History 405th Air Expeditionary Wing

1 history

1.1 cold war

1.1.1 tactical air command
1.1.2 pacific air forces

1.1.2.1 vietnam war

1.1.2.1.1 b-57b light bombers
1.1.2.1.2 south vietnam b-57 program
1.1.2.1.3 f-102 interceptors
1.1.2.1.4 c-130 tactical airlift


1.1.2.2 post-vietnam era


1.1.3 tactical training wing


1.2 modern era
1.3 lineage
1.4 assignments
1.5 components
1.6 stations
1.7 aircraft

history

for additional history , lineage, see 405th air expeditionary operations group

cold war
tactical air command

established on 1 december 1952 @ godman afb, kentucky. 405th fighter-bomber wing active-duty replacement federalized new jersey air national guard 108th fighter-bomber wing returned state control after activation during korean war. wing s 405th fighter-bomber group reactivation of ix fighter command 405th fighter group, had fought in eto during world war ii.

when activated group redesignated nj ang 141st, 149th , 153d strategic fighter squadrons 509th, 510th, , 511th fighter-bomber squadrons in numerical order. equipped f-47ds , f-47n thunderbolts inherited air national guard, 405th being last active duty usaf thunderbolt fighter wing.

on 1 may 1953, f-47s withdrawn , sent amarc, , 405th reassigned langley afb, virginia due programmed closing of godman afb on 1 september. @ langley, 405th replaced provisional 4430th air base wing , re-equipped republic f-84f thunderstreak jet aircraft. attached group 422d bombardment squadron b-26 invader light bombers (1 may – 20 december 1953) , 429th air refueling squadron (19 july 1954 – 8 october 1957) kb-29 superfortress tankers. operations included gunnery , bombardment training, firepower demonstrations, weapons delivery training, , numerous tactical exercises, 1952–1958, plus air refueling, 1954–1958.

pacific air forces

north american f-100d-25-na 55-3610 @ clark ab, 1959

the wing reassigned pacific air forces in april 1959, replacing pacaf 6200th air base wing @ clark ab, philippines. part of general buildup of usaf tactical forces in southwest pacific, clark in postwar era largely maintenance , supply depot, , signing of new status of forces agreement philippine government regards clark ab.

re-designated 405th fighter wing, wing provided host mission duties @ clark air defense , offensive fighter operations in philippines, taiwan, , other far eastern points, april 1959 – june 1962. transferred 509th fighter-interceptor squadron operated f-86d sabre interceptors in air defense mission, being replaced f-102 delta dagger interceptors in 1960.

the 510th tactical fighter squadron inherited f-100d super sabres of inactivated 72d tfs in defensive fighter-bomber mission. began series of rotational deployments chai-yi air base, taiwan in july 1959 defend taiwan part of ongoing usaf defense mission after 1958 taiwan strait crisis.

in 1964 510th reassigned united states @ england air force base, louisiana. replaced 90th tactical fighter squadron, attached 401st tac 834th air division @ england in november 1965 6-month tdy , returned england in may 1966.

vietnam war

beginning in 1962, 510th tactical fighter squadron began deployments takhli royal thai air force base, thailand, providing air defense training royal thai air force personnel, try restrain communist pathet lao busily overrunning of northwestern laos.

from mid-1962 until end of conflict in southeast asia, wing deployed assigned , attached components bases in southeast asia air defense , combat operations under operational control of other organizations. when not involved, components trained in air defense , other tactical exercises in taiwan , philippines.

b-57b light bombers

see also: b-57 use in vietnam war


8th bombardment squadron martin b-57b-ma 53-928, 1974 after return united states



13th bombardment squadron martin b-57b-ma 53-865 1974. photo taken @ forbes afb, kansas shortly after aircraft returned united states. photo (and 1 above) show aircraft after being assigned 190th bombardment group, kansas air national guard. both had been converted b-57g night intruder version served until 1974, when consigned storage @ davis monthan afb.



martin b-57b-ma 52-1532 loaned svnaf 1965. aircraft later returned 8th bs, 1967. shot down ground fire 7 mi sse of ban kate, savannakhet province, laos 22 feb 1969. both crew kia.

