38th Combat Support Wing

38th Combat Support Wing
Royal Air Force cadets training with the wing's 38th Construction & Training Squadron
Active	1948–1949; 1953-1966; 1973-1975; 1985-1990; 1994-2000; 2004-2007
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Central support of dispersed units
Part of	United States Air Forces Europe
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
38th Combat Support Wing emblem (approved 4 November 20014)
Patch with 38th Tactical Missile Wing emblem (approved 11 December 1958)
38th Bombardment Wing emblem (approved 16 April 1954)

The 38th Combat Support Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany from 2004 until 2007. The mission of the wing was to enhance support to Third Air Force's geographically separated units.

The Wing was first activated in Japan in 1948 as the 38th Bombardment Wing. The wing served as a light bomber unit in Japan until 1949, when it was inactivated. It was activated again in Europe in 1953.

In 1958, the wing became the 38th Tactical Missile Wing and controlled Martin TM-61 Matador and Martin MGM-13 Mace missile units in Germany until it was inactivated in 1966.

Between 1972 and 1975 the wing was twice active as a flying training unit. It returned to the tactical missile mission in Europe until its missiles were withdrawn following the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. From 1990 to 1994, as the 38th Engineering Installation Wing it was responsible for the Air Force's in house design and installation of electronic equipment.

The unit was first established at Itami Airfield, Japan as the 38th Bombardment Wing, Light on 10 August 1948 when Far East Air Forces reorganized its units uner the wing base reorganization, in which combat groups and all supporting units on a base were assigned to a single wing. The 38th Bombardment Group, flying Douglas B-26 Invaders became its operational component. The wing assisted in the air defense of Japan and participated in tactical exercises. However, President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of combat units in the Air Force to 48, and the 38th was inactivated on 1 April 1949.