The United States Air Force's 3rd Wing is the host wing for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It is the largest and principal organization in the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... A Japanese F-15 takes off from Elmendorf during a joint exercise. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... WING ESPN 1410 is a commercial AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts at 1410 kHz with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. ... A Japanese F-15 takes off from Elmendorf during a joint exercise. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... Military aircraft began to deploy to Alaska during the last half of 1940. ...

Mission

The mission of the 3d Wing is to support and defend U.S. interests in the region and around the world by providing units who are ready for worldwide air power projection and a base that is capable of meeting PACOM's theater staging and throughput requirements.

the 3rd Wing provides air superiority and defense for Alaska. The wing supports the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region mission and flexible alert concept by deploying aircraft and crews to Galena and King Salmon airports periodically. These forward operating bases allow the F-15s a quicker response time on identifying aircraft approaching North American airspace. At Elmendorf, the aircraft stand alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In addition, the 3rd Wing supports Pacific Air Forces in the Pacific Command area of responsibility.

Units Assigned

The 3d Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs Aircraft and Aircraft support equipment maintenance. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. While the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.

The 3d Wing operates the F-22 Raptor, F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, E-3 Sentry, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-12F Huron. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... For the game, see F-15 Strike Eagle (computer game) The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern United States all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is an American strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. ... The C-12F Huron provides logistics support between Navy air stations. ...

History

Lineage

Note:** USAF 3d Bombardment Wing was bestowed lineage, history and honors of USAAF 3d Bombardment Group, 1952.

Bases Assigned

Yokota Air Base ), a base of the United States Air Force, is located in the city of Fussa and nearby communities in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. ... Kunsan Air Base, a base of the United States Air Force, is located on the western side of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. ... Alexandria International Airport (IATA: AEX, ICAO: KAEX) is a public airport located a few miles west of Alexandria, Louisiana. ... 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... Air Photo of Bien Hoa Air Base - South Vietnam July 1968 Bien Hoa Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base located in South-Central southern Vietnam about 20 miles (30 kilometers] from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) near the city of Bien... Anthem Thanh niên Hành Khúc (Call to the Citizens) Capital Saigon Language(s) Vietnamese Government Republic Last President¹ Duong Van Minh Last Prime minister Vu Van Mau Historical era Cold War  - Regime change June 14, 1955  - Dissolution April 30, 1975 Area  - 1973 173,809 km² 67,108... Clark Air Base, 1975. ... A Japanese F-15 takes off from Elmendorf during a joint exercise. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ...

Aircraft Flown

B-26, 1948-1950, 1950-1956; F-15 Reporter, 1949; RF-80, 1949-1950; C-47, 1951; B-57, 1956-1963; RB-50, 1960-1961; KB-50, 1960-1962; C-130, 1961-1962. 1992-; F-102, 1961-1962; F-100, 1964-1970; F-5, 1965-1967. 1977-1988; A-1, 1965-1966; U-10, 1965-1966; C/AC/HC-47, 1965-1966; A-37, 1967-1970; F-4, 1971-1974, 1974-1991; T-33, 1974-1987; C-9, 1974-1975; CH-3, 1974-1975; T-38, 1976-1980; C-130H, 1972-2007; UH-1, 1991; F-15, 1991-; C-12, 1992-; E-3, 1993-; C-17 Globemaster III, 2007-; F-22 Raptor, 2007-. Martin B-26 Marauder See A-26 Invader for the plane known as the B-26 from 1948 to 1962. ... The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom, monoplane night fighter and night intruder aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was the first American aircraft designed specifically as a radar-equipped night fighter. ... The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces. ... The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... The Martin B-57 Canberra was a twin-engine jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft which entered service in the 1950s. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... 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. ... The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger fighter aircraft was part of the backbone of the United States air defenses in the late 1950s. ... F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. ... The Douglas A-1 (formerly AD) Skyraider was a U.S. single-seat attack bomber of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Helio Courier is a light STOL utility transport aircraft designed in 1949. ... The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... One of the most prominent of the trainer-attack type aircraft is the Cessna T-37/A-37, known in various forms as the Tweety Bird, Tweet, Dragonfly, or Super Tweet. ... The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ... Categories: Aircraft stubs | U.S. military trainer aircraft 1940-1949 ... A C-9 Skytrain II offloading on the ramp at Naval Air Station Brunswick. ... For the original Viking use of the name, see Sea_King. ... The Northrop T-38 Talon is a widely used US-built supersonic jet trainer. ... 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. ... The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly known as the Huey, was a multipurpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam war. ... The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the U.S. Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... The C-12F Huron provides logistics support between Navy air stations. ... The E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is an American strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. ... The F-22 Raptor is a fifth generation fighter aircraft which utilizes fourth generation Stealth technology. ...

