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Eielson Air Force Base

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Eielson Air Force Base (IATA: EIL, ICAO: PAEI) is located in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. It is part of the 'Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area'. As of the 2000 census, the population of the base is 5,400. The base is named for polar pilot Carl Eielson.

The base is home to the 354th Fighter Wing which reports to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces and flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It also hosts the 168th Air Refueling Wing, an Alaska Air National Guard unit, which flies the KC-135 Stratotanker.

The base's longest runway is 14,500 feet long.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 5,400 people, 1,448 households, and 1,414 families residing on the base. The population density is 40.1/km² (103.8/mi²). There are 1,531 housing units at an average density of 11.4/km² (29.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the base is 81.70% White, 9.37% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 2.13% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 5.81% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,448 households out of which 77.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 92.4% are married couples living together, 2.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 2.3% are non-families. 2.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.52 and the average family size is 3.55.

In the base the population is spread out with 40.8% under the age of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 41.2% from 25 to 44, 1.2% from 45 to 64, and 0.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 114.7 males.

The median income for a household in the base is $35,938, and the median income for a family is $35,688. Males have a median income of $24,961 versus $21,432 for females. The per capita income for the base is $11,512. 6.0% of the population and 5.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.5% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

25 Mile Field - now Eielson AFB - 1945

World War II

On 7 June 1943, the Western Defense Command ordered construction of a new airfield near present-day Fort Wainwright, then an Army airfield named for Major Arthur Ladd. Because of its hazard-free approaches and relatively flat terrain, surveyor reports indicated a site just over twenty miles (32 km) southeast of Ladd Field to be the best in the vicinity for military aviation. The field would become known as "Mile 26" because of its proximity to a U.S. Army Signal Corps telegraph station and a Richardson Highway milepost marker using the same designation.

A month later, contractors and civilian crews from Ladd Field started laying out the new airfield. Actual construction began on 25 August 1943. Crews built two parallel runways, 165 feet across and 6625 feet long. Other facilities included an operations building, housing for 108 officer and 330 enlisted personnel, and a ten-bed dispensary. The garrison and airfield totaled about 600 acres. Completed on 17 October 1944 the 14-month project cost about eight million dollars.

Operational uses of Mile 26 were few. Ladd Field served as the debarkation point for the Alaska-Siberia ferry route of the Lend-Lease program and was the hub of activity. Lend-Lease aircraft would occasionally land at Mile 26, but there are no indications any Lend-Lease aircraft ever used the airfield to take off for Russia. Mile 26 closed at war's end.

Major United States Army Air Force units at Eielson during World War II were:

  • Stn #4, Alaskan Wg (AAFTC), 20 September 1943
  • 1466th AAF Base Unit, 4 August 1944

From 1946 through 1951, the 65th Fighter Squadron of World War II fame was based at Eielson.

Cold War

During August 1947 - Although his main objective was a look at Ladd Field, General Hap Arnold toured Mile 26 in anticipation of the arrival of operational units.

97th Bombardment Wing

On 1 December 1947 Strategic Air Command bombers arrived at 26-Mile Airfield with the activation of the 97th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy. The wing reported to Fifteenth Air Force, Strategic Air Command (SAC), although the Yukon Sector of the Alaskan Air Command controlled its operations. Operational squadrons of the 97th BW were:

  • 340th Bomb Squadron
  • 341st Bomb Squadron
  • 342d Bomb Squadron

The 97th was a temporary organization, comprised of components of the 97th Bombardment Group and the 519th Air Service Group, deployed from Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas. The Air Force was conducting a service test of a combat wing structure that elevated the wing headquarters to the highest echelon of command on the base. This gave the wing commander the authority to direct activities rather than merely request that his flying mission receive support.

During the tenure of the 97th Bomb Wing, Headquarters USAF General Order 2, dated 13 January 1948 redesignated Mile 26 Airfield as Eielson Air Force Base.

The unit's March 1948 history stated: "The mission of the 97th Bombardment Wing (VHB) is to man, train and maintain a self-sustaining strategic bombardment group capable of operations in any theater." At the end of the Alaskan deployment the wing returned to Kansas on 12 March 1948.

