15th Wing
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The 15th Wing is a
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...
of the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...
at
Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH) is a United States military base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl Harbor, ...
, Hawaii. The wing reports to
11th Air Force The Eleventh Air Force (11 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska.This unit is not related to the Eleventh Air Force headquarte ...
, Headquartered at
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
, Alaska. Its history goes back to just before
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, when the 15th Pursuit Group was organized at
Wheeler Field Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National His ...
, Hawaii from elements of the
18th Pursuit Group 18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19. In mathematics * Eighteen is a composite number, its divisors being 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9. Three of these divisors (3, 6 and 9) add up to 18, hence 18 is a semiperfect number. ...
. The
group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
's combat effectiveness was largely destroyed during the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii ...
on 7 December 1941. Remanned and re-equipped as the 15th Fighter Group, it remained in the Hawaiian islands to provide for the
air defense Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...
of the islands, although it deployed squadrons and detachments to the Central and Western Pacific areas. It later became a
Twentieth Air Force The Twentieth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (20th AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. 20 AF's primary mission is Interco ...
very long range fighter group on
Iwo Jima Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high. ...
, escorting
Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fl ...
bombers that attacked the Japanese home Islands. In April 1945 the group earned a
Distinguished Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
for combat action over Japan. Following the end of the war, the group returned to Hawaii, where it was inactivated in 1946. The group was again activated in 1955 to replace the
518th Air Defense Group The 518th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, stationed at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was o ...
as part of
Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inac ...
's Project Arrow, which replaced units formed during the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...
with those that had a distinguished history in the two world wars. It performed the
air defense Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...
mission at
Niagara Falls Municipal Airport Niagara Falls International Airport is located east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civ ...
, New York until it was discontinued in 1960 and its mission assumed by the
New York Air National Guard The New York Air National Guard (NY ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of New York, United States of America. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. As state militia units, the units ...
. In July 1962,
Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 Ju ...
organized the
15th Tactical Fighter Wing 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky number, a pernicious num ...
as the second
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...
wing at
MacDill Air Force Base MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...
, Florida. Although its companion
12th Tactical Fighter Wing The 12th Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The wing is the parent organization for the 479th Flyin ...
was one of the first wings deployed during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, the 15th acted as an F-4 combat crew training unit during this era, although it assumed a tactical role during the
Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis (of 1962) ( es, Crisis de Octubre) in Cuba, the Caribbean Crisis () in Russia, or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day (16 October – 20 November 1962) confrontation between the United S ...
and the
Pueblo crisis USS ''Pueblo'' (AGER-2) is a , attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what was later known as the "''Pueblo'' incident" or alternatively, as the "''Pueblo'' cri ...
. In 1970 the wing was inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, which moved on paper to MacDill from
Hamilton Air Force Base Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...
, California. Little more than a year later, the wing returned to Hawaii as the 15th Air Base Wing, when it replaced the 6486th Air Base Wing as the host organization at
Hickam Air Force Base Hickam Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The installation merged in 2010 with Naval Station Pearl Harbor to become part of the newly formed Joint ...
. The wing has been stationed at Hickam (now Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam) since then. In 1984, the 15th group and 15th wing were consolidated into a single unit.


Mission

The mission of the 15th Wing is to develop and sustain combat-ready
airmen An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain air forces, it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank. An airman can also be referred as a soldier in other definitions. In civilian aviation usage, ...
, in partnership with the total force, to provide global mobility, global reach, precision engagement, and agile combat support anytime, anywhere. The 15th Wing partners with the
154th Wing The 154th Wing (154 WG) is a unit of the Hawaii Air National Guard, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii. If activated to federal service, the Wing is placed under the command of the Pacific Air ...
of the
Hawaii Air National Guard The Hawaii Air National Guard (HI ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Hawaii, United States of America. It is, along with the Hawaii Army National Guard, an element of the Hawaii National Guard. As state militia units, the units in th ...
to provide strategic and tactical airlift capability to
Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
and
Air Mobility Command Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri. Air Mobility Command was established on 1 June 1992, and was formed from elemen ...
and to support local and worldwide missions of combat support and humanitarian or disaster relief. To execute its mission, the wing has established priorities: First, execute the mission; second ensure readiness; third develop the wing's airmen; fourth, grow resilient airmen and families; and fifth, strengthen partnerships.


