347th Fighter Wing
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The 347th Rescue Wing is an inactive
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
unit. It was last assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at
Moody Air Force Base Moody Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation near Valdosta, Georgia. Geography The base is in northeastern Lowndes County, Georgia, with the eastern border of the base following the Lanier County line. Georgia State Rout ...
, Georgia. It was inactivated on 1 October 2006.


History

: ''For additional lineage and history, see
347th Rescue Group The United States Air Force's 347th Rescue Group (347 RQG) is an active combat search and rescue unit assigned to the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. : ''For additional lineage and history, see 347th Rescue Wing'' Mission The 347 ...
''


Japan

The 347th Fighter Group was redesignated as the 347th Fighter Wing (All Weather) and reactivated in Japan on 10 August 1948 as part of
Far East Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (fo ...
315th Composite Wing to perform air defense duties. The Wing was assembled from three former Northrop F-61B Black Widow night fighter squadrons, the 6th, 418th, and 421st. The squadrons were redesignated the 339th, 4th, and 68th fighter squadrons, respectively. In August 1948, their designations were changed to Fighter (All Weather) Squadron to more closely identify their mission. The 4th Fighter (All Weather) Squadron (FS) was deployed and attached to the 51st Fighter Group at
Kadena Air Base (IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a highly strategic United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its highl ...
,
Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...
. The useful life of the F-61 was extended due to the Air Force's problems in fielding a jet-powered night/all-weather fighter. The Curtiss XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk was the planned replacement, however problems in development led the Black Widow to be replaced by another propeller-driven fighter, the North American F-82F/G Twin Mustang. The Twin Mustangs started to arrive during mid-1949 and 1950. The 347th FS was the last active duty USAF unit to fly the Black Widow, the 339th FS retiring its last F-61 in May 1950, missing the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
by only a month. Redesignated 347th Fighter - All Weather Wing on 20 Jan 1950 at Yokota AB. Inactivated on 24 June 1950. Redesignated the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) and reactivated at
Yokota Air Base , is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo. It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa. The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan on 21 December 1967 and organized on 15 January 1968 as part of
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...
,
Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
(PACAF). In Japan, the wing performed tactical fighter training missions, aerial reconnaissance, and contingency operations. Its operational squadrons were the following: * 34th Tactical Fighter: 15 January 1968 - 15 March 1971 (Deployed June 1968 – March 1971 to 388th TFW,
Korat RTAFB Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km (125 mi) northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratchasi ...
, Thailand) * 35th Tactical Fighter: 15 January 1968 – 15 March 1971 (Detached 22 March - 10 June 1968), (TC: GG, Red fin caps) * 36th Tactical Fighter: 15 January 1968 – 15 May 1971. (TC: GL, Blue fin caps) * 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS): 15 January 1968 – 15 March 1971 (Non-operational 15 February - 15 March 1971), (TC: GR, Yellow fin caps) * 556th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS): 1 July 1968 – 15 May 1971 Martin EB/RB-57E Canberra, Lockheed C-130B-II, Sun Valley) (B-57 Tail Code: GT, C-130Bs uncoded) The 35th, 36th, and 80th TFS were equipped with the McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom IIs and flew tactical fighter training missions. The 556th TFS flew various electronic warfare and special operations sorties of a classified nature. 347th TFS F-4C aircrews would rotate TDY to and from the 34th TFS. Squadron transferred permanently to the 388th TFW, March 1971. In 1971 the US and Japan agreed that all combat squadrons based at Yokota were to be reassigned and Yokota became a non-flying station hosted by the 475th Air Base Wing. 35th TFS aircraft were transferred to 67th TFS/18th TFW,
Kadena Air Base (IATA: DNA, ICAO: RODN) is a highly strategic United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its highl ...
Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...
. The 36th TFS and 80th TFS aircraft were transferred to 3rd TFW, Kusan AB, South Korea. The 554th TRS B-57s were reassigned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) at Shaw AFB,
South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
. The C-130s were retained at Yokota and reassigned to the incoming 475th Air Base Wing.


