474th Fighter-Bomber Wing
474th Tactical Fighter Wing
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| Active | 1952–1954; 1957–1989 |
| Country |
 United States
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| Branch |
 United States Air Force
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| Role | Fighter |
| Engagements |
Korean War Vietnam War |
| Decorations |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
James B. Davis Chuck Horner |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 474th Tactical Fighter Wing emblem (approved 14 November 1958) |  |
The 474th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada where it trained combat-ready aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute fighter attacks against enemy forces and facilities in time of crisis. During its operational lifetime, the 474th was engaged in combat operations during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The 474th TFW was inactivated on 30 September 1989.
Activated in Japan and moved the same day to South Korea with tactical components to begin combat operations. Tactical components were detached on 1 April 1953, while the rest of the wing reduced to "paper" status, a condition which prevailed until the wing inactivated in 1954.
Activated in the United States in October 1957 and until mid-September 1964 maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations, deploying components, aircraft, and crews on a global basis in support of NATO, PACAF, AAC, and other organizations. Deployed three squadrons to southeastern United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The entire wing, except for a deployed squadron in Southeast Asia, reverted to "paper" status on 15 September 1965, the single detached squadron being reduced to "paper" status upon its return to the United States.
On 20 January 1968 the wing moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, giving the base an operational tactical fighter wing, assigned to Twelfth Air Force. With the move to Nellis, the 474th Combat Support Group became the base operating host unit.
The 474th became the first USAF operational wing equipped with the General Dynamics F-111. In early 1968, the Air Force decided to rush a small detachment of F-111As to Southeast Asia under a program known as "Combat Lancer". Six 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111As were allocated to the Combat Lancer program, and departed Nellis for Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base on 15 March 1968. By the end of that month, 55 night missions had been flown against targets in North Vietnam, but two aircraft had been lost. 66-0022 had been lost on March 28, and 66-0017 on March 30. Replacement aircraft had left Nellis, but the loss of a third F-111A (66-0024) on April 22 halted F-111A combat operations. However, the aircraft remained poised for combat, but they saw little action before their return to the USA in November.
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Wikipedia