Lineage

Established as 354th Fighter-Day Wing on 26 Sep 1956. Activated on 19 Nov 1956. Redesignated: 354th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Jul 1958; 354th Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1993. Activated on 20 Aug 1993.

Assignments

Ninth Air Force, 19 Nov 1956; Twelfth Air Force, 1 Jul 1960; Ninth Air Force, l Jan 1962; 833d Air Division, 1 Oct 1964; Fifth Air Force, 5 Jul 1968 (attached to 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, 5?24 Jul 1968; Detachment 1, HQ Fifth Air Force [Fifth Air Force ADVON], 25 Jul 1968?14 Jun 1970); Ninth Air Force, 15 Jun 1970?31 Mar 1993 (attached [as HQ 354th TFW (Advanced)] to Thirteenth Air Force, and further attached for control to Seventh Air Force, 14 Oct 1972?18 May 1974). Eleventh Air Force, 20 Aug 1993?.

Components

Groups. 354th Fighter-Day (later, 354th Operations): 19 Nov 1956?25 Sep 1957; 20 Aug 1993?. 455th: attached 19 Nov 1956?1 Jul 1957.

Squadrons. 16th: attached 29 May?14 Jun 1970. 20th Helicopter: 16 Jul 1959?8 Mar 1960. 68th: attached 20 Jun?9 Dec 1969. 74th: attached 5 Jul? 28 Dec 1973. 127th: 5 Jul 1968?10 Jun 1969. 166th: 5 Jul 1968?10 Jun 1969. 334th: attached 16 Dec 1969?31 May 1970. 335th: attached 8 Dec 1969?23 May 1970. 352d: 25 Sep 1957?15 Aug 1966 (detached 16 Jul? 26 Oct 1958, 14?23 Apr 1959, 12 Jan?14 May 1960, 30 Nov?5 Dec 1960, 15 Feb?4 Mar 1961, 14 Nov 1961?11 Mar 1962, 21 Oct?l Dec 1962, 14 Jan? 21 Apr 1963, 7?18 May 1963, 30 Jun?18 Sep 1963, 10 Dec 1963?12 Mar 1964, 20 Nov 1964?18 Mar 1965, and 14 Jul?13 Aug 1965). 353d: 25 Sep 1957?27 Apr 1966 (detached c. 9 Sep 1958?20 Feb 1959, 8?12 Jul 1959, 14 Sep 1959?19 Jan 1960, 15 Jul?16 Nov 1961, 8 Oct 1962?20 Jan 1963, 15 Sep?16 Dec 1963, 25 Aug?4 Dec 1964, 2?28 May 1965, 14 Jul?13 Aug 1965, and 25 Aug?6 Dec 1965); 15 Jul 1971?15 Dec 1992 (detached 15 Aug 1990?25 Mar 1991). 354th: attached 14 Jan?5 Jul 1973. 355th: 25 Sep 1957? 22 Apr 1968 (detached 15 Jul?26 Oct 1958, 19 May?17 Sep 1959, 10 Sep 1960?16 Jan 1961, 5 Sep?19 Nov 1961, 7 Jul?14 Oct 1962, 21 Oct?l Dec 1962, 6?20 Feb 1963, 3 Jul?17 Sep 1963, 8?15 Jun 1964, 15 Jun?28 Aug 1964, 2 Jul?25 Sep 1965, 4 Dec 1965?23 Apr 1966, and 3 Feb?22 Apr 1968); 1 Nov 1970?31 Mar 1992 (detached 16 Aug 1990?25 Mar 1991). 356th: 25 Sep 1957?29 Nov 1965 (detached 17 Jan?18 May 1959, 10 Oct? 13 Nov 1959, 1 May?14 Sep 1960, 9?17 Jun 1961, 5 Mar?11 Jul 1962, 21 Oct?l Dec 1962, 7 Apr?5 Jul 1963, 27 Oct?24 Nov 1963, 3 Mar?18 Jun 1964, 16 Mar?8 Jul 1965, and 14 Jul?13 Aug 1965); 15 May 1971?30 Jun 1992 (detached 7 Sep?14 Nov 1974 and 30 Aug?22 Sep 1976). 358th: attached 28 Dec 1973?15 May 1974. 478th: attached 21 May?14 Jun 1970. 511th: 15 Jun 1970?15 Jul 1971. 560th: attached 23 Jun?17 Dec 1969. 4430th Combat Crew Training: 15 Jun 1970?31 Jul 1972. 4456th: 15 Jan? 15 May 1971. 4554th Tactical Fighter Replacement: 15 May 1972?15 Oct 1975.

Stations

Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 19 Nov 1956?2 Jul 1968; Kunsan AB, South Korea, 2 Jul 1968?14 Jun 1970; Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, 15 Jun 1970?31 Mar 1993. Eielson AFB AK, 20 Aug 1993?.

