17th Training Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 17th Training Wing


caption= 17th Training Wing emblem
dates= May 8, 1952
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Training
size=
command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
current_commander=
garrison= Goodfellow Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= TOUJOURS AU DANGER - Ever into danger
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=


* World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign:: Doolittle Raid 1942: European Campaign (1942-1945)
* Korean Service (1952-1952)
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 17th Training Wing headquartered at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas is a wing in AETC's Second Air Force. Its mission is to train intelligence personnel in all the branches of the armed forces, as well as firefighters and a few other specialties.

The 17th Training Wing is the operating wing for Goodfellow Air Force Base.

Organization

The 17th Training Wing is composed of the 17th Training Group, 17th Medical Group, 17th Services Division, and 17th Mission Support Group.

Mission

The wing trains Air Force AFSCs 1N0, 1N1, 1N2, 1N3, 1N4, 1N5, 1N6, 1A8, officer 14N and firefighters from all branches. Many corresponding Army, Navy and Marine Corps intelligence personnel are also trained at Goodfellow AFB, and assigned to the local units.

There are 17 TRW units at the Defense Language Institute, Corry Station, and Fort Huachuca, AZ which also do intelligence training.

The wing is also responsible for writing the CDCs for the AFSCs which it trains.

History

Linage

* Authorized as 17th Observation Group on 18 Oct 1927.
** Redesignated as 17th Pursuit Group in 1929.
** Activated on 15 Jul 1931.
** Redesignated as 17th Attack Group in 1935
** Redesignated as 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) in 1939.
** Inactivated on 26 Nov 1945
* Established as 17th Bombardment Wing, Light, on 8 May 1952.
** Activated on 10 May 1952.
** Redesignated 17th Bombardment Wing, Tactical, on 1 Oct 1955.
** Inactivated on 25 Jun 1958.
* Redesignated 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on 15 Nov 1962.
** Organized on 1 Feb 1963.
** Inactivated on 30 Sep 1976.
* Redesignated 17 Reconnaissance Wing on 20 Jan 1982.
** Activated on 1 Oct 1982.
** Inactivated on 30 Jun 1991.
* Redesignated 17 Training Wing, and activated, on 1 Jul 1993.

Assignments

* United States Army Air Corps, 15 Jul 1931 - 18 Dec 1940
* Second Air Force: 5th Bombardment Wing, 18 Dec 1940 - 9 Jan 1941
* Third Air Force, 9 Feb 1942 - Nov 1942
* Twelfth Air Force, Dec 1942 - Nov 1945: 47th Bombardment Wing:: Attached C. 31 Dec 1942-17 Feb 1943: Assigned 18 Feb-7 Jun 1943
* Tactical Air Command, 19 May 1947 - 10 Sep 1948: (Not Operational)
* Far East Air Forces: Fifth Air Force, 10 May 1952 - 16 Mar 1955
* Tactical Air Command: Ninth Air Force, 1 Apr 1955 - 25 Jun 1958: Attached to Nineteenth Air Force, 15 Dec 1956 - 15 Dec 1957
* Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962 - 1 Feb 1963: Second Air Force:: 40th Air Division, 1 Feb - 1 Jul 1963: Eighth Air Force:: 6th Air Division, 1 Jul 1963 - 1 Jul 1965:: 57th Air Division, 1 Jul 1965 - 2 Jul 1968:: 817th Air Division, 2 Jul 1968 - 2 Jul 1969: Second Air Force:: 45th Air Division, 2 Jul 1969 - 1 Jul 1971:: 40th Air Division, 1 Jul 1971 - 1 Jul 1973:: 42d Air Division, 1 Jul 1973 - 30 Sep 1975: Fifteenth Air Force:: 14th Air Division, 30 Sep 1975 - 30 Sep 1976:: 7th Air Division, 1 Oct 1982- 30 Jun 1991
* Air Education and Training Command: Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993 - Pres.