Mountain Home AFB

The 347th TFW was reactivated on 15 May 1971 and equipped with factory-fresh General Dynamics F-111F Aardvarks, replacing the
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 67 may refer to: * 67 (number) * one of the years 67 BC, AD 67, 1967, 2067 * ''67'', a 1992 song by Love Battery from the album ''Between the Eyes'' * 67 (rap group), a drill music group from London See also * 67th Regiment (disambiguation) * 67th ...
as host unit at
Mountain Home AFB Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation in the western United States. Located in southwestern Idaho in Elmore County, the base is southwest of Mountain Home, which is southeast of Boise via Interstate ...
,
Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...
. The 67 TFW moved in July 1971 to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. Equipped with the F-111F, the 347th had a short stay at Mountain Home, conducting F-111F training until 1 October 1972, when the 366 TFW moved from Vietnam to Mountain Home. Upon its arrival, the 366th TFW absorbed all the personnel and equipment of the 347th TFW. Operational squadrons of the wing were: * 391st Tactical Fighter (July 1971 – October 1972) (Tail Code: MO) * 4589th Tactical Fighter Squadron (July 1971 – October 1971) (Tail Code: MP)
389th Tactical Fighter (October 1971 – October 1972) (Tail Code: MP/MO) * 4590th Tactical Fighter Squadron (July 1971 – June 1972) (Tail Code: MQ)
390th Tactical Fighter (June – October 1972) (Tail Code: MO) The 4589th/4590th TFS were provisional units, pending the transfer of the 389th TFS and 390th TFS from the 12th TFW and 366th TFW in Southeast Asia. All three squadrons adopted the MO tail code under the common wing concept in June 1972. The 347th TFW was inactivated on 31 October 1972.


Takhli RTAFB

On 30 July 1973 the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility in central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km) northwest of Bangkok in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province. Units Takhli is the home of the Royal Tha ...
(RTAFB), Thailand, replacing the
474th Tactical Fighter Wing The 474th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at Nellis Air Force Base (IATA code LSV), Nevada, where it trained combat-ready aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute ...
which returned to
Nellis AFB Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis" colloq.) is a United States Air Force installation in southern Nevada. Nellis hosts air combat exercises such as Exercise Red Flag and close air support exercises such as Green Flag-West flown in " Military Op ...
,
Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...
United States and inheriting two squadrons of 24 F-111As each. These were: * 428 Tactical Fighter Squadron "Buccaneers" (Tail Code: HG – Red Tail Fin) * 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Black Falcons" (Tail Code: HG – Yellow Tail Fin) The 428th TFS and 429th TFS continued to conduct beacon bombing and Pathfinder operations in Cambodia as part of the 347th TFW until the termination of combat air operations on 15 August 1973. On 15 August the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown as the final mission of Constant Guard by F-111A 67-113. After the ceasefire, the Wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions. During January 1974 the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of 1976. In June 1974, two F-111Ss from the 347th TFW flew from Takhli to
Osan Air Base Hanja:) , partof = , location = , nearest_town = Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province , country = South Korea , image = Osan Air Base 51 FW F-16 A-10 Flyby.jpg , alt = US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon and A ...
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
and conducted live weapons demonstrations for
Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
and US officials at Nightmare Range. Takhli RTAFB was returned to the
Royal Thai Air Force "Royal Thai Air Force March" , mascot = , anniversaries = 9 April 1937 (Royal Thai Air Force Day) , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles ...
in July 1974.


Korat RTAFB

With the return of Takhli to the Royal Thai Air Force, the two F-111A squadrons (428th TFS, 429th TFS) of the 347th TFW were transferred to
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km (125 mi) northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratcha ...
. At Korat, the 347th TFW performed training readiness missions. It participated in the recovery of the American merchantman SS Mayaguez from the Khmer Rouge 13–14 May 1975. Two F-111As aircraft sank and/or damaged several Khmer Rouge gunboats near Koh Tang Island during the engagement with Kymer forces. On 30 June 1975, the 347 TFW was inactivated. The 428 TFS and 429 TFS and associated F-111A aircraft returned to
Nellis Air Force Base Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis" colloq.) is a United States Air Force installation in southern Nevada. Nellis hosts air combat exercises such as Exercise Red Flag and close air support exercises such as Green Flag-West flown in " Military ...
,
Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...
and were reassigned to the
474th Tactical Fighter Wing The 474th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at Nellis Air Force Base (IATA code LSV), Nevada, where it trained combat-ready aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute ...
.


