Lineage

Established as 57th Fighter Wing c. 15 Mar 1948. Organized on 20 Apr 1948. Redesignated 57th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1951. Redesignated 57th Fighter Weapons Wing on 22 Aug 1969. Activated on 15 Oct 1969. Redesignated: 57th Tactical Training Wing on 1 Apr 1977; 57th Fighter Weapons Wing on 1 Mar 1980; 57th Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991; 57th Wing on 15 Jun 1993.

Assignments

Alaskan Air Command, 20 Apr 1948?1 Jan 1951. USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Fighter Weapons; USAF Weapons and Tactics; Air Warfare) Center, 15 Oct 1969?.

Components

Groups. 57th Fighter (later, 57th Fighter-Interceptor; 57th Operations): 20 Apr 1948?1 Jan 1951 (detached 10 Dec 1950?1 Jan 1951); 1 Nov 1991?. 57th Test: 1 Nov 1991?. 4440th Tactical Fighter Training (Red Flag): attached 1 Oct 1979?28 Feb 1980, assigned 1 Mar 1980?1 Nov 1991. 4443d Tactical Training: 26 Jan 1990?1 Nov 1991.

Squadrons. 4th Troop Carrier: attached 2 Dec 1948?28 Feb 1949 and 14 Aug?14 Nov 1949. 7th Troop Carrier: attached 28 Feb?1 Jun 1949. 8th Troop Carrier: attached 1 Sep?2 Dec 1948 and 1 Jun?15 Aug 1949. 37th Troop Carrier: attached 4 Jul?1 Sep 1948. 54th Troop Carrier: attached c. 20 Apr?c. 1 Jul 1948 and 20 Sep 1949?31 Dec 1950. 64th Fighter Weapons (later, 64th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor; 64th Aggressor): 15 Oct 1972?5 Oct 1990. 65th Fighter Weapons (later, 65th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor; 65th Aggressor): 15 Oct 1969?7 Apr 1989. 66th Fighter Weapons: 15 Oct 1969?30 Dec 1981. 414th Fighter Weapons: 15 Oct 1969? 30 Dec 1981. 422d Fighter Weapons (later, 422d Test and Evaluation): 15 Oct 1969?1 Nov 1991. 431st Fighter Weapons (later, 431st Test and Evaluation): 1 Oct 1980?1 Nov 1991. 433d Fighter Weapons: 1 Oct 1976? 30 Dec 1981. 4460th Helicopter: 1 Nov 1983?1 Jun 1985. 4477th Test and Evaluation Flight (later, Squadron): 1 Apr 1977?15 Jul 1990. USAF Air Demonstration: 15 Feb 1974?.

Schools. USAF Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Weapons): 30 Dec 1981?; USAF Combat Rescue: 2 Jul 1993?15 Jul 1995.

Stations

Elmendorf AFB, AK, 20 Apr 1948?1 Jan 1951. Nellis AFB, NV, 15 Oct 1969?.

Commanders

Col Thomas L. Mosley, 20 Apr 1948; Col Harry W. Generous, 10 Sep 1948; Brig Gen Donald R. Hutchinson, 24 May 1949; Col James T. Posey, 18 Sep 1950; Col James W. Andrew, 18 Dec 1950?1 Jan 1951. Col William B. Williamson, Sr., 15 Oct 1969; Col Brian J. Lincoln, 1 Feb 1970; Col Freddie L. Poston, 16 Feb 1971; Col David D. Young, 23 May 1972; Col Wilford E.Deming III, 5 Jul 1973; Col William L. Strand, 3 Mar 1975; Col Ronald M. Clements, 5 Aug 1977; Brig Gen Thomas S. Swalm, 26 Feb 1979; Brig Gen Charles J. Cunningham, Jr., 15 Jan 1980; Brig Gen Michael P.C. Carns, 14 Oct 1980; Brig Gen Michael C. Kerby, 10 May 1982; Brig Gen Joseph W. Ashy, 24 May 1984; Brig Gen Joel T. Hall, 22 Jan 1986; Brig Gen John P. Jumper, 8 Feb 1988; Brig Gen W. Thomas West, 21 May 1990; Brig Gen Anthony J. Tolin, 12 Nov 1991?.

Aircraft

F?51, 1948; F?80, 1948?1950; C?47, 1948; C?54, 1948, 1949?1950; C?82, 1948?1949, 1950. A?7, 1969?1975; F?4, 1969?1985, 1992?; F?100, 1969; F?105, 1969?1975; F?111, 1969?; T?39, 1969?c. 1972; T?38, 1972?1990; F?5, 1975?1989; F?15, 1976?; A?10, 1977?; F?16, 1980?; UH?1, 1981? 1985, F?117, 1991?; HH?60, 1993?;

Operations

Replaced 57th Fighter Wing (Provisional) in Apr 1948. Operated Elmendorf AFB, AK, and several satellite bases, and provided air defense of Alaska, Apr 1948?Dec 1950. Also provided intra-theater troop carrier and airlift support, 1948?1950, using several attached troop carrier squadrons. Replaced by 39th Air Depot Wing in Jan 1951. Replaced 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, NV, in Oct 1969. Trained tactical fighter aircrews, conducted operational tests and evaluations, demonstrated tactical fighter weapon systems, and developed fighter tactics. From Feb 1970 to Oct 1979, operated Nellis AFB for all base tenants. Operated USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (the "Thunderbirds"), Feb 1974?. Assumed operational control of "RED FLAG" exercises in Oct 1979; developed realistic combat training operations featuring adversary tactics, dissimilar air combat training, and electronic warfare. Incorporated intelligence training after Mar 1980. In Dec 1981, a major portion of the 57th?s training function was formally named the USAF Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Weapons) School in recognition of the wing?s long-standing training mission; this change incorporated the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course conducted at Mountain Home AFB (Det 2). In 1990 the aggressor mission transferred to 4440th TFTG and later to the 414th CTS. Gained F?4G Wild Weasel aircraft Aug 1992 and in Feb 1993, adding instruction in hunter/killer counter electronic warfare tactics. Added the 66th Rescue Squadron, equipped with HH?60 helicopters, on 1 Feb 1993 while the squadron was deployed in Southwest Asia.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 25 Oct 1969?25 Sep 1971; 1 Jun 1984? 31 May 1986; 1 Jan 1989?31 Dec 1990.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display the honors earned by the 57th Operations Group prior to 20 Apr 1948.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, 24 Oct 1942?17 Aug 1943; Tunis and Cape Bon Area, 18 Apr 1943; Italy, 14 Apr 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Oct 1942?May 1945.

Emblem

Silver Gray, a target Sable and Or surmounted in sinister chief by a projectile descending bend sinisterwise Gules, emitting four speed lines of the second, all within a diminished bordure of the third. Approved on 2 Sep 1970 (KE 8059); replaced emblem approved on 2 Feb 1950.