5010th Air Base Wing

With the departure of the 97th Bomb Wing, the Eielson AFB Wing (Base Complement) was formed on 1 April 1948. On 20 April 1948, it was designated the 5010th Air Base Wing, and would be the host unit at the base until 1964.

The 5010th ABW would accommodate numerous SAC units on temporary deployment to Eielson, playing host to B-29s, B-36s and finally B-47s. In fact, the largest hangar on Eielson today, now used for the Air Force's Cope Thunder exercises, was originally built to house two B-36 "Peacekeeper" bombers, the largest bomber ever in Air Force inventory.

Construction boomed at Eielson AFB during the 1950s. Many of the facilities still in use today were built at that time - Amber Hall, Thunderdome, Base Exchange, Commissary, Gymnasium, Theater, Base Chapel, some of the schools and many of the dormitories, just to name a few.

58th Strategic Weather Squadron
WB-50 of the 58th Weather Squadron
Convair F-102A-15-CO Delta Dagger Serial 53-1802 undergoing cold weather testing.
McDonnell F-101A-10-MC Voodoo Serial 53-2433 undergoing cold weather testing.
Boeing RB-47H-1-BW Stratojet 5Serial 53-2496 on the snowy Eielson flightline.

The next SAC unit to use Eielson as a permanent base. was the 375th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, from the 308th Bombardment Group at Tinker AFB Oklahoma, arriving on 5 March 1949. The 308th flew WB-29 Superfortresses. The unit was redesignated the 58th Strategic Weather Squadron on 21 February 1951 as part of the 303d Bombardment Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona.

Notable instances at Eielson were:

  • 7 September 1951 - Three people died in a C-47 crash about five miles southeast of the base. It was the first fatal accident involving an aircraft assigned to Eielson.
  • 11 January 1952 – A C-47 crashed 40 miles southeast of the village of Fort Yukon. The crash site was not found until July 1952. Evidence indicated at least two of the crewmembers survived the crash, but perished in the bitter cold. Captain Ernie Walker, a Special Services officer, was on board the aircraft. In November 1953, the newly built Eielson AFB theater was dedicated in honor of Captain Walker.
  • 25 January 1952 - What was believed to be the biggest single-dormitory facility in the Air Force opened. Dubbed the 750-man barracks, the building would later be known as Ptarmigan Hall and in 1970, it was renamed Amber Hall.
  • 25 September 1953 – A 58 WRS WB-29 crashed just after takeoff two miles north of the base. Captain Charles F. Baker, a weather observer assigned to the unit, was the only fatality.
  • January 1955 - During Operation Snowbird, First Lieutenant William Caffrey lost the canopy from his F-86 and his helmet at 32,000 feet. Still 100 miles from base, the 720th Fighter-Bomber Squadron pilot descended until he blacked out from lack of oxygen. After recovering consciousness, the radio-less flyer regained control of the aircraft, only to realize he didn’t know where he was. He eventually found himself near Eielson, and landed the plane uneventfully. He suffered frostbite on his ears and hands.
  • 29 November 1955 - An F-84 crashed into Eielson family housing, killing fourteen. Seven of the victims were children, including the first triplets known to be born in the Fairbanks area. Forty years later, the base dedicated its new Child Development Center to the children.
  • December 1955 -January 1956 - An F-100 and B-52 arrived for cold weather testing. In September 1956, an RB-47 arrived for a 190-day cold weather test. As the Air Force's northernmost base (except for Ladd), Eielson would host a number of tests over the coming years, most recently the C-17 in 1994 and B-2 in 1996.
  • 17 January 1957 - A WB-50 assigned to the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crashed shortly after takeoff approximately three miles north of Eielson. All 12 crewmembers were killed.
  • 20 July 1957 - Sixty years after his birth, Air Force officials, community and state dignitaries, and members of Carl Ben Eielson’s family gathered at the base to dedicate a memorial to the fallen pilot. Originally located just outside the main gate, the memorial’s present location is at Heritage Park.
  • 9 September 1958 - While flying as a relief navigator aboard an SC-47, Major Charles Pennell of Eielson’s 11th Aviation Depot Squadron died in a crash at Elmendorf. Pennell Elementary School would later be named after him.

