388th Fighter Wing
388th Fighter Wing Shield
Active	19 December 1942—present
Country	United States
Branch	Air Force
Size	2,700
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Hill Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Libertas Vel Mors "Freedom or Death"
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch
Decorations	DUC PUC AFOUA w/ V Device RVGC w/ Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Scott J. Zobrist

The 388th Fighter Wing (388FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. The unit is stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Be prepared to deploy anywhere, anytime; fly, fight, and win with disciplined airpower; and secure freedom and liberty

388th Operations Group (388 OG)

• 4th Fighter Squadron (4 FS)
• 421st Fighter Squadron (421 FS)
• 388th Range Squadron (388 RANS)
• 729th Air Control Squadron(729 ACS)
• 388th Operations Support Squadron (388 OSS) - the squadron is responsible for weapons and tactics development, operational planning, flying training guidance, intelligence, flight scheduling, mobility, life support activities, and people management for the operations group. The OSS provides combat-related staff support for the entire wing. It comprises the following flights: Intelligence; Aircrew Flight Equipment; Current Operations; and Weapons & Tactics.

• 388th Combat Support Group (388 CSG)

388th Maintenance Group (388 MXG)

• 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (388 AMXS)
• 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron (388 MOS)
• 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron (388 EMS)
• 388th Component Maintenance Squadron (388 CMS)

For additional history and lineage, see 388th Operations Group

On 23 November 1953, the 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated as part of Tactical Air Command. The wing was reactivated following Secretary of State John Foster Dulles' promise to provide NATO with four additional tactical fighter wings to increase it's defenses against the Soviet Union due to the outbreak of the Cold War. The 388th Fighter-Interceptor Wing activated as the 388th Fighter-Bomber Group (later renamed 388th Operations Group) and became the wing's primary combat element. The group's squadrons were equipped with North American F-86F Sabres, and training commenced for operational proficiency.

Once training levels for pilots and aircrews had reached operational levels, the 50th FBW began preparations for its move to France. On 12 December 1954, the 388th FBW arrived at its new home, the newly-constructed Étain-Rouvres Air Base.

Upon arrival in France in December 1954, the 388th FBW flying elements consisted of the 561st, 562d, and 563d FB Squadrons, each equipped with 26 F-86F "Sabres". Wing support aircraft consisted of 4 C-47s of various types, one L-20A, and 5 T-33s.

The mission of the 388th FBW was to train for and conduct tactical nuclear weapons delivery. Its secondary mission was to conduct non-atomic tactical air operations. Upon arrival of 388th Wing Headquarters at Etain, the construction delays and other problems seriously hampered the ability of the Wing to use the base for its flying operations. The 562nd FBSquadron was forced to operate from Spangdahlem Air Base, the 563rd from Bitburg Air Base and the 561st from Hahn Air Base in West Germany for the winter of 1954-55.

In April and May 1955, rotational deployments to Wheelus Air Base, Libya began for their first gunnery and bombing training since their arrival in Europe. In the fall, with enough facilities construction completed, the three flying squadrons were transferred from Germany and took up their home assignment at Étain. In August 1955, First Lt. Philip Ortego was assigned to the 561st Fighter Bomber Squadron as its Intelligence Officer.

On 22 November 1955, Det #1, 388th Fighter-Bomber Group was activated at Hahn Air Base to stand nuclear alert with the Wing's F-86's. Personnel and aircraft primarily came from the 561st FBS. In February 1956 the detachment was transferred to more spacious facilities at Spangdahlem Air Base. Rotational deployments of 8 F-86's and support personnel to Germany continued until the fall of 1957 when the 388th was deactivated.

In the fall of 1956 the 388th began planning for conversion to the F-100D/F "Super Sabre" Due to the adverse flying conditions at Etain for conversion training, the new aircraft were deployed to Nouasseur Air Base in Morocco, with the squadrons deploying their F-86's to Nouasseur, then returning to France or Spangdahlem in their new F-100's for Zulu Alert duties.

During this transition period, the 388th experienced a significant personnel crisis, with many of its officers and NCO's completing their two year unaccompanied tour in France. The personnel problem became worse in the fall of 1957 with many single airmen completing their three years of overseas service and were rotating back to the United States (CONUS).

The manning issues of the 388th, which has fallen to about 65 percent of authorized strength, along with budget shortfalls led HQ USAFE to inactivate the unit instead of transfer it. On 8 December 1957 HQ USAFE inactivated the 388th FBW, with its and assets being re-designated as the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, which had been administratively reassigned from Misawa AB, Japan without personnel or equipment.

In October 1962, the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at McConnell AFB, Kansas, with four (560th, 561st, 562d, 563d) fighter squadrons. The reactivated wing initially flew the North American F-100C Super Sabre, but was replaced in 1963 by the Republic F-105D/F Thunderchief. On 4 July 1963, Tactical Air Command became responsible for the base with the 388 TFW as host unit.

On 8 April 1966 the 388th TFW was ordered to Korat RTAFB, where its F-105 squadrons had been on a rotational deployment for the past two years.

