23d Wing
Active	1948-present
Country	United States
Branch	U.S. Air Force
Type	Fighter
Role	Close Air Support
Size	900 personnel 48 A-10/OA-10 aircraft
Garrison/HQ	Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
Nickname	Flying Tigers
Battles/wars	China Offensive Western Pacific China Defensive India-Burma Liberation and Defense of Kuwait Defense of Saudi Arabia Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Henry Santicola
Notable commanders	Claire L. Chennault

The 23d Fighter Wing was activated on August 10, 1948. The 23d Fighter Group was assigned as the combat group under the new 23d Fighter Wing. Image File history File links 23rdwing-3Da. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... Fighter has a number of meanings: A fighter aircraft is a warplane designed to destroy other warplanes in combat. ... An Apache attack helicopter provides close air support to United States Army soldiers patrolling the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, Iraq during the Iraq War. ... The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support (CAS) of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. ... Moody Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Lowndes County, Georgia. ... The “Flying Tigers” (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Japanese: フライング・タイガース) was the nickname of the American Volunteer Group, a group of USAAF, USN and USMC pilots recruited under a secret Presidential sanction by Claire Chennault, that formed a fighter group with three squadrons that trained in China and defended the Burma... Maj. ...

The 23d Fighter Wing moved to Howard Air Force Base, Canal Zone, in April 1949, where it also acquired a squadron of Lockheed RF-80 Shooting Stars. The 23d Fighter Wing conducted air defense of the Canal Zone under the Caribbean Air Command until it was again inactivated on September 24, 1949. Howard Air Force Base (or ) is an American Air Force Base located in the country of Panamá. It is notable for being the area from which the United States oversaw the production of the Panama Canal. ... The Panama Canal Zone (Spanish: ), was a 553 square mile (1,432 km²) territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles (8. ... The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ...

Reactivated on January 12, 1951, at Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine, the group was re-designated the 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing with the 74th and 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons assigned, as part of the Air Defense Command. Equipped with North American F-86 Sabre, F-51 Mustang, and F-80 Shooting Star aircraft, its mission was to provide air defense for the northeastern United States during the Korean War and conduct basic training for about 500 Air Force recruits. The 23 FIW was inactivated February 6, 1952 along with the 23d Fighter Interceptor Group. Landing runway 1 at PQI. Northern Maine Regional, as depicted in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. ... Official language(s) None (English de facto; French is also an administrative language) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... ... The North American F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet) was a transonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. ... The North American P-51 Mustang was a successful long range fighter aircraft which set new standards of excellence and performance when it entered service in the middle years of World War II and is still regarded as one of the very best piston-engined fighters ever made. ... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders...

The 23d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) was activated August 18, 1955, at Presque Isle with the 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons assigned directly to wing, since the 23 FG was not active. It flew Northrop F-89 Scorpions as part of the Air Defense Command until again inactivated July 1, 1959. The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered all-weather interceptor. ... ...

23d Tactical Fighter Wing

McConnell Air Force Base

Following its longest period of inactivation, the group was re-activated as the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing on January 28, 1964, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, under Tactical Air Command and Twelfth Air Force. The 23 TFW was activated to replace the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell after its deployment to Korat RTAFB Thailand. Squadrons of the 23 TFW were: McConnell Air Force Base (IATA: IAB, ICAO: KIAB) is a United States Air Force base located in Wichita, Kansas. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The Tactical Air Command (TAC) was a command of the United States Air Force charged with battlefield-level (tactical) air combat, including light bombardment, close air support of ground troops, interdiction of enemy forces, and air transport of ground troops. ... Twelfth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Combat Command (ACC). ... Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force. ...

• 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron
• 562d Tactical Fighter Squadron
• 563d Tactical Fighter Squadron
• 560th Tactical Fighter Squadron (28 Jan 64 - 25 Sep 68)
• 4519th Combat Crew/Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (1 Aug 67 - 16 Oct 69)
• 419th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (15 Oct 69 - 8 May 71)

F-105Ds of the 562d Tactical Fighter Squadron, deployed from McConnel AFB, KS to Southeast Asia (Thailand), 1965

F-105F-1-RE Thunderchief Serial 63-8360 of the 561st Tactical Fighter squadron, McConnel AFB, Kansas - 1970. This aircraft was later converted to the F-105G "Wild Weasel" configuration. It was hit by flak over North Vietnam on 17 September 1972 and crashed at sea.