Post Vietnam era


Moody AFB

On 1 December 1975 the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at Moody AFB, Georgia as a tactical fighter wing under Tactical Air Command (TAC). Operational fighter squadrons at Moody were: *
68th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 68th Fighter Squadron was one of the longest-serving fighter squadrons in U.S. Air Force history, remaining active almost continually for 60 years. Known as the "Lightning Lancers", on the morning of 27 June 1950 pilots of the 68th Fighter-A ...
(Tail Code: MY, Red tail stripe) * 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Tail Code: MY, Silver tail stripe) *
70th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. ...
(Tail Code: MY, Blue/White checkered tail stripe) The 347th TFW flew the McDonnell-Douglas F-4E until 1988, upgrading to the Block 15 General Dynamics F-16A/B. In 1990 the Wing upgraded again to the Block 40 F-16C/D. Moody won the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award for 1991, and the 1994 Verne Orr Award, which is presented by the Air Force Association to the unit that most effectively uses human resources to accomplish its mission. In June 1997, the 347th TFW was awarded the
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and was the first independent Air Force d ...
for the eighth time in its illustrious history. On 1 October 1991, the 347th TFW was redesignated the 347th Fighter Wing (FW). On 1 June 1992 the 347th FW was assigned to the newly activated Air Combat Command (ACC). As a result of the August 1992 destruction of
Homestead AFB Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...
Florida by Hurricane Andrew, the 31st Fighter Wing's 307th FS and 308th FS were initially evacuated to Moody AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall. With Homstead unusable for an extended period after the hurricane, on 20 November the squadrons were permanently assigned to the 347th TFW making it the largest F-16 wing in the USAF. On 1 April 1994, the 308th FS was moved without personnel or equipment to the 56th Fighter Wing at
Luke AFB Luke Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States., effective 20 December 2007 It is located west of the central business district of Glendale, and west of Phoenix. Luke AFB is a major trainin ...
,
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, replacing the 311th FS. The squadrons Block 40 F-16s were sent to United States Air Forces Europe ( USAFE). On 1 July 1994, the Air Force redesignated the 347th Fighter Wing to the 347th Wing, a force projection, air/land composite wing. Squadrons of the 347th Wing were: * 52d Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (green tail stripe – ROOS)
Transferred from inactivated 63d MAW, Norton AFB, California 1 May 1994. Was a C-141B squadron at Norton. *
68th Fighter Squadron The 68th Fighter Squadron was one of the longest-serving fighter squadrons in U.S. Air Force history, remaining active almost continually for 60 years. Known as the "Lightning Lancers", on the morning of 27 June 1950 pilots of the 68th Fighter-A ...
(F-16C/D) (red tail stripe – LANCERS) * 69th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (black tail stripe – WEREWOLVES) *
70th Fighter Squadron The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. ...
(A/OA-10A) (blue/white tail stripe – WHITE KNIGHTS) * 307th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (black tail stripe – STINGERS) The 307th FS was inactivated on 31 August 1995 when F-16 operations at Moody were reduced in size. On 1 April 1997 the 347th Wing added a search-and-rescue component with the addition of the
41st Rescue Squadron The 41st Rescue Squadron is part of the 347th Rescue Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operates HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions. Mission The 41st Rescue Squadron maintains combat-ready status as an H ...
with HH-60G helicopters and the 71st Rescue Squadron with specialized HC-130P aircraft from Patrick AFB, Florida. To make room for these squadrons, the 52d Airlift Squadron was inactivated, with its C-130s being transferred to the 71st Rescue Squadron (RQS). The F-16s of the 347th Wing began to be transferred out as the "Composite Wing" concept ended at Moody. The 70th FS was inactivated on 30 June 2000. The 69th FS was inactivated on 2 February 2001, and the 68th FS was inactivated on 1 April. The F-16s were transferred to various active-duty, reserve, and Air National Guard squadrons both in the CONUS as well as overseas. On 1 May 2001, the 347th Wing stood down as a composite wing and stood up as the 347th Rescue Wing (RQW), becoming the Air Force's only active-duty combat search and rescue wing. The 347th RQW was transferred from ACC to the Air Force Special Operations Command on 1 October 2003. Replaced Det. 1, 363d Combat Support Group (CSG) at Moody AFB and trained to become proficient in F-4E aircraft. Assumed responsibility for operating Moody AFB in Dec 1975. Thereafter, conducted frequent exercise deployments in the U.S. and overseas to maintain capabilities specializing in air-to-ground attack using precision-guided weapons. Transitioned to F-16A/B aircraft, 1988–1989, and oriented mission planning toward NATO requirements by conducting squadron-strength deployments to Europe. Began upgrading to F-16C/D in Jan 1990 and in Aug 1990 became first operational TAC unit to employ the LANTIRN all-weather/night navigation and bombing system. Sent support personnel to Southwest Asia in Aug 1990, and in Jan 1991 deployed one fighter squadron to fly combat missions. Following the ceasefire, continued to support peace-keeping operations with periodic aircraft deployments to Saudi Arabia to support Operation Southern Watch and other contingencies.


