10th Air Base Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 10th Air Base Wing


caption= 10th Air Base Wing Insignia
dates= September 1, 1941
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Air Base Support
size=
command_structure= United States Air Force Academy
current_commander=
garrison= United States Air Force Academy
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= ARGUS - Ceaseless Watch
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= Robert Merrill Lee
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 10th Air Base Wing (10 ABW) is a non-flying United States Air Force unit that is the host wing for the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Components

The 10 ABW consists of more than 2,100 military, civilian and contract personnel. Its organizational structure consists of:

* 10th Medical Group
* 10th Mission Support Group
** 10th Civil Engineering Squadron
** 10th Communications Squadron
** 10th Mission Support Squadron
** 10th Services Division

The commander of the 10 ABW is [http://www.usafa.af.mil/superintendent/pa/usafabios/abw_cc.htm Colonel Jimmy E. McMillian] .

Mission

The 10 ABW provides all base-level support activities to the USAFA. These activities include security, civil engineer, communications, logistics, military and civilian personnel, financial management, services, command post, chaplaincy, equal opportunity and the hospital, all of which support nearly 4,000 cadets and a total military community of approximately 20,000 personnel.

History

The 10th Air Base Wing is the current designation of World War II 73d (later 10th) Reconnaissance Group, and the Cold War 10th Tactical Reconnaissance (later Fighter) Wing. The 10 ABW was bestowed the history and honors of its predecessor organizations.

Lineage

* Constituted as 73d Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941
**Activated on 1 Sep 1941.
** Redesignated: 73d Reconnaissance Group in Apr 1943
** Redesignated: 73d Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943
** Redesignated: 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Dec 1943
** Redesignated: 10th Reconnaissance Group in Jun 1945
* Established as 10th Reconnaissance Wing on 14 Nov 1947
** Organized on 3 Dec 1947
** Redesignated 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 25 Aug 1948
** Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949.
* Activated on 10 Jul 1952
** Redesignated: 10th Tactical Fighter Wing on 20 Aug 1987
** Redesignated: 10th Air Base Wing on 31 Mar 1993
** Inactivated on 1 Nov 1994
* Activated on 1 Nov 1994.

Bases assigned

United States Army Air Forces
* Olmsted Field, PA 1 Sep 1941 - 6 Nov 1941
* Godman AAF, KY 7 Nov 1941 - 22 Jun 1943
* Campbell AAF, KY 23 Jun 1943 - Nov 1943
* Key Field, MS Nov 1943 - Jan 1944
* RAF Chalgrove, England Feb 1944 - 10 Aug 1944
* Rennes/St-Jacques, France (ALG A-27) 11 Aug 1944 - Sep 1944
* St-Dizier/Robinson, France (ALG A-64) Sep 1944 - Nov 1944
* Chateaudun, France (ALG A-39) Nov 1944
* Conflans/Doncourt, France (ALG A-94) Nov 1944 - Mar 1945
* Trier/Evren, Germany (ALG Y-57) Mar 1945 - 4 Apr 1945
* Ober Olm, Germany (ALG Y-64) 5 Apr 1945 - 27 Apr 1945
* Furth, Germany (ALG Y-30) 28 Apr 1945 - Jun 1947United States Air Force
* Pope Field (later, AFB), NC, 3 Dec 1947 - 1 Apr 1949
* Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, 10 Jul 1952 - 9 May 1953 (1st TRS)
** Note: 32d and 38th TRS deployed at Fürstenfeldbruck and Neubiberg AB, West Germany, 10 Jul 1952 - 9 May 1953
* Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, 10 May 1953 - 25 August 1959
* RAF Alconbury, England, 26 Aug 1959 - 1 Nov 1994
* USAF Academy, CO, 1 Nov 1994 - PresentNote: ALG = "Advanced Landing Ground" designation of temporary airfields constructed or used by the Allies in Europe following the D-Day landings in 1944.

Operational history

World War II

Constituted as 73rd Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Engaged in training activities, participating in the Tennessee Maneuvers in 1943.

Redesignated 73rd Reconnaissance Group in Apr 1943, 73rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Aug 1943, and 10th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) in Dec 1943. Moved to the European theater, Jan-Feb 1944, for duty with Ninth Air Force at RAF Chalgrove, England.

At Chalgrove, the group consisted of six photographic squadrons flying a variety of reconnaissance aircraft. These were the photographic versions of the P-38 Lightning (F-5) and P-51 Mustang (F-6). In addition the unit also flew the Stinson L-1 Vigilant and L-5 Sentinel along with the Piper L-4 Grasshopper light observation aircraft. The group photographed airfields, coastal defences, ports, and made bomb-damage assessment photographs of airfields, marshalling yards, bridges, and other targets in preparation for the Normandy invasion. The 10th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for flying at low altitude to photograph the English Channel coast from Blankenberge to Dunkirk and from Le Touquet to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue prior to the D-Day invasion during 6 May-20 May 1944.

In May 1944 the 30th PRS moved to RAF Middle Wallop and it was replaced by the 423rd Night Fighter Squadron with A-20 Havocs (F-3A) from RAF Charmy Down which was used for night photo reconnaissance.

The group supported the Normandy invasion in June by making visual and photographic reconnaissance of bridges, artillery, road and railway junctions, traffic centres, airfields, and other targets. A deployment re-appraisal in June 1944 led to the decision to assign a tactical recon squadron to support the needs of the ground forces on the continent. To this end, the group's 15th Tactical Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (15th TPRS) was transferred in from RAF Middle Wallop on 27 June flying F-6/P-51B Mustangs. The mission of the 15th TPRS was to fly low level missions whereas the F-5 Lightnings would fly at higher altitudes.

