419th Fighter Wing

419th Fighter Wing
419th Fighter Wing - General Dynamics F-16C Block 30J Fighting Falcon 87-340
Active	27 June 1949-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Fighter
Size	approximately 1,400 personnel
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Hill Air Force Base, Utah
Tail Code	Black Tail Stripe/Yellow Diamonds "HI"
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel David Smith
Current vice-commander	Colonel Al Hawley
Current command chief	Chief Master Sergeant Elizabeth P. Atisme
Insignia
419th Fighter Wing emblem
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-16C Fighting Falcon

The 419th Fighter Wing (419 FW) is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

The 419th FW is an associate unit of the 388th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command (ACC) and if mobilized the wing is gained by ACC.

The mission of the wing is to Fly, Fight and Win. To accomplish that mission, the wing trains and equips an F-16 squadron to be capable of worldwide mobility to perform a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground fighter missions. 419th members are trained in a variety of specialties to include operations, maintenance, civil engineering, security, supply, transportation and communications.

The wing was the last wing to fly F-105 aircraft, and in early 1984 was the first Air Force Reserve wing to fly F-16s. Personnel of the 419th deploy periodically for contingencies and training exercises, some overseas. Some 350 members were deployed December 1994 through February 1995 to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey to patrol the no-fly zone over northern Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort II.

The 419th Fighter Wing is divided into three subordinate groups which supervise nine squadrons and four flights. Additionally, the wing oversees a medical squadron that reports directly to the commander. Several staff agencies such as plans, safety, quality, financial management, public affairs and the legal office form the wing commander’s headquarters section staff.

The 419th Group trained in the Reserve for troop carrier operations from 1949 to 1951.

The Air Force Reserve has maintained a flying mission at Hill Air Force Base for more than 45 years. When activated in March 1947, the 419th Group was earmarked to control seven Reserve units, the first of which was a rescue squadron.

During a two-year period, the 419th Group gained several components, spanning five separate locations and three Air Force organizations. Group pilots trained until March 1951 when training ceased and the entire 419th prepared for entry into active service. Activated in July 1956 as a component of the Regular Air Force, the group and its three squadrons trained in C-123 Provider assault airlift operations.