Modern era

Became a composite wing in 1994 with the addition of airlift and close air support elements, and as part of the realignment of the post Cold-War Air Force, HQ ACC converted and realigned the 347th Fighter Wing to the 347th Wing (347 WG) on 1 July 1994, with a new mission being that of a force projection, air/land composite wing. On 1 April 1997 the 347th Wing added a combat search and rescue (CSAR) component with the addition of the
41st Rescue Squadron The 41st Rescue Squadron is part of the 347th Rescue Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operates HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions. Mission The 41st Rescue Squadron maintains combat-ready status as an H ...
(41 RQS) with
HH-60G The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems ...
helicopters and the 71st Rescue Squadron (71 RQS) with specialized
HC-130P The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/ combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed fo ...
aircraft, both units transferring from Patrick AFB,
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. To make room for these squadrons, the 52d Airlift Squadron was inactivated, with its C-130s being transferred to the 71 RQS. The F-16s of the 347th Wing began to be transferred out as the "Composite Wing" concept ended at Moody. The 70 FS was inactivated on 30 June 2000, the 69 FS inactivated on 2 February 2001, and the 68 FS was inactivated on 1 April. The F-16s and A-10s/OA-10s were transferred to various active-duty, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard squadrons both in CONUS as well as overseas. On 1 May 2001, the 347th Wing stood down as a composite wing and stood up as the 347th Rescue Wing (347 RQW), becoming the Air Force's only active-duty combat search and rescue wing. On 1 October 2003, Moody was transferred from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). With the change of assignment the 347th Rescue Wing was transferred from ACC to AFSOC. This was a short-lived experiment that temporarily placed all USAF air rescue assets (Active, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard) under AFSOC. On 1 October 2005, the 347 RQW returned to Air Combat Command Inactivated on 1 October 2006, personnel and equipment being reassigned to the 23d Wing which was moved to Moody from Pope AFB, North Carolina.


Lineage

* Established as 347th Fighter Wing, All Weather, on 10 August 1948 : Activated on 18 August 1948 : Redesignated 347th Fighter-All Weather Wing on 20 January 1950 : Inactivated on 24 June 1950 * Redesignated 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 21 December 1967 : Organized on 15 January 1968 : Inactivated on 31 October 1972 * Activated on 30 July 1973 : Inactivated on 30 June 1975 * Activated on 30 September 1975 : Redesignated: 347th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991 : Redesignated: 347th Wing on 1 July 1994 : Redesignated: 347th Rescue Wing on 1 May 2001 : Inactivated on 1 October 2006, personnel and equipment redesignated as
23rd Wing The 23rd Wing is a front-line United States Air Force Air Combat Command wing currently assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Mission The mission of the 23rd Wing is to organize, train and employ combat-ready Fairchild Republic A-10 Thund ...
.