Units

The 15 Wing is composed of three
groups A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
and one direct reporting squadron each with specific functions. The operations group controls all flying and airfield operations. The maintenance group performs aircraft and aircraft support equipment maintenance. The medical group provides medical and dental care. The 15th Comptroller Squadron performs financial management for the wing. The remaining functions of the wing are staff agencies. * 15th Maintenance Group ** 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ** 15th Maintenance Squadron ** 15th Maintenance Operations Squadron *
15th Operations Group The 15th Operations Group (15 OG) is the flying component of the 15th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Thirteenth Air Force. The group is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It is also responsible for managing operational ma ...
** 15th Operations Support Squadron **
19th Fighter Squadron The 19th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force fighter jet squadron and is a part of the Pacific Air Forces' (PACAF) 15th Wing based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air ...
(F-22) **
65th Airlift Squadron The 65th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-37 aircraft providing executive airlift in the Pacific theater. Mission   The squadron's mission is to provide global air ...
(C-37, C-40) **
535th Airlift Squadron The 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlift in the Pacific theater. The squadron was first established during World War II as the ...
(C-17) (tail code: HH) * 15th Medical Group ** 15th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron ** 15th Medical Operations Squadron ** 15th Medical Support Squadron * 15th Comptroller Squadron Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam is also host to numerous tenant organizations. The Air Force side of the installation supports 140 tenant and associate units.


