54th Tactical Fighter Wing
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The 54th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air 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 of the United States Army Signal ...
unit. Its last assignment was with the
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 (fo ...
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 organiza ...
, at
Kunsan Air Base Kunsan K-8 Air Base is a United States Air Force base located at Gunsan Airport, on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is located in the town of Gunsan (also romanized as Kunsan), about south of Seoul. ...
, South Korea where it was inactivated on 31 October 1970. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the 54th Troop Carrier Wing was a
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 organiza ...
airlift An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distanc ...
wing that commanded five combat cargo and troop carrier groups in the
South West Pacific Theater The South West Pacific theatre, during World War II, was a major theatre of the war between the Allies and the Axis. It included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies (except for Sumatra), Borneo, Australia and its mandate Territory ...
. In the early postwar years, the 54th Fighter Wing commanded 56 units of the
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
throughout the Southeastern United States.


History


World War II

The 54th Troop Carrier Wing commenced air transport and medical air evacuation operations in support 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 organiza ...
on 26 May 1943. advancing as battle lines permitted. The wing employed
Douglas C-47 Skytrain The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in ...
s almost exclusively, but during late 1943 and much of 1944 also used 13 converted
Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...
es for armed transport missions in enemy-held territory. The 54th supported every major advance made by the allies in the
Southwest Pacific Theater The South West Pacific theatre, during World War II, was a major theatre of the war between the Allies and the Axis. It included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies (except for Sumatra), Borneo, Australia and its mandate Territory of ...
, operating from primitive airstrips carved from jungles and air-dropping cargo where airstrips unavailable. The unit took part in the airborne invasion of
Nadzab Nadzab Village is in the Markham Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on the Highlands Highway. Administratively, it is located in Gabsongkeg ward of Wampar Rural LLG. The Nadzab Airport is located East of Nadzab Village and was the site ...
, New Guinea, in September 1943 by dropping paratroopers of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as well as Australian engineers and heavy equipment. In July 1944, the wing dropped 1,418 paratroopers on Noemfoor Island to aid the allied invasion forces. Then assumed the task of handling all freight and personnel moving in troop carrier aircraft in the Southwest Pacific, in addition to scheduled and unscheduled air movement of cargo and troops, and air evacuation of wounded personnel. Some Curtiss C-46 Commandos began operating within the
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...
in late 1944, and during 1945 large numbers of C-46s were used in addition to C-47s. By late 1944 and during the early months of 1945, most wing missions were flown to the Philippines. In February 1945, the wing flew three more airborne operations, all in the Philippines, to help encircle Japanese concentrations. Wing C-47s dropped
napalm Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated al ...
on Carabao Island, in
Manila Bay Manila Bay ( fil, Look ng Maynila) is a natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Phi ...
, in March 1945. When hostilities ended, the wing moved the entire 11th Airborne Division (11,300 personnel) from the Philippines to
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 ...
on short notice, and then began transporting occupation forces into Japan. During September 1945, the wing also evacuated over 17,000 former prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines. The wing served as part of the occupation forces in Japan from 25 September 1945 to about 26 January 1946, while continuing routine air transport operations and a scheduled courier service. Beginning in December 1945 and continuing into mid-1946, most of the wing's components were reassigned to other units or inactivated, and on 15 January 1946 the wing became a component of the Far East (soon, Pacific) Air Service Command. Moving to the Philippines, the wing gained new components and flew scheduled routes between Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and the
Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...
. Replaced by the
403d Troop Carrier Group 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...
on 31 May 1946 and was inactivated.


Air National Guard

Allotted to the
National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...
to command units in the Southeastern region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 2 October 1946. At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the Wing Base Organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
and inactivated on 31 October 1950. The 116th Fighter Wing was alloted to the state of Georgia, federally recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated wing.


United States Air Force

In June 1970, as the 54th Tactical Fighter Wing, was activated and replaced the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at
Kunsan Air Bae Gunsan (), also romanized as Kunsan, is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. It is on the south bank of the Geum River just upstream from its exit into the Yellow Sea. It has emerged as a high-tech manufacturing industrial city and an i ...
, South Korea, assuming control of personnel and attached
McDonnell F-4C Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and ...
squadrons. Was inactivated on 31 October 1970 when the deployed F-4 squadrons returned to the United States and the base was placed in a non-flying status. Base operations personnel were absorbed by the 6175th Air Base Group.