The 58th Weather Squadron remained at Eielson until 8 August 1958.

90th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

The SAC 90th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes Air Force Base Kansas deployed three RB-47 Stratojets to Eielson on 16 June 1956. These were:

  • 319th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 321st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 322d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron

The 90th deployed these squadrons for just over a year, departing on 31 August 1956.

6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

"Rivet Amber" (#62-4137) RC-135E of the 6th SRW at Eielson

In July 1960, the Strategic Air Command stationed the 4157th Combat Support Group (later Strategic Wing) at Eielson. The 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (6 SRW) replaced the 4157 SW on 25 March 1967, relocating from Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico after its closure.

The 6th SRW flew RC–135 strategic reconnaissance missions with an assigned squadron, and, with KC–135s deployed to Eielson from SAC, AFRES, and the ANG, conducted Alaska Task Force (ATTF) missions to support reconnaissance and numerous exercises for the Air Force and Navy.

In winter 1962, an Eielson KC-135 crashed on takeoff, killing the crew, two passengers, and one person on the ground. The accident was thought to be a result of pilot vertigo caused by ice fog.

From April 1968 to July 1972 the wing periodically served as the airborne monitor of the Alaskan ballistic missile early warning station. The wing maintained a detachment at Shemya AFS, in the Aleutians, and operated from there.

The Wing won the P.T. Cullen Award for greatest contributions to the photo and signal intelligence efforts of Strategic Air Command, 1973, 1978, and 1983. The 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron left Eielson AFB on 7 Jul 1992. The mission of the 6th SRW and assigned aircraft were transferred to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

Notible events at Eielson during the 6th SRW's tenure were:

  • 5 June 1969 - Rivet Amber, an RC-135E assigned to Eielson, crashed in the Bering Sea minutes after leaving Shemya Air Force Base. Nineteen crewmembers died. Amber Hall, the headquarters building at Eielson, was named for the crew a year later.
  • 1 February 1959 - Captain Perry Amidon, suspecting the aircraft he was in to be out of control, ejected from the B-58 Hustler at 24,000 feet. The aircraft’s pilot thought otherwise, however, and landed the plane at Eielson a few minutes later. The uninjured Captain Amidon, flew back to base about an hour later in a helicopter.
  • 21 April 1964 - A WB-47 belonging to Detachment 1 of the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crashed on takeoff. Three of the five crewmembers died in the accident.
  • 30 September 1965 - An Eielson helicopter crew rescued two Baptist ministers after their light plane crashed between Nome and Moses Point. Throughout the 1960s, Eielson crews averaged several rescues each year.
  • 8 July 1971 - When Lieutenant Colonel James O. Swanson became commander of the reincarnated 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron, he had a borrowed desk, a telephone, and a promise for nine aircraft and accompanying personnel. It took two months to get the first O-2A "Mosquito," and the unit’s complement of 14 officers and eight NCOs would not be complete until June 1972.
  • 9 December 1974 - An O-2A, assigned to the 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Eielson, crashed while on a routine training mission on the Fort Greely training area near Delta Junction. The pilot and co-pilot were both killed.
  • February 1977 - Cold weather testing of the A-10 aircraft took place through the end of the month. As part of the test, the aircraft participated in the "Jack Frost" exercise also hosted by the base.
  • 12 January 1979 - Five-hundred Eielsonites braved sub-zero temperatures to view the Air Force's newest aircraft, the as yet unnamed F-16, present for cold weather testing.

On 22 December 1993 the 6th was redesignated the 6th Air Base Wing and activated on 4 January 1994 at MacDill AFB Florida with a primary mission of supporting two unified commands, U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command. On 1 October 1996 the wing returned to its flying mission and was renamed the 6th Air Refueling Wing. On 1 January 2001 the 6th ARW reorganized and became the 6th Air Mobility Wing (6th AMW).