History


World War II

The unit was originally constituted as the 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter) and was activated at
Wheeler Field Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National His ...
, Hawaii, on 1 December 1940 as part of the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands.Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 59 The original squadrons of the group were the 45th, 46th,Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 204 and
47th Pursuit Squadron The 47th Fighter Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it flies Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and is assigned to the 442d Operations Group. The squadron was firs ...
s. The group drew its
cadre Cadre may refer to: *Cadre (military), a group of officers or NCOs around whom a unit is formed, or a training staff *Cadre (politics) In political contexts a cadre (, , ) consists of a person recognized as a capable militant within a political ...
from the
18th Pursuit Group 18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19. In mathematics * Eighteen is a composite number, its divisors being 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9. Three of these divisors (3, 6 and 9) add up to 18, hence 18 is a semiperfect number. ...
, which had been stationed at Wheeler since 1927. In addition to its primary combat aircraft the group flew the
Curtiss A-12 Shrike The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps' second monoplane ground-attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s. It was based on the Curtiss A-8 Shrike, A-8, but had a radial engine instead of the A ...
, Grumman OA-9 Goose, Martin B-12 and
Boeing P-26 Peashooter The Boeing P-26 "Peashooter" was the first American production all-metal fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane to enter squadron service with the United States Army Air Corps. Designed and built by Boeing, the prototype first flew in ...
during the prewar period. A little more than a year later, on 7 December 1941, the
group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
engaged in
combat Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
action during the Japanese attack on military installations in Hawaii. Bombing and
strafing Strafing is the military practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. Less commonly, the term is used by extension to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft such ...
attacks that morning by
carrier Carrier may refer to: Entertainment * ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos * ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game * ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
-based planes of the Japanese strike force destroyed many assigned aircraft and caused heavy casualties. However, twelve of the group's pilots succeeded in launching their
Curtiss P-36 Hawk The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, is an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation ...
and
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time an ...
aircraft from Wheeler and
Haleiwa Fighter Strip Haleiwa Fighter Strip was a military airfield on Oahu, Hawaii. It was used as part of the island's defense in World War II. History This obscure former military strip became famous during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Originally ...
, and flew 16 sorties, destroying 10 Japanese planes. Second Lieutenants George S. Welch and Kenneth M. Taylor, P-40 pilots assigned to the 47th Pursuit Squadron, shot down four and two Japanese aircraft, respectively, and were later cited for extraordinary heroism during the attack. Both received the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
. Because of the heavy casualties suffered by the group in the attack, it was remanned and reorganized. On 12 February 1942, the unit was redesignated the 15th Pursuit Group (Interceptor). Several months later, the unit was redesignated the 15th Fighter Group. That summer, the group's mission changed. Although defense of the islands continued to be an important responsibility, continuing to provide combat training for fighter pilots with the
Bell P-39 Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by t ...
, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and the
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt The P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Republic Aviation from 1941 to 1945. Early designs XP-47 (AP-10) In response to a USAAC requirement for a new fighter aircraft, Republic Aviation engineer Alexander Kartveli p ...
became the primary mission of the elements of the group remaining in Hawaii for the next two years. In August 1942, the
12th Fighter Squadron 012 may refer to: * Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car * The dialing code for Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassie ...
, which had deployed to the
Southwest Pacific Theater The South West Pacific theatre, during World War II, was a major theatre of the war between the Allies and the Axis. It included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies (except for Sumatra), Borneo, Australia and its mandate Territory of ...
and been attached to VII Fighter Command, was assigned to the group, although the squadron remained at
Christmas Island Christmas Island, officially the Territory of Christmas Island, is an Australian external territory comprising the island of the same name. It is located in the Indian Ocean, around south of Java and Sumatra and around north-west of the ...
during its assignment. The group also deployed other squadrons to the Central and South Pacific for operations against Japanese forces. The following March, the
6th Night Fighter Squadron Alec Trevelyan (006) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1995 James Bond film ''GoldenEye'', the first film to feature actor Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Trevelyan is portrayed by actor Sean Bean. The likeness of Bean as Alec Tr ...
was assigned to the group. During this assignment, which lasted a little more than a year, the 6th kept detachments of its
Douglas P-70 Havoc Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking * Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civil ...
s and
Northrop P-61 Black Widow The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night figh ...
s on
Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the se ...
and
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torres ...
. In March 1943, the 78th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the group.Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 179–180 The 78th in effect replaced the 46th Fighter Squadron, which moved to Makin Island and
Canton Island Canton Island (also known as Kanton or Abariringa), previously known as Mary Island, Mary Balcout's Island or Swallow Island, is the largest, northernmost, and , the sole inhabited island of the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It i ...
for operations against the Japanese, although the 46th remained assigned to the group until June 1944. In September, the 45th squadron also deployed to the western Pacific for combat operations, leaving the 47th and 78th with group headquarters in Hawaii. Then, in April 1944, the deployed elements of the 15th Fighter Group returned to Hawaii and began training for very long range bomber escort missions, obtaining
North American P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
s later in the year. In January 1945, ordered into combat, the group left Hawaii for
Saipan Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), commonwealth of the United States in the western Pa ...
in the
Marianas Islands The Mariana Islands (; also the Marianas; in Chamorro: ''Manislan Mariånas'') are a crescent-shaped archipelago comprising the summits of fifteen longitudinally oriented, mostly dormant volcanic mountains in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, betw ...
, remaining there until a landing strip could be secured by the
Marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refl ...
on
Iwo Jima Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high. ...
. The first fighter aircraft to arrive at Iwo Jima were P-51s of the 15th's 47th Fighter Squadron the morning of 6 March, with the 45th and 78th Squadrons following the next day. They supported
Marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...
ground units by bombing and strafing cave entrances, trenches, troop concentrations, and storage areas. By the middle of March, the group also began strikes against enemy airfields, shipping, and military installations in the
Bonin Islands The Bonin Islands, also known as the , are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands, some directly south of Tokyo, Japan and northwest of Guam. The name "Bonin Islands" comes from the Japanese word ''bunin'' (an archaic rea ...
. On 7 April 1945, the 15th flew its first Very Long Range (VLR) mission to Japan, providing fighter escort for the
Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fl ...
bombers that attacked the Nakajima aircraft plant near Tokyo, and was awarded the
Distinguished Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
. In late April and early May that year, the 15th struck Japanese airfields on
Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...
to curtail the enemy's
suicide attack A suicide attack is any violent attack, usually entailing the attacker detonating an explosive, where the attacker has accepted their own death as a direct result of the attacking method used. Suicide attacks have occurred throughout histor ...
s against the invasion force on
Okinawa is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 Square kilometre, km2 (880 sq mi). ...
and also hit enemy troop trains, small factories, gun positions, and hangars in the Bonins and Japan. During the summer of 1945, the 15th Fighter Group (along with the
21st Fighter Group 021 is: * in Brazil, the telephone area code for the city of Rio de Janeiro and surrounding cities (Greater Rio de Janeiro) * in China, the telephone area code for the city of Shanghai. * in Indonesia, the area code for the city of Jakarta and ...
and the VII Fighter Command) were reassigned to
Twentieth Air Force The Twentieth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (20th AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. 20 AF's primary mission is Interco ...
. The group continued its fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields and other targets, in addition to flying long-range B-29 Superfortress escort missions to Japanese cities, until the end of the war. After the war, the group remained on lwo Jima until 25 November 1945, when it transferred (without personnel and equipment) to
Bellows Field A bellows or pair of bellows is a device constructed to furnish a strong blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclosing an approximately airtigh ...
, Hawaii. There it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the
508th Fighter Group 5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on eac ...
. On 8 February 1946, the unit moved to
Wheeler Field Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National His ...
, where it remained until inactivated on 15 October 1946. Its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 81st Fighter Group, which assumed its mission.


