52nd Fighter Wing emblem (Approved 10 May 1951)[1][note 1]
Military unit
General Dynamics F-16C Block 50D Fighting Falcon 91-0361 taxiing out from at Tab-Vee at Spangdahlem on 20 March 2011 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn
In concert with USAFE wings at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the 52nd Fighter Wing directly supports the strategic mobility mission once conducted at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. The wing provides logistics support for C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy aircraft, crew, passengers and cargo to sustain air mobility operations throughout Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. The 52nd Fighter Wing also supports USAFE's Joint Fires Center of Excellence, whose mission is to conduct joint and combined training focused on the effective integration and application of tactical fires.
Subordinate organizations
The wing is authorized for about 5,000 service members and civilians. The wing is organized with five groups responsible for operations, maintenance, mission support and medical operations, and has headquarters staff.
52nd TFW Wild Weasel-team in the late 1980s fly by Hohenzollern Castle.2nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, 1965 firing an MB-1 Genie air-to-air missile.
Established as the 52nd Fighter Wing, All Weather, on 10 May 1948, the wing served in the United States as an air defense unit in the northeastern United States from 1947 until the end of 1968.[8]
The 52nd was reactivated on 18 August 1955 and designated 52nd Fighter Group (Air Defense). It was assigned to Air Defense Command and equipped with North American F-86 Sabre aircraft. It served once more as an air defense unit in the southeastern United States.
In December 1971, it became the host wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and inherited tactical squadrons from the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at nearby Bitburg Air Base. The wing participated in numerous tactical exercises, operations, and tests of USAFE and NATO and provided close air support, interdiction, and base defense operations. It operated with other NATO forces in frequent "squadron exchange" programs and hosted US-based units on temporary duty in Europe. In January 1973, a Wild Weasel defense suppression mission was added. After October 1985, using the F-4 Phantom II model aircraft, defense suppression became the wing's sole tactical mission. In 1987, the 52nd acquired F-16 Falcons and became the first wing to integrate F-16Cs with F-4Gs to form hunter/killer teams within individual fighter squadrons.
It deployed aircraft and personnel to strategic locations in Saudi Arabia and Turkey in support of the liberation of Kuwait from September 1990 – March 1993. Near the end of 1992, it began receiving A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. It received F-15 Eagles in 1994 but lost its F-4Gs. In January and December 1999, the wing supported Operations Northern Watch, Allied Force, and Decisive Forge with numerous deployments to Italy and Turkey.
Twenty-first century
Following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon in the United States on 11 September 2001, the 52nd Fighter Wing began preparations for possible combat tasking. Within one month the wing had deployed people and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in and around Afghanistan. The 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron began flying operations at a deployed location in support of the war on terrorism within 100 hours of tasking notification.
Personnel assigned to the 52nd FW continued to deploy for Operation Enduring Freedom circa 2020.
In April 2010 the wing's strength was reduced by one third. Twenty F-16Cs were flown to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, one F-16 was transferred to Edwards Air Force Base, California. All aircraft were from the 22nd Fighter Squadron.[9] As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron.[10]
On 18 June 2013, the 81st Fighter Squadron was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany. The inactivation marked the end of A-10 operations in Europe at that time.[11]
In December 2014, the wing commander, Col. Peter Bilodeau, who had commanded the wing for six months, was relieved of his command for "a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership."[12] His deputy served as commander until Col. McFall took command.[13][12]
On 1 April 2017, the 606th Air Control Squadron, Detachment 1 was inactivated at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany following the relocation to Aviano Air Base, Italy.
Lineage
Established as 52nd Fighter Wing, All Weather, on 10 May 1948
Activated on 9 June 1948
Redesignated 52nd Fighter-All Weather Wing on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 52nd Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 6 February 1952, personnel and subordinate units assigned to 4709th Air Defense Wing.
Redesignated 52nd Fighter Wing (Air Defense), and activated, on 11 April 1963
Organized on 1 July 1963
Inactivated on 30 September 1968
Redesignated 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing on 12 November 1971
Activated on 31 December 1971
Redesignated: 52nd Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991.
^The emblem was updated 3 December 1996. It was originally approved for the 52nd Fighter-Interceptor Group on 11 January 1951. Robertson, Factsheet 52 Fighter Wing. Its heraldic description is "Quarterly per fess nebuly, first and fourth argent, each charged with a dagger in pale point downward gules, hilt and pommel of the same, grip or; second quarter azure; third quarter, sable." Maurer, p. 115.
^Gradishar, A1C Kali L. (26 April 2010). "F-16 drawdown to begin". 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Ivie, Tom and Paul Ludwig. Spitfires and Yellow Tail Mustangs: The 52d Fighter Group in World War 2. Crowborough, East Sussex, UK: Hikoki Publications, 2005. ISBN1-902109-43-0.
United States of America
United States Air Force