Lineage

* Established as the 54th Troop Carrier Wing on 26 February 1943 : Activated on 13 March 1943 : Inactivated on 31 May 1946 * Redesignated 54th Fighter Wing, and allotted to the National Guard on 1 June 1946Ravenstein says "Air" National Guard, which did not exit until the Air Force became a separate service. : Organized in the Georgia National Guard on 8 July 1946 : Extended federal recognition on 2 October 1946 : Ordered to active service on 10 October 1950 : Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force on 11 October 1950 * Redesignated 54th Tactical Fighter Wing on 5 June 1970 : Activated on 15 June 1970 : Inactivated on 31 October 1970


Assignments

*
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 organiza ...
, 13 March 1943 * Far East Air Service Command (later Pacific Air Service Command), 15 January – 31 May 1946 * Georgia National Guard, 8 July 1946 * Fourteenth Air Force, 10–11 October 1950 *
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 organiza ...
, 15 June – 31 October 1970 (attached to Detachment 1, Headquarters Fifth Air Force th ADVONuntil 30 September 1970)


Components


World War II

* 2d Combat Cargo Group, 13 December 1944 – 5 January 1946 * 317th Troop Carrier Group, 1 October 1943 – 15 January 1946 * 374th Troop Carrier Group, 26 May – 28 September 1943 * 375th Troop Carrier Group, 12 July 1943 – 15 January 1946 * 433d Troop Carrier Group, 4 October 1943 – 5 January 1946 * 1st Troop Carrier Squadron (Philippine Army), 26 January – 31 May 1946 *
9th Troop Carrier Squadron 009 may refer to: * OO9, gauge model railways * O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport * 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California * British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent * BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9 * ...
, 15 January – 15 February 1946 * 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June – 7 September 1970 * 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 February – 15 May 1946 * 316th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 February – 25 March 1946 * 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, after
Bougainville Campaign The Bougainville campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan, named after the island of Bougainville. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied ...
* 3rd Air Cargo Control Squadron, 24 November – 18 December 1944, 1 December 1945 – 5 January 1946


Georgia Air National Guard

*
116th Fighter Group The 116th Operations Group is a Georgia Air National Guard unit assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing. The unit is stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 116th Group controls all operational Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint STARS aircraft ...
, 9 September 1946 – 10 October 1950 * 117th Fighter Group, 1 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Alabama ANG) * 118th Fighter Group, 2 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Tennessee ANG) * 105th Fighter Squadron, 23 January 1947 – 2 October 1947 (Tennessee Air National Guard) * 106th Bombardment Squadron, 1 November 1946 – 1 March 1947 (Alabama Air National Guard) * 153d Fighter Squadron. 2 October 1946 – 1 October 1947 (Georgia Air National Guard) * 155th Fighter Squadron, 23 December 1946 – 2 October 1947 (Tennessee Air National Guard) *
156th Fighter Squadron The 156th Airlift Squadron (156 AS) is a unit of the North Carolina Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing. It is assigned to Charlotte Air National Guard Base, North Carolina and is equipped with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Hist ...
, 2 October 1946 – 2 October 1947 (North Carolina ANG) * 198th Fighter Squadron, 1 October 1947 – 11 October 1950 (Puerto Rico Air National Guard)


United States Air Force

* 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June – 7 September 1970 (Attached) *
478th Tactical Fighter Squadron The 478th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing and stationed at Homestead AFB, Florida. History Activated in October 1957 at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mex ...
, 15 June – 2 September 1970 (Attached)


Stations

Kunsan Air Force Base 1970-1982 F-4E Close Air Support/Reconnaissance. The F-4D/E started phasing out in to F-16A Falcons in 1982 * Archerfield Airport (Brisbane), Australia, 13 March 1943 * Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome),
Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...
,
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...
, 3 May 1943 * Nadzab Airfield,
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...
, 18 April 1944 *
Mokmer Airfield Frans Kaisiepo International Airport ( id, Bandar Udara Internasional Frans Kaisiepo) , is an airport in Biak, Papua, Indonesia. It is also known as Mokmer Airport. The airport is named after Frans Kaisiepo (1921–1979), the fourth Governor of ...
,
Biak Biak is an island located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua (province), Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak is the largest island in its small archipelago, and has many atolls, reefs, and c ...
,
Netherlands East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
, 5 October 1944 *
Bayug Airfield Bayug Airfield is a World War II airfield located in the east of Burauen, Leyte, Philippines, and to the west of San Pablo Airfield, to the north of the Marabong River in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It was closed after the war. History B ...
,
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
, Philippines, 14 February 1945 * Clark Field,
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
, Philippines, June 1945 *
Tachikawa Airfield is an airfield in the city of Tachikawa, the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense, it has also served as the civil aviation with Japan's first scheduled air service. History Origins Tach ...
, Japan, September 1945 *
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, Luzon, 26 January – 31 May 1946 * Marietta AAB (Later Dobbins AFB), Georgia 8 July 1946 – 11 October 1950 *
Kunsan Air Base Kunsan K-8 Air Base is a United States Air Force base located at Gunsan Airport, on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is located in the town of Gunsan (also romanized as Kunsan), about south of Seoul. ...
, South Korea, 15 June – 31 October 1970


See also

*
United States Army Air Forces in Australia During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. From thes ...


References


Notes

; Explanatory notes ; Citations


Bibiography

* * * {{Navboxes , list = {{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II 0054 Military units and formations established in 1970 1943 establishments in Australia 1970 disestablishments in South Korea