58th Special Operations Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=58th Wing


caption= 58th Special Operations Wing Shield
dates= 20 November 1940 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Training
role=
size=
command_structure=Air Education and Training Command
current_commander=Col. Eric Kivi [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=9225]
garrison=Kirtland Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=


* World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1943-1945)
* Korean Service (1952-1953)
notable_commanders= Col. Ronald C. Roux
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours= The 58th Special Operations Wing (58 SOW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mission

Train mission-ready special operations, combat search and rescue, missile site support, and UH-1 Distinguished Visitor airlift crews directly supporting Air Expeditionary Forces for the United States Air Force.

History

Lineage

*58th Pursuit Group (1940 – 1942)
* 58th Fighter Group (1942 – 1946)
*58th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1952 – 1958)
*58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (1969 – 1977)
*58th Tactical Training Wing (1977 – 1991)
*58th Fighter Wing (1991 – 1994)
*58th Special Operations Wing (1994 – Present)

World War II

From beginning of World War II until 1943 the 58th served as replacement training unit for fighter pilots. It trained for combat and moved overseas to Southwest Pacific Theater in 1943. The group began combat operations in February 1944, providing protection for U.S. bases and escorting transports initially, then escorting bombers over New Guinea and sea convoys to Admiralty Islands. From Noemfoor it bombed and strafed Japanese airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands. It moved to the Philippines in November and flew fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported U.S. ground forces, and protected sea convoys and transport routes. The group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DCU) for strafing a Japanese naval force that was attacking a U.S. base on Mindoro on 26 December 1944. Beginning in July 1945 it attacked railways, airfields, and enemy installations in Korea and Kyūshū, Japan from Okinawa.

After V-J Day the 58th flew reconnaissance missions over Japan. It moved without personnel or equipment to the Philippines in December and was deactivated in January 1946.

Korean War

The 58th was reactivated in Korea during the Korean War absorbing the personnel and equipment of the 136 Fighter-Bomber Group.

Operational Units of the 58th in Korea were:
* 58th Fighter-Bomber Group
** 310th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
** 311th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
* 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing: (Attached March - June 1953)
* 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing/Group: (Attached April - June 1953)

The 58th provided close air support for United Nations ground forces and attacked enemy airfields and installations. In 1952 and early 1953 the wing flew interdiction and close air support missions in as well as attacking special strategic targets such as military schools, dams, and port facilities. Having entered the war with slow, short-ranged F-84D ThunderJets, the 58 FBW transitioned in late 1952 to the new "G" model, designed with more speed and range. The wing attacked the major supply port of Sinuiju in September, inflicting heavy damage without loss of personnel or aircraft. Combining with other fighter-bomber units, it attacked the Kumgang Political School at Odong-ni in October 1952 and the North Korean tank and infantry school at Kangso in February 1953. In May, the 58th bombed North Korean dams, flooding enemy lines of communication and rice fields. On 27 July, 1953 it attacked runway at Kanggye and, with the 49 Fighter-Bomber Wing, bombed Sunan Airfield for the final action of the war. The wing earned a second DUC for its actions in the last three months of the war.

Stations:
* Itazuke AB, Japan (July - August 1952)
* Taegu AB, South Korea (K-9) (August 1952 - March 1955)

Aircraft Flown:
* Republic F-84G Thunderjet

Cold War

After the armistice the 58th provided air defense for South Korea and deployed tactical components on rotational basis to Taiwan from January 1955 - Feb 1957. From 15 March 1953 to 8 November 1954 the 58th service-tested a "reinforced" wing organization, exercising direct control of the tactical components of the attached wings. In October 1958 it armed with tactical missiles to provide air defense of South Korea until 1962.

The wing conducted training of US, German Air Force, and other friendly foreign nation aircrew and support personnel, and participated in numerous operations and tactical exercises while operating Luke Air Force Base until April 1977. It managed Tactical Air Command's Central Instructor School from 1971 – 1981. Beginning in early 1983 it performed tactical fighter training for US and foreign aircrews in the F-16 Falcon.

The 58th deployed support personnel to Europe to augment USAFE units during the war against Iraq in 1991.

