31st Fighter Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=31st Fighter Wing


caption=
dates= 1 February 1940 - 7 November 1945
20 August 1946 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=United States Air Forces Europe
current_commander=Brigadier General Craig A. Franklin
garrison=Aviano Air Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=Return With Honor
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=


* World War II: European Campaign (1942-1945)
* Vietnam Service (1966-1970)
* Expeditionary Service: Operation Deny Flight: Operation Deliberate Force: Operation Decisive Edge: Operation Deliberate Guard: Operation Deliberate Forge: Operation Allied Force
* NATO Service: Operation Joint Guardian: NATO Kosovo Service
* Global War on Terrorism: Afghanistan Campaign (TBD): Iraqi Campaign (TBD)
notable_commanders= Charles F. Wald
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 31st Fighter Wing (31 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy.

Mission

The mission of the 31st Fighter Wing is:
*Conducting air and space combat support operations in Europe's Southern region
*Conducting regional and expeditionary operations under NATO, SACEUR or national tasking with conventional and non-conventional munitions
*Maintaining an air control squadron capable of air surveillance, control and communications
*Providing command, control and support functions

Overview

The 31st FW is the only United States Air Force fighter wing in Europe permanently stationed south of the Alps. During a NATO crisis, the wing's operational forces become part of the 5th Allied Tactical Air Force, located at Vicenza, Italy. This, and its strategic location, makes the wing critical to operations in NATO's southern region.

In peacetime, the 31st Fighter Wing prepares for its combat role by maintaining its aircraft and personnel in a high state of readiness.

Beginning July 1994, the wing provided combat support for NATO's first-ever operational mission, Deny Flight. In August and September 1995, 31st FW F-16s flew more than 400 combat sorties during Operation Deliberate Force. With the formal signing of the Dayton Peace Accord, Operation Deny Flight ended and the wing's emphasis shifted to support what is now Operation Deliberate Forge. And in March 1999, in support of Operation Allied Force, U.S. and allied forces assembled at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to react if called upon by NATO leadership.

Global War on Terrorism

The 31 FW provides and supports dominant, expeditionary air combat in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Currently, the wing accomplishes this goal by deploying people and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqui Freedom.

Units

*31st Operations Group (31 OG)
**510th Fighter Squadron (510 FS) – Buzzards
**555th Fighter Squadron (555 FS) – Triple Nickel
**603rd Air Control Squadron (603 ACS) – Scorpions
**31st Operations Support Squadron (31 OSS)

*31st Maintenance Group (31 MXG)
**31st Maintenance Squadron (31 MXS)
**31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (31 AMXS)
**31st Maintenance Operations Squadron (31 MOS)
*31st Mission Support Group (31 MSG)
**31st Contracting Squadron (31 CONS)
**31st Security Forces Squadron (31 SFS)
**31st Services Squadron (31 SVS)
**31st Logistics Readiness Squadron (31 LRS)
**31st Mission Support Squadron (31 MSS)
**31st Communications Squadron (31 CS)
**31st Civil Engineering Squadron (31 CES)

* 31st Medical Group (31 MDG)
** 31st Medical Operations Squadron (31 MDOS)
** 31st Medical Support Squadron (31 MDSS)

The 31st FW also includes the 603rd Air Control Squadron, capable of providing air surveillance, control and communications. Additionally, the 31st Comptroller Squadron (31 CPTS) reports directly to the wing staff.

History

Lineage

* Established as 31st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 Dec 1939: Activated on 1 Feb 1940: Redesignated 31st Fighter Group on 15 May 1942: Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945
* Activated on 20 Aug 1946.
* Established as 31st Fighter Wing on 6 Nov 1947: (31st Fighter Group became subordinate unit under wing): Organized on 20 Nov 1947: Redesignated: 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 Jan 1950: Redesignated: 31st Fighter-Escort Wing on 16 Jul 1950: Redesignated: 31st Strategic Fighter Wing on 20 Jan 1953: Redesignated: 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 Apr 1957: Redesignated: 31st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Jul 1958: Redesignated: 31st Tactical Training Wing on 30 Mar 1981: Redesignated: 31st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1985: Redesignated: 31st Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.