Overview

The United States Army Air Service emerged from World War I with three distinct missions, pursuit, bomber, and attack/observation. These organizations became today's 1st Fighter Wing, 2d Bomb Wing, and 3rd Wing. Including squadrons active in World War I (the 19th and 90th Fighter Squadrons) the 3d wing and its organizations have participated in virtually every major U.S. conflict of the 20th century. The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. ... The 1st Fighter Wing (1 FW) is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... The 2d Bomb Wing (2 BW) is a B-52 Stratofortress unit based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

As the first organized attack group to form within the Army Air Service, the 3rd Attack Group was instrumental in developing close air support doctrine in the inter-war period. The group pioneered dive bombing, skip-bombing, and parafrag attacks in the 1920s--the earliest forms of precision guided attack from aircraft--and put this work to good use in World War II.

Notable alumni include General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, General Jimmy Doolittle, General Lewis Brereton, General Richard Ellis, General John "Jock" Henebry, General Paul I. "Pappy" Gunn, and General Nathan Twining. General Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was the second chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. The general was born at Milwaukee, Wis. ... General James Harold Doolittle, Sc. ... Lewis Hyde Brereton was an military aviation pioneer and US Army Air Force general in the Second World War. ... General Richard H. Ellis was commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. ... Nathan Farragut Twining (1897 - 1982) was a U.S. air force general. ...

As an attack bomber group during World War II and the Korean War, the wing was honored by the selfless service of two posthumous Medal of Honor recipients, Major Raymond H. Wilkins and Captain John S. Walmsley. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... 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 Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

Interwar Years

Curtiss A-12 Shrike Serial 33-229 of the 13th Attack Squadron.

Northrup A-17A Serial 36-207 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It was assigned to the 90th Attack Squadron (1937-40). It is the only A-17A known to exist.

The USAF 3rd Group/Wing, in one form or another, has served the United States on a continuing basis since its activation as the U.S. Army Surveillance Group on 1 July 1919. Initially the group used Airco DH-4B's to patrol the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Nogales, Arizona as revolution and disorder had broken out in Mexico, resulting in border violations and the killing of American citizens. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... View of the National Museum of the United States Air Force Main entrance to the museum The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official national museum of the United States Air Force and is located at Wright-Patterson Air... Airco DH.4 The Airco DH.4 was a British two-seat biplane day-bomber of the First World War. ... Brownsville is the name of several places in the United States of America: Brownsville, California Brownsville, Florida Brownsville, Kentucky Brownsville, Maryland Brownsville, Minnesota Brownsville, Ohio Brownsville, Oregon Brownsville, Pennsylvania Brownsville, Tennessee Brownsville, Texas (The first two battles of the Mexican-American War were fought neart this city. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Nogales is a Spanish word meaning walnut trees. As a geographical name, it is shared by several places: Mexico Nogales, Chihuahua Nogales, Durango Nogales, Sonora Nogales, Tamaulipas Nogales, Veracruz Spain Nogales, Badajoz province, Extremadura United States Nogales, Arizona This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ...

Operational squadrons of the 3d Group during the interwar years were***:

• 8th (assigned 1919)
• 13th (assigned November 1929)
• 90th (assigned 1919)

The unit was redesignated as the 3d Attack Group in 1921. and participated in maneuvers, tested new equipment, experimented with tactics, flew in aerial reviews, patrolled the United States–Mexico border (1929), and carried Airmail (1934) flying a wide variety of biplanes (DH-4, XB-1A, GA-1, A-3). The border between Mexico and the United States spans four U.S. states, six Mexican states, and has over twenty commercial crossings. ... Airmail imprint on an envelope (Thailand) Airmail (or air mail) is mail that is transported by aircraft. ...

