| Revision as of 22:40, 10 January 2013 editBuckshot06 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users132,968 edits →Units: reinsert long vandalised data← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:42, 10 January 2013 edit undoBuckshot06 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users132,968 edits RV good faith edit- no article on group, thus it goes at the wing articleNext edit → | ||
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| ===Lackland Training Center=== | ===Lackland Training Center=== | ||
| A year later, the '''37th Training Wing''' was activated at ], Texas, on 1 July 1993 as a non-flying organization to conduct all Air Force ]. | A year later, the '''37th Training Wing''' was activated at ], Texas, on 1 July 1993 as a non-flying organization to conduct all Air Force ]. | ||
| On 4 November 2009, Colonel Joseph Romano, commander of the wing's 37th Training Group, was convicted by an Italian court of kidnapping ] as part of the ] and sentenced to five years in prison. Romano was also ordered to pay 1 million Euros to Nasr and 500,000 Euros to Nasr's wife.<ref>Barry, Colleen (Associated Press), "", '']'', 4 November 2009.</ref> | |||
| ===Lineage=== | ===Lineage=== | ||
Revision as of 22:42, 10 January 2013
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| 37th Training Wing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 February 1940–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Type | Training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Lackland Air Force Base |
| Decorations |  PUC  AFOUA  RVGC w/ Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Eric Axelbank |
| Notable commanders | Joseph Ashy Gabriel P. Disosway |
The 37th Training Wing (37 TRW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
The 37th TRW provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and allies.
Its four primary training functions graduate more than 86,000 students annually.
As of 6 June 2011, the commander of the 37th Training Wing is Colonel Eric Axelbank.
Units
The 37th Training Group is made up of 1,600 personnel from all four military services. The group conducts professional and technical training to more than 36,000 military and civilians in the armed forces, international community, and other federal agencies.
The 937th Training Group is the Air Force component of the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
In addition, the 37th Training Wing staff agencies provide a variety of support services for wing and tenant units at Lackland AFB.
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History
World War II
The 37th Pursuit Group was originally activated at Albrook Army Airfield, Panama Canal Zone on 1 February 1940. During the early years of World War II, the unit was part of the Panama Canal defense force. It was inactivated on 1 November 1943.
Cold War
The 37th Fighter-Bomber Wing was established on 3 March 1953 and activated on 8 April 1953 at Clovis AFB, New Mexico. It was neither manned or equipped and was inactivated on 25 June 1953.
Vietnam War
On 1 March 1967, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated in place at Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam to become the host unit. The 37th TFW received its manpower and equipment from various units transferred from the United States and elsewhere, and tactical operations did not commence until mid-April. The newly-formed wing was assigned to Seventh Air Force.
Its attached squadrons were:
- 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 April 1967 – 27 May 1969 (F-100D/F Tail Code: HE)
- Det 1, 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 8 June 1967 – 13 April 1969 (F-100D/F Tail Code: HS)
The 416th TFS was deployed from the 3d TFW at Bien Hoa AB, Det 1, 612th TFS from the 35th TFW at Phan Rang AB. On 15 April, the 37TFW began combat operations with strikes by 416TFS (F-100D aircraft) en route from Bien Hoa Air Base to their new home. On 8 June, Det 1., 612th TFS began operations, also after flying a mission en route from their former home at Phan Rang Air Base. By 28 February 1968, the 37th TFW squadrons completed 18,000 combat hours and 13,000 combat sorties without a major aircraft accident.
In the spring of 1968, the two squadrons of the 37th TFW were augmented by two additional squadrons deployed from the United States:
- 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 14 May 1968 – 11 May 1969 (Iowa ANG) (F-100C/F Tail Code: HA)
- 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 3 February 1968 – 15 May 1969 (F-100D/F Tail Code: HP)
The 174th TFS was federalized Air National Guard personnel and aircraft from the 185th Tactical Fighter Group of the Iowa ANG at Sioux City MAP; the 355th TFS was deployed from the 354th TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB South Carolina. The wing was then composed of four F-100 combat squadrons with approximately 90 aircraft being assigned.
As 355th TFS personnel completed their TDY that same month the personnel and aircraft returned to Myrtle Beach AFB. They were replaced by Air National Guardsmen from New Jersey and Washington DC, who were manning Myrtle Beach at the time. These newly deployed personnel were sent to Tuy Hoa Air Base along with their F-100 D/F aircraft.