Squadron markings on the natural metal / silver lacquered aircraft included the following: 561 TFS - black/yellow checkerboarding on rudder; 562 TFS - a red, white and black "sharkmouth" on the nose of the aircraft; 563 TFS red and white stripes on the rudder, wingtips and stabilizers with a white band on the top of the vertical fin. September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

When Southeast Asian camouflaged, the squadrons carried the following tail codes: 561 TFS "MD"; 562 TFS "ME"; 563 TFS "MF", and later the 4519th and 419th TFTS "MG".

Flying the Republic Aviation F-105D/G "Thunderchief" aircraft, the mission of the 23 TFW at McConnell was to provide training for Thud pilots prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia. The 560th acted as a combat training squadron, while the other three squadrons began rotational TDY deployments to Southeast Asia beginning in November 1964. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, commonly known as the Thud by its crews, was a single-seat supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

In February 1965, when the 23 TFW deployed three squadrons to Southeast Asia for combat, these units were initially under the control of the 2d Air Division. Later, the 6441 TFW (P) was activated at Takhli RTAFB in July 1965, taking control of the 23d's squadrons deployed there. In addition to the deployments to Thailand, detachments of the 561 TFS also deployed to Da Nang Air Base RVN for operations within the borders of the Republic of Vietnam. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of the RTAF Wing 4, 401, 402, 403 squadrons. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Đà Nẵng International Airport (IATA: DAD, ICAO: VVDN) is located in Da Nang of central Vietnam. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

On 1 August 1967, the 4519th Combat Crew Training squadron was added to the 23 TFW, and the 560 TFS was deactivated on 25 September 1968. August 1 is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ...

The wing maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations, and later also functioned as an F-105 replacement training unit and assisted Air National Guard units in their conversion to the F-105 when the Thunderchief left first-line service. For the dual role it played from June 1970 to June 1971 as both an operational and a training unit, the wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in March 1971. Two of its squadrons, the 562d and 563d, also received the same award for their duty in Vietnam during 1965. The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The Outstanding Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. ...

During combat operations in Southeast Asia, the 562 TFS lost three aircraft, while the 563 TFS lost eleven aircraft.

On 1 July 1972 the 23 TFW was transferred to England AFB Louisiana and the 561, 562 and 563 TFS were assigned to the 35 TFW at George AFB California. July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Aerial Photo of England Air Force Base, Louisana - March 1983 A-7D Serial No: 71-0338 of the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron / 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, taken in May 1973. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... Southern California Logistics Airport (IATA: VCV, ICAO: KVCV), also known as Victorville Airport, is a public airport located in the city of Victorville in San Bernardino County, California, USA. It is located on the former site of George Air Force Base. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

England Air Force Base

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D-11-CV Corsair II Serial No: 71-0338 of the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, taken in May 1973. A-7D attack aircraft were assigned to the 23d TFW from 1972 through 1981

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing moved "on paper" without people or equipment to England Air Force Base, Louisiana, July 1, 1972 and took over the assets and personnel of the 4403d Tactical Fighter Wing. Assigned to the Ninth Air Force, the wing activated all three of its original World War II fighter units — the 74th, 75th and 76th Tactical Fighter Squadrons for the first time since 1949, and began operations with the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II aircraft. England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located near Alexandria Louisana. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... Ninth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Combat Command (ACC). ... A Corsair II aircraft made by Ling-Temco-Vought. ... The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II was a light attack aircraft based on the F-8 Crusader. ...

Squadron markings were a blue tail stripe, later adding white stars and a "74" in 1979 for the 74 TFS; s white outlined black tail stripe, later changed to black and white checkered for the 75 TFS, and a red tail stripe with white stars and a "76" for the 76 TFS. All 23 TFW aircraft carried the "EL" tail code at England AFB.

