Lineage

Established as 47th Bombardment Wing, Light, on 28 Jul 1947. Organized on 15 Aug 1947. Inactivated on 2 Oct 1949. Activated on 12 Mar 1951. Redesignated 47th Bombardment Wing, Tactical, on 1 Oct 1955. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 22 Jun 1962. Redesignated 47th Flying Training Wing on 22 Mar 1972. Activated on 1 Sep 1972.

Assignments

Twelfth Air Force, 15 Aug 1947?2 Oct 1949. Tactical Air Command, 12 Mar 1951 (attached to 49th Air Division, Operational, l2 Feb 1952?); Third Air Force, 5 Jun 1952 (remained attached to 49th Air Division, Operational, to 1 Jul 1956); Seventeenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1961?22 Jun 1962. Air Training Command, 1 Sep 1972; Nineteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1993?.

Components

Wing. 392d: attached 27 Jun?2 Oct 1949.

Groups. 47th Bombardment (later, 47th Operations): 15 Aug 1947?2 Oct 1949; 12 Mar 1951?8 Feb 1955; 15 Dec 1991?. 4400th Combat Crew Training: attached 12 Mar 1951?12 Feb 1952.

Squadrons. 19th Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 7 May 1954?1 Dec 1956. 84th Bombardment: attached 17 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?22 Jun 1962. 84th Flying Training: 2 Apr 1990?15 Dec 1991. 85th: attached 17 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?22 Jun 1962; assigned 1 Sep 1972?15 Dec 1991. 86th: attached 23 Mar 1954?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?22 Jun 1962; assigned 1 Sep 1972?15 Dec 1991. 87th: 2 Apr 1990?15 Dec 1991. 420th Air Refueling: attached 15 Mar 1960?7 Nov 1961, assigned 8 Nov 1961?22 Jun 1962. 422d: attached 20 Dec 1953? 23 Mar 1954.

Stations

Biggs Field (later, AFB), TX, 15 Aug 1947; Barksdale AFB, LA, 19 Nov 1948?2 Oct 1949. Langley AFB, VA, 12 Mar 1951?21 May 1952; Sculthorpe RAF Station (later, RAF Sculthorpe), England, 1 Jun 1952?22 Jun 1962. Laughlin AFB, TX, 1 Sep 1972?.

Commanders

Col William M. Prince, 15 Aug 1947; Col Newton Longfellow, Sep 1947; Col Willis F. Chapman, 19 Nov 1948?2 Oct 1949. Col Willis F. Chapman, 12 Mar 1951; Col Charles D. Jones, 1 Aug 1951; Col David M. Jones, 12 Feb 1952; Col John G. Glover, 16 Jun 1955; Brig Gen Joseph R. Holzapple, 30 Jun 1955; Col John G. Glover, Oct 1956; Col Reginald J. Clizbe, 29 Jun 1958; Col Kenneth C. Dempster, 19 Jun 1959; Col George H. Kneen, Jr., 1 Dec 1961?22 Jun 1962. Col Charles E. Woods, 1 Sep 1972; Col Harry Falls, Jr., 8 Jun 1973; Col Lawrence D. Garrison, 8 Jul l975; Col Ralf M. Miller, 16 Aug 1977; Col Chris O. Divich, 21 Mar 1979; Col Anthony J. Farrington, Jr., 14 Aug 1981; Col Albert A. Gagliardi, Jr., 1 Mar 1983; Col Jeffrey T. Ellis, 29 Nov 1984; Col John C. Griffith, 2 Jul 1986; Col Joseph S. Bleymaier, Jr., 24 Jul 1987; Col Willard Grosvenor, 1 Jun 1989; Col Donald G. Cook, 29 Jul 1991; Col Kenneth W. Hess, 29 Jul 1992?.

Aircraft

A (later, B)?26, 1947?1949; B?45, 1949. B?45, 1951?1958; B?26, 1951? 1952; RB?45, 1954?1956; B?66, 1958?1962; KB?50, 1960?1962. T?41, 1972?1973; T?37, 1972?; T?38, 1972?.

Operations

Trained in night tactical operations, conducted firepower demonstrations, and participated in tactical exercises, 1947?1949. Trained in light bombardment operations, becoming proficient with nuclear weapons, 1951?1952. Provided combat crew training in B?26 aircraft and operated USAF Air Crew School (Light Bombardment and Tactical Reconnaissance, Night Photographic), May 1951?Feb 1952. Moved to England in mid-1952, and, for the next decade, performed tactical training operations, including participation in exercises and firepower demonstrations in support of NATO. Converted from B?45 to B?66 aircraft in 1958. Also performed air refueling with KB?50s, 1960?1962. Replaced, and absorbed resources of, the 3646th Pilot Training Wing at Laughlin AFB, TX, on 1 Sep 1972 and conducted undergraduate pilot training for USAF, Air Force Reserve, and friendly foreign nation air forces. Supported Accelerated Co-Pilot Enrichment Program at numerous locations, 1976?1986.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Awards. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1958?30 Jun 1960; 1 Jan?31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976?28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1979?30 Apr 1980; 1 Apr 1986? 31 Mar 1988; 16 Mar 1989?15 Mar 1991; 1 Jul 1991?30 Jun 1993.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 47th Operations Group for the period prior to 15 Aug 1947.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat; EAME Theater.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa, 22 Feb 1943; Po Valley, 21?24 Apr 1945.

Emblem

Per bend Azure and Celeste, a lightning bolt issuing from chief bendwise throughout Argent between in sinister chief a stylized wing Or and in dexter base an olive branch Vert; all within a diminished bordure of the fourth. Approved on 2 Jan 1973 (KE 51229); replaced emblem approved on 23 Jan 1952 (9859 A.C.).