In the spring of 1969, the 416th TFS and its F-100s were transferred to Tuy Hoa Air Base, while Det 1., 612th TFS was returned to the 35th TFW, now at Phan Rang Air Base. Two F-4D squadrons were transferred from Da Nang Air Base replaced them:
- 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 April 1969 – 31 March 1970 (F-4D Tail Code: HK)
- 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 June 1969 – 31 March 1970 (F-4D Tail Code: HB)
The US withdrawals from Vietnam continued during 1970, resulting in the inactivation of 37th TFW at Phu Cat AB on 31 March.
George AFB
When reactivated in 1981 the 37th gained assets of 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, California.
The wing's mission was pilot transition training to the F-4G Phantom II "Wild Weasel" radar suppression aircraft. As the only "Wild Weasel" training wing in the world, it provided instructor pilots and qualified aircrews for the other two "Wild Weasel" wings in the Philippines and West Germany. As part of the training mission, the wing participated in numerous tactical, maritime, and electronic warfare exercises locally and worldwide in hunter/killer tactics, suppression of enemy air defenses, force escort operations and dissimilar air combat training with US Armed Forces Air National Guard and Reserves, and various allies. Wing aircrews and ground personnel won the United States Air Force Worldwide Fighter gunnery meet in 1985 and 1987.
In 1988, George AFB was scheduled in the first round of base closures passed by Congress under the Base Realignment and Closure program. On 5 October 1989, the 37th TFW turned over F-4G aircraft to the host 35th TFW at George AFB.
Tonopah Test Range Airport
On 5 October 1989 the 4450th Tactical Group at Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada was re-designated the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in a name-only transfer. The 37th TFW absorbed the manpower, equipment, and the world's first Stealth fighter, the F-117 Nighthawk.
The 4450th's subordinate F-117 squadrons were re-designated as follows:
- 4450th Tactical Squadron (Nightstalkers-Atlantic) ---> 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Nightstalkers)
- 4451st Tactical Squadron (Grim Reapers-Pacific) ---> 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Ghostriders)
- 4453d Tactical Evaluation Squadron (Bandits) ---> 417th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron ("Bandits").
These had been the designations of the first Army Air Force night-fighter squadron designations during World War II. The wing trained to integrate stealth technology with more conventional methods of combat operations.
Operation Just Cause
The 37th dropped the first bombs in invasion of Panama on 20 December 1989.
In early 1988, Panama's military dictator, Gen. Manuel Noriega, had been indicted by two Florida grand juries on charges of laundering drug money. He laughed off the charges and dismissed Panama's president in February. During the May 1989 presidential election campaign, Noriega's "Dignity Battalion" goon squad beat up opposition candidate Guillermo Endara. Endara won the election, but on October 1, Noriega prevented him from taking office. Two days later, a coup attempt was made but collapsed when loyalist Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) rescued Noriega. The coup leaders were executed the following day. On December 15, Noriega declared a state of war between the United States and Panama. The following evening, PDF soldiers killed a marine lieutenant and arrested a navy lieutenant. The Lieutenant and his wife had witnessed the shooting. The officer was beaten and his wife was threatened with sexual abuse.
In response to these events, President George H. W. Bush issued orders to invade Panama. One of the targets was the Battalion 2000 barracks at Rio Hato Airfield. United States Army Rangers were to be dropped at the adjoining airfield. The PDF troops would have to be neutralized before the airdrop. Army Lt. Gen. Carl W. Stiner, the XVIII Airborne Corps commander, requested F-117As be used. The F-117s would not bomb the two barracks, but rather the 2,000-pound LBGs with time-delay fuzes would be directed to aim points near the buildings. They would act as "a giant stun grenade," to confuse the PDF troops without killing them. The use of F-117As was based on their night-bombing accuracy, rather than stealth, as the PDF lacked heavy air defenses.
On the night of December 19, 1989, six F-117As from the 415th TFS took off from TTR Airport. The flight would require five in-flight refuelings. Two of the planes were targeted on Rio Hato Airfield, two more were to provide support for an attempt to capture Noriega, and the final pair were in-flight spares should any of the others suffer malfunctions. As the two F-117As approached the release point, a moment of confusion occurred that would mar their debut. The original plan was for the lead plane to drop its bomb in a field near the barracks on the left, while his wingman would drop his bomb in a field near a barracks on the right. Just before the drop, the wind direction changed. One bomb, intended to land about 100 yards from the 7th Company barracks, actually landed 260 yards away. This was only 18 yards from the 6th Company barracks, which was too close. The other bomb impacted near a basketball court, about 40 yards farther from the barracks than intended.