On 5 July 1973, the 74 TFS deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, on temporary duty with the 354 TFW (Deployed) from Myrlte Beach AFB South Carolina. The 74th replaced the 354 TFS from Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona that had completed its temporary duty. For just over a month, until the cessation of all U.S. bombing on 15 August 1973, the 74 TFS supported the air war activities in Cambodia, accounting for the destruction of 311 enemy structures, 25 ground artillery and missile sites, three bridges and 9,500 cubic meters of supplies. The 74 TFS returned to England AFB on 28 December 1973. July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force. ... Myrtle Beach Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force facility. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12N... Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (D-M) is a key US Air Combat Command installation, located within the city limits of Tucson, Arizona at 32 09N 110 52W. 355th Wing emblem The 355th Wing is the host unit providing medical, logistical, and operational support to all D-M... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

The 23 TFW took part in a variety of operational exercises both in the United States and overseas, including tactical bombing competitions against the Royal Air Force at Lossiemouth, Scotland, during October 1977 and July 1978. In both events, A-7D teams captured the Sir John Mogg Team Trophy. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Lossiemouth, is a burgh in Moray, Scotland. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II...

On 23 September 1980, the 74 TFS received the 23 TFW's first operational Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The 75 and 76 TFS received A-10s within the next few months, and the 23 TFW took top honors in Ninth Air Force’s tactical bombing competition (Gunpowder 1981) in July, and advanced to TAC’s worldwide Gunsmoke 1981 competition at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in September. The Flying Tigers won six of nine events, including top maintenance and munitions awards, and was the top A-10 unit in the competition. The wing’s maintenance complex was also awarded the 1981 Daedalian runner-up trophy, and earned the 1984 Daedalian Aircraft Maintenance Trophy. September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support (CAS) of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. ... Map showing the locations of Nellis AFB and the NTTR Nellis Air Force Base (IATA: LSV, ICAO: KLSV) is a United States Air Force base, in Clark County, Nevada, on the northeast side of Las Vegas. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Eight of the 23d's A-7Ds were transferred to the 4450th Tactical Group, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in June 1981, during the transition to the A-10. The 4451st Tactical Squadron at Tonopah Test Range Airport used these aircraft to train F-117 pilots and to provide a cover story for F-117A development. Map showing the locations of Nellis AFB and the NTTR Nellis Air Force Base (IATA: LSV, ICAO: KLSV) is a United States Air Force base, in Clark County, Nevada, on the northeast side of Las Vegas. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Tonopah Test Range Airport (IATA: TNX, ICAO: KTNX) is located near the center of the Tonopah Test Range 27 mi (43 km) southeast of Tonopah, Nevada and 140 mi (225 km) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. ... This article is about the stealth fighter. ...

A-10s on the flightline.

The wing set Air Force records for "mission capable" and "fully mission capable" (meaning an aircraft can meet any mission tasking) rates during fiscal year 1985. The marks, 93.1 percent in MC and 92.8 percent in FMC, topped records set by the wing in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984.

The wing won its fourth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period April 1, 1989, to March 31, 1991.

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

In response to the buildup of forces following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the 74th and 76th Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed with numerous support personnel to King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia, attached to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) as part of Operation Desert Shield. The A-10 deployment was the largest ever fielded and consisted of: Combatants Republic of Iraq State of Kuwait Commanders Ali Hassan al-Majid Unknown Strength 100,000[1] 16,000[2] Casualties 37+ aircraft (est. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... King Fahd International Airport (Arabic: مطار الملك فهد الدولي) (IATA: DMM, ICAO: OEDF) is located near Dammam, Saudi Arabia. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

A total of 144 A/OA-10 aircraft were deployed.

A 23d Fighter Group member directs traffic in the desert.

Using forward operating locations near the Kuwaiti border as well as King Fahd AB, A-10s made their combat debut in Operation Desert Storm on January 15, 1991. The 23 TFW flew more than 2,700 combat sorties over Iraq and Kuwait while maintaining a mission-capable rate of 95 percent. In addition to providing close air support for ground units, the A-10s performed Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and SCUD-hunting missions. The combined efforts of the A-10 units resulted in the confirmed destruction of 987 tanks, 926 artillery pieces, 500 armored personnel carriers, 1,106 trucks, 112 military structures, 96 radars, 72 bunkers, 57 SCUD missile launchers, 50 anti-aircraft artillery batteries, 28 command posts, 11 FROG missiles, nine surface-to-air missile sites, eight fuel tanks and 12 aircraft. Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea... For other uses, see Scud (disambiguation). ... FROG-7B (Luna M) FROG-7B (Luna M) FROG-7B (Luna M) FROG-7B (Luna M) The FROG-7 is the final version of the FROG family of unguided, spin-stabilized, short-range artillery rockets. ...