Air Defense Command

The 15th was again activated on 18 August 1955 as the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) at
Niagara Falls Municipal Airport Niagara Falls International Airport is located east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civ ...
, New York, where it replaced the
518th Air Defense Group The 518th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, stationed at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was o ...
as a result of
Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inac ...
(ADC)'s Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list fighter units which had compiled memorable records during the two World Wars. There it was responsible for the air defense of an area that included Western and Northern New York and parts of Ontario, Canada. It was reunited with one of its former units, now designated the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS),Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 206 which was already at Niagara Falls, where it had been assigned to the 518th. The group was also assigned several support squadrons to perform its mission as USAF host unit for the active duty portions of Niagara Falls Airport.''See'' (later 15th USAF Dispensary)Cornett & Johnson, p. 135Cornett & Johnson, p. 145 The 47th FIS was equipped with
radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, Marine radar, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor v ...
equipped and
rocket A rocket (from it, rocchetto, , bobbin/spool) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entir ...
armed
North American F-86D Sabre The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog",) was an American transonic jet fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor ...
s.Cornett & Johnson, p. 115 In the fall of 1957, the squadron upgraded to
data link A data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving digital information (data communication). It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a recei ...
equipped F-86Ls and later, by the summer of 1958 to
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft designed and manufactured by Convair. Built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s, it entered service in 1956. Its main purpo ...
aircraft The group performed air defense operations for the
4707th Air Defense Wing The 4707th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts where it was discontinued in 1956. The wing ...
and
Syracuse Air Defense Sector The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command (ADC) 26th Air Division at Hancock Field, New York. SADS was established in October 1956 as the 46 ...
until July 1960, when it was discontinued. Its mission was assumed by units of ADC's
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
augmentation program.


