15th Wing
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The 15th Wing is a
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...
of the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
at Hickam AFB,
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 Joint Base, an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl ...
, Hawaii. The wing reports to 11th Air Force, Headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Its history goes back to just before
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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 H ...
, Hawaii from elements of the 18th Pursuit Group. 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 iden ...
'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 Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
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 (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface (Submarine#Armament, submarine-lau ...
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 Intercon ...
very long range fighter group on
Iwo Jima is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands, which lie south of the Bonin Islands and together with them make up the Ogasawara Subprefecture, Ogasawara Archipelago. Together with the Izu Islands, they make up Japan's Nanpō Islands. Although sout ...
, escorting
Boeing B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired 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 Bo ...
bombers that attacked the Japanese home Islands. In April 1945 the group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation 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 as part of
Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...
's Project Arrow, which replaced units formed during the
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
with those that had a distinguished history in the two world wars. It performed the
air defense Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface (Submarine#Armament, submarine-lau ...
mission at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York until it was discontinued in 1960 and its mission assumed by the New York Air National Guard. In July 1962,
Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...
organized the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing as the second McDonnell F-4 Phantom II 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 was one of the first wings deployed during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, 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 () in Cuba, or the Caribbean Crisis (), was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of Nuclear weapons d ...
and the Pueblo crisis. 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, 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 (USAF) United States Air Force installation, installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel (United States), Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The installation merged ...
. The wing has been stationed at Hickam AFB (now part of 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, 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 of the Hawaii Air National Guard to provide strategic and tactical airlift capability to
Pacific Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
and
Air Mobility Command The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri, ...
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 four groups 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 647th Air Base Group provides direct mission support and all Air Force communications. The 15th Comptroller Squadron performs financial management for the wing. The remaining functions of the wing are staff agencies. * 15th Operations Group ** 15th Operations Support Squadron ** 19th Fighter Squadron (F-22) ** 65th Airlift Squadron (C-37, C-40) ** 535th Airlift Squadron (C-17) (tail code: HH) * 15th Maintenance Group ** 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ** 15th Maintenance Squadron ** 15th Maintenance Operations Squadron * 15th Medical Group ** 15th Healthcare Operations Squadron ** 15th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron ** 15th Medical Support Squadron * 647th Air Base Group ** 647th Civil Engineer Squadron ** 647th Force Support Squadron ** 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron ** 647th Security Forces Squadron ** 747th Cyber Space 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 H ...
, 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 Squadrons. The group drew its cadre from the 18th Pursuit Group, which had been stationed at Wheeler since 1927. In addition to its primary combat aircraft the group flew the Curtiss A-12 Shrike, Grumman OA-9 Goose, Martin B-12 and
Boeing P-26 Peashooter The Boeing P-26 "Peashooter" is 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 1 ...
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 iden ...
fought the Japanese after they began their
Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
. 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 a ...
attacks that morning by carrier-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-bomber that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry ...
aircraft from Wheeler and Haleiwa Fighter Strip, 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. 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, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 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, 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, its mandate Territory of New Guin ...
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 States and territories of Australia#External territories, Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean comprising the island of the same name. It is about south o ...
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 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 Havocs 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 specifically as a night fighter. Named for the North American spider '' Latrodec ...
s on
Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomons by area and the second- ...
and
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
. 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 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kin ...
s later in the year. In January 1945, ordered into combat, the group left Hawaii for
Saipan Saipan () is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated Territories of the United States, territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to 2020 estimates by the United States Cens ...
in the Marianas Islands, remaining there until a landing strip could be secured by the
Marines Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included Raid (military), raiding ashor ...
on
Iwo Jima is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands, which lie south of the Bonin Islands and together with them make up the Ogasawara Subprefecture, Ogasawara Archipelago. Together with the Izu Islands, they make up Japan's Nanpō Islands. Although sout ...
. 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 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 , is a list of islands of Japan, Japanese archipelago of over 30 subtropical and Island#Tropical islands, tropical islands located around SSE of Tokyo and northwest of Guam. The group as a whole has a total ...
. 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 a retired 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 Bo ...
bombers that attacked the Nakajima aircraft plant near Tokyo, and was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. In late April and early May that year, the 15th struck Japanese airfields on
Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa and the other Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Islands). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regio ...
to curtail the enemy's
suicide attack A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, see below) is a deliberate attack in which the perpetrators knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are a form of murder–suicide that is ofte ...
s against the invasion force on
Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
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 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 Intercon ...
. 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, Hawaii. There it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 508th Fighter Group. 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 H ...
, 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, New York, where it replaced the 518th Air Defense Group as a result of
Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...
(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 system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
equipped and
rocket A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely ...
armed North American F-86D Sabres.Cornett & Johnson, p. 115 In the fall of 1957, the squadron upgraded to
data link A data link is a means of telecommunications link, 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 t ...
equipped F-86Ls and later, by the summer of 1958 to Convair F-102 Delta Dagger aircraft The group performed air defense operations for the 4707th Air Defense Wing and Syracuse Air Defense Sector 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 Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
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 List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...
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. 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 (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 (briefly assigned in 1967 on redeployment from
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
(SEA), then moved to Homestead AFB, Florida The wing was initially equipped with the obsolescent Republic F-84F Thunderstreak which were obtained from
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
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 or workout is physical activity that enhances or maintains fitness and overall health. It is performed for various reasons, including weight loss or maintenance, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardio ...
s, operations 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 () in Cuba, or the Caribbean Crisis (), was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of Nuclear weapons d ...
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, North Carolina, during the Pueblo crisis 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 and flew combat missions from Cam Rahn Bay Air Base in
South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...
and Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. Members of the 45 TFS achieved the first U.S. Air Force aerial victories of the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
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, 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 thirteenth is most commonly major or minor . A thirteenth chord is th ...
, 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, 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 The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
(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 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, 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 Materiel, supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material lo ...
for the Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC), and the USAF and
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
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 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 (), also known as Wake Atoll, is a coral atoll in the Micronesia subregion of the Pacific Ocean. The atoll is composed of three islets – Wake, Wilkes, and Peale Islands – surrounding a lagoon encircled by a coral reef. The neare ...
. Dillingham later transferred to Army control on 27 February 1975, as did Wheeler AFB 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 (13th Air Force), Andersen Air Force Base,
Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...
, 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 Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other Western countries (including Australia, France, West Germany, and Canada) at the end of the Vietnam War (see also the Fall ...
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 Vietname ...
. In 1980 the wing participated in Project Lagoon, a program to remove radioactive waste from Enewetak Atoll. On 13 April 1992 the 15th Operations Group 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. Its two flying squadrons provided airborne command and control and
airlift An airlift is the organized delivery of Materiel, supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material lo ...
for high-ranking officials. The group also provided command and control 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 Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...
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 Joint Base, an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl ...
and the
US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
assumed most support responsibility for the installation. In October, the wing added
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American Twinjet, twin-engine, Jet engine, jet-powered, Night fighter, all-weather, supersonic Stealth aircraft, stealth fighter aircraft. As a product of the United States Air Force's Advanced Ta ...
s to the aircraft it flies when the 19th Fighter Squadron moved from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska to become an active duty associate unit of the Hawaiian Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron.