Both squadrons returned to England Air Force Base at the end of March 1991. Support personnel continued to arrive for months after the aircraft redeployment. In October 1990, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided that England Air Force Base would be closed by September 1992. A draw down of equipment and personnel began almost immediately. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the US Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory in order to save... Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

On October 1, 1991, as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, the wing designation became 23d Fighter Wing, and on November 1, 1991, the squadrons also dropped "tactical" from their designations.

On 2 December 1991, the 75th Fighter Squadron was inactivated. The 74 FS was inactivated on 13 February 1992, and the 76 FS on 29 May. The 23d Fighter Wing's A-10 aircraft were sent to Air National Guard units, and the wing was inactivated on 1 June 1992. England AFB was closed the same day. December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 13 (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Pope Air Force Base

"Flying Tiger" General Dynamics F-16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon Serial 89-2008 of the 74th Fighter Squadron.

"Flying Tiger" Lockheed C-130E-LM Hercules Serial 63-7846 of the 41st Airlift Squadron.

Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Serial 80-0194 of the 74th Fighter Squadron.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the end of Cold War tensions led senior defense planners to conclude that the structure of the military establishment which had evolved during the Cold War years was not suited to the new world situation. Senior planners reviewed numerous options before agreeing on the final conclusion -- a merger of most strategic and tactical air resources and a reorganization of the Military Airlift Command (MAC). In addition, the number of Air Force wings was to be reduced by about one-third to reflect the financial constraints of the post Cold War environment. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

These changes led to Pope Air Force Base being transferred to the new Air Combat Command upon its activation on 1 June 1992. Also, the existing 317th Airlift Wing at Pope was blended with the transferred 23d Fighter Group from the deactivated England AFB into the new 23d Wing on 1 June 1992. ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

In April 1992, A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were transferred to the 75th Fighter Squadron from the 353d FS / 354th FW at Myrtle Beach AFB prior to the wing's deactivation and the bases closure in January 1993. In June 1993, Block 40 F-16C/Ds were transferred to the 74th Fighter Squadron from the 347th FW at Moody and 388th FW at Hill. The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support (CAS) of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. ...

Operational squadrons of the 23d Wing at Pope were:

• 317th Group
  • 2d Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (1 June 1992 - 1 April 1997)
  • 41st Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (16 July 1993 - 1 April 1997)

• 23d Group
  • 74th Tactical Fighter Squadron (15 June 1993 - 1 April 1997)
    (F-16C/D 15 June 1993 - 30 June 1996), (A/OA-10A 1 July 1996 - 1 April 1997)
  • 75th Tactical Fighter (1 April 1992 - 1 April 1997) (A/OA-10A)

All aircraft of the 23d Wing at Pope carried the tail code "FT" (Flying Tigers). June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In December 1992, C-130s from the 2d Airlift Squadron deployed to Mombasa, Kenya, to participate in Operation Provide Relief. The aircraft and crews delivered tons of food and other relief supplies to small airstrips throughout Somalia. 23rd Wing C-130s have also been tasked to assist in other humanitarian relief efforts, to include Hurricane Andrew in Florida. They also airdropped relief supplies into Bosnia-Herzegovina and flew relief missions into Sarajevo for more than 28 months. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Shield of the 2d Airlift Squadron. ... bumbasa is the second largest city in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. ... Operation Provide Relief (UNOSOM I) was a United Nation (UN) sponsored effort to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Somalia who were facing a severe famine, initiated and exacerbated by the ongoing Somoli civil war. ... Lowest pressure 922 mbar (hPa; 27. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Bosnia and Herzegovina (also variously written Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bosnia-Hercegovina) is a mountainous country in the western Balkans. ... Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) Coordinates: Country Bosnia and Herzegovina Entity Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Canton Sarajevo Canton Government  - Mayor Semiha Borovac (SDA) Area [1]  - City 141. ...