Vietnam War Era

On 1 July 1962, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) was organized by
Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 Ju ...
at
MacDill Air Force Base MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...
, FloridaRavenstein, pp. 30–32 and assigned to the
836th Air Division The 836th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command (TAC) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it was inactivated on 1 May 1992. The division had been activa ...
. Operational squadrons of the wing and squadron tail codes were: * 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron (FC) * 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron (FD) * 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron (FE) *
43d Tactical Fighter Squadron The 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating ...
(FB)(Activated on 8 January 1964 as part of a wing transition from three squadrons of 25 aircraft each to four squadrons of 18 aircraft each.) *
421st Tactical Fighter Squadron The 421st Fighter Squadron is part of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It operates the Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The squadron is one of the most decorated fighter squadrons in the ...
(briefly assigned in 1967 on redeployment from
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
(SEA), then moved to
Homestead AFB Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...
, Florida The wing was initially equipped with the obsolescent
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version. ...
which were obtained from
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
units. In 1964 the wing upgraded to the McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II. The 15 TFW was the second wing to be equipped with the F-4. The mission of the 15 TFW was to conduct tactical fighter combat crew training. The wing participated in a variety of
exercise Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic ...
s,
operation Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
s and readiness tests of Tactical Air Command. The wing traine pilots and provided logistical support for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. It was reorganized as a mission-capable unit at the time of the
Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis (of 1962) ( es, Crisis de Octubre) in Cuba, the Caribbean Crisis () in Russia, or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day (16 October – 20 November 1962) confrontation between the United S ...
of 1962, returning afterwards to a training mission. With the departure of the 12 TFW in 1965, the 15 TFW's mission became acting as a replacement training unit for F-4 aircrews prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia. The wing deployed 16 F-4s at
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for U.S. Navy Lt. Seymour A. Johnson, a test pilot from Goldsboro who died in an airplane crash near Norbeck, Maryland, ...
, North Carolina, during the
Pueblo crisis USS ''Pueblo'' (AGER-2) is a , attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what was later known as the "''Pueblo'' incident" or alternatively, as the "''Pueblo'' cri ...
in 1968. In 1965, the wing deployed its 43d, 45th, 46th and 47th Tactical Fighter Squadrons to SEA, where they participated in the air defense commitment for the Philippines from
Clark AB Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located west of Angeles City, about northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air Forc ...
and flew combat missions from
Cam Rahn Bay Cam Ranh Bay ( vi, Vịnh Cam Ranh) is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in Khánh Hòa Province. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kil ...
Air Base in
South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam ( vi, Việt Nam Cộng hòa), was a state in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975, the period when the southern portion of Vietnam was a member of the Western Bloc during part of th ...
and
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility located near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 488 km (303 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The Laos border is about dire ...
in
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
. Members of the 45 TFS achieved the first U.S. Air Force aerial victories of the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
when they destroyed two MIGs on 10 July 1965. Captains Thomas S. Roberts, Ronald C. Anderson, Kenneth E. Holcombe, and Arthur C. Clark received credit for these kills. The 43d TFS was reassigned to
Elmendorf AFB Elmendorf Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally known as Elmendorf Field, it became Elmendorf Air Force Base after World War II. It is the home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Air Command (AL ...
, Alaska on 4 January 1970. Beginning in October 1968, when the 4424th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) was organized, the wing began Martin B-57G Canberra night intruder tactical bomber aircrew training. On 8 February 1969, the
13th Bombardment Squadron In music or music theory, a thirteenth is the note thirteen scale degrees from the root of a chord and also the interval between the root and the thirteenth. The interval can be also described as a compound sixth, spanning an octave p ...
, was organized as a tactical B-57 squadron (Tail Code: FK) Night Intruder tactical bomber aircrew training. The squadron and eleven aircraft deployed to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand on 1 October 1970. Three B-57Gs were left behind at MacDill with the 4424th CCTS as trainers. In 1969, the wing assumed host USAF responsibility for MacDill from the 836th AD and was assigned the 15th Combat Support Group to carry out this mission.Mueller, pp. 345–354 The 15th was inactivated on 1 October 1970, and was replaced by the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing when the 1st TFW was reassigned from ADC to Tactical Air Command and moved from
Hamilton AFB Hamilton Field (Hamilton AFB) was a United States Air Force base, which was inactivated in 1973, decommissioned in 1974, and put into a caretaker status with the Air Force Reserves until 1976. It was transferred to the United States Army in 1983 ...
, CA to MacDill.Ravenstein, p. 7 The 4424th CCTS remained at MacDill, coming under the 1st TFW and finally discontinuing on 30 June 1972 with the return of the B-57Gs to the United States (to Kansas ANG).