Assignments

*
315th Air Division The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force formation. Originally designated the 315th Bombardment Wing, it was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command and control organization for four very heavy B-29 Su ...
, 18 August 1948 *
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...
, 1 March-24 Jun 1950 *
Pacific Air Forces Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (f ...
, 21 December 1967 *
Fifth Air Force The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organizat ...
, 15 January 1968 * Tactical Air Command, 15 May 1971 * 832d Air Division, 15 May 1971 – 31 October 1972 *
Thirteenth Air Force The Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (13 AF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been sta ...
, 30 July 1973 – 30 June 1975 : Attached to:
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
, 30 July 1973-c. 14 February 1974 : Attached to: United States Support Activities Group/
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
, c. 14 February 1974 – 30 June 1975 *
Ninth Air Force The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
, 30 September 1975 * Air Force Special Operations Command, 1 October 2003 – 1 October 2006


Components

Groups * 347th Fighter Group: 18 August 1948 – 24 June 1950 * 1st Rescue Group: 1 April-30 Sep 1997 * 23d Fighter Group: 1 April 1997 – 27 June 2000 *
347th Operations Group The United States Air Force's 347th Rescue Group (347 RQG) is an active combat search and rescue unit assigned to the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. : ''For additional lineage and history, see 347th Rescue Wing'' Mission The 347th ...
: 1 May 1991 – 1 October 2006 * 563d Rescue Group: 1 October 2003 – 1 October 2006 Squadrons * 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 January 1968 – 15 March 1971 (detached) *
35th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 35th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 8th Operations Group, stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. The squadron operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority mis ...
: 15 January 1968 – 15 March 1971 (detached 22 March-10 Jun 1968) *
36th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 36th Fighter Squadron is part of the US Air Force's 51st Operations Group at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The squadron was first activate ...
: 15 January 1968 – 15 May 1971 *
68th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 68th Fighter Squadron was one of the longest-serving fighter squadrons in U.S. Air Force history, remaining active almost continually for 60 years. Known as the "Lightning Lancers", on the morning of 27 June 1950 pilots of the 68th Fighter-A ...
: 30 September 1975 – 1 May 1991 (detached 30 May-5 Jul 1990) * 69th Tactical Fighter Training (later, 69 Tactical Fighter) Squadron: 1 July 1983 – 1 May 1991 (detached 8 January-1 May 1991). *
70th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. ...
: 30 September 1975 – 1 May 1991 (detached 29 August-28 Sep 1989) *
80th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 80th Fighter Squadron (traditionally nicknamed the "Headhunters", and since 1971 also the "Juvats") is a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter squadron of the United States Air Force, currently part of the 8th Operations Group of ...
: 15 January 1968 – 15 March 1971 (detached 15 February-15 Mar 1971) *
339th Tactical Fighter Squadron 339th may refer to: *339th Aviation Detachment, United States Army Aviation Branch *339th Bombardment Group, unit of the New York Air National Guard *339th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit *339th Fighter Group, unit of th ...
: 30 December 1975 – 1 July 1983 * 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 October 1971 – 31 October 1972 * 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 30 June-31 Oct 1972 *
391st Tactical Fighter Squadron The 391st Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The squadron participated in combat missions in World War II and the Vietnam War, provided air defense in Korea and Japan from 1968 to 1971, and ...
: 1 July 1971 – 31 October 1972 *
428th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 428th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Currently, it operates F-15SG Strike Eagle aircraft conducting formal training missions to qualify Republic of Singapore Air Force crew in the F ...
: 30 July 1973 – 15 June 1975 * 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 30 July 1973 – 21 June 1975 * 556th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 July 1968 – 15 May 1971 * 4589th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 September-15 Oct 1971 * 4590th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 January-30 Jun 1972 * 6091 Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 January-1 Jul 1968