Assignments

* United States Army Air Corps: 2 Wing, 1 Feb 1940: 6 Pursuit Wing, 18 Dec 1940
* First Air Force: I Interceptor Command, 1 Oct 1941
* Third Air Force: III Interceptor (later, III Fighter) Command, 18 Apr 1942
* Eighth Air Force: VIII Fighter Command, 9 Jun 1942
* Twelfth Air Force, 14 Sep 1942: XII Fighter Command, 27 Sep 1942: XII Air Support Command, Nov 1942:: 64 Fighter Wing, 24 Jul 1943
* Fifteenth Air Force: 306 Bombardment Wing (later, 306 Fighter Wing),
2 Apr 1944 - 13 Jun 1945: 305 Bombardment Wing, c. 13 Jun 1945
* Continental Air Forces: Third Air Force, Aug-7 Nov 1945
* Tactical Air Command: XII Tactical Air Command, 20 Aug 1946: Ninth Air Force, 25 Jun 1947: Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Feb 1949

* Strategic Air Command: Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1950:: 40th Air Division, 14 Mar 1951:: (Attached to 39 Air Division [Defense] , 10 Jul-11 Oct 1952 and 10 Nov 1953-12 Feb 1954)
* Tactical Air Command: Ninth Air Force, 1 Apr 1957:: 831st Air Division, 15 Mar 1959: Ninth Air Force, 1 Jun 1962 :: Attached to Air Force Atlantic Command, 24 Oct-9 Nov 1962:: Attached to 1 Air Division Provisional, 10 Nov-c. 30 Nov 1962:: 836th Air Division, 1 Oct 1964:: 834th Air Division, 1 Jan 1965:: 836th Air Division, 1 Aug 1966::: Attached to Seventh Air Force, 16-24 Dec 1966)
* Pacific Air Forces: Seventh Air Force, 25 Dec 1966:: 836th Air Division, 15 Oct 1970
* Tactical Air Command: Ninth Air Force, 30 Jun 1971
* United States Air Forces in Europe: Sixteenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1994-.

Stations

* Selfridge Field, Michigan (1940-1941)
* Baer Field, Indiana (1941-1942)
* New Orleans, Louisiana (1942)
* Atcham, England (1942)
* Westhampnett, England (1942)
* Various, Algeria and Tunisia (1942-1943)
* Various, Sicily (1943)
* Various, Italy (1943-1945)
* Drew Field, Florida (1945-1946)
*Giebelstadt, Germany (1946)
*Kitzingen, Germany (1946-1947)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1947)
*Turner Air Force Base, Georgia (1947-1959)
*George Air Force Base, California (1959-1962)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1962-1966)
*Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam (1966-1970)
*Homestead Air Force Base, Florida (1970-1994)
*Aviano Air Base, Italy (1994-Present)

Components

Aircraft operated

*P-39 Airacobra (1940-1942)
*Spitfire (1942-1944)
*P-51 Mustang (1944-1945, 1947-1949)
*P-80 Shooting Star (1946-1947)
*F-84 Thunderjet (1948-1957)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1957-1970)
*F-4 Phantom (1970-1988)
*F-16 Falcon (1985-Present)
*KB-29 (1954, 1956-1957)
*KB-50 (1957-1958)