343d Composite/Fighter Wing

File:343rdwing-alaska.jpg
An O2-A of the 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron

A new chapter for the base began 1 October 1981 when the 343d Composite Wing replaced the 5010th as Eielson’s host unit. It's operational squadron was the 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

On 19 December 1991 the 3d Fighter Training Squadron was moved without personnel or eqipment to Eielson from Clark Air Base, Philippines. The 3d administred the Cope Thunder program and flew Bell Helicopter UH-1N Hueys for range support.

On 8 June 1994 the 343d Composite Wing was redesignated the 343d Tactical Fighter Wing. On 1 July 1991, it was redesignated as the 343d Wing. Also that year, the 343d gained a second flying unit, the 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron, which flew O/A-10As.

Additional flying squadrons assigned to the new wing included the 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying the Cessna O-2A Skymaster and North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco.

The 25th TASS O-2s were distingishable by orange panels on the nose, tail and wings. In July 1986, the O-2s were retired, and on 15 September 1989 the OV-10s were also retired and the squadron inactivated.

The 18th TFS realigned in 1991, transitioning to Block 40 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons.

On 20 August 1993, the 11th TASS inactivated, being replaced by the 355th FS from the 354th Fighter Wing.

The 3d FTS helicopters were reassigned to other bases on that same date and the unit was inactivated, being replaced by the 353d Fighter Training Squadron from the 354th FW.

Notible events during the 343d Wing's tenure were:

  • 15 March 1981 - An RC-135S assigned to the 6th Strategic Wing crashed while attempting to land at Shemya. Six crewmembers died as result of the crash.
  • 27 February 1985 - An RC-135 belonging to Eielson’s 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing crashed near Valdez, killing all three aboard. Exactly one month later, a 25th TASS pilot died while flying an Air Warrior mission in California.
  • 25 October 1986 - The 168th Air Refueling Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard activated at Eielson. Later elevated to Group status, the 168th flew KC-135 aircraft. As the only Arctic-based tanker group in PACAF, the 168th transfers more fuel than any other ANG refueling unit. It often participates in COPE THUNDER exercises. In 1994, the 168th boasted over 700 full and part time guardsmen. Although the 168th has only been active since 1986, KC-135s have been assigned to Eielson AFB for over 35 years.

Eielson Today

File:354FW.jpg

354th Fighter Wing

The 354th Fighter Wing replaced the 343d on 20 August 1993. No personnel or equipment were affected by the change. This change was part of a service-wide effort to preserve the lineage of the Air Force’s most honored wings. Prior to its shutdown, the 343d was the oldest surviving air combat unit in Alaska, with a lineage dating back to the Aleutian Campaign.

The 18 Fighter Squadron, whose history also dated back to World War II, remained active, but the 355th Fighter Squadron replaced the 11th TASS.

Also changing names were the 3rd Fighter Training Squadron, which became the 353rd Fighter Squadron (later Combat Training Squadron). The 353 FS and 355 FS had long associations with the new host unit.

All 354th Fighter Wing Aircraft carry the tail code "AK". 18th FS F-16s carry a blue tail stripe, while 355th FS A-10s carry a black tail stripe.

18th Fighter Squadron

General Dynamics F-16C Block 40H Fighting Falcon Serial 90-0718 of the 18th FS flying over the Alaska Range

The 18th Fighter Squadron flies the Block 40 General Dynamics F-16C/D aircraft.

In 1997, elements of the 18th FS deployed to Singapore and Malaysia to take part in dissimilar air combat tactic training as part of exercise COMMANDO SLING and COPE TAUFAN, respectively. The COPE TAUFAN deployment marked the first time Pacific Air Forces' F-16s had flown against MiG-29s.

The unit deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, October-December 1998 to support Operation Southern Watch.

Later, the squadron deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, September–December 2000, employing 5 F-16 aircraft and 110 personnel, conducting the first ever Combat Search and Rescue support tasking for an F-16 squadron in support of Operation Northern Watch.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 18th FS was called to generate eight aircraft for Alaska NORAD air defense during Operation NOBLE EAGLE, though the aircraft never had to launch.