In 1935, the group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, as part of the 3d Wing, General Headquarters Air Force. The wing was composed of the 3rd Attack Group (8th, 13th, & 90th Attack Squadrons) and the 20th Pursuit Group (55th, 77th & 79th Pursuit Squadrons). Aircraft assigned to the group were the Curtiss A-12 Shrike in 1935 and the Northrup A-17/A-17A Nomad in 1937 Barksdale Air Force Base is a U.S. military base near Bossier City, Louisiana, USA. Barksdale is the home of the U.S. Air Forces 2nd Bombing Wing and headquarters of the 8th Air Force . ... 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... The 20th Fighter Wing (20 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. ... The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps first monoplane attack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930s. ... The Northrop A-17 was a two seat, single engine, monoplane, attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the US Army Air Corps. ...

In 1936, some A-12s were transferred to Wheeler Field, Hawaii, and later reassigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii. The commander of the 3rd Attack Group at this time was Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickam, who was killed on November 5, 1934, when the A-12 he was piloting (33-250) crashed while landing at Fort Crockett, Texas. Hickam Field was named in his honor. Some A-12s were still at Hickam Field on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked, however, none of the aircraft saw any combat. The A-12 was withdrawn from service soon after. Horace Meek Hickam (born August 14, 1885, Spencer, Indiana; died November 5, 1934, Galveston, Texas) was a pioneer airpower advocate and an officer in the United States Army Air Corps. ... Hickam Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base located in the City & County of Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. ... This article is about the actual attack. ...

The A-17s were was fairly fast and had a fairly heavy forward-firing armament for its time, and during 1938-39 war games it was deemed to be the most effective ground attack aircraft yet devised. However the career of the A-17 with the Army was quite brief. After only three years of service with the Army, the A-17As were declared surplus In 1940, the unit was redesignated as the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light), being reequipped with the Boeing B-18 Bolo and B-12 bombers and reassigned to Savannah Airfield, Georgia. Douglas B-18 Bolo, Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s based on the Douglas DC-2. ... Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is a chemical compound that is also known as cyanocobalamine. ... Hunter Army Airfield (IATA: SVN, ICAO: KSVN), along with Fort Stewart, is a military complex located near Savannah, Georgia, United States. ...

Note:*** The 8th Aero Squadron was organized on 21 June 1917; the 13th Aero Squadron on 14 June 1917, and the 90th Aero Squadron on 20 August 1917 by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. These squadrons served in combat during World War I prior to their assignment to the 3d. The Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, was the name of the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

World War II

The 3d Group served in combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1 April 1942 until V-J Day. It wss reassigned to Australia early in 1942 and became part of Fifth Air Force. Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group (Dive) in September 1942, being equipped with the The Douglas A-20 Havoc and the Douglas A-24 Dive Bombers. In May 1943, the group was re-equipped with the North American B-25 Mitchell and was redesignated as the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light). A map of the Pacific Theater. ... 15 August 1945 marked Victory over Japan or VJ Day, taking a name similar to Victory in Europe Day, which was generally known as VE Day. ... The Fifth Air Force (5AF), with headquarters currently located at Yokota Air Base,Japan, is one of very few numbered air forces of the United States Air Force never to have been based in the United States itself. ... The Douglas A-20 series, Douglas model DB-7, was a family of bomber and fighter aircraft of World War II, serving with United States, British, Soviet, French and Australian services. ... The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the U.S. Navys main scout bomber and dive bomber from mid-1940 until 1943, when it was replaced by the SB2C Helldiver. ... Lt. ...

World War II squadrons of the 3d Bomb Group were:

• 8th Bombardment
• 13th Bombardment
• 89th Bombardment (1941-1946)
• 90th Bombardment

The group had its headquarters in Australia until January 1943, but its squadrons operated from forward locations in New Guinea, bombing and strafing enemy airfields, supply lines, installations, and shipping as the Allies halted the Japanese drive toward Port Moresby and drove the enemy back from Buna to Lae. At the end of that campaign, group headquarters moved to New Guinea. Port Moresby town Port Moresby, (), population 255,000 (2000), is the capital of Papua New Guinea. ...