Commanders and dates assigned

* Col William L. Lee, Nov. 20, 1947
* Col Eugene H. Snavely, Aug. 16, 1948
* Col Alvan C. Gillem II, circa Dec. 26, 1950
* Col Eugene H. Snavely, March 10, 1951
* Col Carl W. Stapleton, March 14, 1951
* Lt Col Charles W. Lenfrost, April 9, 1951
* Col David C. Schilling, May 1, 1951
* Lt Col Charles W. Lenfrost, circa May 27, 1951
* Lt Col William D. Dunham, June 22, 1951
* Lt Col Gerald W. Johnson, July 1, 1951
* Col David C. Schilling, July 20, 1951
* Col Robert P. Montgomery, May 16, 1955
* Col Gordon M. Graham, July 15, 1955
* Col Hubert Zemke, Aug. 1, 1955
* Col Gordon M. Graham, Oct. 1955
* Lt Col Harold L. Williams, Feb. 1959
* Col Robert W. Stephens, March 15, 1959
* Col Herbert E. Ross, Aug. 26, 1959
* Col William D. Ritchie, Oct. 5, 1959
* Col Jack R. Brown, Oct. 2, 1961
* Col Frank J. Collins, Oct. 14, 1961
* Col William E. Bethea, March 9, 1964
* Col Franklin A. Nichols, March 16, 1964
* Col Ernest T. Burnett, May 30, 1965
* Col James Jabara, June 17, 1965
* Col Raymond C. Lee Jr., Nov. 17, 1966
* Col Warren R. Lewis, Nov. 28, 1966
* Col William J. Evans, Dec. 7, 1967
* Col Abner M. Aust Jr., May 3, 1968
* Col Cuthbert A. Pattillo, Feb. 8, 1969
* Col William B. Yancey Jr., Aug. 8, 1969
* Col Gilbert D. Hereth, June 15, 1970
* Brig Gen Wiltz P. Segura, Oct. 15, 1970
* Col David E. Rippetoe Jr., May 28, 1971
* Col Alonzo J. Walter, Jr., June 16, 1972
* Col Dudley J. Foster, March 1, 1974
* Col Walter J. Bacon II, March 7, 1975
* Col Samuel R. Johnson, June 14, 1976
* Col William A. Gorton, Aug. 31, 1978
* Col Eugene H. Fischer, Jan. 2, 1980
* Col Robert H. Baxter, Jan. 5, 1982
* Col Billy G. McCoy, June 20, 1984
* Col Charles L. Hehn, June 27, 1985
* Col H. Hale Burr, Jr., Sept. 5, 1986
* Col Walter T. West, April 28, 1988
* Col Stephen B. Plummer, Aug. 1, 1991
* Col William T. Rudd, Nov. 6, 1992
* Col John H. Campbell, April 1, 1994
* Brig Gen Charles F. Wald, May 24, 1995
* Brig Gen Timothy A. Peppe, July 3, 1997
* Brig Gen Daniel P. Leaf, Nov. 30, 1998
* Brig Gen Daniel J. Darnell, Jan. 21, 2000
* Brig Gen Donald J. Hoffman, May 25, 2001
* Brig Gen R. Michael Worden, Oct. 9, 2002
* Brig Gen Philip M. Breedlove, June 18, 2004
* Brig Gen Robert Yates, June 1, 2005
* Brig Gen Craig A. Franklin, June 1, 2007

Oprational History

World War II

The 31st Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939 and was activated on 1 February 1940 with the 39th, 40th and 41st Pursuit squadrons. The group trained and participated in Army maneuvers. The unit was redesignated the 31st Fighter Group on 15 May 1942 and was deployed to the European Theater. Most of the group moved to RAF Atcham England where it was assigned to Eighth Air Force. The group consisted of the following squadrons and fuselage codes:

* 307th Fighter Squadron (MX) (Formerly 39th Pursuit Squadron)
* 308th Fighter Squadron (HL) (Formerly 40th Pursuit Squadron)
* 309th Fighter Squadron (WZ) (Formerly 41st Pursuit Squadron)

Note: The 309th Fighter Squadron was based at RAF High Ercall.The group arrived in the UK without its assigned aircraft as the Bell P-39 Airacobras they trained with in the United States were found unsuitable for long-distance formation ferry flights. In England, the group was provided with British Supermarine Spitfire VBs by the Royal Air Force and it entered combat on 19 August 1942, supporting an Allied raid at Dieppe, France.

In August 1942, the 31st moved to RAF Westhampnett in Sussex until October before moving into Tafaraoui, Algeria on 8 November 1942 as part of Twelfth Air Force to take part in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.

Once in North Africa, the group attacked motor transports, gun positions, and troop concentrations during the campaign for Algeria and French Morocco. It supported ground troops in Tunisia and provided cover for bomber and fighter aircraft. During May and June 1943, after being re-equipped with Spitfire Mk VIIIs, it escorted naval convoys in the Mediterranean Sea and bombers on raids to Pantelleria. It supported landings on Sicily in July, at Salerno in September, and at Anzio in January 1944. The group provided close air support of Allied ground forces in Italy and flew patrol and escort missions.

