Lineage

Established as 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Inactivated on 8 Feb 1958. Redesignated 21st Tactical Fighter Wing on 19 May 1958. Activated on 1 Jul 1958. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 18 Jun 1960. Redesignated 21st Composite Wing, and activated, on 6 May 1966. Organized on 8 Jul 1966. Redesignated: 21st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1979; 21st Wing on 26 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 19 Dec 1991. Redesignated 21st Space Wing on 1 May 1992. Activated on 15 May 1992.

Assignments

Ninth Air Force, 1 Jan 1953; Twelfth Air Force, 12 Dec 1954; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Jan?8 Feb 1958. Fifth Air Force, 1 Jul 1958; 39th Air Division, 10 Nov 1958?18 Jun 1960. Alaskan Air Command (later, Eleventh Air Force), 6 May 1966?19 Dec 1991. Air Force Space Command, 15 May 1992; Fourteenth Air Force, 20 Sep 1993?.

Components

Groups. 21st Fighter-Bomber (later, 21st Operations): 1 Jan 1953?8 Feb 1958; 26 Sep?19 Dec 1991; 15 May 1992?. 343d Tactical Fighter: 15 Nov 1977?1 Jan 1980. 721st Space: 15 May 1992?24 Jun 1994.

Squadrons. 2nd Space Warning: 21 Jul 1995-. 5th Space Warning: 8 Jun 1995?. 8th Space Warning: 9 Jun?30 Sep 1995. 12th Space Warning: 8 Jun 1995?. 17th Troop Carrier (later, 17th Tactical Airlift): 8 Jul 1966?31 Mar 1975. 18th Tactical Fighter: 1 Oct? 15 Nov 1977; 1 Jan 1980?1 Jan 1982. 43d Tactical Fighter: 15 Jul 1970? 15 Nov 1977; 1 Jan 1980?26 Sep 1991. 54th Tactical Fighter: 8 May 1987? 26 Sep 1991. 72d: attached 15 Apr 1957?8 Feb 1958. 90th Tactical Fighter: 29 May?26 Sep 1991. 317th Fighter-Interceptor: 8 Jul 1966?31 Dec 1969. 416th: attached 15 Apr 1957?8 Feb 1958; assigned 1 Jul 1958?18 Jun 1960. 531st: attached 15 Apr 1957?8 Feb 1958; assigned 1 Jul 1958?18 Jun 1960. 5021st Tactical Operations: 1 Oct 1981?1 Jul 1988. 5040th Helicopter: 15 Jul 1969?30 Sep 1975. 5041st Tactical Operations: 1 Oct 1971?1 Oct 1977.

Stations

George AFB, CA, 1 Jan 1953?28 Nov 1954; Chambley AB, France, 12 Dec 1954?8 Feb 1958. Misawa AB, Japan, 1 Jul 1958?18 Jun 1960. Elmendorf AFB, AK, 8 Jul 1966?19 Dec 1991. Peterson AFB, CO, 15 May 1992?.

Commanders

Col James B. Buck, 1 Jan 1953; Col Robert R. Rowland, 27 Apr 1953; Col Robert N. Baker, 29 Jun 1956?8 Feb 1958. Col Frank J. Collins, 1 Jul 1958; Col William W. Ingenhutt, 21 Aug 1958; Col Dean Davenport, 28 Sep 1959? 18 Jun 1960. None (not manned), 6 May?7 Jul 1966; Col Donald H. Lynch, 8 Jul 1966; Col Charles W. Johnson, Jr., Jun 1968; Col Kennieth D. Dunaway, 23 Sep 1969; Col John A. Nelson, 15 Jan 1970; Col Kennieth D. Dunaway, 1 Sep 1970; Col James R. Larkins, 23 Jul 1971; Col James R. Brickel, 9 Aug 1971; Col David T. Stockman, 12 Jul 1972; Col Charles F. Loyd, 4 Jun 1973; Col Frederick C. Eaton, 1 Jul 1974; Col Edward L. Tixier, 1 Jul 1975; Col John T. Wotring, 29 Apr 1977; Col Michael A. Nelson,16 Apr 1979; Col Jerry D. Cobb, 20 Feb 1981; Col Robert W. Hibarger, 15 Apr 1982 (Interim); Col Evan J. Griffith, Jr., 22 Apr 1982; Col Wilfred K. Abbott, 16 Apr 1984; Col Pat R. Paxton, 10 Jul 1984; Col William R. Povilus, 19 Mar 1985; Col Stuart L. Alton, 17 Oct 1986; Col Harold S. Storer, Jr., 23 Aug 1988; Col Donald J. Creighton, 20 Mar 1990; Col Rodney P. Kelly, 26 Sep?19 Dec 1991; Brig Gen Ronald D. Gray, 15 May 1992?.

Aircraft

F?51, 1953; F?86, 1953?1958. F?84, 1958?1959; F?100, 1958?1960. F/TF?102, 1966?1969; C?130, 1966?1975; C?124, 1969?1971, 1971?1974; H?21, 1969?1970; F?4, 1970?1982; HH?3, 1970?1975; B?57, 1971?1975; C?118, 1971?1975; T?33, 1971?1988; T?39, 1971?1977; VC?118, 1972? 1975; EC?118, 1973?1975; CH?3, 1974?1975; EB?57, 1974?1976; C?12, 1977?1984; F?15, 1982?1991.

Operations

Maintained tactical proficiency and provided air defense augmentation in the United States, Jan 1953?Nov 1954. Became part of the NATO defense forces in Europe, performing special weapons tactical operations, Dec 1954?Jan 1958. Participated in numerous actual and simulated tactical air operations and provided air defense augmentation in Japan and Korea, Jul 1958?Jun 1960. In 1966, assumed air defense responsibility for Alaska and contiguous areas in support of the Commander-in-Chief, North American Air Defense and Aerospace Defense Commands through the Alaskan NORAD Region and ADCOM Region. Provided support for multi-service special operations in arctic regions and participated in numerous search and rescue efforts, 1966?1991. Maintained air defense and alert forces at forward operating bases in Galena and King Salmon, AK, 1977?1991. In 1978?1979 lent humanitarian support and assistance to Vietnamese refugees relocating to Canada. Transitioned to F?15 aircraft in 1982, expanding offensive role; conducted numerous training deployments nationwide and to the Far East. Inactivated in 1991. Activated in 1992 at Peterson AFB, CO, assuming a new role as space wing, providing command management of Air Force Space Command?s worldwide network of assigned missile warning, space surveillance, and communications units.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 8 Jul 1966?1 May 1967; 2 May 1967? 1 Jan 1968; 2 Jan?31 Dec 1968; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1969; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1970; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1971; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1972; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1974; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1975; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1978; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1980; 1 Jul 1982?30 Jun 1983; 1 Oct 1985?31 Dec 1986; 1 Jan 1987?31 Dec 1988.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 21st Operations Group prior to 1 Jan 1953.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 7 Apr 1945.

Emblem

Azure, a broad sword Argent, hilt and pommel Or, between four lighting flashes bendwise Gules, two and two, all within a diminished bordure of the third. Motto: FORTITUDO ET PREPARATIO ? Strength and preparedness. Approved on 23 Jul 1957 (9297 AC).