17th Training Wing
17th Training Wing emblem
ActiveMay 8, 1952
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
RoleTraining
Part ofAir Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQGoodfellow Air Force Base
Motto(s)TOUJOURS AU DANGER - Ever into danger
EngagementsDoolittle Raid

The 17th Training Wing headquartered at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas is a wing in AETC's Second Air Force. Its mission is to train intelligence personnel in all the branches of the armed forces, as well as firefighters and a few other specialties.

The 17th Training Wing is the operating wing for Goodfellow Air Force Base.

Organization

The 17th Training Wing is composed of the 17th Training Group, 17th Medical Group, 17th Services Division, and 17th Mission Support Group.

Mission

The wing trains Air Force 1N0, 1N1, 1N2, 1N3, 1N4, 1N5, 1N6, 1A8, officer 14N and firefighters from all branches. Many corresponding Army, Navy and Marine Corps intelligence personnel are also trained at Goodfellow AFB, and assigned to the local units.

There are 17 TRW units at the Defense Language Institute, Corry Station, and Fort Huachuca, AZ which also do intelligence training.

The wing is also responsible for writing the CDCs for the AFSCs which it trains.

History

Linage

Bases Assigned

Operational History

Origins

Authorized as 17th Observation Group on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated 17th Pursuit Group in 1929. Activated on 15 Jul 1931. Redesignated 17th Attack Group in 1935, and 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) in 1939. Trained and participated in maneuvers, using P-12 and P-26 (1931-1932), A-17 (1933-1939), and B-18 (1940-1941) aircraft.

World War II

Used B-25's for patrol duty on the west coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and later patrolled the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast. Converted to B-26's in the summer of 1942.

Moved to North Africa late in 1942 and began operations on 30 Dec. Served in combat in the Mediterranean theater until the end of the war, being assigned first to Twelfth AF, then to Fifteenth (Nov 1943), and again to Twelfth (Jan 1944).

Flew interdictory and close-support missions, bombing bridges, rail lines, marshalling yards, harbors, shipping, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, and other targets. Helped to bring about the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943; assisted in the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa in Jun 1943; participated in the invasions of Sicily in Jul and of Italy in Sep 1943; and took part in the drive toward Rome, receiving a DUC for a bombing attack on airdromes at Rome on 13 Jan 1944. Also received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for operations in Italy, Apr-Jun 1944.

Took part in the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, and continued bombardment operations in northern Italy, France, and later in Germany. Received second DUC for bombing attacks on enemy defenses near Schweinfurt on 10 Apr 1945. Assisted in the disarmament of Germany after V-E Day.

Returned to the US in Nov. Inactivated on 26 Nov 1945.

Korean War

Established as the 17th Bombardment Wing, Light on May 8, 1952, activated two days later at Pusan-East Air Base, Korea, where it replaced the 452nd Bombardment Wing Light. It was equipped with Douglas A-26 Invaders from World War II. Operational Units were the 34th, 37th and 95th Bombardment Squadrons.

The wing conducted combat operations in Korean War, May 10, 1952–July 27, 1953, including night intruder light bombardment missions against enemy supply centers, communications and transportation facilities; interdiction of North Korean railroads; armed reconnaissance; and close air support for ground forces.

It moved to Miho Air Base, Japan on October 10, 1954, where it maintained operational proficiency for light bombardment.

Cold War

The wing returned to the United States and was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida on April 1, 1955 as part of Tactical Air Command. On October 1, 1955, it was redesignated the 17th Bombardment Wing, Tactical. It flew B-57s In 1956 and 1957, and B-66s from 1956 until 1958. Inactivated June 25, 1958.

The 17th was assigned to Strategic Air Command and redesignated as the 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated on November 15, 1962. It replaced the 4043rd Strategic Wing in February 1963 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and absorbed it's 42nd Bomb Squadron and 922nd Air Refueling Squadron. It trained to maintain proficiency in strategic bombing and aerial refueling on a global basis. It furnished B-52s KC-135 aircraft and crews to SAC units in Vietnam from 1966 to 1975.

Taken off alert at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, on June 30, 1975 and phased down, transferring aircraft by July 7. Moved without personnel or equipment to Beale AFB, California, on September 30, 1975 and absorbed resources of the 456th Bombardment Wing, including B-52G and KC-135Q aircraft.

Continued global strategic bombardment alert to June 30, 1976 and used tanker aircraft primarily to refuel SR-71s of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The wing was inactivated on September 30, 1976 and replaced by the 100th Air Refueling Wing.

The wing was reactivated at RAF Alconbury England as the 17th Reconnaissance Wing on October 1, 1982. Flew tactical and strategic surveillance missions in Western Europe using the TR-1 (U-2) until inactivated on 30 June 1991. At Alconbury, the 17th RW received the P. T. Cullen Trophy for providing “the greatest contribution to the intelligence gathering efforts of SAC” in 1989 and 1990. During 1990–91, many of the wing's assets and personnel supported operations in Southwest Asia by ferrying aircraft and equipment to Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Post Cold War

The 17th Training Wing stood up as a non-flying wing at Goodfellow AFB, Texas on 1 July 1993. At Goodfellow, the wing develops and delivers cryptologic, intelligence, and other training to US and allied military and US government students.

Assignments

Fifth Air Force, May 10, 1952; Ninth Air Force, April 1, 1955–June 25, 1958 (attached to Nineteenth Air Force, December 15, 1956–December 15, 1957). Strategic Air Command, November 15, 1962;

17th Bomb Wing Assignments

Components

Group

Squadron

Stations

Pusan-East AB, South Korea, May 10, 1952; Miho AB, Japan, October 10, 1954–March 20, 1955; Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 9 (Hurlburt Field), FL, April 1, 1955–June 25, 1958. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, February 1, 1963; Beale AFB, CA, September 30, 1975–September 30, 1976. RAF Alconbury, England, October 1, 1982–June 30, 1991. Goodfellow AFB, TX, July 1, 1993–.

Aircraft

B-26, 1952–1956; B-57, 1955–1956; B-66, 1956–1958. B-52, 1963–1975, 1975–1976; KC-135, 1963–1975, 1975–1976. TR-1, 1982–1991.

Decorations

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers.

See also

References

Air Forces
Bases
Wings
Groups
Categories