In April 1944, after being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, the group was equipped with North American P-51B, C and D "Mustangs" and engaged primarily in missions to escort heavy bombers to enemy targets in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. The 31st earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for a 21 April 1944 mission to cover a raid on production centers in Romania. It escorted reconnaissance and cargo aircraft participating in the airborne invasion of southern France. The unit strafed airdromes and communications targets. As part of a Fifteenth Air Force task force, it attacked targets in Romania while flying to Russia on 22 July 1944. After escorting P-38 Lightning aircraft from a Russian base for a raid on an airdrome in Poland on 25 July, it attacked a German fighter-bomber force and a truck convoy, earning a second Distinguished Unit Citation. In April 1945, when Allied forces pursued their final offensive in northern Italy, the group strafed enemy rail and highway traffic.

The 31st Fighter Group returned to Drew Field Florida in August 1945 where it was inactivated on 7 November.

Cold War

The 31st Fighter Group was reactivated in Germany on 20 August 1946 where it was assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe, but was transferred without personnel or equipment to Turner Field (later, AFB), Georgia on 20 November 1947. At Turner the 31st Fighter Group became the operational component of the newly-established United States Air Force 31st Fighter Wing on 20 November under Tactical Air Command.

At Turner AFB, the 31st FW trained to achieve tactical proficiency from 1947-1950. The wing was redesignated as the 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 January 1950 upon joining Strategic Air Command's Second Air Force and subsequently the 31st Fighter-Escort Wing on 16 July 1950, reflecting the Wing's new mission to escort SAC's intercontinental Boeing B-29 and Boeing B-50 Stratofortress bomber fleet.

Beginning in December 1950 through July 1951, all tactical and most support components deployed to England. Thereafter it deployed to provide air defense in Japan from July-October 1952 and November 1953-February 1954. The 31st FEW earned an Outstanding Unit Award for making the first massed jet fighter crossing of the Pacific Ocean in July 1952. The wing was again redesignated as the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing on 20 January 1953, as the escort mission within SAC became deemphasized.

On 1 April 1957 the 31st was transferred to Tactical Air Command at Turner and was redesignated as the 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing when re-equipped with the new North American F-100 aircraft. The wing rotated tactical components to Alaska in 1956 and 1957 and to Europe in 1958 and 1959. It became non-operational at Turner on 15 March 1959 and was transferred to George Air Force Base, California, and absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 413th Figher-Day Wing that date. At George, the 31st was redesignated the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958 as part of an Air Force wide naming reorganization.

The wing was reassigned to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, in May 1962 when Homestead gained a Tactical Air Command mission, and subsequently stood air defense alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis from October-November 1962. The wing also maintained tactical proficiency by participating in exercises, firepower demonstrations, and by rotating tactical components overseas.

Vietnam War

In 1966, demands from NATO and the Vietnam War led to the division of the 31st TFW into several segments. In April, the 307th TFS was permanently reassigned to the 401st TFW at Torrejon Air Base Spain to accommodate USAFE requirements. The 31st TFW and its remaining three fighter squadrons were deployed to Tuy Hoa Air Base South Vietnam on 16 December 1966 and was reassigned to Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

In South Vietnam the 31st TFW commanded five F-100 squadrons and was the most important F-100 wing in South Vietnam. From Tuy Hoa, the wing conducted combat operations, 16 December 1966-September 1970. It controlled interdiction strikes, conducted visual and photo reconnaissance, rescue combat air patrols, and suppressed enemy antiaircraft artillery. The wing also conducted air operations against enemy forces during the Tet Offensive and the Siege of Khe Sanh from February-April 1968. It flew close air support missions during the extraction of friendly troops from Kham Duc on 12 May 1968. The wing gained forward air control mission in May 1968.

The 31st TFW was deactivated in Southeat Asia on 15 October 1970 as part of the general US withdrawal from South Vietnam. On 16 October it was reactivated without personnel or equipment at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida

Post Vietnam

With its return to Homestead, the 31st TFW conducted F-4 Phantom II replacement training from 1 July 1971 and rotated components to Southeast Asia from April 1972-June 1973. The wing assumed primary responsibility for air defense in southern Florida on 1 April 1976 and advised Air National Guard fighter units on operational matters.

In September 1979-September 1980 it transferred nearly half of its F-4E aircraft to Egypt under Project PEACE PHAROAH] , the F-4E's being replaced by F-4Ds and in 1981, the 31st TFW and Homestead AFB again took on a new task: the training of F-4 aircrews. On 31 March 1981 the 31st TFW became the 31st Tactical Training Wing. The wing continued to operate as an F-4 combat crew training unit but relinquished its Florida air defense commitment in October 1983.