The squdron's next deployment was to Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, Dec 2001-Mar 2002 to support simultaneous combat operations for Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. They flew more than 3,200 hours in only 3 months, an amazing feat for the 142 Blue Foxes who deployed with only 10 aircraft. During that time, the 18th FS flew missions in support of Operation ANACONDA, including one in the Shah-I-Kot valley on March 2 when U.S. forces, engaged in a firefight with Taliban and Al Qaeda forces, called for aerial assistance. A number of Blue Foxes responded, dropping bombs with pinpoint accuracy on the opposing forces. Two 18 FS pilots received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their efforts.

The squadron deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE during March 2003. The unit also participated in COMMANDO SLING, in October 2003.

As part of the change from COPE THUNDER to RED FLAG — ALASKA, the 18th FS will be converting to the 18th Aggressor Squadron. This squadron will train in the same manner as the aggressors at Nellis AFB, learning the flying styles and abilities of foreign air forces to train USAF pilots. Aircraft changes entail sending all 18 of its Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Kunsan AB, Korea, and receiving 18 Block 30 F-16s from Kunsan. At a time unspecified, the 18th will achieve a full complement of 24 F-16 fighters.

File:355fs.jpg

355th Fighter Squadron

An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on the tarmac at Eielson before a mission

The 355th Fighter Squadron flies the Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. It was activated on 20 August 1993, replacing the deactivating 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron. The unit's primary missions included air strike control, close air support, interdiction, joint air attack team, escort, and combat search and rescue.

In October 1998, the 355 FS deployed to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Only two months later, the Warthogs saw their second tour of combat duty over Iraq while participating in the Dec. 16-19, 1998, Operation DESERT FOX strike missions. In 2.5 months, the 355 FS flew 597 combat and combat support sorties leading up to, then conducting, National Command Authority directed strikes on Iraqi military facilities and suspected weapons of mass destruction storage areas. They achieved 100 percent target hit rate.

The unit deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, January - March 2001. The 355 FS also exercised at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to train with Special Forces units, October 2003.

353d Combat Training Squadron

The 353rd Combat Training Squadron is a non-flying unit responsible for sponsoring training and experimentation in Alaska. The squadron was previously assigned to 11th Air Force, headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; however, the 353 CTS was returned to the 354th FW in October 2006.

All the activities on Alaska’s three weapons training ranges – incorporating more than 68,000 square miles of airspace, 28 threat systems, and 225 targets for range and exercise operations – are planned and controlled by 353rd CTS personnel.

The three tactical ranges supervised by the squadron’s range division are Blair Lakes, Yukon and Oklahoma. The Blair Lakes Conventional Range is located about 26 miles southwest of Eielson AFB. Isolated in a sub-arctic tundra environment, this range is manned continuously and is normally accessible only by helicopter.

The Yukon Tactical and Electronic Warfare Range is 15 miles east of Eielson. Accessible most of the year, this mountainous complex is only manned as necessary to provide electronic warfare training.

File:ANGKC-135R.jpg
KC-135R of the 168th Refueling Wing

The Oklahoma Tactical Range is located within the U.S. Army's Cold Region Test Center at Fort Greely, Alaska, and is the largest of the three ranges, encompassing more than 900,000 acres of relatively flat, open terrain.

Cope Thunder exercises take place over Alaskan and Canadian airspace. The airspace – 17 permanent military operations areas and high-altitude training areas, plus two restricted areas – total more than 68,000 square miles.

Cope Thunder’s economic impact on the communities surrounding Eielson and Elmendorf AFBs have been large and should continue to be so. In 2001 alone, military members taking part in the exercises poured more than $2 million into the local economies. Eielson AFB building projects resulting all or in part from Cope Thunder include a $23 million transient personnel facility, a $13 million Cope Thunder operations building, a $35 million air-to-air tracking system; eight two-bay all-weather aircraft shelters valued at $25 million, and a $2 million range microwave link. Additionally, the number of threat emitters on Cope Thunder ranges was doubled from 14 to 28 and several of the communication systems between ranges and Eielson have been upgraded.