For the next year and a half the group continued to serve in the Southwest Pacific, where it played an important role in the offensives in which the Allies pushed along the northern coast of New Guinea, taking Salamaua, Lae, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, and Noemfoor. In March 1943 it took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, which ended Japanese attempts to send convoys to Lae. In August 1943, when Fifth Air Force struck airfields at Wewak to neutralize Japanese airpower that threatened the advance of Allied forces in New Guinea, the group made an attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire on 17 August, destroyed or damaged many enemy planes, and won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. The South West Pacific was one of two theatres of World War II in the Pacific region, between 1942 and 1945. ... Combatants United States, Australia Empire of Japan Commanders George C. Kenney Masatomi Kimura Strength 39 heavy bombers; 41 medium bombers; 34 light bombers; 54 fighters 8 destroyers, 8 troop transports, 100 aircraft Casualties 2 bombers, 3 fighters destroyed 8 transports, 4 destroyers sunk 20 fighters destroyed, 5,000 troops killed... USA and USAF Presidential Unit Citation Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...

In the fall of 1943 the group struck Japanese naval and air power at Rabaul to support the assaults on Bougainville and New Britain. In an attack on shipping at Simpson Harbor, New Britain, on 2 November 1943, the 3rd group encountered heavy opposition from enemy fighters and from antiaircraft batteries on the ships. In that attack Major Raymond H Wilkins, commander of the 8th squadron, sank two ships before he was shot down as he deliberately drew the fire of a destroyer so that other planes of his squadron could withdraw safely - an action for which Maj Wilkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. A view from Rabaul Volcano Observatory across the relatively undamaged western half of Rabaul and towards Tavurur Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, was the headquarters of German New Guinea and then the Australian mandatory territory of New Guinea from 1910 until 1937, the base of Japanese activities in the South Pacific... Location of North Solomons (Bougainville) Province in Papua New Guinea This article is about the island; Bougainville is also the name of a commune in the Somme département of France. ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

The group moved to the Philippines late in 1944. Equipped with A-20's, it bombed and strafed airfields; supported ground forces on Mindoro, Luzon, and Mindanao; attacked industries and railways on Formosa; and struck shipping along the China coast. Beach in Northern Mindoro Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. ... Map of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ... Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. ... Formosa is a place name which comes from Portuguese (*from Latin formosus, meaning beautiful). The following places bear the name: The island of Taiwan was historically known as Formosa, the name given by Portuguese sailors due to the beauty of its coasts. ...

Captain John S Walmsley Jr was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 14 September 1944: flyding a night mission in a B-26, Capt Walmsley discovered and attacked an enemy supply train, and after exhausting his ammunition he flew at low altitude to direct other aircraft to the same objective; the train was destroyed but Walmsley's plane crashed in the target area. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

The group moved to Okinawa early in August 1945 and flew some missions to Japan before the war ended. Moved to Japan in September 1945 and, as part of U.S. Far East Air Forces, became part of the army of occupation. This article is about the prefecture. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ...

Cold War

3d Bomb Wing B-26B-50-DL Invaders during the Korean War. Serial 44-34306 identifiable.

Martin B-57B-MA Serial 53-3896 of the 3d Bomb Wing.

North American F-100D-50-NH Super Sabre 55-2881 of the 3d TFW 531st TFS (Taken at Bien Hoa AB)

McDonnell Douglas F-4E-42-MC Phantom Serial 69-0275 of the 90th TFS/3d TFW Clark AFB, Phillpines, 1979. Later, this aircraft was converted to the F-4G configuration. To AMARC as FP1024 3/25/1996. To Holloman AFB as QF-4G AF151. Expended 2/5/1998.

Northrup F-5E Tiger IIs of the 26th Training Agressor Squadron at Clark AB. Serial 73-0847 in foreground was originally scheduled for shipment to the South Vietnamese Air Force, however the aircraft was retained by the USAF after the collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975. With the deactivation of the 26th TAS in 1988, this aircraft was sold to the Honduras Air Force

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Korea

After the formal independence of the United States Air Force on 18 September, 1947, the former USAAF groups were realigned into a new wing structure; the 3rd Attack Group became the 3rd Bombardment Wing (Light, Attack). The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ...

