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| 388th Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
 388th Fighter Wing Shield |
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| Active | 19 December 1942 — present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Size | 2,700 |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Hill Air Force Base |
| Decorations |  DUC PUC AFOUA w/ V Device RVGC w/ Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Scott Dennis [1] |
The 388th Fighter Wing (388 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
Contents |
Mission
Train 388th professionals ready to deploy, employ, and sustain F-16s and air control assets world-wide to fight and win any conflict.
History
The 388th trained for bombardment operations through most of 1943 before moving to England where the group conducted strategic bombardment attacks in the European Theater of Operations against airdromes, aircraft factories, shipyards, submarine pens, railroad yards, and industrial targets located in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Romania, Norway, and Czechoslovakia from 1943 to 1945. The 388th also participated in an Operation Frantic shuttle raid from England to Russia, as well as support and interdictory missions, and helped "soften up" the Normandy beachhead for D-Day. After giving airborne assistance in the final drive through Germany, the 388th flew humanitarian missions to Holland and air dropped food for victims in flood-stricken areas. After V-E Day the group moved back to the U.S. where it was deactivated.
In 1953 the 388th was reactivated as a wing. It trained as a fighter-bomber wing, February-October 1954 then moved overseas in November-December with elements operating at four European bases. The wing participated in NATO operations and exercises from, December 1954-December 1957 before again returning to the U.S. for deactivation.
Again the 388th was called into active service in 1962. It trained for fighter-bomber operations from October 1962-January 1964.
In April 1966 the 388th was sent to Thailand where it replaced 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing. The wing flew combat missions in Southeast Asia, April 1966-August 1973. The wing primarily conducted interdiction, direct air support, armed reconnaissance, and fighter escort missions. In 1967, it concentrated on key logistical and industrial targets in North Vietnam. The wing added a variety of other special-purpose aircraft and related missions as the war progressed. Following the final ceasefire in August 1973, the wing entered into intensive training program to maintain combat readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and intelligence missions. The 388th provided air cover and escort during the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and of Americans and selected Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, in April 1975. It also participated in the rescue of the crew and recovery of the S.S. Mayaguez from the Cambodians in May 1975.
The 388th ceased all aircraft operations in November 1975 and moved in without personnel or equipment in December 1975, replacing a holding unit-Detachment 1, 67th Combat Support Group. In January 1976, the wing began participation in training missions and numerous exercises in a variety of offensive tactical situations. It was the first wing to be equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, on 6 January 1979. During initial stages of conversion the wing trained F-16 instructor pilots and provided replacement training for new F-16 pilots. Thereafter the 388th trained for war readiness at U.S. and NATO locations. It won the USAF Worldwide Gunsmoke Fighter Gunnery Meet in 1987. It also deployed two squadrons to Southwest Asia for training and combat operations from 28 August 1990-27 March 1991. A number of wing aircraft deployed to Spain as attrition reserves from January-December 1991; later, deployed to Southwest Asia to protect Coalition assets and ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms beginning in December 1991. The wing has since conducted and participated in various tactical exercises, in air-to-ground and air-to-air roles, worldwide. It also routinely deployed operational elements to support Operation Southern Watch for the enforcement of no-fly zones over Iraq from 1992-2003.
Operations
Previous designations
- 388th Bombardment Group (1942 – 1953)
- 388th Fighter-Day Wing (1953)
- 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1953 – 1962)
- 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (1962 – 1991)
- 388th Fighter Wing (1991 – Present)
Assignments
Major command
- United States Air Forces Europe (1954 – 1957)
- Tactical Air Command (1962 – 1966, 1975 – 1991)
- Pacific Air Forces (1966 – 1975)
- Air Combat Command (1991 – Present)
Numbered Air Force
- 8th Air Force (1943 – 1945)
- 2nd Air Force (1945)
- 9th Air Force (1953 – 1954)
- 13th Air Force (1966 – 1975)
- 12th Air Force (1954 – 1957, 1962 – 1964, 1975 – Present)
Subordinate organizations
388th Operations Group (388 OG)
- 4th Fighter Squadron (4 FS)
- 34th Fighter Squadron (34 FS)
- 421st Fighter Squadron (421 FS)
- 388th Range Squadron (388 RANS)
- 729th Air Control Squadron(729 ACS)
- 388th Operations Support Squadron (49 OSS)
388th Maintenance Group (388 MXG)
- 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (388 AMXS)
- 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron (388 MOS)
- 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron (388 EMS)
- 388th Component Maintenance Squadron (388 CMS)
Bases stationed
- Gowen Field, Idaho (1942 – 1943)
- Wendover Army Airfield, Utah (1943)
- Sioux City Army Airfield, Iowa (1943)
- RAF Knettishall, England (1943 – 1945)
- Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota (1945)
- Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico (1953 – 1954)
- Etain-Rouvres Air Base, France (1954 – 1957)
- McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas (1962 – 1964)
- Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand (1966 – 1975)
- Hill Air Force Base, Utah (1975 – Present)
Aircraft operated
- B-17 Flying Fortress (1943 – 1945)
- F-86 Sabre (1954 – 1957)
- F-100 Super Sabre (1957, 1962 – 1964)
- F-105 Thunderchief (1963 – 1964, 1966 – 1969)
- F-4 Phantom II (1968 – 1980)
- EB-66 Destroyer (1970 – 1974)
- EC-121 Constellation (1970 – 1971)
- C-130 Hercules (1972 – 1974)
- A-7 Corsair II (1973 – 1975)
- AC-130 Spectre (1974 – 1975)
- F-16 Falcon (1979 – Present)
- F-35 (2008 – Present)(Soon)
Unit shields
 4 FS |
 34 FS |
 421 FS |
 729 ACS |
 388 RANS |
References
 |
This article incorporates text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website which, as a United States government publication, is in the public domain. |
Notes
Bibliography
- Logan, Don. The 388th Tactical Fighter Wing: At Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, 1972. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 1997. ISBN 0-88740-798-6.
External links
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 11 November 2008, at 00:45.
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