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63d Fighter Wing
111th Fighter Squadron, F-51D Mustang 44-73656, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, 1948
Active1942–1945; 1946–1950
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeWing
RoleCommand and Control
Part ofTexas Air National Guard
EngagementsWorld War II

The 63d Fighter Wing (63 FW) is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. It was withdrawn from the Texas Air National Guard (TX ANG) and inactivated on October 11, 1950.

This wing is not related to the 63d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, or subsequent units that was constituted on May 10,1949 and activated on June 27,1949.

History

The wing was first organized as a command and control organization for Twelfth Air Force during World War II. It was deployed to Algeria in January 1943, and initially used to organize air defense units. It was transferred to XII Fighter Command and controlled fighter groups engaged in escort, patrol, strafing, and reconnaissance missions against enemy forces in North Africa. Later moved to Italy and a participant in the Italian Campaign, the Rhone Valley Campaign in Southern France, and finally the Western Allied Invasion of Germany in the spring of 1945. The 63d Fighter Wing was finally inactivated in November 1945.

The wing was allocated to the Texas Air National Guard for command and control origination for units in the South Central region (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana) of the United States. It was extended federal recognition and activated on May 24,1946.

In October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Texas ANG and was inactivated on October 31,1950. Its assigned units were federalized as a result of the Korean War and assigned to USAF Major Commands.

Lineage, assignments, and components

Re-designated 63d Fighter Wing in July 1943
Inactivated on 11 December 1945.
Extended federal recognition and activated on 23 May 1948
Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force, on 31 October 1950

Assignments

Components

World War II

Texas Air National Guard

Stations

References

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

  • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
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