tations

United States Army Air Corps/Forces
* March Field, California, 15 Jul 1931 - 24 Jun 1940
* McChord Field, Washington, 24 Jun 1940 - 29 June 1941
* Pendleton Field, Oregon 29 Jun 1941 - 9 Feb 1942
* Lexington County Airport, South Carolina 9 Feb - 23 Jun 1942
* Barksdale Field, Louisiana 23 Jun-Nov 1942
* Telergma, Algeria Dec 1942
* Sedrata, Algeria c. 10 May 1943
* Djedeida, Tunisia 23 Jun 1943
* Sardinia Nov 1943
* Corsica c. 14 Sep 1944
* Dijon, France c. 20 Nov 1944
* Horsching, Austria Jun 1945
* Clastres, France c. 3 Oct-Nov 1945United States Air Force
* Pusan-East AB, South Korea, 10 May 1952
* Miho Air Base, Japan, 10 Oct 1954-20 Mar 1955
* Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, 1 Apr 1955-25 Jun 1958
* Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Feb 1963
* Beale AFB, CA, 30 Sep 1975-30 Sep 1976
* RAF Alconbury, England, 1 Oct 1982-30 Jun 1991
* Goodfellow AFB, TX, 1 Jul 1993-Present

Components

Group

* 17th Bombardment: May 10, 1952–June 25, 1958.

quadron

* 9th Air Refueling: 30 Jun - 30 Sep 1976
* 34th Bombardment : Assigned: 15 Jul 1931 - 1935, 19 May 1947 - 10 Sep 1948, 10 May 1952 - 16 Mar 1955: Attached: 8 Jun 1957 - 25 Jun 1958: Assigned: 11 Feb 1963 - 30 Sep 1976
* 37th Bombardment: Assigned: 15 Jul 1931 - 1935, 19 May 1947 - 10 Sep 1948, 10 May 1952 - 16 Mar 1955: Attached: 8 Jun 1957 - 25 Jun 1958
* 73d Bombardment: Assigned: 1947 - 1948, 1952 - 8 Jun 1957
* 95th Bombardment (later, Reconnaissance): Assigned: 15 Jul 1931 - 1935, 19 May 1947 - 10 Sep 1948, 10 May 1952 - 16 Mar 1955: Attached: 8 Jun 1957 - 25 Jun 1958: Assigned: 11 Oct 1982 - 30 Jun 1991
* 432d Bombardment: 9 Feb 1942 - 26 Nov 1945
* 903d Air Refueling: 30 Sep 1975 - 30 Sep 1975
* 922d Air Refueling: 1 Feb 1963 - 30 Sep 1975

Aircraft

B-26, 1952–1956; B-57, 1955–1956; B-66, 1956–1958. B-52, 1963–1975, 1975–1976; KC-135, 1963–1975, 1975–1976. TR-1, 1982–1991.

Operational history

Origins

Authorized as 17th Observation Group on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated 17th Pursuit Group in 1929. Activated on 15 Jul 1931. Redesignated 17th Attack Group in 1935, and 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) in 1939. Trained and participated in maneuvers, using P-12 and P-26 (1931-1932), A-17 (1933-1939), and B-18 (1940-1941) aircraft.

World War II

At the beginning of World War II the 17th was flying B-25's performing antisubmarine patrol duty on the west coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The 17th was the the first group to receive B-25 Mitchells, with all four of its squadrons equipped with the bomber by September 1941. In the spring of 1942, the 17th BG was not only was the first medium bomb group of the Army Air Corps, but it also had the most experienced B-25 crews.

The 17th BG, was moved cross-country to Lexington County Army Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina, ostensibly to fly similar patrols off the east coast of the United States, but in actuality to prepare for the Doolittle Raid against Japan. The group officially arrived in Columbia on February 9, where its combat crews were offered the opportunity to volunteer for an "extremely hazardous" but unspecified mission.

The group moved to North Africa late in 1942 and began operations on 30 Dec. Served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, being assigned first to Twelfth Air Force, then to Fifteenth Air Force (Nov 1943), and again to Twelfth (Jan 1944).

