- 178th Fighter Wing
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 178th Fighter Wing
caption= 178th Fighter Wing emblem
dates=1963 -Present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Wing
role= F-16 Flight Training
size= 900
command_structure=Air National Guard /Air Combat Command
current_commander=
garrison=Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The
United States Air Force 's 178th Fighter Wing is anF-16 Fighting Falcon flying training organization assigned to theOhio Air National Guard and located atSpringfield-Beckley Municipal Airport ,Ohio .The 178th FW consists of four groups (178th Operations Group, 178th Maintenance Group, 178th Medical Group, and 178th Mission Support Group) and one flying squadron. In addition to its 900 personnel, the 178th FW also supports 320 members of the Headquarters, 251st Communications Group, the 269th Combat Communications Squadron (both co-located with the 178th FW), and the 123rd Air Control Squadron, located in
Cincinnati, Ohio .Mission
The 178th Fighter Wing's self-described mission is to:
*provide formal F-16 training while maintaining combat capability and resources in support of our nation, state, and community,
*(maintain) fully manned, trained, and equipped units which support national security objectives.
*(Deploy) manpower and equipment to aid civil authorities in the event of disasters and civil disturbances.History
The 178th Fighter Wing, originally organized as the "362d Fighter Squadron", was formed and activated in Hamilton Field,
California , in December 1942, at that time aP-39 Airacobra squadron. To November 1943, as one of three fighter squadrons assigned to the357th Fighter Group , the unit trained in preparation for movement overseas toEngland . In December 1943 the 362d Fighter Squadron arrived in atRAF Raydon inSuffolk England where it transitioned to theP-51 Mustang to prepare for its mission of long range bomber support and air superiority over theLuftwaffe . The 362nd FS moved toRAF Leiston in early 1944 and became operational in February 1944. On August 20, 1946 the 357th FG and its constituent squadrons were inactivated.On
November 2 ,1947 , the "162d Fighter Squadron" received federal recognition and was initially stationed at Cox-Dayton Municipal Airport,Vandalia, Ohio . In 1955, to expand its operations, the 162d Fighter Squadron moved to its current location, theSpringfield-Beckley Municipal Airport . The 162d Fighter Squadron deployed to Europe in 1961-1962 during theBerlin crisis , and in 1963, was formed into the "178th Tactical Fighter Group". The 178th TAG later flew theF-100 Super Sabre and A-7D Corsair II fighter-bombers.In 1993, the "178th Fighter Wing" was assigned the
F-16 Fighting Falcon , now with the mission of training active duty Air Force,Air National Guard andAir Force Reserve pilots to fly the F-16.Assignments
Major Command *
Air National Guard /Air Education and Training Command (1992-present)
*Air National Guard /Tactical Air Command (1958-1992)
*Air National Guard /Air Defense Command (1947-1958)Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
* 178th Fighter Wing (
1 October 1995 -Present)
* 178th Fighter Group (1992-1995)
* 178th Tactical Fighter Group (1962-1992)
* 162nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (1958-1962)
* 362nd Fighter Squadron,357th Fighter Group (1942-1945)quadrons assigned
*178th Operations Group
**162nd Fighter Squadron (1962-Present)
**178th Operations Support Flight
**202nd Weather Flight
*251st Communications Group
**269th Combat Communications Squadron
*178th Maintenance Group
**178th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**178th Maintenance Squadron
**178th Maintenance Operations Flight
*178th Mission Support Group
**178th Civil Engineering Squadron
**178th Communications Squadron
**178th Logistics Readiness Squadron
**178th Security Forces Squadron
**178th Mission Support Flight
**178th Services Flight
*178th Medical Group
**178th Medical SquadronBases stationed
*
Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport (1955-Present)
*Cox-Dayton Municipal Airport (1947-1955)Aircraft & Missiles OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
*
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (1993-Present)
*A-7D/K Corsair II (1978-1993)
*F-100 Super Sabre (1970-1978)
*F-84F Thunderstreak (1957-1970)
*P-51 Mustang (1944-1945)
*P-39 Airacobra (1942-1943)Decorations
References
External links
* [http://www.ohspri.ang.af.mil/ 178th Fighter Wing]
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