Training was to remain the wing's primary mission until 1 October 1985 the wing converted to the General Dynamics Block 15 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon and returned to an operational tactical fighter wing status. F-4 training operations continued for several more years until last F-4 training class graduated in May 1988. Subsequently, the wing became a fully operational F-16 wing and maintained readiness for worldwide deployment carrying either conventional or nuclear weapons.

However, with the arrival of the F-16s, the 306th TFS was again deactivated. Also the tail code of the 31st changed to "HS" on 1 December 1986. In October 1991 the wing upgraded to the Block 40 F-16C/D and was redesignated at the 31st Fighter Wing. On 1 June 1992 the wing was assigned to the new Air Combat Command.

Hurricane Andrew

On 24 August 1992, much of Homestead Air Force Base’s physical plant was destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew. Just prior to the storm's landfall in Southeast Florida, the 31st TFW dispersed its fighter squadrons to safe areas away from the storm's path. These locations were:

* 307th FS -> to 347th FW, Moody AFB, Georgia
* 308th FS -> to 347th FW, Moody AFB, Georgia
* 309th FS -> to 363d FW, Shaw AFB, South Carolina

The effects of Hurricane Andrew caused the almost total destruction of Homestead Air Force Base. Although both President George H. W. Bush and President Clinton promised to rebuild Homestead, the BRAC designated the installation for realignment to the Air Force Reserve, with the 31st Fighter Wing's squadrons being permanently reassigned to their dispersal bases, Moody AFB and Shaw AFB on 1 October 1992. The remaining wing elements worked to clean up and salvage government property at Homestead.

United States Air Forces In Europe

The 31st moved to Italy in April 1994 without personnel and equipment, replacing the 401st Fighter Wing as host wing at Aviano Air Base. From May 1994-December 2004, the wing participated in the major Balkan operations. Its squadrons also deployed personnel and equipment to support operations in Southwest Asia April 1991-November 1995. In 2000 the wing gained a Combat Search and Rescue Mission (CSAR), along with additional F-16s. The 31st also supported Operation Northern Watch, March-May 2002 and Operation Southern Watch, August-December 2002. Most recently the 31FW has deployed personnel and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In Europe, the 31st FW is the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps. During a NATO crisis, the wing's operational forces become part of the 5th Allied Tactical Air Force, located at Vicenza, Italy. This, and its strategic location, makes the wing critical to operations in NATO's southern region.

The wing arrived at Aviano Air Base on 1 April 1994 from Homestead Air Force Base Florida, replacing the inactivated the 401st Fighter Wing. The wing was equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcons transferred from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The 31st FW Block 40 F-16CG/DGs use the tail code "AV". 510th FS (Buzzards) aircraft have a purple tail stripe; 555th FS (Triple Nickel) aircraft have a green tail stripe.

Beginning in July 1994, the wing provided combat support for NATO's first-ever operational mission, Operation Deny Flight. In August and September 1995, 31st FW F-16s flew more than 400 combat sorties during Operation Deliberate Force. With the formal signing of the Dayton Peace Accord, Operation Deny Flight ended and the wing's emphasis shifted to support what is now Operation Deliberate Forge. And in March 1999, in support of Operation Allied Force, U.S. and allied forces assembled at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to react if called upon by NATO leadership.

The 31st FW also supports three geographically-separated units: The 712th Munitions Squadron and 704th Munitions Support Squadron, Ghedi Air Base, Italy and the 496th Air Base Squadron, Morón Air Base, Spain.

Unit shields

References

* Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
* 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
* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
* 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.
* Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html] USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to Present
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/wings_groups_pages/0031fw.asp] Air Force Historical Research Agency, 31st Fighter Wing
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/wings_groups_pages/0031og.asp] Air Force Historical Research Agency, 31st Operations Group
* [http://www.armyairforces.com/dbgroups.asp?Group=54] ArmyAirForces.Com 31st Fighter Group

External links

* [http://www.aviano.af.mil/ Aviano AB Home Page]
* [http://www.31stfightergroup.com/ 31st Fighter Group, WW II]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/31stfighterwing.asp 31st Fighter Wing Heritage Site]