63d Fighter Wing

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63d Fighter Wing
111th Fighter Squadron - North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-73656.jpg
111th Fighter Squadron, F-51D Mustang 44-73656, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, 1948
Active1942–1945; 1946–1950
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
TypeWing
RoleCommand and Control
Part of Texas Air National Guard
Engagements World War II

The 63d Fighter Wing (63 FW) is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. It was withdrawn from the Texas Air National Guard (TX ANG) and inactivated on 11 October 1950.

United States Air Force Air and space warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

Texas Air National Guard Air Force Militia

The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the State of Texas, United States of America. It is, along with the Texas Army National Guard, an element of the Texas National Guard. No element of the Texas Air National Guard is under United States Air Force command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Texas through the office of the Texas Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Texas Air National Guard is headquartered at Camp Mabry, Austin, and its commander is currently Major General John F. Nichols.

Contents

This wing is not related to the 63d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, or subsequent units that was constituted on 10 May 1949 and activated on 27 June 1949.

History

World War II

Organized as a command and control organization for Twelfth Air Force. Deployed to Algeria in January 1943 and initially was used to organize air defense units. Transferred to XII Fighter Command and controlled fighter groups engaged in escort, patrol, strafing, and reconnaissance missions against enemy forces in North Africa. Later moved to Italy and participated in Italian Campaign, also in Rhone Valley Campaign in Southern France; Western Allied Invasion of Germany in the spring of 1945. Inactivated in November 1945.

Twelfth Air Force United States Air Force numbered air force

The Twelfth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

Air National Guard

Allocated to the Texas Air National Guard for command and control origination for units in the South Central region (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana) of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 24 May 1946.

At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Texas ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. Assigned units were federalized as a result of the Korean War and assigned to USAF Major Commands,

The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948. Known as the "Wing-Base" plan, it replaced the base plan used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the predecessor organization of the USAF.

Korean War 1950–1953 war between North Korea and South Korea

The Korean War was a war between North Korea and South Korea. The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of clashes along the border.

Lineage

Re-designated 63d Fighter Wing in July 1943
Inactivated on 11 December 1945.
Extended federal recognition and activated on 23 May 1948
Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force, on 31 October 1950

Assignments

First Air Force Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for the North American region

The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Contiguous United States (CONUS), United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

The XXII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based at Pomigliano Airfield, Italy. It was inactivated on 4 October 1945.

XII Tactical Air Command

The XII Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Bad Kissingen, Germany. It was inactivated on 10 November 1947.

Components

World War II

Texas Air National Guard

Stations

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References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/ .