Flying Douglas A-26 Invaders (after 1948, the B-26) the 3rd Wing participated from the first bombing sortie to the very last during the Korean War. Operatonal B-26 squadrons of the wing during the Korean War were: First flown in 1942, the American Douglas A-26 Invader (after 1948, the B-26, and after 1966, the A-26A) was a twin-engined light attack bomber aircraft built during World War II and seeing service during the Cold Wars major conflicts. ... 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...

• 8th Bombardment Squadron (September 1947 - August 1956)
• 13th Bombardment Squadron (September 1947 - August 1956)
• 731st Bombardment Squadron (December 1950 - Inactivated June 1951)
  Redsesignated: 90th Bombardment Squadron (June 1951 - August 1956)

The first Americans to lose their lives during the Korean War, 1Lt Remer L. Harding and SSgt William Goodwin, were assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Wing when they lost their lives 28 June 1950 returning from a sortie on the Korean Peninsula.

In recognition of the wing's distinguished service, the 3rd Bombardment Wing's was granted the privilege of conducting the last bombing mission over North Korea minutes before implementation of the ceasefire of 27 July 1953.

Japan

With the war over in Korea, wing returned to the routine of peacetime duty in the Cold War environment. It remained at Kunsan Air Base until October 1954, when it moved to Johnson AB, Japan. Beginning in January 1956, the 3rd Bombardment Group converted from the B-26 to the Martin B-57B Canberra Night Intruder. Operational squadrons of the wing were: For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Kunsan Air Base, a base of the United States Air Force, is located on the western side of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. ... The Martin B-57 Canberra was a twin-engine jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft which entered service in the 1950s. ...

• 8th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)
• 13th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)
• 90th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)

In November 1960, the 3rd Bombardment Wing moved to Yokota Air Base where it continued to train in bombardment, reconnaissance and aerial refueling operations. The wing also stood nuclear alert with its B-57s along with the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (December 1961 - May 1962) equipped with the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger for air defense. Yokota Air Base ), a base of the United States Air Force, is located in the city of Fussa and nearby communities in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. ... The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger fighter aircraft was part of the backbone of the United States air defenses in the late 1950s. ...

Vietnam

In January 1964 the wing was redesignated as the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, and was reassigned w/p/o/e to England AFB, Louisiana. It was part of an overall effort to reduce the number of wings in Japan. At the same time, the wing gave up its B-57s, becoming the last bombardment wing to fly the medium bomber. The move also ended the long association with the 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons and nearly 22 years of active duty in the Far East. 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...

At England, the wing transitioned into flying primarily North American F-100D/F Super Sabres. It was deployed to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam from 1965-1970. During the Vietnam War, the wing flew thousands of sorties in support of allied forces. Operational F-100 squadrons of the wing were: F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... Air Photo of Bien Hoa Air Base - South Vietnam July 1968 Bien Hoa Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base located in South-Central southern Vietnam about 20 miles (30 kilometers] from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) near the city of Bien... Anthem Thanh niên Hành Khúc (Call to the Citizens) Capital Saigon Language(s) Vietnamese Government Republic Last President¹ Duong Van Minh Last Prime minister Vu Van Mau Historical era Cold War  - Regime change June 14, 1955  - Dissolution April 30, 1975 Area  - 1973 173,809 km² 67,108... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

• 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron (June 1964 - November 1965, February 1968 - October 1970) (Tailcode: CR, Blue tail stripe)
• 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron (March 1964 - November 1969) (Tailcode: CE, Purple tail stripe)
• 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron (June 1964 - July 1970) (Tailcode: CP, Red tail stripe)

The 3d also supported one B-57 light bomb squadron at Bien Hoa:

• 8th Bombardment Squadron/Attack Squadron (November 1969 - September 1970) (B-57B) (Tailcode: PQ)

The 8th BS/AS was reassigned from the 35th TFW at Da Nang Air Base, then was redesignated as the 8th Special Operations Squadron and reassigned to Phan Rang Air Base with A-37Bs. Đà Nẵng International Airport (IATA: DAD, ICAO: VVDN) is located in Da Nang of central Vietnam. ... Aerial Photo of Phan Rang Air Base - South Vietnam - June 1968 Phan Rang Air Base is a former South Vietnamese Air Force and United States Air Force base used during the Vietnam War. ... T-37s in formation One of the most prominent of the trainer-attack type aircraft is the Cessna T-37/A-37, known in various forms as the Tweety Bird, Tweet, Dragonfly, or Super Tweet. ...