In the fall of 1991, its primary mission expanded to include tactical training in the F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather strike fighter. By 1994, the wing had trained pilots and support personnel from the Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, Pakistan, the Republic of Singapore, Norway, Greece, Egypt, Indonesia, and Venezuela.

Post Cold War

In 1994, the wing's mission changed from the training of USAF and Allied fighter pilots to the training of USAF helicopter air crews and moved to Kirtland Air Force Base. It also trained crews in special operations aircraft, including helicopters and modified C-130 Hercules aircraft. It performed pararescue training and search and rescue missions as well. Additionally, the wing trained for missile site support and airlift for distinguished visitors. At the same time the wing continued to deploy personnel worldwide for contingency and combat operations.

The wing airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to investigate the crash site of the fourth airliner following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Since that time the 58th has deployed personnel and equipment to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Today, the wing trains aircrews in the MC-130 Combat Shadow and Combat Talon I/II variants of the C-130 Hercules and the CV-22 Osprey for the Air Force Special Operations Command; the HC-130 Hercules and the HH-60G Pavehawk for the Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces; the UH-1 Huey for Air Force Space Command; and those aircrew operationally gained to those commands from the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

Major Command

*United States Far East Air Force (1945 – 1946, 1957 – 1958)
*Pacific Air Forces (1946)
*Tactical Air Command (1952 – 1957)
*Air Combat Command (1992 – Present)

Numbered Air Force

*First Air Force (1941 – 1943)
*Fifth Air Force (1943 – 1946, 1952 – 1955)
*Twelfth Air Force (1969 – 1991)
*Nineteenth Air Force (1993 – Present)

ubordinate Organizations

58th Operations Group (58 OG)
*58th Operations Support Squadron (58 OSS)
*58th Training Squadron (58 TS)
*23d Flying Training Squadron (23 FTS)
*71st Special Operations Squadron (71 SOS)
*550th Special Operations Squadron (550 SOS)
*551st Special Operations Squadron (551 SOS)
*512th Rescue Squadron (512 RQS)

58th Maintenance Group (58 MXG)
*58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (58 AMXS)
*58th Maintenance Operations Squadron (58 MOS)
*58th Maintenance Squadron (58 MXS)

Bases stationed

*Selfridge Field, Michigan (1941)
*Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1941 – 1942)
*Dale Mabry Field, Florida (1942)
*Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia (1942)
*Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania (1942 – 1943)
*Bradley Field, Connecticut (1943)
*Green Field, Rhode Island (1943)
*Grenier Field, New Hampshire (1943)
*Brisbane, Australia (1943)
*New Guinea (1943 – 1944)
*Noemfoor (1944)
*San Roque, Leyte (1944)
*San Jose, Mindoro (1944 – 1945)
*Okinawa (1945)
*Luzon (1945 – 1946)
*Itazuke Air Base, Japan (1952)
*Taegu Air Base, South Korea (1952 – 1955)
*Osan Air Base, South Korea (1955 – 1958)
*Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (1969 – 1994)
*Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico (1994 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*P-35 (1941 – 1943)
*P-36 Hawk (1941 – 1943)
*P-39 Airacobra (1941 – 1943)
*P-40 Warhawk (1941 – 1943)
*P-47 Thunderbolt (1943 – 1945)
*F-84 Thunderjet (1952 – 1954)
*F-86 Sabre (1954 – 1958)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1969 – 1971)
*F/FT-104 Starfighter (1969 – 1983)
*F-5 Freedom Fighter (1969 – 1979)
*A-7 Corsair II (1969 – 1971)
*F-4 Phantom II (1971 – 1982)
*F/TF-15 Eagle (1974 – 1979)
*F-16 Falcon (1982 – 1994)
*C-12 Huron (1999 – 2002)
*UH-1N Huey (1994 – Present)
*HH-60 Pave Hawk (1994 – Present)
*MH-53 Pave Low (1994 – Present 2007)
*HC-130 Combat King (1994 – Present)
*MC-130H Combat Talon II (1994 – Present)
*MC-130P Combat Shadow (1994 – Present)
*CV-22 Osprey (2004 – Present)

Unit Shields

ee also

* USAF Organizations in the Korean War
* 314th 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
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/rso_index.html] Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

* [http://www.aetc.af.mil/units/58sow/ 58 SOW Home Page]