Lineage

Established as 1st Fighter Wing on 28 Jul 1947. Organized on 15 Aug 1947. Redesignated 1st Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 16 Apr 1950. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Redesignated 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 Sep 1956. Activated on 18 Oct 1956. Redesignated: 1st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1970; 1st Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.

Assignments

Twelfth Air Force, 15 Aug 1947; Fourth Air Force, 20 Dec 1948; Fifteenth Air Force, 1 May 1949 (attached to 22d Bombardment Wing, 1 Jul 1949? 1 Apr 1950); Fourth Air Force, 1 Jul 1950 (attached to Western Air Defense Force, 1?31 Jul 1950); Western Air Defense Force, 1 Aug 1950?6 Feb 1952 (attached to Southern California Air Defense Sector [Provisional], 7 Aug? 19 Sep 1950; 27th Air Division [Defense], 20 Sep 1950?c. 6 Feb 1952). 30th Air Division (Defense [later, SAGE]), 18 Oct 1956; Detroit Air Defense Sector, 1 Apr 1959; 34th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966; 23d Air Division, 1 Dec 1969; 26th Air Division, 31 Dec 1969; 836th Air Division, 1 Oct 1970; Ninth Air Force, 30 Jun 1971?.

Aircraft

P (later, F)?80, 1947?1949; RF?80, 1947?1949; FA (later, RB)?26, 1947? 1949; L?13, 1947?1949; B?26, 1948?1949; L?4, 1948?1949; L?5, 1948? 1949; F?86, 1949?1952; B?29, 1949; F?51, 1951?1952. F?86, 1956?1960; F/TF?102, 1958?1960; F?106, 1960?1969, 1969?1970; F?4, 1970?1975; B-57, 1970?1972; F?15, 1975?; EC?135, 1976?1992; HH?3, 1993?; HC-130, 1993?.

Operations

Trained in fighter and reconnaissance operations and supported strategic bombardment training, 1947?1950. Was integrated experimentally with a reconnaissance wing, 1947?1949, and with a bombardment wing, 1949? 1950, sharing commanders during much of this time. Supported Operation HAYLIFT, a humanitarian effort to deliver food to snowbound cattle in the western United States, 1949. Provided air defense in southern California from mid-1950 until inactivated in 1952. Provided air defense in the upper Midwest area, 1956 through 1969, then moved to central California, still in an air defense role. Had no tactical units under its control, May?Nov 1969. Moved to Florida in Oct 1970, where its mission changed to tactical fighter, assuming operational commitments of the 15th TFW. Assumed an F?4 transitional and replacement pilot training role in 1971, some of its aircrews and equipment being deployed from time to time in a variety of tactical exercises. Moved to Langley AFB, VA, in 1975 and converted to F?15s, participated in the F?15 weapons system evaluation program in 1976. Operated UH?1 helicopters to meet command requirements, search and rescue, and range support 1975?present. Added the 6th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, equipped with EC?135 aircraft in Apr 1976 and supported US Commander-in-Chief Atlantic (USCINCLANT) with deployments throughout Atlantic region. Deployed 27th and 71st Fighter Squadrons and support personnel to participate in UN operations to free Kuwait, Aug 1990?Mar 1991. Continued deployments of squadron elements on a rotational basis to Saudi Arabia as part of peacekeeping force, Mar 1991?Present. Ended airborne command and control mission in Oct 1992 and gained an air rescue mission in Feb 1993 with assignment of the 41st and 71st Rescue Squadrons equipped with HH?3E and HC?130P aircraft.