In late 1969 the F-100s of the 3d TFW began a phaseout at Bien Hoa. The 510th TFS was deactivated on 15 November 1969, the 531st TFS on 31 July 1970. The 90th TFS was redesignated the 90th Attack Squadron on 15 November 1969 and was re-equipped with A-37Bs and assigned to the 4th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base on 31 October 1970. is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Nha Trang Air Base is a former United States Air Force base. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Philippines

After its withdrawal from Southeast Asia in 1971, the wing transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and moved to Kunsan AB South Korea with two tactical fighter squadrons (35th, 36th TFS), the scene of much of its success during the Korean War. By 1974, the wing moved to Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines, helping that nation transform into a stable democracy. At Clark, the wing operated the following fighter squadrons with the tail code "PN" : The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II[2] is a two-seat supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Douglas. ... Kunsan Air Base, a base of the United States Air Force, is located on the western side of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. ... Clark Air Base, 1975. ...

• 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron (December 1975 - December 1991) (F-4E)
• 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron (September 1974 - May 1991) (F-4E/G)
• 26th Tactical Fighter/Training Aggressor (September 1974 - October 1988) (F-4E "PN", F-5E (no tail code))
  Note: F-4Es transferred to 3d TFS December 1975. Squadron redesignated January 1976 and equipped with F-5E aircraft.

The Wing deployed six F-4Es to Turkey for Operation Desert Storm in early 1991 where they flew some of that aircraft's last combat sorties. 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...

Alaska

The wing remained at Clark AB, though treaty negotiations with the Philippines broke down, and it was decided to move the 3rd Wing beginning in 1992-93. The Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 changed these plans and forced the wing's hasty relocation w/p/o/e to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska on 19 December 1991, where it replaced the 21st Wing which previously was the host organization for Elemendorf. With the reassignment, the wing was also redesigned as the 3d Wing and was realigned to the multi-mission objective wing concept. Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, at the intersection of the borders of the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. ... A Japanese F-15 takes off from Elmendorf during a joint exercise. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... https://www. ...

Today, the 3d Wing continues to grow in size and importance because of its strategic location and training facilities. It commands and controls fighter, airlift, AWACS squadrons in addition to the expansive Cope Thunder exercises, formerly conducted in the Philippines. The exercises were relocated to ranges near Eielson AFB, and regularly hosts visiting wings as well as participates in the exercises. Eielson Air Force Base is located in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. ...

Today, the 3d Wing now has responsibilities far beyond the vast borders of Alaska.

See Also

• United States Pacific Air Forces
• Fifth Air Force
• Eleventh Air Force
• Thirteenth Air Force
• United States Air Force Korean War Campaigns
• United States Air Force In South Vietnam

Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... The Fifth Air Force (5AF), with headquarters currently located at Yokota Air Base,Japan, is one of very few numbered air forces of the United States Air Force never to have been based in the United States itself. ... Military aircraft began to deploy to Alaska during the last half of 1940. ... Like the Fifth Air Force, the Thirteenth Air Force has never been stationed in the United States; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces. ... The United States Air Force designated 10 campaigns for Korean War Service. ... Map Of Major USAF bases in South Vietnam Overview What started as a small U.S. assistance program to train the South Vietnamese to protect themselves grew into a massive military and naval effort by the US with four major areas of combat operations. ...

References

This article contains information from the 3d Wing history factsheet which is an official document of the United States Government and is presumed to be in the public domain.

• Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
• [1] ArmyAirForces.com
• [2] Air Force Historical Research Agency

External Links