in april 1964, situation in indochina led orders pacaf 41st air division b-57b canberra 8th , 13th bombardment squadrons reassigned rotational nuclear quick strike alert in south korea thirteenth air force @ clark ab possible tactical bombardment missions against communist aggressor forces in south vietnam. on 9 april 1965, first canberras of 13th bomb squadron began arriving @ clark; 8th began arriving on 17 april. end of month 47 of former 3d bomb wing s aircraft arrived in philippines. squadrons formally assigned headquarters 13th air force, attached 405th wing administrative , logistical support.

during summer of 1964, war of nerves taking place between united states, north , south vietnam. united states ground forces present in south vietnam, officially in advisory role army of republic of vietnam (arvn) @ invitation of south vietnamese government. united states forces not attack communist forces unless provoked aggressive action of communist viet cong, or in cases, north vietnamese army (nva) ground units in south.

on night of 2 august 1964 gulf of tonkin incident occurred in north vietnamese gunboats directly clashed united states navy destroyers. @ clark, base went on alert , atmosphere of wartime appearance. fighter squadrons deploying usaf bases in thailand, , transports began shipping supplies , equipment south vietnamese bases used united states. 2 b-57 squadrons went on alert , on 5 august squadrons notified deploy 20 b-57bs of 8th , 13th bs bien hoa air base near saigon. mark first deployment of jet combat aircraft vietnam.

however, technically violation of geneva protocols forbade introduction of jet combat aircraft vietnam. abide geneva protocols,both squadrons rotated on next 4 years first bien hoa ab, later tan son nhut ab. in november 1964, both squadrons transferred 13th af control 405th fighter wing @ clark.

rotations moved da nang ab in june 1965 facilitate attacks in laos , north vietnam, high attrition rates on north led movement phan rang ab on south central coast in june 1966. finally, in october 1966 35th tactical fighter wing moved phan rang ab , took on units on permanent basis.

in late december 1972, 13th bombardment squadron returned 405th 8th tactical fighter wing @ ubon rtafb, thailand b-57g canberras, b-57b had been returned martin in 1969 , modified night intruders use in vietnam in september 1970 under project known tropic moon. b-57s, transferred united states , assigned 190th bombardment group (tactical) of kansas air national guard @ forbes afb. 13th bomb squadron remained assigned wing administrative unit until inactivated on 30 september 1973.

south vietnam b-57 program

in 1964, united states secretly agreed supply few b-57bs republic of vietnam air force. united states had been reluctant equip vietnamese air force jet aircraft, since technical violation of geneva accords , might further escalate war. however, had equipped other friendly nations in region jet aircraft, , pressure government leadership in saigon coupled need boost sagging morale of south vietnamese people, led change of heart.

the first vnaf b-57 crews began training in secret 405th aircraft @ clark ab later in 1964. 1 of students none other nguyen cao ky, commander of vnaf , later president of republic of vietnam. crews completed training @ clark, went da nang air base , flew combat missions 405th s 8th or 13th bombardment squadrons, whichever happened on station @ time. gain combat experience, each new crewmember flew american pilot or navigator, whichever case may be. eventually, vnaf crew members flew in vnaf-marked b-57s, combat missions remained strictly under usaf operational control.

the south vietnamese government felt @ stage vnaf b-57 program should given more visibility, , celebrate vietnamese armed forces day, on 29 october 1965, 5 b-57s 8th bombardment squadron, based @ da nang ab, repainted vnaf insignia , carried out air strike against suspected viet cong stronghold , landed tan son nhut air base. after landing, planes took off again , joined other vnaf aircraft in formation flyover of saigon. although manned solely american crews, attack heralded introduction of vnaf b-57s combat.

