, Apr 1959-Mar 1965 and Dec 1971-Sep 1974.

Provided air defense training for Royal Thai Air Force personnel, from a base in Thailand, Nov 1961-Feb 1966.

From mid-1962 until the end of the conflict in Southeast Asia, frequently deployed assigned and attached components to bases in Southeast Asia for air defense and combat operations under operational control of other organizations.

405th Tactical Training Wing (1979-91)

Formed with the F-15B/D and F-5E squadrons of the 58th Tactical Training Wing and conducted Replacement Training Unit (RTU) operations. Later added the F-15E RTU mission and closed the F-5 school. Absorbed into the 58th TTW in 1991.

405th Air Expeditionary Wing (2001-?)

Supporting operations on three fronts of GWOT -- the Horn of Africa, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. B-1, KC-135, RJ-135 Aircraft, possibly others.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984