File:168arw.jpg

168th Air Refueling Wing (ANG)

The Alaska Air National Guard is the only Arctic region refueling unit for all of PACAF, and maintains a substantial number of personnel on active duty and civilian technician status in order to meet its daily operational requirements. The Wing’s Primary Assigned Aircraft are eight KC-135 R-models assigned to the 168th Air Refueling Squadron.

The wing aircraft are identified with a blue tail stripe, and the name "Alaska".

In January 1994, January 1996, and January 2004, the 168 ARW received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

In April 1996 and again in 1997, the 168 ARW won one of the five annual Distinguished Flying Unit Plaques sponsored by the National Guard Association of the Untied States.

Also in 1997, they earned the Curtis N. “Rusty” Metcalf Trophy, for the tactical/strategic airlift or air refueling flying unit demonstrating the highest standards of mission accomplishment over a sustained period each year.

Base Realignment and Closure, 2005

On 13 May 2005, The Department of Defense proposed a major realignment of the base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure program.

  • It was decided that the base was to remain open.
  • The 18th FS will be converting to the 18th Aggressor Squadron. This squadron will train in the same manner as the aggressors at Nellis AFB, learning the flying styles and abilities of foreign air forces to train USAF pilots. Aircraft changes entail sending all 18 of its Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Kunsan AB, Korea, and receiving 18 Block 30 F-16s from Kunsan. At a time unspecified, the 18th will achieve a full complement of 24 F-16 fighters.
  • Alaska ANG 168th Air Refueling Wing KC-135's will remain at Eielson.

Aircraft Stationed at Eielson

  • 65th Fighter Squadron (1946-47; Det 1950-51) P-51 (1946-47); F-80 (1950-51); T-33 (1950-51)
  • 375th Recon Squadron (1949-51) B/RB/WB-29 (1949-51); C-47 (1949-51)
  • 58th Weather Recon Squadron (1951-58) WB-29 (1951-56); WB-50 (1955-58)
  • 5010th Combat Support Group (1949-81) L-20 (by 1952-60); T-33 (by 1957-81); VC/SC/C-47 (by 1952-59, 1962-69); C-123 (1965-66, 1969-71); CH/SH/HH-21 (1960-69)
  • 40th Air Refueling Squadron (1959-61) KC-97 (1959-61)
  • 720th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1954-55) F-86 (1954-55); T-33 (1954-55)
  • 455th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1955) F-86 (1955)
  • Det 3, 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1960-69) F-102 (1960-69); F-106 (1965-69)
  • Det DC, 43 TFS, 21st Composite Wing (1970-82) F-4 (1970-82)
  • Det 1, 55th Weather Recon Squadron (1960-68) WB-47 (1960-68)
  • 4157th Strategic Wing (1962-67) KC-135 (1962-67); RC-135 (1962-67)
  • 6th Strategic Recon Wing (1967-92) KC-135 (1967-92); RC-135 (1967-92)
  • Det 1, 5040th Helicopter Squadron (1969-76); Det 1, 71st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1976-80) HH-21 (1969-70); HH-3 (1970-80)
  • 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron (1971-89) O-2A (1971-86); OV-10 (1986-89)
  • 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron (1991-93) OA-10 (1991-93)
  • 18th Fighter Squadron (1981-Present) A-10 (1981-91); F-16 (1991-Present)
  • 168th Air Refueling Group (AKANG) (1986-Present) KC-135 (1986-Present)
  • 355th Fighter Squadron OA-10 (1993-Present); A-10 (1994-Present)

See also

Trivia

The 343d FW 3d Fighter Training Squadron was replaced by the 353d Fighter Training Squadron from the 354th FW. The 3d Fighter Training Squadron had its origins with the 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, being formed in March 1973.

The 3d TFS received its A-7D aircraft from the then deployed 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed to Korat from Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina.

References

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