In September 1994, its C-130s participated in what was to be the largest combat personnel drop since World War II, Operation Uphold Democracy. They were to assist in dropping more than 3,000 paratroopers from the 82d Airborne Division onto Port au Prince Airport, Haiti. The invasion force was recalled at the last minute after word that the Haitian president had resigned upon hearing that the aircraft were on their way. The 75th Fighter Squadron's A-10s were deployed their aircraft to Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where they were scheduled to launch close air support operations for the invasion force before recovering in Puerto Rico. Operation Uphold Democracy (September 19, 1994 – March 31, 1995) began in September 1994 with the deployment of the U.S. led multinational force. ... The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on August 5, 1917, and was organized on August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. ... F-16 CJ Fighting Falcon taking off from Shaw AFB as part of enforcing the northern no fly zone in Iraq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12N...

The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. Within 72 hours, 56 aircraft and 1,500 personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region for Operation Vigilant Warrior. Eventually, the 75th Fighter Squadron redeployed to Al Jabar AB, Kuwait, becoming the first U.S. fixed-wing aircraft to be stationed in that country since the end of the Gulf War.

On 1 July 1996, the 74th Fighter Squadron's F-16C/D Fighting Falcons were transferred to the 27FW / 524th FS at Cannon AFB New Mexico, and the squadron transitioned to A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs received from the 20FW / 55th FS at Shaw AFB South Carolina. This gave the 23d Group a 2nd A-10 squadron. July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft designed to provide close air support (CAS) of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets. ... F-16 CJ Fighting Falcon taking off from Shaw AFB as part of enforcing the northern no fly zone in Iraq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12N...

23d Fighter Group

On April 1, 1997, the 23d Wing was redesignated as the 23d Fighter Group. The 23 FG remained at Pope AFB as an operations group assigned to the Air Combat Command 347th Wing at Moody AFB, Georgia but physically remaining at Pope as a Geographically Separated Unit (GSU). Moody Air Force Base is a base located in Lowndes County, Georgia. ...

Its C-130s and Pope Air Force Base were realigned to Air Mobility Command under the designation 43d Airlift Wing. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, and the air force component of United States Transportation Command. ...

On June 27, 2000, the 23d Fighter Group was reassigned to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB North Carolina also as a GSU and continued to operate from Pope, after the 347th Wing was redesignated the 347th Rescue Wing. The group as it exists in 2006 consists of the: June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base near Goldsboro, North Carolina. ...

• 74th Fighter Squadron
• 75th Fighter Squadron
• 23d Operations Support Squadron
• 23d Maintenance Squadron

On September 29, 2006, the 347th Rescue Wing at Moody AFB redesignated as the 347th Rescue Group, while the 23 FG was redesignated the 23d Wing. Along with the 347th Rescue Group, the original 23d Fighter Group was reactivated for only the second time in over fifty years. Both the 23 WG and 23 FG are charged with carrying on the historic Flying Tiger's heritage. USAF Release ref 23rd Wing. September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The 23d Fighter Group was re-assigned to the 23d Wing as a second operations group in a ceremony held on August 18, 2006. The 23d Fighter Group is in the process of transferring its personnel and equipment from Pope AFB in 2007, bringing two operational A/OA-10 squadrons to Moody. August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

In addition, twelve additional A-10 aircraft from the 355th Fighter Squadron / 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base Alaska will be transferred to the 23d Fighter Group as a result of BRAC 2005. // The 355th Fighter Squadron is tasked to provide mission ready O/A-10s as well as search and rescue capability, in Alaska and deployed sites worldwide. ... // The 354th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Eielson Air Force Base and is assigned to 11th Air Force, headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage. ... Eielson Air Force Base (IATA: EIL, ICAO: PAEI) is located in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. ... Official language(s) none Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ...

Operation Allied Force

A 23d Fighter Group member inspects some missiles in the desert.