Despite these problems, the explosions caused the desired confusion. Initial reports spoke of PDF soldiers running around in their underwear, while others threw down their weapons. Several Rangers were killed in the subsequent firefight, but the airfield was taken and U.S. aircraft were landing within two hours.
Lackland Training Center
A year later, the 37th Training Wing was activated at Lackland Training Center, Texas, on 1 July 1993 as a non-flying organization to conduct all Air Force basic military training.
On 4 November 2009, Colonel Joseph Romano, commander of the wing's 37th Training Group, was convicted by an Italian court of kidnapping Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr as part of the Imam rapito affair and sentenced to five years in prison. Romano was also ordered to pay 1 million Euros to Nasr and 500,000 Euros to Nasr's wife.
Lineage
- Constituted as 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939.
- Inactivated 1 February 1940.
- Redesignated 37th Fighter Group in May 1942.
- Disbanded 1 November 1943.
- Established as 37th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 3 March 1953.
- Activated on 8 April 1953.
- Inactivated on 25 June 1953.
- Redesignated 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 26 October 1966.
- Organized on 1 March 1967
- Inactivated on 31 March 1970
- Activated on 30 March 1981
- Redesignated 37th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991
- Inactivated on 8 July 1992.
- Redesignated 37th Training Wing, and activated, on 1 July 1993.
Assignments
- 19th Wing, 1 February 1940
- Panama Canal Air Force, 19 November 1940
- Redesignated: Caribbean Air Force. 5 August 1941
- XXVI Fighter Command, 18 September 1942 – 1 November 1943
- Ninth Air Force, 8 April – 25 June 1953
- Pacific Air Forces, 26 October 1966
- Seventh Air Force, 1 March 1967 – 31 March 1970
- 831st Air Division, 30 March 1981
- Twelfth Air Force, 5 October 1989 – 8 July 1992
- Second Air Force, 1 July 1993–present
Components
Group
- 37th Fighter-Bomber (later, 37th Operations): 8 April – 25 June 1953; 1 November 1991 – 8 July 1992
Squadron
- 28th Fighter Squadron: 1 February 1940 – 1 November 1943
- 30th Fighter Squadron: 1 February 1940 – 1 November 1943; 28 April – 25 June 1953
- 31st Fighter Squadron: 1 February 1940 – 1 November 1943
- 174th Fighter Squadron: 14 May 1968 – 11 May 1969
- 355th Fighter Squadron: attached 3 February – 4 July 1968, assigned 5 July 1968 – 15 May 1969
- 389th Fighter Squadron: 15 June 1969 – 31 March 1970
- 415th Fighter Squadron: 5 October 1989 – 1 November 1991
- 416th Fighter Squadron: 15 April 1967 – 27 May 1969; 5 October 1989-1 November 1991
- 417th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (later, 417th Fighter): 5 October 1989 – 1 November 1991
- 480th Fighter Squadron: 15 April 1969 – 31 March 1970
- 561st Fighter Squadron: 30 March 1981 – 5 October 1989
- 562d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 30 March 1981 – 5 October 1989
- 563d Fighter Squadron 30 March 1981 – 5 October 1989.
Detachment
- Det 1., 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 June 1967 – 13 April 1969.
Bases Assigned
- Albrook AAfld., Panama Canal Zone (1940–1943)
- Howard AAfld, Panama Canal Zone (1943)
- Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico (1953) (Inactive)
- Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam (1967–1970)
- George Air Force Base, California (1981–1989)
- Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada (1989–1992)
- Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (1993–present)
Aircraft Operated
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1940–1943)
- F-100 Super Sabre (1967–1969)
- F-4 Phantom II (1969–1970, 1981–1989)
- F-117 Nighthawk (1989–1992)
- T-38 Talon (1989–1992)
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Barry, Colleen (Associated Press), "Italy convicts Air Force O-6 in CIA kidnap case", Military Times, 4 November 2009.
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
External links
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 Air Education and Training Command (AETC) | ||
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 USAAF Sixth Air Force in World War II | |||||||||||||||
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| Previously: Panama Canal Air Force (1940-1941); Caribbean Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||||||||
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