34th Bombardment Group
34th Training Wing
 |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Active | 1941–1945; 1963–1965; 1994–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Role | Military Training |
| Part of | United States Air Force Academy |
| Garrison/HQ | Air Force Academy, Colorado |
| Nickname(s) | Vigilantes (Vietnam War) |
| Motto(s) | Valor to Victory |
| Mascot(s) | The Bird |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brig Gen Stephen C. Williams |
| Notable commanders |
Patrick K. Gamble Susan Y. Desjardins |
| Insignia | |
| 34th Training Wing emblem (approved 4 November 1941) |  |
| Unofficial 34th Tactical Group emblem |  |
| World War II Tail Code | Square S |
The 34th Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The commander of the 34th Training Wing is "dual-hatted" as the Commandant of Cadets at the Academy.
The wing was first activated in 1941 as the 34th Bombardment Group. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group briefly participated in antisubmarine patrols. During most of 1942 and 1943, the group acted as a heavy bomber training unit. In early 1944, the unit began preparations to move overseas. It served with Eighth Air Force in England, from April 1944 until the end of the war, converting form the Consolidated B-24 Liberator to the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in the middle of combat operations. It returned to the United States after VE Day and was inactivated in August 1945.
The 34th Tactical Group was activated in the early days of American participation in the Vietnam War. It trained Republic of Vietnam Air Force airmen and engaged in combat operations and the operational testing of weapons and munitions until 1965, when the increasing American involvement in Vietnam caused it to be replaced by the larger 6251st Tactical Fighter Wing.
In 1984 the 34th Bombardment Group and the 34th Tactical Group were consolidated into a single unit. The consolidated unit was redesignated the 34th Training Wing and activated in 1994 at the United States Air Force Academy, where it has served the Commandant of Cadets as the military training arm of the academy.
The mission of the 34th Training Wing is to educate and train potential United States Air Force officers as the administrative organization responsible for cadet leadership and military training programs, instruction in military and airmanship courses, and general supervision of cadet life activities.
...
Wikipedia