however, republic of vietnam air force pilots had severe difficulties operating b-57. vietnamese crews began complain of various illnesses, grounded many trainees , brought training standstill. in addition, on 8 january 1966 b-57 destroyed in training accident, further lowering morale. vietnamese crews flatly stated not physically perform maneuvers required in b-57. make matters worse, major nguyen ngoc bien, leader of vnaf b-57 program, killed in freak ground accident on 23 february 1966 @ da nang. death of major bien, well-liked , well-respected both vietnamese , americans, resulted in complete loss of incentive vietnamese crewmen stay b-57, , point on there little vietnamese activity in b-57 program. on 20 april 1967, vnaf b-57 operation formally terminated.

f-102 interceptors

64th fighter-interceptor squadron – convair f-102a-60-co delta dagger 56-1064, clark ab pi, 1967

flights of f-102 interceptors 509th fighter-interceptor squadron began deploy tan son nhut ab in march 1962 provide air defense against unlikely event north vietnamese aircraft attack south. deployed don muang rtafb near bangkok, thailand , began exchanging rotational duty 16th fis based @ naha ab on okinawa. in 1965, operating under code-name project stovepipe , 509th fis f-102s used heat sinking falcon missiles lock onto heat sources on ho chi minh trail @ night, viet cong campfires. f-102s switched day role, firing 12 unguided ffar rockets missile bays, using optical sight. 618-day sorties flown, last 1 being flown @ end of 1965.

the air defense command 64th fighter-interceptor squadron deployed 25th air division @ paine field, washington clark ab , assigned 405th on 10 june 1966 supplement f-102 mission in southeast asia provide air defense philippines. f-102s stood rotational alert @ tdys bien hoa , da nang air bases in south vietnam , @ udorn , don muang air bases in thailand. f-102a withdrawn southeast asia in december 1969 phaseout of aircraft usaf inventory, clear lack of need dedicated air defense interceptor on south vietnam. f-102a established excellent safety record during duty in vietnam. in 7 years of flying air defense , few combat air patrols sac b-52s, 15 f-102as lost.

c-130 tactical airlift

463d taw 29th tas lockheed c-130b-lm hercules 61-0969 @ cam rahn bay ab south vietnam, july 1969

in july 1968, 315th air division reassigned 463d tactical airlift wing mactan isle airfield clark ab, , became tenant unit under 405th. 463d responsible operating c-130 hercules combat airlift support unit @ tan son nhut ab, south vietnam, , flew combat support missions within south vietnam landing , dropping off supplies, equipment , personnel @ forward locations throughout country. operated 3 squadrons of c-130s performing rotational deployments , clark, bringing wounded personnel aeromedical airlifts, aircraft returning south vietnam filled combat supplies , equipment. mission continued until 31 december 1971 when wing inactivated part of vietnam drawdown. 774th tactical airlift squadron remained assigned 405th, providing tactical airlift within southwest pacific until 15 september 1972.

post-vietnam era

mcdonnell douglas f-4e-49-mc phantom 71-1073. assigned 90th tfs @ clark

the 1st test squadron conducted weapons system evaluation (combat sage) of repaired battle-damaged f-4 phantom iis 30 april 1970 until end of vietnam war. remained assigned 405th until wing s re-designation in september 1974.

the 90th tactical fighter squadron returned clark , 405th on 15 december 1972 after being withdrawn 18th tactical fighter wing @ nha trang air base, south vietnam part of vietnam drawdown. flew f-4e phantom iis until 405th s re-designation in september 1974.

during july–august 1972, provided extensive flood relief philippine areas inundated monsoon rains. during february–march 1973, provided medical, logistical, , administrative support former prisoners of war, on way united states north vietnam. end of usaf presence in south vietnam, wing re-designated 3d tactical fighter wing in september 1974 retain history of senior unit after standown part of closure of bien hoa ab.

tactical training wing

555th tactical fighter training squadron – mcdonnell douglas f-15a-13-mc eagle 75-038 amarc fh0038 sep 10, 1992. still on amarc inventory 15 jan 2008.



461st tactical fighter training squadron mcdonnell douglas f-15e-43-mc strike eagle 87–172 1990. aircraft crashed 42 nautical miles south-south-west of gila bend, az 16 sep 1991. pilot survived.