In April 1999, the 74 FS deployed five aircraft and 60 personnel to Operation Allied Force, the NATO air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, nominally intended to stop ethnic cleansing of Albanians by Serbians. The US participation was known as Operation Noble Anvil and officially spanned 24 March - 10 June 1999. The 74th FS deployed initially to Spangdahlem Air Base and then forward deployed to Gioia Del Colle Airbase, Italy. Designated the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, the unit co-located with the 81st EFS of the 51st Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to form an expeditionary fighter wing. An USAF F-15E takes off from Aviano, Italy Operation Allied Force aka Kosovo-NATO War was NATOs military operation against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that lasted from 24 March to 11 June 1999 and is considered a major part of Kosovo War. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... Capital Belgrade Language(s) Serbian Government Republic President  - 1992 - 1993 Dobrica Ćosić  - 1993 - 1997 Zoran Lilić  - 1997 – 2000 Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević  - 2000 - 2003 Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Prime Minister  - 1992 - 1993 Milan Panić  - 1993 - 1998 Radoje Kontić  - 1998 - 2000 Momir Bulatović  - 2000 - 2001 Zoran Žižić  - 2001 - 2003 DragiÅ¡a Pe... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Operation Noble Anvil was the American component of Operation Allied Force. ... Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, near the city of Trier. ... Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, near the city of Trier. ...

The A-10A aircraft provided close air support during missions over the region, provided short-notice alert for combat search and rescue missions and also provided Airborne Forward Air Control for NATO fighters attacking Serbian targets found in the Kosovo area. An Apache attack helicopter provides close air support to United States Army soldiers patrolling the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, Iraq during the Iraq War. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea... A forward air controller (FAC) is a qualified individual who, from a forward position on the ground or in the air, directs the action of military aircraft engaged in close air support of land forces. ...

Operation Enduring Freedom

In March 2002, the 23d Fighter Group landed the first fighter aircraft inside Afghanistan. They deployed from Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. 23d Fighter Group personnel operated simultaneously in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch for nearly seven months. Bagram Air Base Bagram Air Base is located at the antique city of Bagram near Charikar in Parvan, Afghanistan. ... Combatants United States Canada Australia United Kingdom Netherlands Philippines (in the Philippines theatre only) Northern Alliance GUAM Poland Italy Visegrad Group Hungary Ethiopia Somalia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Slovakia Vilnius group Croatia Albania Macedonia Romania Bulgaria Taliban al-Qaeda Abu Sayyaf Jemaah Islamiyah Islamic Courts Union Commanders General Tommy Franks Brig. ... Two F-16 Falcon aircraft prepare to depart on a patrol as part of Operation Southern Watch in 2000 Operation Southern Watch was a operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 33rd Parallel in Iraq, following...

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In February 2003, the 23d Fighter Group deployed to Al Jaber Air Base in preparation of Operation Iraqi Freedom, there they launched aircraft to attack Baghdad until the major fighting ceased. They then deployed forward to Tallil Air Base, near An-Nasiriyah. For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... Ur was an ancient city in southern Mesopotamia, originally located near the mouth of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers on the Persian Gulf and close to Eridu. ... Nāşirīyah (also transliterated as Nassiriya or Nasiriya; in Arabic الناصرية, al-Nasiriyah or an-Nasiriyah) is a city in Iraq. ...

Milestones

In 2002 an A-10 of the 75th Fighter Squadron passed the 9,000 flying-hour mark, becoming the most flown attack aircraft in Air Force history. This was exceeded in 2005 by another A-10 from the 75th FS that passed the 10,000 flying-hour mark.

See also

• Tactical Air Command
• Air Combat Command
• Ninth Air Force

The Tactical Air Command (TAC) was a command of the United States Air Force charged with battlefield-level (tactical) air combat, including light bombardment, close air support of ground troops, interdiction of enemy forces, and air transport of ground troops. ... ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... Ninth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Combat Command (ACC). ...

References

• Donald, David, "Century Jets - USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War".

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• Fletcher, Harry R., Air Force Bases Volume II, Active Air Force Bases outside the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989

• Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983

• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

• Menard, David W., Before Centuries. USAFE Fighters 1948-1959

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

• Rogers, Brian, United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978, 2005

External links

Military of the United States Portal

• Official History of the Flying Tigers
• Global Security site about the 23d Fighter Group
• Flying Tiger Association Website
• Official Honors and Lineage of the 23d Wing