The 71st Fighter Wing (71 FW) is a disbanded unit of the
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 ...
, last stationed at
Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri. It was withdrawn from the
Missouri Air National Guard
The Missouri Air National Guard (MO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Missouri, United States of America. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard.
As state militia units, the units i ...
(MO ANG) and inactivated on 31 October 1950.
This wing is not related to the
71st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing or subsequent units that was constituted on 18 August 1948 and activated on 25 October 1948.
History
World War II
Established and organized at March Field, California in 1943 as a command and control organization. Deployed to the
European Theater of Operations (ETO) in late 1943 and assigned to
IX Fighter Command
The IX Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany, wheret was inactivated on 16 November 1945.
IX Fighter Command was the primary tactical fighter ...
,
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 ...
. Initial Mission of the Wing was to receive operational orders from Headquarters, IX Fighter Command and direct subordinate groups in attacking enemy targets in
Occupied France
The Military Administration in France (german: Militärverwaltung in Frankreich; french: Occupation de la France par l'Allemagne) was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II to administer the occupied zo ...
and the
Low Countries
The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
in preparation for the
Normandy Invasion in June 1944. Targets included bridges, roads, railroads and enemy interceptor aircraft both on the ground as well as in air-to-air combat.
After the
D-Day invasion, was directed to provide ground support for advancing
United States First Army
First Army is the oldest and longest-established field army of the United States Army. It served as a theater army, having seen service in both World War I and World War II, and supplied the US army with soldiers and equipment during the Korea ...
forces in France, attacking enemy targets initially in the
Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula (, ; nrf, Cotentîn ), also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. It extends north-westward into the English Channel, towards Great Britain. To its w ...
, then supported Operation Cobra, the breakout of Normandy and attacked enemy forces in the
Falaise-Argentan Gap.
Reassigned to
IX Air Defense Command
The IX Air Defense Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. It was assigned throughout its time in combat to Ninth Air Force. Its final station was at Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1946.
...
on 1 July 1944, its mission was changed to provide air defense against attacking enemy aircraft over liberated areas of France and later, the Low Countries. Wing headquarters and subordinate units operated primarily from liberated airfields and newly built temporary
Advanced Landing Grounds in continental Europe. Along with air defense, subordinate units engaged in combat in support of ground forces during the breakthrough at
St. Lo in July 1944. Attacked tanks, trucks, and troop concentrations as enemy retreated; provided armed reconnaissance for advancing Allied armored columns. During September 1944, attacked flak positions near
Eindhoven during
Operation Market-Garden
Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation during the Second World War fought in the Netherlands from 17 to 27 September 1944. Its objective was to create a salient into German territory with a bridgehead over the River Rhine, ...
, the airborne landing in the Netherlands; bombed enemy communications and transportation lines in western Germany. Flew armed reconnaissance missions over
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...
during December 1944 – January 1944. Flew missions against enemy transportation systems including motor vehicles, bridges, trains, railway bridges, and marshalling yards during February and March 1945. Moved to Germany in April 1945, flying last combat missions on 3 May 1945.
Remained in Europe after the war as part of
United States Air Forces in Europe
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
, performing occupation duty and the destruction or shipment to the United States of captured enemy combat equipment. Demobilized in Germany and organization was inactivated as an administrative unit in the United States, December 1945.
Air National Guard
Allocated to the
Missouri Air National Guard
The Missouri Air National Guard (MO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Missouri, United States of America. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard.
As state militia units, the units i ...
for command and control origination for units in the Midwest Region (North & South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 3 July 1946.
At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (
Hobson Plan
The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States A ...
) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Missouri ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. The
131st Composite Wing was established by the
National Guard Bureau, allocated to the state of Missouri, recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated 71st Fighter Wing.
Operations and Decorations
* Combat Operations: Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 23 December 1943-May 1945.
* Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe ;Normandy; Northern France
* Decorations: Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-6 Jun-
ug1944
Lineage
* Organized as 71st Fighter Wing on 11 Oct 1943
: Activated on 15 August 1943
: Inactivated on 3 December 1945
* Allotted to the Missouri ANG on 24 May 1946
: Extended federal recognition and activated on 3 July 1946
: Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force, on 31 October 1950
* Disbanded on 15 June 1983
Assignments
*
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force (4 AF) is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California.
4 AF directs the activities and supervises the training of more than 30,000 Air Force Res ...
, 15 August – 23 December 1943
*
IX Fighter Command
The IX Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Erlangen, Germany, wheret was inactivated on 16 November 1945.
IX Fighter Command was the primary tactical fighter ...
, 4 December 1943 – 1 July 1944
*
IX Air Defense Command
The IX Air Defense Command was a United States Army Air Forces formation. It was assigned throughout its time in combat to Ninth Air Force. Its final station was at Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1946.
...
, 1 July 1944 – November 1945
*
Missouri Air National Guard
The Missouri Air National Guard (MO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Missouri, United States of America. It is, along with the Missouri Army National Guard, an element of the Missouri National Guard.