After the invasion the 15th TPRS moved into France first, to the Advanced Landing Ground at Rennes - St-Jacques, France (ALG A-27) on 10 July. The other squadrons of the 10th moved over the next few weeks, the last being the 155th which moved to France in mid-August.

On the continent, the 10th RG aided the US Third Army and other Allied organizations in the battle to breach the Siegfried Line, September - December 1944. The group participated in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, by flying reconnaissance missions in the combat zone. From February 1945 to V-E Day, the 10th RG assisted the advance of Third Army across the Rhine, to Czechoslovakia and into Austria, eventually being stationed at Fürth, Germany (ALG R-30) when hostilities ended.

The 10th remained in Germany after the war as part of the army of occupation, being assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. It was transferred without personnel or equipment back to the United States in June 1947, becoming part of Tactical Air Command and placed on inactive status at Langley AFB, Virginia.

10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

The Air Force started a “wing-base” service test in 1947. Under this program the 10th Reconnaissance Wing was organized Dec 3, 1947, at Pope Field, North Carolina. The new wing was equipped with two squadrons (1st, 15th Photographic Reconnaissance) of F-6's (The photo variant of the P-51, later redesignated as the RF-51).

On August 25, 1948, the 10th Reconnaissance Wing was redesignated the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (10 TRW). The Wing was then inactivated April 1, 1949.

On July 10, 1952, the 10 TRW was reactivated and assigned to NATO at Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, absorbing the mission and equipment of the deactivating federalized Air National Guard 117th TRW. However, the base was not yet ready for jet aircraft, so only the 10th TRW Wing Headquarters was sent to Toul. The propeller-driven RB-26s of the former 112th TRS were absorbed by the 1st TRS at Toul, while the two RF-80A squadrons assigned to the 32d and 38th TRS were located at Neubiberg and Fürstenfeldbruck Air Bases near Munich, West Germany.

Ongoing construction delays in France forced the wing’s transfer on 9 May 1953 to the newly-completed Spangdahlem AB in West Germany where all the squadrons of the wing were united. The Republic RF-84F Thunderflash began to arrive in the fall of 1955, and the RF-80As were returned to the United States for Air National Guard use. Martin RB-57A Canberras replaced the World War II vintage RB-26s in 1954 to perform night Reconnaissance missions. In 1956, the 10th TRW began to transition to the RB-66 and WB-66 Destroyers, and the RF-84Fs were transferred to the 66th TRW at Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base, France.

In 1959, France placed new limits on the type of American forces stationed on its soil. Specifically, USAF nuclear-capable aircraft were to be removed from French bases. To accommodate the French restrictions, USAFE moved the 49th TFW from Etain-Rouvres Air Base to Spangdahlem and the 10th TRW was relocated to RAF Alconbury on July 20, 1959.

With its headquarters at RAF Alconbury, the 10 TRW operated its B-66 “Destroyers” from RAFs Alconbury, Bruntingthorpe, and Chelveston. In addition, the 10th TRW frequently rotated its aircraft to Toul AB, France establishing a detachment there until France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military in 1965. Also in 1965, the 10 TRW received a new airplane, the RF-4C Phantom II. The wing’s mission changed slightly in 1976. It inactivated two of its three RF-4C squadrons. The 527th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron, flying F-5E “Tiger IIs,” activated at RAF Alconbury.

April 1, 1976, bringing a new mission to the wing. The squadron provided combat training to North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces by teaching and demonstrating soviet air tactics-under the title of Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics. The 527th flew the first “Aggressor” sortie from RAF Alconbury in May.

10th Tactical Fighter Wing

In the late 1980s, the 10 TRW experienced more dramatic changes. After 34 years with the same mission, the 10 TRW received a new one. This 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron inactivated in June 1987 and its RF-4Cs left the base. On Aug. 20, 1987, the wing was designated as the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing. During 1988, two squadrons of A-10A Thunderbolt IIs, the 509th and 511th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, arrived from RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge. As the A-10s arrived, the 527th Aggressor Squadron moved to RAF Bentwaters.

Both A-10 flying squadrons, kept a strong close air support vigilance and remained ready to perform their mission in a contingency situation. The 511 TFS deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM from December 1990 to June 1991. The wing’s A-10s played an important part in the air phase of the Gulf War, attacking tanks, Scud missiles, and other ground positions.

10th Air Base Wing

The 10 TFW again went through dramatic changes in the early 1990s. The wing drew down its A-10 mission, September 1991 - March 1992. Without its aircraft, the 10 TFW continued to support the RAF Alconbury community. The wing was finally redesignated as the 10th Air Base Wing in March 1993, and inactivated October 1994. The 10th Air Base Wing was reactivated activated on Nov. 1, 1994 as the support wing for the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado.

References

* Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
* Fletcher, Harry R. (1989) Air Force Bases Volume II, Active Air Force Bases outside the United States of America on 17 September 1982. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799536
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present]

External links

* [http://atlas.usafa.af.mil/10abw/ USAFA Atlas]
* http://www.usafa.af.mil/?catname=10ABW
* [http://www.usafa.af.mil/superintendent/pa/factsheets/10abw.htm 10 ABW History]
* [http://www.pcfubar.net/alconbury/recon.php 10th TRW Recon photos]