405 ttw unit emblem

on 25 august 1979, 405th tactical training wing activated @ luke afb, arizona tactical air command consolidate f-15 eagle replacement training unit (rtu) operations. took on 425th, 461st 550th , 555th tactical fighter training squadrons 58th tactical training wing. f-15as replaced more capable f-15c in january 1981 being delivered front-line usaf combat squadrons.

with upgrading f-15c, lowest-hour f-15as transferred 426th tactical fighter training squadron converted f-4 phantom ii. 426th provided f-15a interceptor training support tac air defense command (adtac) training mission inherited inactivated aerospace defense command merged tac. f-15as in front-line units being reassigned air defense duty adtac.

on 19 november 1990, 555th tfts changed course air superiority combat training eagle air defense interceptor training f-15c when tac began assigning f-15cs air national guard interceptor duty , phasing out f-15a together, 426th being inactivated.

the 461st tfts received first f-15e strike eagle, july 1988, , 550th tfts became second f-15e strike eagle training squadron in march 1989.

on 1 october 1991, due implementation of objective wing @ luke , 1 base, 1 wing policy, 405th ttw shut down , f-15s reassigned 58th ttw.

modern era

reactivated air expeditionary wing after 9/11/2001 attacks part of uscentaf. supporting operations on 3 fronts of global war on terrorism—the horn of africa, operation enduring freedom , operation iraqi freedom. b-1, kc-135, rc-135 aircraft, possibly others.

lineage

established 405th fighter-bomber wing on 15 october 1952


activated on 1 december 1952
inactivated on 1 july 1958


redesignated 405th fighter wing on 11 march 1959


activated on 9 april 1959
inactivated on 16 september 1974


redesignated 405th tactical training wing, , activated on 29 august 1979


inactivated 1 october 1991


redesignated 405th air expeditionary wing , converted provisional status in september 2001

assignments

ninth air force, 1 december 1952
tactical air command, 16 april 1953
ninth air force, 1 july 1956
836th air division, 8 october 1957 – 1 july 1958
thirteenth air force, 9 april 1959
6th air division, 1 august 1968
thirteenth air force, 15 december 1969 – 16 september 1974
twelfth air force, 29 august 1979 – 1 october 1991
air combat command activate or inactivate time after september 2001


attached to: united states central command air forces (later united states air forces central)

components

508th tactical fighter squadron: 8 october 1957 – 1 april 1958
509th fighter-interceptor squadron: 8 october 1957 – 1 july 1958, 9 april 1959 – 24 july 1970
510th tactical fighter squadron: 8 october 1957 – 1 july 1958, 9 april 1959 – 16 march 1964
511th fighter-interceptor squadron: 8 october 1957 – 1 july 1958
523d tactical fighter squadron: 8 october 1957 – 1 july 1958, 20 november 1965 – 31 august 1973
8th bombardment (later, 8th special operations; 8th fighter) squadron: 18 november 1964 – 15 january 1968
13th bombardment (later, 13th fighter) squadron: 18 november 1964 – 15 january 1968
64th fighter-interceptor squadron: 10 june 1966 – 15 december 1969
1st test squadron: 30 april 1970 – 16 september 1974
20th operations squadron: 31 december 1971 – 16 september 1974
774th tactical airlift squadron: 31 december 1971 – 15 september 1972
90th tactical fighter squadron: (attached: 5 december 1965 – 7 may 1966); 15 december 1972 – 16 september 1974
425th tactical fighter training squadron: 29 august 1979 – 30 september 1991
461st tactical fighter training squadron: 29 august 1979 – 30 september 1991
550th tactical fighter training squadron: 29 august 1979 – 30 september 1991
555th tactical fighter training squadron: 29 august 1979 – 30 september 1991
426th tactical fighter training squadron: 1 january 1981 – 29 november 1990

stations

godman afb, kentucky, 1 december 1952
langley afb, virginia, 16 april 1953 – 1 july 1958
clark ab, philippines, 9 april 1959 – 16 september 1974
luke afb, arizona, 29 august 1979 – 1 october 1991
southwest asia, 2001-tbd

aircraft