As state militia units, the units i ...
, 3 July 1946 – 31 October 1950
Components
World War II
*
358th Fighter Group 358th may refer to:
*358th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 358th Fighter Group, inactive United States Army Air Force unit
* 358th Fighter Squadron (358 FS), part of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Ba ...
: (P-47 Thunderbolt), 1 August-1 October 1944
: Attached to:
IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
, entire period
*
366th Fighter Group 366th may refer to:
*366th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
*366th Division (IDF), also known as the "Path of Fire" Division, a reserve armored division of the IDF
*366th Fighter Squadron, inactive United States Air Force ...
: (P-47 Thunderbolt), 10 January 1944 – 3 December 1945
*
368th Fighter Group 368th may refer to:
*368th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
*368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group (368 EASOG) is a support unit of the United States Air Force
*368th Fighter Group or 136th Airlift Wing, unit o ...
: (P-47 Thunderbolt), 1 August-1 October 1944
: Attached to:
IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
, entire period
*
370th Fighter Group
The 370th Fighter Group was a unit of the Ninth Air Force that was located in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.Maurer, Maurer. ''Air Force Combat Units Of World War II''. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 19 ...
: (P-38 Lightning), 1 August-1 October 1944
: Attached to:
IX Tactical Air Command
The IX Tactical Air Command was a formation of the United States Army Air Forces. It fought in the European theater of World War II. Its last assignment was at Camp Shanks, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 October 1945.
History
Formed ...
, entire period
*
422d Night Fighter Squadron: (P-61 Black Widow), 4 May-6 August 1944
Missouri Air National Guard
*
131st Fighter Group
The mission of the 131st Operations Group, 131st Bomb Wing, is to provide expeditionary, B-2 global strike combat support capabilities to geographic commanders and Commander, United States Strategic Command. This is done by training and equipping ...
, 15 July 1946 – 31 October 1950
*
132d Fighter Group
The 132nd Wing, sometimes written 132d Wing, (132 WG) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard and located at Des Moines Air National Guard Base, Iowa. The 132nd's World War II predecessor unit, the ''365th Fight ...
, 23 August 1946 – 31 October 1950 (Iowa ANG)
*
133d Fighter Group, 28 August 1947 – 31 October 1950 (Minnesota ANG)
*
136th Fighter Group, 27 January 1947 – 23 May 1948 (Texas ANG)
*
137th Fighter Group, 18 December 1947 – 23 May 1948 (Oklahoma ANG)
*
122d Bombardment Group (Light), 5 December 1946 – 23 May 1948 (Louisiana ANG)
*
154th Fighter Squadron
The 154th Training Squadron (154th TRS) is a unit of the Arkansas Air National Guard 189th Airlift Wing. It is assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas and is equipped with the C-130H Hercules aircraft.
The squadron is a descendant o ...
, 27 May 1946 – 2 October 1947 (Arkansas ANG)
*
175th Fighter Squadron
The 175th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard 's 114th Operations Group stationed at Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The 175th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.
Hist ...
, 20 September 1946 – 28 August 1947 (South Dakota ANG)
Stations
*
March Field
March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of Ma ...
, California, 15 August – 26 November 1943
*
RAF Aldermaston (AAF-467), England, 23 December 1943
*
RAF Greenham Common
Royal Air Force Greenham Common or RAF Greenham Common is a former Royal Air Force station in the civil parishes of Greenham and Thatcham in the English county of Berkshire. The airfield was southeast of Newbury, about west of London.
Opened ...
(AAF-486), England, 14 January 1944
*
RAF Andover
RAF Andover is a former Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force station in England, west of Andover, Hampshire. As well as RFC and RAF units, units of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force, United States Army Air ...
(AAF-406), England, 1 March – 4 July 1944
*
Ecrammeville, France, 7 July 1944
*
St-Pierre-Eglise, France, 4 August 1944
*
Ecrammeville, France, 7 August 1944
*
Rennes Airfield
Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine departme ...
(A-27), France, 20 August 1944
*
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, ...
, France, 9 September 1944
*
Vittel
Vittel (; archaic ) is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Mineral water is bottled and sold here by Nestlé Waters France, under the '' Vittel'' brand.
History
In 1854, after visiting the baths at nearby ...
, France, 23 October 1944
*
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...
, Germany, 23 April 1945
*
Nancy, France, 21 May 1945
*
Nancy/Essey Airfield (Y-42), France, 16 July 1945
*
Darmstadt, Germany, 25 September–November 1945
*
Camp Shanks
Camp Shanks was a United States Army installation in the Orangetown, New York area. Named after Major General David C. Shanks, it was situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River. The camp was the largest U.S. Army embarka ...
, New York, 2–3 December 1945
*
Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri, 3 July 1946 – 31 October 1950
References
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History.
* Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
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Military units and formations established in 1943
Military units and formations disestablished in 1950