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The 54th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive
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 ...
unit. Its last assignment was with the
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 ...
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organ ...
, at
Kunsan Air Base Kunsan K-8 Air Base () is a United States Air Force base located at Gunsan Airport, on the west coast of the Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is located in the town of Gunsan (also romanized as Kunsan), about south of Seoul. Kun ...
, South Korea where it was inactivated on 31 October 1970. During
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 ...
, the 54th Troop Carrier Wing was a
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organ ...
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 ...
wing that commanded five combat cargo and troop carrier groups in the South West Pacific Theater. In the early postwar years, the 54th Fighter Wing commanded 56 units of the
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. ...
throughout the Southeastern United States.


History


World War II

The 54th Troop Carrier Wing commenced air transport and medical air evacuation operations in support of
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organ ...
on 26 May 1943. advancing as battle lines permitted. The wing employed
Douglas C-47 Skytrain The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II. During the war the C-47 was used for tro ...
s almost exclusively, but during late 1943 and much of 1944 also used 13 converted Boeing B-17E Flying Fortresses for armed transport missions in enemy-held territory. The 54th supported every major advance made by the allies in 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 ...
, operating from primitive airstrips carved from jungles and air-dropping cargo where airstrips unavailable. The unit took part in the airborne invasion of
Nadzab Nadzab Village is in the Markham Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on the Highlands Highway. Administratively, it is located in Gabsongkeg ward of Wampar Rural LLG. The Nadzab Airport is located East of Nadzab Village and was the site ...
, New Guinea, in September 1943 by dropping paratroopers of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as well as Australian engineers and heavy equipment. In July 1944, the wing dropped 1,418 paratroopers on Noemfoor Island to aid the allied invasion forces. Then assumed the task of handling all freight and personnel moving in troop carrier aircraft in the Southwest Pacific, in addition to scheduled and unscheduled air movement of cargo and troops, and air evacuation of wounded personnel. Some
Curtiss C-46 Commando The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a low-wing, twin-engine aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurized high-altitude airliner design. Early press reports used the name "Condor III" but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company p ...
s began operating within the
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 ...
in late 1944, and during 1945 large numbers of C-46s were used in addition to C-47s. By late 1944 and during the early months of 1945, most wing missions were flown to the Philippines. In February 1945, the wing flew three more airborne operations, all in the Philippines, to help encircle Japanese concentrations. Wing C-47s dropped
napalm Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated aluminium ...
on Carabao Island, in
Manila Bay Manila Bay (; ) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the Manila, capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Philippines and ...
, in March 1945. When hostilities ended, the wing moved the entire
11th Airborne Division The 11th Airborne Division ("Arctic Angels") is a United States Army multirole infantry division made up of specialized light infantry and airborne infantry based in Alaska. Currently, this unit specializes in arctic warfare, airborne operat ...
(11,300 personnel) from the Philippines to
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 ...
on short notice, and then began transporting occupation forces into Japan. During September 1945, the wing also evacuated over 17,000 former prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines. The wing served as part of the occupation forces in Japan from 25 September 1945 to about 26 January 1946, while continuing routine air transport operations and a scheduled courier service. Beginning in December 1945 and continuing into mid-1946, most of the wing's components were reassigned to other units or inactivated, and on 15 January 1946 the wing became a component of the Far East (soon, Pacific) Air Service Command. Moving to the Philippines, the wing gained new components and flew scheduled routes between Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and the
Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands () are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii in the south to nort ...
. Replaced by the
403d Troop Carrier Group 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is a square number, the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. Evolution of the H ...
on 31 May 1946 and was inactivated.


Air National Guard

Allotted to the
National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...
to command units in the Southeastern region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 2 October 1946. At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the Wing Base Organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the
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. ...
and inactivated on 31 October 1950. The 116th Fighter Wing was allotted to the state of Georgia, federally recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated wing.


United States Air Force

In June 1970, as the 54th Tactical Fighter Wing, was activated and replaced the
354th Tactical Fighter Wing The 354th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force wing that is part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is the host wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force (11 AF). The wing replaced the 343d Fighter W ...
at Kunsan Air Bae, South Korea, assuming control of personnel and attached McDonnell F-4C Phantom II squadrons. Was inactivated on 31 October 1970 when the deployed F-4 squadrons returned to the United States and the base was placed in a non-flying status. Base operations personnel were absorbed by the 6175th Air Base Group.