Stations

* Itazuke Airfield, Japan, 18 August 1948 * Bofu Air Base, Japan, 15 October 1948 * Ashiya Afld (later, AB), Japan, 3 May 1949 * Nagoya AB, Japan, 1 April-24 Jun 1950 * Yokota AB, Japan, 15 January 1968 – 15 May 1971 *
Mountain Home AFB Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation in the western United States. Located in southwestern Idaho in Elmore County, the base is southwest of Mountain Home, which is southeast of Boise via Interstate ...
, Idaho, 15 May 1971 – 31 October 1972 * Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 30 July 1973 *
Korat RTAFB Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km (125 mi) northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratchasi ...
, Thailand, 12 July 1974 – 30 June 1975 *
Moody AFB Moody Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation near Valdosta, Georgia. Geography The base is in northeastern Lowndes County, Georgia, with the eastern border of the base following the Lanier County line. Georgia State Ro ...
, Georgia, 30 September 1975 – 1 October 2006 *
Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Ching Chuan Kang Air Base ( zh, t=清泉崗空軍基地, CCK) is a Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) base located in Taichung, Taiwan. It is the home to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, with three squadrons of AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fi ...
, Taiwan, 29 November – 8 December 1968


Commanders

* Col Daniel A. Cooper, 18 August 1948 * Col Robert D. McCarten, 21 January 1949 * Col Daniel A. Cooper, 3 May 1949 * Col Virgil L. Zoller, 23 June 1949 * Col Walter C. White, 1 April - 24 June 1950 * None (not manned), 21 December 1967 - 14 January 1968 * Col
Paul P. Douglas Jr Paul Page Douglas Jr (April 23, 1919 – December 26, 2002) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. During World War II, he flew the P-47 Thunderbolt in the European Theater of Operations and became one of the most highly decorated ...
., 15 January 1968 * Col Allen K. McDonald, 23 January 1968 * Col Thomas M. Carhart, 29 January 1968 * Col Irby B. Jarvis, Jr., 3 September 1969 * Col William L. Craig, 5 July 1970 * Brig Gen Donald H. Ross, 15 July 1970 * Brig Gen Henry L. Warren, 15 July 1971 * Col Lynwood E. Clark, 10 December 1971 - 31 October 1972 * Col Thomas E. Lacy, 30 July 1973 * Col Cecil D. Crabb, 9 March 1974 * Col Maurice E. Seaver, Jr., 21 September 1974 * Col Russell E. Thoburn, 22 March 1975 * Col James D. Covington, 21–30 June 1975 * Col Robert L. Cass, 30 September 1975 * Col Jack I. Gregory, 17 August 1976


Aircraft

*
F-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
, 1948 *
F-61 Black Widow The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night fight ...
, 1948–1950 *
F-82 Twin Mustang The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is the last American piston-engined fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the North American P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter ...
, 1949–1950 *
F-105 Thunderchief The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American supersonic fighter-bomber that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Viet ...
, 1968 * F-4 Phantom II, F-4C 1968–1971 * C-130 Hercules, 1968–1971 * EB-57 Canberra, 1968–1971 *
RB-57 Canberra The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric ...
, 1968 *
F-111 Aardvark The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic, medium-range, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft. Production variants of the F-111 had roles that included attack aircraft, ground attack (e.g. Air interdiction, i ...
, F-111F 1971–1972; F-111A 1973–1975 * F-4 Phantom II, F-4E 1975–1988 *
F-16 Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful ...
, 1987–2001 * C-130 Hercules, 1994–2006 * A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II, 1995–2000 *
HC-130 Hercules The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forc ...
, 1997–2006 * HH-60 Pave Hawk, 1997–2006


References


External links


347 Rescue Wing Factsheet
* Some of this text in of this article was taken from pages on th
Moody AFB
website, which as a work of the U.S. government is presumed to be a
public domain resource The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly waived, or may be inapplicable. Because those rights have expired, ...
.


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * Gunston, Bill. ''F-111,'' (Modern Fighting Aircraft, Vol. 3). New York: Salamander Books, 1983. . * * * Pape, Garry R., Campbell, John M. and Donna (1991), ''Northrop P-61 Black Widow: The Complete History and Combat Record''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International. . * * * * * {{USAF Vietnam War Rescue wings of the United States Air Force 474 Military in Georgia (U.S. state)