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, 1 December 1940 * 7th Interceptor Command (later VII Fighter Command), 23 January 1942 *
United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific The United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USSTAF) was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It became the overall command and control authority of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific theater of World War II ...
, 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 Air National Guard Base, Sioux City Municipal Air ...
, 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 Expeditionary Air Force (13 EAF) is a provisional numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam on the island of Oahu, ...
, 6 October 2006 * Pacific Air Forces, 28 September 2012 – present


Components

Groups * 15th Operations Group: 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 * 647th Air Base Group, 14 May 2020 - 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 * 747th Cyberspace Squadron: 14 May 2010 - present ; 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 H ...
, Territory of Hawaii, 1 December 1940< * Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii, 3 June 1944 – 5 February 1945 * South Field (Iwo Jima), 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 Joint Base, an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Hickam Air Force Base and the United States Navy's Naval Station Pearl ...
), 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, 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 specifically as a night fighter. Named for the North American spider '' Latrodec ...
, 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 attack aircraft, ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during ...
, 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, 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 Operation Looking Glass, Looking Glass mission whe ...
, 1971–1992 * Cessna O-2 Skymaster, 1972–1980 *
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter The Boeing C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from the prototype Boeing 367-80 jet airliner''Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1963–1964''. p. 183 (also the basis for the 707) in the early 1950s. It has a narrower fuselage and i ...
, 1992–2003 * C-37 Gulfstream V, 2002–present * Boeing C-40 Clipper, 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 tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave ...
, 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


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