In April 1966 the 388th was sent to Thailand where it replaced 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing. The wing flew combat missions in Southeast Asia, April 1966 – August 1973. The wing primarily conducted interdiction, direct air support, armed reconnaissance, and fighter escort missions. In 1967, it concentrated on key logistical and industrial targets in North Vietnam. The wing added a variety of other special-purpose aircraft and related missions as the war progressed. Following the final ceasefire in August 1973, the wing entered into intensive training program to maintain combat readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and intelligence missions. The 388th provided air cover and escort during the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and of Americans and selected Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, in April 1975. It also participated in the rescue of the crew and recovery of the SS Mayaguez, an American-flagged contained ship seized by Khmer Rouge forces, in May 1975.

The 388th ceased all aircraft operations in November 1975 and moved in without personnel or equipment in December 1975, replacing a holding unit-Detachment 1, 67th Combat Support Group. In January 1976, the wing began participation in training missions and numerous exercises in a variety of offensive tactical situations. It was the first wing to be equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, on 6 January 1979. During initial stages of conversion the wing trained F-16 instructor pilots and provided replacement training for new F-16 pilots. Thereafter the 388th trained for war readiness at U.S. and NATO locations. It won the USAF Worldwide Gunsmoke Fighter Gunnery Meet in 1987. It also deployed two squadrons to Southwest Asia for training and combat operations from 28 August 1990 – 27 March 1991. A number of wing aircraft deployed to Spain as attrition reserves from January–December 1991; later, deployed to Southwest Asia to protect Coalition assets and ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms beginning in December 1991.

Conducted and participated in various tactical exercises, in air-to-ground and air-to-air roles, worldwide. Routinely deployed operational elements to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH for the enforcement of no-fly zones over Iraq from 1992 to 2003.

On 22 June 2009 a single-seat F-16 from the wing's 421st Fighter Squadron on a training mission crashed in the Utah Test and Training Range. The pilot, Captain George Bryan Houghton, 28, was killed.^[1]

• Established as 388th Fighter-Day Wing on 23 March 1953

Redesignated 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 5 November 1953

Activated on 23 November 1953

Inactivated on 10 December 1957

• Redesignated 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 1 May 1962

Organized on 1 October 1962

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 February 1964

• Activated on 14 March 1966

Organized on 8 April 1966

Redesignated 388th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991

• Ninth Air Force, 23 November 1953
• Twelfth Air Force, 12 December 1954 – 10 December 1957
• Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1962
• Twelfth Air Force, 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• Pacific Air Forces, 14 March 1966
• Thirteenth Air Force, 8 April 1966

Attached to: Seventh Air Force, 8 April 1966 – 14 February 1973

Attached to: US Support Activities Group, Seventh Air Force, 15 February 1973-c. 30 June 1975

• 17th Air Division, 1 July 1975
• Twelfth Air Force, 23 December 1975–present

Groups

• 388th Fighter-Bomber (later, 388th Operations) Group: 23 November 1953 – 10 December 1957; 1 December 1991–present.

Assigned Squadrons

• 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 March 1973 – 15 December 1975
• 4th Tactical Fighter (later, 4th Fighter) Squadron: 23 December 1975 – 1 December 1991 (detached 28 August 1990 – 27 March 1991)
• 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 30 April 1972 – 22 May 1974
• 16th Tactical Fighter Training (later, 16th Tactical Fighter) Squadron: 1 January 1979 – 30 June 1986
• 17th Wild Weasel Squadron: 1 December 1971 – 15 November 1974
• 34th Tactical Fighter (later, 34th Fighter) Squadron: attached 15 May 1966 – 14 March 1971, assigned 15 March 1971 – 1 December 1991
• 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 25 April 1967 – 15 October 1969 (detached 10–15 October 1969)
• 421st Tactical Fighter (later, 421st Fighter) Squadron: 8 April 1966 – 25 April 1967; 23 December 1975 – 1 December 1991 (detached 9–23 August 1977 and 28 August 1990 – 27 March 1991)
• 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 8 April 1966 – 31 October 1972
• 553d Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 December 1970 – 31 December 1971
• 560th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• 561st Fighter-Bomber (later, 561st Tactical Fighter) Squadron: attached 1 July – 10 December 1957; assigned 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• 562d Fighter-Bomber (later, 562d Tactical Fighter) Squadron: attached 1 July – 10 December 1957; assigned 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• 563d Fighter-Bomber (later, 563d Tactical Fighter) Squadron: attached 1 July – 10 December 1957; assigned 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron: 1 November 1970 – 1 December 1971.

Attached Squadrons

• 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 15 May 1966 – 20 October 1967
• 16th Special Operations Squadron: attached 19 July 1974 – 8 December 1975
• 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached c. 12 June-c. 10 October 1972
• 42d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron: attached c. 21 September – 14 October 1970, assigned 15 October 1970 – 15 March 1974

• Clovis AFB, New Mexico, 23 November 1953 – 28 November 1954
• Étain-Rouvres Air Base, France, 12 December 1954 – 10 December 1957
• McConnell AFB, Kansas, 1 October 1962 – 8 February 1964
• Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 8 April 1966 – 23 December 1975
• Hill AFB, Utah, 23 December 1975–present

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• 388 FW Home Page
• 388th Bomb Group Database
• Official website of the 388th Bomb Group Association
• site about the 388th within 8th airforce

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