23d Wing | |
---|---|
Active | 1948–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | U.S. Air Force |
Type | Fighter |
Role | Close Air Support |
Size | 900 personnel A-10/OA-10 aircraft |
Garrison/HQ | Moody Air Force Base, Georgia |
Nickname(s) | Flying Tigers |
Engagements | China Offensive Western Pacific China Defensive India-Burma Liberation and Defense of Kuwait Defense of Saudi Arabia Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V Device |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
Col Thomas Kunkel |
Notable commanders |
Michael Dugan James V. Hartinger Bruce K. Holloway |
Insignia | |
23d Wing emblem (Approved 24 January 1957) |
The 23d Wing is a front-line United States Air Force Air Combat Command wing currently assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
The mission of the 23d Wing is to organize, train and employ combat-ready A-10, HC-130 and HH-60, as well as pararescuemen and force protection assets. It consists of approximately 6,100 military and civilian personnel, including geographically separated units (GSU) at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, MacDill AFB, Florida and the Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.
The 23d Wing consists of the following groups:
The 23d Fighter Wing was activated on 10 August 1948 at Northwest Guam AFB, Guam as part of the "Wing" or "Wing-Base" plan, which prescribed a standard organizational setup for all USAF bases worldwide. The plan called for the creation of a wing headquarters that established policy and supervised four functional groups: an operational group, an air base group, a maintenance and supply group, and a medical group. The 23d Fighter Group was assigned as the operational group under the new 23d Fighter Wing. The wing was assigned to Far East Air Forces.
The 23d's mission on Guam was to provide air defense of the island. The 23d Fighter Group was assigned the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons, being equipped with Republic F-47 Thunderbolts.
The 23d Fighter Wing was reassigned to Howard Air Force Base, Canal Zone, in April 1949, where it also acquired a squadron of Lockheed RF-80 Shooting Stars. The 23d Fighter Wing conducted air defense of the Canal Zone under the Caribbean Air Command until it was again inactivated on 24 September 1949.