Pacific Air Forces

One year later, on 20 October 1971, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated the 15th Air Base Wing and activated at Hickam AFB, Hawaii on 1 November 1971. Assigned to
Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
(PACAF), the 15th assumed the personnel, equipment, mission, and duties previously performed by the 6486th Air Base Wing, which was simultaneously discontinued.''See'' Mueller, p. 236 This reactivation reestablished the organization in Hawaii, where the 15th Pursuit Group was formed in 1940, and the lineage, history and honors of the
15th Fighter Group 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky number, a pernicious nu ...
were bestowed on the Wing.This temporary bestowal ended in 1984 when the 15th Air Base Wing was consolidated with the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense), merging the two into a single unit. Ravenstein, Appendix V, USAF Bestowed History, pp. 315–317. The 15th Air Base Wing managed Hickam, Wheeler, Dillingham, and Johnston Island Air Force Bases,
Bellows Air Force Station Bellows Air Force Station (Bellows Field) is a United States military reservation located in Waimanalo, Hawaii. Once an important air field during World War II, the reservation now serves as a military training area and recreation area for a ...
, and several smaller subsidiary bases. It provided base level support for headquarters PACAF and more than 100 tenant organizations. Its 15th Operations Squadron provided special
airlift An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distan ...
for the Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC), and the USAF and
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
components of Pacific Command, initially with VC-118 aircraft until inactivating in 1975, when the wing absorbed its assets. Its 9th Airborne Command and Control Squadron provided
airborne command and control Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
support for CINCPAC. Responsibility for Johnston Island subsequently transferred to the Defense Nuclear Agency on 1 July 1973; but on that same date, the 15th ABW assumed operational responsibility for
Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of T ...
. Dillingham later transferred to Army control on 27 February 1975, as did
Wheeler AFB Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National His ...
on 1 November 1991. In 1999, the 15th ABW once again assumed responsibility for Johnston Island. Operational control of Wake Island transferred to the
36th Air Base Wing The United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of Pacific Air Forces' Eleventh Air Force. The 36th Wing provides day-to-day mission support to more than 9,000 military, civilian, dependent ...
(13th Air Force),
Andersen Air Force Base Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base This is a list of installations operated by the United States Air Force located within the United States and abroad. Locations where the Air Force have a notable ...
,
Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
, on 1 October 2000. From April to September 1975, the wing sheltered over 93,000 orphans, evacuees, and refugees from Southeast Asia as part of Operation Babylift and
Operation New Life Operation New Life (23 April – 1 November 1975) was the care and processing on Guam of Vietnamese refugees evacuated before and after the Fall of Saigon, the closing day of the Vietnam War. More than 111,000 of the evacuated 130,000 Vietna ...
. In 1980 the wing participated in Project Lagoon, a program to remove radioactive waste from
Enewetak Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; mh, Ānewetak, , or , ; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; ja, ブラウン環礁) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with it ...
Atoll. On 13 April 1992 the
15th Operations Group The 15th Operations Group (15 OG) is the flying component of the 15th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Thirteenth Air Force. The group is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It is also responsible for managing operational ma ...
was activated as the wing implemented the USAF objective wing organization. Upon activation, the group assumed was reassigned the wing's operational squadrons and the newly activated 15th Operations Support Squadron. It also managed operational matters at Hickam and Bellows in Hawaii and
Wake Island Airfield Wake Island Airfield is a military air base located on Wake Island, which is known for the Battle of Wake Island during World War II. It is owned by the U.S. Air Force and operated by the 611th Air Support Group. The runway can be used for em ...
. Its two flying squadrons provided airborne command and control and
airlift An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distan ...
for high-ranking officials. The group also provided
command and control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ...
hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
employs human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization o ...
for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands, including tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard alert F-15 aircraft. On 28 April 2003, the wing was redesignated the 15th Airlift Wing and begun preparation to stand up a first-of-its-kind active duty/associate
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of t ...
organization. Almost three years later, on 8 February 2006 the wing welcomed in the first of eight C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets changing Hickam's identity and mission from strictly en route support to include performing local and worldwide airlift operations in support of combat and humanitarian missions. On 18 May 2010, the wing was redesignated the 15th Wing in anticipation of the addition of air refueling and fighters to its airlift mission, which occurred on 23 July, when the 96th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the wing's operations group. Four days earlier, its 15th Mission Support Group was inactivated as Hickam Air Force Base became part of
Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH) is a United States military base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl Harbor, ...
and the
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
assumed most support responsibility for the installation. In October, the wing added
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). As the result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, th ...
s to the aircraft it flies when the
19th Fighter Squadron The 19th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force fighter jet squadron and is a part of the Pacific Air Forces' (PACAF) 15th Wing based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air ...
moved from
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
, Alaska to become an active duty associate unit of the Hawaiian Air National Guard's
199th Fighter Squadron The 199th Fighter Squadron (199 FS) is a unit of the Hawaii Air National Guard 154th Wing located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii. The 199th is equipped with the F-22A Raptor. Overview The 199th Fighter Squadron is a unit ...
.


Lineage

* Constituted as the 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter) on 22 November 1940 : Activated on 1 December 1940 : Redesignated: 15th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 12 February 1942 : Redesignated: 15th Fighter Group (Single Engine) on 15 May 1942 : Inactivated on 15 October 1946. * Redesignated 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 June 1955 : Activated on 18 August 1955 : Discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1960 : Consolidated with the 15th Air Base Wing as the 15th Air Base Wing on 31 January 1984 * Constituted as the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing and activated on 17 April 1962 (not organized) : Organized on 1 July 1962 : Inactivated on 1 October 1970 * Redesignated 15th Air Base Wing on 20 October 1971 : Activated on 1 November 1971 : Consolidated with the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 31 January 1984 : Redesignated 15th Airlift Wing on 28 April 2003 : Redesignated 15th Wing on 18 May 2010Lineage, assignments, stations, aircraft and awards are in Robertson, Factsheet, 15 Wing, except as noted.


