325th Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
based out of Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt Frank Benjamin Tyndall...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Mission
The 325th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 RaptorF-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air Force.
Currently, training for F-22 pilots is performed in the 43d Fighter Squadron. The 325th Air Control Squadron trains air battle managers for assignment to combat Air Force units. Additionally, wing personnel manage the southeastern air combat maneuvering instrumentation range and provide mission-ready F-22 air dominance forces in support of the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD)/1st Air Force (1 AF) contingency plans. The 325th Fighter Wing is currently commanded my Brigadier General James Browne.
Other specialties trained under the 325th Fighter Wing include F-22 intelligence officer training, F-22 crew chief training and officer and enlisted air traffic controller training.
The 325th Fighter Wing is host to more than 30 tenant organizations located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The wing comprises the 325th Operations Group, 325th Maintenance Group, 325th Mission Support Group and 325th Medical Group.
From 1983 until 2010, training for F-15 pilots was performed at Tyndall by the now inactive 1st, 2d, and 95th Fighter Squadrons. During this period, the 325th FW also hosted training for F-15 Maintenance personnel, and Intelligence Officers assigned to F-15 units. The 1st Fighter Squadron was inactivated in 2006. The 2d and 95th FS's were also inactivated in May and September of 2010, respectively.
Units
325th Operations Group325th Operations Group
The 325th Operations Group is the flying component of the 325th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
(325 OG)
- 43d Fighter Squadron43d Fighter SquadronThe 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots.-Mission:...
(43 FS) - 325th Air Control Squadron325th Air Control SquadronThe 325th Air Control Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing, an Air Education and Training Command unit, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The mission of the present squadron was activated at Tyndall in 1947, making it the base's oldest surviving resident...
(325 ACS) - 325th Operations Support Squadron (325 OSS)
325th Maintenance Group (325 MXG)
- 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (325 AMXS)
- 325th Maintenance Operations Squadron (325 MOS)
- 325th Maintenance Squadron (325 MXS)
325th Mission Support Group (325 MSG)
- 325th Civil Engineer Squadron (325 CES)
- 325th Communications Squadron (325 CS)
- 325th Contracting Squadron (325 CONS)
- 325th Force Support Squadron (325 FSS)
- 325th Security Forces Squadron (325 SFS)
- 325th Logistics Readiness Division (325 LRD)
325th Medical Group (325 MDG)
- 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron (325 AMDS)
- 325th Medical Operations Squadron (325 MDOS)
- 325th Medical Support Squadron (325 MDSS)
Lineage
- Established as 325th Fighter Wing, All Weather, on 10 May 1948
- Activated on 9 June 1948
- Redesignated: 325th Fighter-All Weather Wing on 20 January 1950
- Redesignated: 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 May 1951
- Inactivated, personnel and equipment reassigned to: 4704th Defense Wing, 6 February 1952
- Redesignated 325th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 September 1956
- Activated on 18 October 1956
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 July 1968
- Redesignated 325th Fighter Weapons Wing on 17 June 1981
- Activated on 1 July 1981
- Redesignated: 325th Tactical Training Wing on 15 October 1983
- Redesignated: 325th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991.
Note: The Air Defense Command 4704th Defense Wing was activated on 6 February 1952, at McChord AFB, Washington with the personnel and equipment of the inactivated 325th FIW assigned. The 4704the DW was inactivated with equipment and personnel absorbed into 567th Air Defense Group
567th Air Defense Group
The 567th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.-History:...
on 8 October 1954. The unit was redesignated as the 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955 as part of the ADC "Project Arrow", which redesignated notable World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
combat units. the 325th Fighter Wing was activated by the 25th Air Division and was assigned the 325th FG as subordinate unit on 18 October 1956
Assignments
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, 9 June 1948
- Attached to Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
, 10 November 1949 – 31 July 1950- Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
, 1 August 1950 – 6 February 1952 - 25th Air Division, 18 October 1956
- Seattle Air Defense Sector, 10 February 1960
- 25th Air Division, 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968
- USAF Air Defense Weapons Center, 1 July 1981
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 12 September 1991 - Nineteenth Air ForceNineteenth Air ForceThe Nineteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base and belonging to the Air Education and Training Command...
, 1 July 1993–present
- Western Air Defense Force
Components
Wings- 302d Troop Carrier302d Airlift WingThe 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
: attached 6 May 1950 – 8 June 1951
Groups
- 325th Fighter (later, 325th Fighter-Interceptor; 325th Fighter; 325th Operations)325th Operations GroupThe 325th Operations Group is the flying component of the 325th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
: 9 June 1948 – 6 February 1952; 18 October 1956 – 25 March 1960; 1 September 1991–present
Squadrons
- 1st Tactical Fighter Training1st Fighter SquadronThe 1st Fighter Squadron was most recently based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It operated F-15C Eagle aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.-Mission:...
