508th Strategic Fighter Wing

508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing
508th Fighter Group F-105 Thunderchief
Active	1944–1945; 1952–1956; 1973; 1975–1982; 2005–2010
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Aircraft Support
Part of	Air Force Material Command
Motto(s)	Knowledge and Courage
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lt Gen Gerald W. Johnson
Insignia
508th Aircraft Sustainment Wing emblem
508th Tactical Fighter Group emblem
508th Strategic Fighter Wing emblem (Approved 14 September 1952)

The 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It was activated in 2005, after being formed by the consolidation of two units in 1984.

The 508th Fighter Group was activated late in World War II. The group was designed as a long range fighter escort unit, but when Japanese fighter defenses weakened, the group instead provided air defense of the Hawaiian Islands and training for other fighter units in the Pacific. It was inactivated in late 1945 and its personnel and equipment were used to form the 15th Fighter Group. The group was redesignated the 508th Tactical Fighter Group and activated in the Air Force Reserve, in 1973. It trained pilots in fighter tactics until 1982, when its resources were used to form the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing.

The 508th Fighter Escort Wing was formed in Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1951 to provide fighter escort for SAC bombers and conduct long range penetration missions. It deployed to Japan to provide air defense of northern Japan and to fly escort missions for reconnaissance missions in the area. The wing was inactivated in 1956 and some of its personnel were used to form the cadre for the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. In January 1984, it was consolidated with the 508th Tactical Fighter Group.

The 508th Fighter Group was activated on 12 October 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado with the 466th, 467th and 468th Fighter Squadrons assigned as ifs first operational units. Its cadre moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho two weeks later to begin training. The group trained with late model Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft to provide very-long-range escort for Boeing B-29 Superfortresses in the Pacific Theater of Operations.