Assignments

*
14th Pursuit Wing 014 may refer to: * Argus As 014 * 014 Construction Unit * Divi Divi Air Flight 014 * Pirna 014 The Pirna 014 was an axial turbojet designed in East Germany (or the GDR) in the mid- to late 1950s by former Junkers engineers, who were repatriat ...
, 1 December 1940 * 7th Interceptor Command (later VII Fighter Command), 23 January 1942 * United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific, 16 July 1945 * VII Fighter Command, 5 August 1945 * Pacific Air Command, US Army, 25 November 1945 (Attached to 7th Fighter Wing) * 7th Fighter Wing, 1 January 1946 *
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
, 1 March – 15 October 1946 * 4707th Air Defense Wing, 18 August 1955 *
30th Air Division The 30th Air Division (30th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, assigned to Tenth Air Force, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on ...
, 8 July 1956 * Syracuse Air Defense Sector, 1 September 1958 – 1 July 1960 * Tactical Air Command, 17 April 1962 (not organized) * 836th Air Division, 1 July 1962 – 1 October 1970 * Pacific Air Forces, 1 November 1971 *
Thirteenth Air Force The Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (13 AF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been sta ...
, 6 October 2006 * Pacific Air Forces, 28 September 2012 – present


Components

Groups *
15th Operations Group The 15th Operations Group (15 OG) is the flying component of the 15th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Thirteenth Air Force. The group is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It is also responsible for managing operational ma ...
: 13 April 1992 – present * 15th Combat Support Group (later 15th Support Group, 15th Mission Support Group): 8 June 1969 – 1 October 1970, 13 April 1992 – 14 May 2010 * 15th Logistics Group (later 15th Maintenance Group: 13 April 1992 – 11 July 2003, 22 July 2005 – present * 15th Medical Group (formerly USAF Dispensary, Hickam; USAF Clinic, Hickam), 1 November 1971 – present Operational Squadrons * 6th Night Fighter Squadron: attached 6 March 1943 – 25 March 1943, assigned 26 March 1943 – 5 June 1944; attached 1 September 1944 – 30 September 1944 * 9th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 November 1971 – 31 March 1992 * 12th Fighter Squadron: 23 August 1942 – 1 December 1942 * 13th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical: 8 February 1969 – 1 October 1970 (detached 15 September – 1 October 1970) * 15th Operations Squadron: 1 November 1971 – 30 June 1975 * 22d Tactical Air Support Squadron: 1 November 1971 – 4 April 1980 * 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron: 8 January 1964 – 15 July 1970 (detached 17 August 1965 – c. 4 January 1966) * 45th Pursuit Squadron (later 45th Fighter Squadron, 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron): 1 December 1940 – 15 October 1946, 1 July 1962 – 1 October 1970 (detached 4 April 1965 – 10 August 1965) * 46th Pursuit Squadron (later 46th Fighter Squadron, 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron): 1 December 1940 – 24 April 1944, 1 July 1962 – 1 October 1970 (detached 11 May 1965 – 22 August 1965 and 1 November 1965 – 10 November 1965) * 47th Pursuit Squadron (later 47th Fighter Squadron, 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron): 1 December 1940 – 15 October 1946; 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960, 1 July 1962 – 1 October 1970 (detached 22 July – 27 November 1965) * 65th Airlift Squadron: 10 March – 13 April 1992 * 78th Fighter Squadron: attached 6 March 1943 – 17 March 1943; assigned 26 March 1943 – 15 October 1946 (detached 26 March 1943 – 10 April 1943) * 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 25 April – 1 July 1967 * 4424th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 15 October 1968 – 1 October 1970 ; Support and Maintenance Squadrons * 15th Air Base Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960, 1 November 1971 – 1 November 1991 * 15th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron (later 15th Avionics Maintenance Squadron): 1 July 1962 – 10 February 1968, 1 November 1971 – 1 July 1986''See'' Mueller, ''Air Force Bases'', pp. 236, 354 * 15th Comptroller Squadron (previously 15th Comptroller Flight): 13 November 1995 – present * 15th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (later 15th Field Maintenance Squadron, 15th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron): 8 July 1957 – 1 July 1960, 1 July 1962 – 1 July 1971, 1 November 1971 – 13 April 1992 * 15th Materiel Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960 * 15th Organizational Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1962 – 1 November 1966, 1 November 1981 – 1 July 1986 * 15th Security Police Squadron: 1 November 1971 – 13 April 1992 * 15th Services Squadron: 1 November 1971 – 13 April 1992 * 15th Supply Squadron: 8 June 1969 – 1 October 1970, 1 November 1971 – 13 April 1992 * 15th Transportation Squadron: 8 June 1969 – 1 October 1970, 1 November 1971 – 13 April 1992 * 415th Munitions Maintenance Sq: 15 May 1963 – 20 February 1968 ; Other * 15th USAF Infirmary (later 15th USAF Dispensary, 15th Tactical Hospital): 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960, 8 July 1969 – 1 October 1970