Lineage

* Established as the 54th Troop Carrier Wing on 26 February 1943 : Activated on 13 March 1943 : Inactivated on 31 May 1946 * Redesignated 54th Fighter Wing, and allotted to the National Guard on 1 June 1946Ravenstein says "Air" National Guard, which did not exist until the Air Force became a separate service. : Organized in the Georgia National Guard on 8 July 1946 : Extended federal recognition on 2 October 1946 : Ordered to active service on 10 October 1950 : Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force on 11 October 1950 * Redesignated 54th Tactical Fighter Wing on 5 June 1970 : Activated on 15 June 1970 : Inactivated on 31 October 1970


Assignments

*
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organ ...
, 13 March 1943 * Far East Air Service Command (later Pacific Air Service Command), 15 January – 31 May 1946 * Georgia National Guard, 8 July 1946 *
Fourteenth Air Force The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF; Air Forces Strategic) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). It was headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The command was responsible for the organizatio ...
, 10–11 October 1950 *
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organ ...
, 15 June – 31 October 1970 (attached to Detachment 1, Headquarters Fifth Air Force th ADVONuntil 30 September 1970)


Components


World War II

* 2d Combat Cargo Group, 13 December 1944 – 5 January 1946 * 317th Troop Carrier Group, 1 October 1943 – 15 January 1946 * 374th Troop Carrier Group, 26 May – 28 September 1943 * 375th Troop Carrier Group, 12 July 1943 – 15 January 1946 * 433d Troop Carrier Group, 4 October 1943 – 5 January 1946 * 1st Troop Carrier Squadron (Philippine Army), 26 January – 31 May 1946 * 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 January – 15 February 1946 * 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June – 7 September 1970 * 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 February – 15 May 1946 * 316th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 February – 25 March 1946 * 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, after Bougainville Campaign * 3rd Air Cargo Control Squadron, 24 November – 18 December 1944, 1 December 1945 – 5 January 1946


Georgia Air National Guard

* 116th Fighter Group, 9 September 1946 – 10 October 1950 * 117th Fighter Group, 1 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Alabama ANG) * 118th Fighter Group, 2 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Tennessee ANG) * 105th Fighter Squadron, 23 January 1947 – 2 October 1947 (Tennessee Air National Guard) * 106th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1946 – 1 March 1947 (Alabama Air National Guard) * 153d Fighter Squadron. 2 October 1946 – 1 October 1947 (Georgia Air National Guard) * 155th Fighter Squadron, 23 December 1946 – 2 October 1947 (Tennessee Air National Guard) * 156th Fighter Squadron, 2 October 1946 – 2 October 1947 (North Carolina ANG) * 198th Fighter Squadron, 1 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Puerto Rico Air National Guard)


United States Air Force

* 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June – 7 September 1970 (Attached) * 478th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June – 2 September 1970 (Attached)


Stations

Kunsan Air Force Base 1970-1982 F-4E Close Air Support/Reconnaissance. The F-4D/E started phasing out in to F-16A Falcons in 1982 * Archerfield Airport (Brisbane), Australia, 13 March 1943 * Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome),
Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...
,
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 ...
, 3 May 1943 * Nadzab Airfield,
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 ...
, 18 April 1944 * Mokmer Airfield,
Biak Biak is the main island of Biak Archipelago located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua (province), Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak has many atolls, reefs, and corals. The largest popula ...
,
Netherlands East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...
, 5 October 1944 * Bayug Airfield,
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has been ...
, Philippines, 14 February 1945 * Clark Field,
Luzon Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...
, Philippines, June 1945 *
Tachikawa Airfield is an airfield in the city of Tachikawa, in the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense, it has also served as a civilian airport with Japan's first scheduled air service. History Origins ...
, Japan, September 1945 *
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
, Luzon, 26 January – 31 May 1946 * Marietta AAB (Later Dobbins AFB), Georgia 8 July 1946 – 11 October 1950 *
Kunsan Air Base Kunsan K-8 Air Base () is a United States Air Force base located at Gunsan Airport, on the west coast of the Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is located in the town of Gunsan (also romanized as Kunsan), about south of Seoul. Kun ...
, South Korea, 15 June – 31 October 1970


See also

* United States Army Air Forces in Australia


References


Notes

; Explanatory notes ; Citations


Bibliography

* * * {{Navboxes , list = {{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II 0054 Military units and formations established in 1970 1943 establishments in Australia 1970 disestablishments in South Korea