: 1 January 1984 – 15 December 2006 - 2d Fighter-Interceptor Training (later, 2d Fighter Weapons; 2d Tactical Fighter Training)2d Fighter SquadronThe 2d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force Unit. It was last part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida...
: 1 July 1981 – 11 May 2010 - 4th Troop Carrier4th Airlift SquadronThe 4th Airlift Squadron is part of the 62d Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-Mission:...
: attached 1 May – 17 July 1950 - 82d Tactical Aerial Target (later, 82d Tactical Aerial Targets): 1 July 1981 – 15 October 1983
- 95th Fighter Interceptor Training (later, 95th Tactical Fighter Training)95th Fighter SquadronThe 95th Fighter Squadron was part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducted advanced fighter training for the F-15 Eagle aircraft.-History:...
: 1 July 1981 – 21 September 2010 - 123d Fighter: attached 10–12 February 1951
- 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron317th Fighter Interceptor SquadronThe 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to Aerospace Defense Command, being stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The squadron was inactivated on December 31, 1969.-World War II:...
: attached 18 October 1956-c. June 1957 - 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron318th Fighter Interceptor SquadronThe 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 25th Air Division based at McChord AFB, Washington. The squadron was inactivated on December 7, 1989.-World War II:...
: attached 18 October 1956-c. June 1957; assigned 25 March 1960 – 1 July 1968 - 460th Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron460th Fighter-Interceptor Training SquadronThe 460th Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command 325th Fighter Wing stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida. It was inactivated on October 15, 1982.-History:...
: 15 January – 15 October 1982 - 475th Test Squadron475th Test SquadronThe 475th Test Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command 325th Fighter Wing stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida...
: 1 July 1981 – 15 October 1983 - 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron498th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California...
: attached 18 October 1956-c. June 1957; 1 July 1963 – 25 June 1966 - 4756th Air Defense: 1 July 1981 – 15 October 1983
School
- USAF Interceptor Weapons: 1 July 1981 – 15 October 1983.
Stations
- Hamilton AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 9 June 1948 - Moses Lake AFB, Washington, 23 November 1948
- McChord AFB, Washington, 20 April 1950 – 6 February 1952; 18 October 1956 – 1 July 1968
- Tyndall AFB, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 1 July 1981–present
Aircraft assigned
- P-61 Black WidowP-61 Black WidowThe Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II...
(1947–1948) - F-82 Twin MustangF-82 Twin MustangThe North American F-82 Twin Mustang was the last American piston-engine fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter in World War II; however, the war ended well before the first...
(1948–1951) - F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
(1950–1952) - C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
(1950) - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(1951–1952) - F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
(1955–1957) - F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
(1956–1960)
- F-106 Delta DartF-106 Delta DartThe Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
(1960, 1981–1983) - F-101 VoodooF-101 VoodooThe McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
(1981–1982) - T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
(1981–1988) - TF/QF/PQM-102 (1981–1983)
- QF-100 (1982–1983)
- F-15 EagleF-15 EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
(1983 – 2010) - F-22 RaptorF-22 RaptorThe Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
(2003 – present)
Operational history
4704th Air Defense Wing
The 4704th Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It was inactivated on 8 October 1954-History:...
.
An Air Defense Command program to reactivate historic units named "Project Arrow" resulted in the reactivation of the 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955. From August 1955, the 325th served as the "host" unit at McChord Air Force Base until October 1956. From February–July 1968, the wing operated an air defense detachment at Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, South Korea. The 325th was again deactivated in late 1968.
The wing was reactivated at Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt Frank Benjamin Tyndall...
in 1981. It provided Air Defense Weapons Center operational and technical advice on air defense and tactics from, 1981–1983. It also provided test and evaluation new air defense equipment, including use of the PQM-102 and QF-100, former operational aircraft modified to function as manned/unmanned drones. In October 1983, the wing assumed a new mission of conducting qualification training of tactical aircrews. Beginning in 1983 it deployed T-33 and later, F-15 aircraft to USAF, Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, and Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
air units to provide electronic countermeasures
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
and dissimilar air combat training and to increase aircrew combat proficiency. The wing performed alert duties from, 1988–1990, intercepting unidentified aircraft and assisting the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in anti-smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
efforts. It became host unit at Tyndall Air Force Base in September 1991.