Stations

*
Wheeler Field Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a National His ...
, Territory of Hawaii, 1 December 1940< *
Bellows Field A bellows or pair of bellows is a device constructed to furnish a strong blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclosing an approximately airtigh ...
, Territory of Hawaii, 3 June 1944 – 5 February 1945 *
South Field (Iwo Jima) South Field was a World War II airfield on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, located in the Central Pacific. The Volcano Islands are part of Japan. The airfield was located on the southern corner of Iwo Jima located on the Motoyama plateau, to ...
, 6 March 1945 * Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii, 25 November 1945 * Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii, 9 February - 15 October 1946 * Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960 * MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1 July 1962 – 1 October 1970 * Hickam Air Force Base, (part of
Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH) is a United States military base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl Harbor, ...
, Hawaii, 1 November 1971 – present


Aircraft

* Curtiss A-12 Shrike, 1940–1942 * Grumman OA-9 Goose, 1940–1942 * Boeing P-26 Peashooter, 1940–1942 * Curtiss P-36 Hawk, 1940–1942 * Martin B-12, 1941–1942 * Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1941–1944 * Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1941–1944 * Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1945, 1945–1946, 1946 * Douglas P-70 Havoc, 1943–1944 *
Douglas A-24 Banshee The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/di ...
, 1944 * North American P-51 Mustang, 1944–1946 *
Northrop P-61 Black Widow The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night figh ...
, 1944 *
Douglas A-26 Invader The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Col ...
, 1946 * North American F-86D Sabre, 1955–1957 * North American F-86L Sabre, 1957–1958 * Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1958–1960 * Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 1962–1964 *
Lockheed T-33 T-Bird The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...
, 1962–1970, 1972–1987 * McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, 1964–1970 * Martin B-57G Canberra, 1968–1970 *
Boeing EC-135 The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. During the Cold War, the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always ...
, 1971–1992 *
Cessna O-2 Skymaster The Cessna O-2 Skymaster (nicknamed "Oscar Deuce") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, used for forward air control (FAC) and psychological operations (PSYOPS) by the US military between 1967 and 2010. Design and develo ...
, 1972–1980 *
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter The Boeing C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from the prototype Boeing 367-80 jet airliner (also the basis for the 707) in the early 1950s. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave the aircraft the ...
, 1992–2003 * C-37 Gulfstream V, 2002–present *
Boeing C-40 Clipper The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the Boeing 737 Next Generation used to transport cargo and passengers. It is used by the United States Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The Navy C-40A variant is named "Clipper", whereas the U ...
, 2003–present * McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, 2006–present *
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of trans ...
, 2010–2015 * Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, 2010–present


Awards and campaigns


See also

* List of B-57 units of the United States Air Force * List of Douglas A-26 Invader operators * List of Sabre and Fury units in the US military * List of United States Air Force airborne command and control squadrons *
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II non-U.S. operators F-4 Phantom II non-U.S. operators are the non-U.S. nations with air forces that operate or used to operate the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The Phantom II entered service with the U.S. military in 1960 and served until 1996. During this time ...


References


Notes

; Explanatory notes ; Footnotes


Bibliography

* This article contains information from the
Hickam AFB Factsheet 15th Wing history
' which is an official document of the United States Government and is presumed to be in the public domain. * Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956) * * * * * * Newton, Wesley P. Jr. and Senning, Calvin F., (1963
USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II, USAF Historical Study No. 85
p. 534 *


External links



at GlobalSecurity.org
Commanders lead Airmen in changing times
15th Airlift Wing Press Release, 5 December 2006 (lists commanders of the unit through 2006) {{USAAF 20th Air Force World War II Military units and formations in Hawaii