53rd Wing

Last updated

53rd Wing
31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 09-5006.png
31st Test and Evaluation Squadron F-35 Lightning II [note 1]
Active1941–1944; 1955–1960; 1963–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleOperational test and evaluation
Size2100
Part of Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ Eglin Air Force Base
Motto(s)Defense by Offense (1941–1960)
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Organizational Excellence Award
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Matthew Bradley
Notable
commanders		 Paul V. Hester
Ronald Keys
Insignia
53d Wing emblem [note 2] [1] 53d Wing.png

The 53rd Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing reports to the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, which in turn reports to Headquarters Air Combat Command.

Contents

The 53d Wing serves as the focal point for the combat air forces in electronic warfare, armament and avionics, chemical defense, reconnaissance, and aircrew training devices. The wing is also responsible for operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these air forces. Current wing initiatives include advanced self-protection systems for combat aircraft, aircrew life support systems, aerial reconnaissance improvements, new armament and weapons delivery systems, and improved maintenance equipment and logistics support. The 53d Wing, which consists of four groups, numbers almost 2,000 military and civilians at 17 locations throughout the United States.

Units

History

World War II

The group was activated in 1941 as the 53d Pursuit Group with the 13th, [3] 14th, [4] and 15th Pursuit Squadrons [5] assigned. [6] The 53d trained fighter pilots with Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft from its activation until December 1941. [1] [7] After the United States entered World War II the group moved to the Panama Canal Zone to fly patrols in defense of the Panama Canal. [1] In conjunction with the move, the group converted to Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft. [7] There it was redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group. [6] The group returned to Florida in November 1942, where it became a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) training replacement fighter pilots. RTUs were oversized units whose mission was to train individual pilots or aircrews. [8] It used P-39s until June 1943 and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts thereafter. [7] In early 1943, the group added a fourth squadron, the 438th Fighter Squadron. [9]

The AAF found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit. [10] The group was disbanded in as a result of this reorganization in 1944 [1] and its personnel, equipment and mission were assumed by the 338th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter). [11]

Cold War Air Defense

The group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense) and activated [6] to replace the 521st Air Defense Group [12] at Sioux City Municipal Airport as part of Air Defense Command's Project Arrow to bring back on the active list fighter units that had achieved memorable records in the two World Wars. [13] The 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), already at Sioux City transferred from the 521st, [4] while the 13th FIS moved to Sioux City to replace the 519th FIS. [3] Both squadrons flew rocket armed and radar equipped F-86D Sabres. [14] Between August 1955 and April 1960 the 53d served as an air defense unit, participating in North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) exercises and testing automated air defense systems. [1] It also was the host organization for the USAF and was assigned several support units to carry out this function. [15] [16] [17] [18] In the fall of 1957 both of the group's squadrons upgraded their Sabres to F-86L models with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system. [14] In July 1959 the 13th FIS moved to Glasgow AFB, Montana and was reassigned. The group and its remaining components were inactivated in 1960. [1] In 1985, the group was redesignated as the 53d Tactical Fighter Group, but it was never active under that designation. [1]

Test and Evaluation

The USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center was activated in 1963 to improve use of USAF tactical aviation in support of ground forces by operationally testing weapon systems and tactics for the joint U.S. Strike Command. It employed a cross-section of tactical aircraft from Tactical Air Command (TAC) bases across the country. [1] During the Vietnam War it tested tactical weapons systems and tactics for use in Southeast Asia. [1] After the war it continued operational testing of new tactical aviation weapon systems. In 1977 the center began an annual series of Air Force-wide exercises to improve command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) techniques. [1] Around the same time it embarked on the electronic warfare evaluation program, and continued OT&E of aviation weapon systems for TAC and later Air Combat Command, the Department of Defense, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. [1] From 1983 to present, responsible for the operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of all Air Force aircraft/weapons systems, and providing range control for live-firing missile programs on the Gulf range and aerial targets, using full scale and subscale drones. [1] In September 1995, the 53d Tactical Fighter Group and USAF Air Warfare Center were consolidated and the consolidated unit was redesignated as the 53d Wing the following month. [1]

In 2021 on the activation of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, the 53rd Electronic Warfare Group was inactivated, broken up, and its units transferred to the new wing.