Flew interdictory and close-support missions, bombing bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, and other targets. Helped to bring about the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943; assisted in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa in Jun 1943; participated in the invasions of Sicily in Jul and of Italy in Sep 1943; and took part in the drive toward Rome, receiving a DUC for a bombing attack on airdromes at Rome on 13 Jan 1944. Also received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for operations in Italy, Apr-Jun 1944.

Took part in the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, and continued bombardment operations in northern Italy, France, and later in Germany. Received second DUC for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near Schweinfurt on 10 Apr 1945. Assisted in the disarmament of Germany after V-E Day.

Returned to the US in Nov. Inactivated on 26 Nov 1945.

Korean War

Established as the 17th Bombardment Wing, Light on May 8, 1952, activated two days later at Pusan-East Air Base (K-9), South Korea, where it replaced the 452nd Bombardment Wing Light. It was equipped with Douglas A-26 Invaders from World War II. Operational Units were the 34th, 37th and 95th Bombardment Squadrons.

The wing conducted combat operations in Korean War, May 10, 1952–July 27, 1953, including night intruder light bombardment missions against enemy supply centers, communications and transportation facilities; interdiction of North Korean railroads; armed reconnaissance; and close air support for ground forces.

It moved to Miho Air Base, Japan on October 10, 1954, where it maintained operational proficiency for light bombardment.

Cold War

The wing returned to the United States and was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida on April 1, 1955 as part of Tactical Air Command. On October 1, 1955, it was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Wing, Tactical. It flew B-57s In 1956 and 1957, and B-66s from 1956 until 1958. Inactivated June 25, 1958.

The 17th was assigned to Strategic Air Command and redesignated as the 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated on November 15, 1962. It replaced the 4043rd Strategic Wing in February 1963 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and absorbed it's 42nd Bomb Squadron and 922nd Air Refueling Squadron. It trained to maintain proficiency in strategic bombing and aerial refueling on a global basis. It furnished B-52s KC-135 aircraft and crews to SAC units in Vietnam from 1966 to 1975.

Taken off alert at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, on June 30, 1975 and phased down, transferring aircraft by July 7. Moved without personnel or equipment to Beale AFB, California, on September 30, 1975 and absorbed resources of the 456th Bombardment Wing, including B-52G and KC-135Q aircraft.

Continued global strategic bombardment alert to June 30, 1976 and used tanker aircraft primarily to refuel SR-71s of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The wing was inactivated on September 30, 1976 and replaced by the 100th Air Refueling Wing.

The wing was reactivated at RAF Alconbury England as the 17th Reconnaissance Wing on October 1, 1982. The operational squadron of the 17th RW was the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron. The wing flew tactical and strategic surveillance missions in Western Europe using the TR-1 (U-2R).

At Alconbury, the 17th RW received the P. T. Cullen Trophy for providing “the greatest contribution to the intelligence gathering efforts of SAC” in 1989 and 1990. During 1990–91, many of the wing's assets and personnel supported operations in Southwest Asia by ferrying aircraft and equipment to Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The 17th RW inactivated on 30 June 1991, but its subordinate unit, the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, remained at Alconbury as a non-flying organization. It subsequently inactivated at Alconbury on 15 September 1993, then reactivated on 1 July 1994 as the 95th RS at RAF Mildenhall, assigned to the 55th Operations Group. The U-2Rs were consolidated at Beale AFB California in the 9th Wing, which still deploy routinely on a TDY basis to RAF Mildenhall.

Post Cold War

The 17th Training Wing stood up as a non-flying wing at Goodfellow AFB, Texas on 1 July 1993. At Goodfellow, the wing develops and delivers cryptologic, intelligence, and other training to US and allied military and US government students.

Decorations

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers.
* Korea: Korea, Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer, 1953.
* Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

ee also

* Pacific Air Forces
* Fifth Air Force
* Eighth Air Force
* Twelfth Air Force
* United States Air Force In South Korea
* 5th Air Division

References

* Futrell, Robert Frank (1983) The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950-1953, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0912799714
* 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.
* Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/rso_index.html Air Force Historical Research Agency]

External links

* [http://www.goodfellow.af.mil/ Goodfellow AFB Home Page]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/17trw.asp 17th Training Wing Heritage]