Commanders

Col Francis S. Gabreski, 19 Nov 1956; Col Robert L. Petit, 13 Jul 1960; Brig Gen Gilbert L. Meyers, 3 Oct 1960; Col Joseph J. Kruzel, 1 Apr 1963; Col Franklin H. Scott, 12 Jan 1964; Col Herbert E. Ross, 15 May 1965; Col Harold L. Price, 27 Jul 1965; Col Warren R. Lewis, 29 Oct 1966; Col Edwin A. Schneider, 28 Nov 1966; Col William I. Williams, 1 May 1967; Col Wallace C. Bosworth, Jr., 19 Mar 1968; Col Waring W. Wilson, 22 Apr?2 Jul 1968 (additional duty); none (not manned), 3?4 Jul 1968; Col Donald W. Forney, 5 Jul 1968; Col Henry W. Ritter, 5 Jun 1969; Col Maurice G. Long, 14 Jun 1969; Col Albert R. Neville, Jr., 12 Jul 1969; Col Henry L. Warren, 25 Jan 1970; Col Evan W. Rosencrans, 15 Jun 1970; Col Thomas M. Knoles III, 21 Jun 1971; Col William D. Curry, Jr., 1 May 1973; Col Michael G. Filliman, 25 Oct 1974; Col Robert H. Reed, 5 Aug 1976; Col Michael P.C. Carns, 23 Mar 1979; Col Larry K. Barton, 7 Oct 1980; Col Roger A. Sorensen, 10 Jan 1983; Brig Gen Joel H. Hall, 6 Apr 1984; Col Joseph J. Redden, 7 Jan 1986; Col Robert G. Jenkins, 12 Feb 1988; Col Ervin C. Sharpe, Jr., 23 Feb 1990; Col John R. Dallager, 28 Aug 1991; Col Richard H. McDow, 8 Jul 1992; Col James A. Moen, 22 Sep 1992?31 Mar 1993.

Aircraft

RF?80, 1956?1957; F?100, 1957?1969; H?21, 1959?1960; F?4, 1969?1970; T/AT?33, 1970?1976; A?7, 1970?1978; A?10, 1977?1992.

Operations

Replaced the 342d Fighter-Day Wing in Nov 1956. Switched from Fighter-day to Fighter-bomber training in Jul 1958. From Jul 1958 through Apr 1966, had one or more squadrons constantly deployed overseas. During the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, part of the wing manned a provisional air division at McCoy AFB, FL. During the Dominican Republic crisis of 1965, the 354th deployed more than 400 people and 18 F?lOOs to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, and San Isidro AB, Dominican Republic. The conflict in Southeast Asia drained wing strength; one squadron moved to Japan in Nov 1965, another to Spain in Apr 1966, and another to South Vietnam in Aug 1966, leaving the wing with a single flying unit. This last squadron moved to South Vietnam in Apr 1968. The mobilized ANG 113th TFW moved to Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, in Apr 1968, absorbing resources of the 354th. The 354th had no units and existed primarily on paper until it moved to South Korea in early Jul 1968 to replace the 4th TFW. There, it was remanned primarily by ANG people on active duty under 4th TFW control. When the 4th TFW departed, the 354th assumed active F?100 operations. Its two ANG squadrons returned to the United States in Jun 1969, and for 10 days in South Korea the wing was again without tactical components. Several rotational squadrons provided the needed tactical force after this brief lapse. On 14 Jun 1970, the 354th passed its resources to the 54th TFW and returned to the United States without personnel or equipment, absorbing resources of the 4554th TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC. Charged with T/AT?33 combat crew training and with becoming proficient with A?7 aircraft; on 10 Oct 1972 the wing split into Advance and Rear echelons; the Advance element moved to Thailand and commenced combat operations in Southeast Asia on 16 Oct 1972. Interdicted lines of communications to halt the flow of North Vietnamese supplies to enemy units in the South; provided close air support to ground troops; and escorted surface ship convoys up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh. Continued combat in Vietnam until mid-Jan 1973, in Laos until 22 Feb 1973, and in Cambodia until 15 Aug 1973. The split-wing status continued until 23 May 1974; during this period, tactical units rotated between Thailand and the United States. Recombined at Myrtle Beach, the 354th continued routine A?7 operations until 1977, when it converted to A?10 aircraft. Participated in numerous tactical exercises in both the United States and overseas, focusing primarily on training for world contigencies. Elements of this wing participated in operations in Southwest Asia, 15 Aug 1990?25 Mar 1991, inflicting heavy damage to Iraqi armor and artillery emplacements, as well as cutting off enemy supply lines.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

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

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 10 Oct 1972?30 Apr 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1962?31 Dec 1963; 15 Jun 1970? 31 May 1972; 1 May 1974?30 Apr 1976; 11 May 1976?31 May 1977; 1 Jul 1985?30 Jun 1987; 1 May 1990?15 Mar 1992.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 354th Operations Group prior to 19 Nov 1956.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: ETO, [Dec] 1943?15 May 1944; France, 25 Aug 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 1 Dec 1943?31 Dec 1944.

Emblem

Argent between four bendlets Azure, Or, Vert and Gules a demi-horse rampant of the last in chief, and in base two swords saltirewise, White garnished Sable hilts of the second all within a diminished bordure of the third. Motto: VALOR IN COMBAT. Approved on 18 Oct 1957; slightly modified on 1 Jun 1971 (KE 5555).