Lineage

Established as 23d Fighter Wing on 10 Aug 1948. Activated on 16 Aug 1948. Inactivated on 24 Sep 1949. Redesignated 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 19 Dec 1950. Activated on 12 Jan 1951. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Redesignated 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 28 Jan 1964. Organized on 8 Feb 1964. Redesignated 23d Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 1 Jun 1992. Redesignated 23d Wing, and activated, on 1 Jun 1992.

Assignments

Twentieth Air Force, 16 Aug 1948; Caribbean Air Command, 25 Apr?24 Sep 1949. Eastern Air Defense Force, 12 Jan 1951?6 Feb 1952. Tactical Air Command, 28 Jan 1964; Twelfth Air Force, 8 Feb 1964; 835th Air Division, 1 Jul 1964; Twelfth Air Force, 30 Jun 1971; Ninth Air Force, 1 Jul 1972? 1 Jun 1992. Ninth Air Force, 1 Jun 1992?.

Components

Groups. 18th Air Support: 12 Jun 1992?1 Feb 1994. 23d Fighter (later, 23d Fighter-Interceptor; 23d Operations): 16 Aug 1948?24 Sep 1949; 12 Jan 1951?6 Feb 1952; 1 Jun 1992?.

Squadrons. 6th Special Operations Training: 1 Jan?15 Sep 1974. 74th Tactical Fighter (later, 74th Fighter): 1 Jul 1972?15 Feb 1992 (detached 2 Jul?28 Dec 1973; 29 Aug 1990?20 Apr 1991). 75th Tactical Fighter (later, 75th Fighter) 1 Jul 1972?2 Dec 1991; 1 Apr 1992?1 Jun 1992. 76th Tactical Fighter (later, 76th Fighter): 1 Oct 1972?29 May 1992 (detached 27 Aug 1990?c. Apr 1991). 132d Fighter-Interceptor: attached 21 Jul 1951?6 Feb 1952. 134th Fighter-Interceptor: attached 1 Apr 1951?6 Feb 1952. 333d Tactical Fighter: 15 Oct 1970?22 Mar 1971. 357th Tactical Fighter: attached c. 8 Nov 1965?28 Jan 1966; assigned 15?22 Mar 1971. 419th Tactical Fighter Training: 15 Oct 1969?1 Oct 1971. 421st Tactical Fighter: 8 Dec 1957?16 Apr 1959. 560th Tactical Fighter: 8 Feb 1964?25 Sep 1968. 561st Tactical Fighter: 8 Feb 1964?1 Jul 1972 (detached 6 Mar?10 Jul 1965 and 9 Apr?30 Jun 1972). 562d Tactical Fighter: 8 Feb 1964?1 Jul 1972 (detached 13 Aug?6 Dec 1965). 563d Tactical Fighter: 8 Feb 1964?1 Jul 1972 (detached 8 Apr?15 Aug 1965). 4519th Combat Crew Training: 1 Aug 1967? 16 Oct 1969.

Stations

Northwest Guam AFB, Guam, 16 Aug 1948?3 Apr 1949; Howard AFB, CZ, 25 Apr?24 Sep 1949. Presque Isle AFB, ME, 12 Jan 1951?6 Feb 1952. McConnell AFB, KS, 8 Feb 1964; England AFB, LA, 1 Jul 1972?1 Jun 1992. Pope AFB, NC, 1 Jun 1992?.

Commanders

Col Romulus W. Puryear, 16 Aug 1948; Col John T. Shields, 22 Sep 1948; Col Angier H. Foster, 25 Apr 1949; Col Louis R. Hughes, Jr., c. 28 Apr? 24 Sep 1949. Col Charles H. MacDonald, 12 Jan 1951?6 Feb 1952. None (not manned), 28 Jan?7 Feb 1964; Col Olin E. Gilbert, 8 Feb 1964; Col Edmund B. Edwards, 17 Aug 1964; Col Deward E. Bower, 12 Jul 1965; Col Max T. Beall, 9 Oct 1967; Col James V. Hartinger, 28 Aug 1968; Col Walter D. Druen, Jr., 15 Jun 1970; Col Garry A. Willard, Jr., 21 Oct 1971; Col Harry W. Schurr, 28 Apr 1972; Col Louis W. Weber, 1 Jul 1972; Col Waymond C. Nutt, 20 Nov 1973; Col Charles W. McClarren, 28 Jun 1975; Col Bernard J. Bogoslofski, 12 Dec 1975; Col Paul L. Wieland, 1 Jan 1977; Col Jerry W. Osgood, 1 Jun 1979; Col Michael J. Dugan, 29 May 1980; Col Jimmie V. Adams, 30 Mar 1981; Col Peter K. Foley, 15 Apr 1983; Col James L. Jamerson, 31 May 1985; Col Glenn A. Profitt II, 20 Feb 1987; Col John L. Welde, 10 Jan 1989; Col David A. Sawyer, 2 Apr 1990; Col Richard C. Lemon, 27 Aug 1990; Col David A. Sawyer, c. 22 Apr 1991?1 Jun 1992. Brig Gen Bobby O. Floyd, 1 Jun 1992?.

Aircraft

F?47, 1948?1949; RF?80, 1949. F?86, 1951?1952; F?51, 1951?1952; F?80, 1951?1952. F?105, 1964?1972; AT?33, 1966?1969; T?39, 1966?1972; A?7, 1972?1981; A?37, 1974; A?10, 1980?1992. A/OA?10 1992?; C?130, 1992?.

Operations

Air defense of Guam, 1948?1949, and of the Canal Zone, 1949. Air defense of the northeastern United States, 1951?1952. Conducted basic training for about 500 Air Force recruits, 1951. Replaced 388th Tactical Fighter Wing in Feb 1964. Maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations, frequently deploying whole units or segments thereof to support contingency and combat operations in overseas areas, 1964?1965. Conducted F?105 replacement training, Jan 1966?Nov 1970, and training for ANG units, Nov 1970?Apr 1971. Maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations, 1970? 1972. Replaced 4403d Tactical Fighter Wing at England AFB, LA, in Jul 1972 and switched to A?7 aircraft operations. Also controlled an A?37B special operations training squadron in 1974. Converted to the A?10 Thunderbolt in 1980. Trained in close air support, joint anti-armor operations and battle field air interdiction. Deployed elements in support of operations in Grenada, Oct?Nov 1983. Deployed two squadrons (74th and 76th) to Southwest Asia, Aug 1990?Apr 1991, where they performed close air support and joint anti-armor operations. On 1 Jun 1992, the wing inactivated at England AFB and activated at Pope AFB, SC, replacing the 317th Airlift Wing. As a composite wing continued A?10 Thunderbolt training while adding an OA?10 reconnaissance mission and a C?130 airlift mission. Supported numerous humanitarian missions, Dec 1992?.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1970?15 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1980? 30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1981?30 Jun 1983; 1 Apr 1989?31 Mar 1991.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 23d Operations Group prior to 16 Aug 1948.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; China Defensive; Western Pacific; China Offensive.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation; Hunan Province, China, 17? 25 Jun 1944.

Emblem

Azure a lightning flash palewise Or surmounted by a tiger salient to base proper, langued Gules winged Argent, all within a diminished bordure of the second. Approved for 23d Group on 24 Jan 1957 and used by 23d Wing since Jan 1964 (KE 17354). Motto: FLYING TIGERS. Approved on 10 Dec 1992.