Lineage

Group

Activated on 15 January 1941
Redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group on 15 May 1942
Disbanded on 1 May 1944
Activated on 18 August 1955
Discontinued on 1 April 1960
Redesignated as the 53d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 31, 1985
Consolidated with the USAF Air Warfare Center on 25 September 1995 (consolidated unit designated the USAF Air Warfare Center) [1]

Center

Redesignated as the USAF Air Warfare Center on 1 October 1991
Consolidated with the 53d Tactical Fighter Group on 25 September 1995 [1]

Consolidated Wing

Assignments

Stations

Components

Wing

Groups

Squadrons

Fighter Squadrons
Test Squadrons

Flight

Support Units

Aircraft flown

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 1998 – 31 May 200053d Wing [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 June 2002 – 31 May 200453d Wing [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 June 2004 – 31 May 200653d Wing [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award 1 January 1981 – 1 January 198353d Wing [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award28 February 1984 – 28 February 1986USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award1 March 1986 – 28 February 1988USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award1 January 1989 – 31 December 1990USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award1 January 1992 – 31 December 1993USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center [1]
AFOEA Streamer.jpg Air Force Organizational Excellence Award1 January 1994 – 30 April 1995USAF Air Warfare Center [1]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
American Campaign Streamer.png Antisubmarine7 December 1941 – 10 November 194253d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group) [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">412th Test Wing</span> Unit of the US Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, CA

The 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">326th Aeronautical Systems Wing</span> Military unit

The 326th Aeronautical Systems Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was last assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where it was inactivated in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">148th Fighter Squadron</span> Arizona Air National Guard unit

The 148th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162d Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. The 148th is equipped with the Block 20 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. The squadron was first organized in England during World War II, moving to North Africa shortly after the invasion. It participated in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The squadron returned to the United States after V-E Day and was inactivated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">422d Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The squadron performs operational testing of all fighter aircraft and munitions entering and in operational use by Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31st Combat Training Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 31st Combat Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is currently assigned to the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">59th Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Air Combat Command 53d Wing, 53d Test Management Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">431st Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

The 431st Test and Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command 57th Fighter Wing stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It was inactivated on 30 June 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 15th Test and Evaluation Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida and assigned to the 753rd Test and Evaluation Group. It was first activated in the expansion of the United States military forces prior to World War II as the 15th Pursuit Squadron. It moved to Panama in 1942, where it participated in the defense of the Panama Canal. It returned to the United States, where it was a Replacement Training Unit for fighter pilots until 1944, when it was disbanded as the 15th Fighter Squadron in a reorganization of Army Air Forces training units in 1944

<span class="mw-page-title-main">83d Fighter Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The 83d Fighter Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group and stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">433rd Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The 433rd Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">460th Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 460th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It was previously assigned to Tactical Air Command's 325th Fighter Weapons Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it was inactivated on 15 October 1982. On 11 August 2023, it was reactivated and assigned to the 926th Operations Group, 926th Wing at Nellias AFB, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Test and Evaluation Group</span> Military unit

The 53rd Test and Evaluation Group is a group of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53rd Wing, and is headquartered at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Weapons Evaluation Group</span> United States Air Force unit

The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group is a United States Air Force unit that reports to the 53rd Wing. It is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The unit is part of Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">521st Air Defense Group</span> Military unit

The 521st Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was originally activated as the 521st Air Service Group, a support unit for the 310th Bombardment Group at the end of World War II in Italy and then redeployed to the United States where it was inactivated in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">567th Cyberspace Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 567th Cyberspace Operations Group is a United States Air Force organization at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, assigned to the 67th Cyberspace Wing. It was activated in June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">564th Air Defense Group</span> Military unit

The 564th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was originally activated as the 564th Air Service Group, a support unit for a combat group at the end of World War II but never deployed before it was inactivated in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52nd Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 52d Operations Group is the flying component of the 52d Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). The group is stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">66th Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 66th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force Weapons School Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II instructional flying unit, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123d Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 32d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force (USAF). It is assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to activate or inactivate at any time. It was last active as the 32d Air And Space Operations Center in December 2006 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Aircraft is Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II, serial 09-5006.
  2. ↑ Approved 26 May 1964.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Robertson, Patsy (24 February 2009). "Factsheet 53 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  2. 1 2 3 Bray, Capt Savannah (1 October 2021). "53d Test Management Group now the 753d Test and Evaluation Group". 53rd Wing public Affairs. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 73
  4. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 78
  5. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 83–84
  6. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 115–116
  7. 1 2 3 "Abstract, History 53 Fighter Group 1941-1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  8. ↑ Craven & Cate, Vol. VI, p. xxxvi
  9. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 543
  10. ↑ Craven & Cate, p. 75
  11. ↑ "Abstract, History Sections T and O 338 AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter)". Air Force History Index. 1 May 1944. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  12. ↑ Cornett & Johnson, p. 82
  13. ↑ Buss (ed), Sturm, Volan & McMullen, p. 6
  14. 1 2 Cornett & Johnson, p. 114
  15. 1 2 See "Abstract, History 53 Infirmary Jul-Dec 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Abstract, History 53 Infirmary Jul-Dec 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  17. 1 2 Cornett & Johnson, p. 136
  18. 1 2 Cornett & Johnson, p. 145
  19. ↑ Lahue, Melissa (14 December 2021). "Factsheet 15 Test and Evaluation Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.