1st Fighter Wing

1st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. The wing is stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and is equipped with the F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor. The 1st Fighter Wing has a long history, dating back to World War II, and has participated in numerous operations, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, alongside units such as the 4th Fighter Wing, 20th Fighter Wing, and 325th Fighter Wing. The wing has also worked closely with other branches of the military, including the United States Navy, United States Army, and United States Marine Corps, as well as international partners like the Royal Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces.

● History

The 1st Fighter Wing has its roots in World War II, when it was activated as the 1st Fighter Group in 1942 at March Field, California. The group was initially equipped with the P-38 Lightning and later with the P-51 Mustang, and saw action in the European Theater of Operations, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Normandy, alongside units such as the 8th Air Force, 9th Air Force, and 12th Air Force. After the war, the group was inactivated and later reactivated as the 1st Fighter Wing in 1956 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. The wing has since been stationed at several bases, including Hamilton Air Force Base, California, and MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and has participated in numerous operations, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Southern Watch, with support from units like the 363d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing and 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

● Organization

The 1st Fighter Wing is composed of several squadrons, including the 27th Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter Squadron, and 94th Fighter Squadron, which are equipped with the F-22 Raptor and F-15 Eagle. The wing is also home to the 1st Operations Group, 1st Maintenance Group, and 1st Mission Support Group, which provide support for the wing's operations, including logistics and intelligence support from units like the Air Force Logistics Command and National Security Agency. The wing is commanded by a brigadier general and has a staff of several hundred personnel, including pilots, maintainers, and administrators, who work closely with other units, such as the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 55th Wing.

● Operations

The 1st Fighter Wing has participated in numerous operations, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, alongside units such as the 4th Fighter Wing, 20th Fighter Wing, and 325th Fighter Wing. The wing has also provided support for homeland defense and disaster relief operations, including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, with support from units like the North American Aerospace Defense Command and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The wing's aircraft have been deployed to several locations, including Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and have worked closely with international partners like the Royal Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces.

● Lineage

The 1st Fighter Wing has a long and distinguished lineage, dating back to World War II. The wing's predecessor, the 1st Fighter Group, was activated in 1942 and saw action in the European Theater of Operations, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Normandy, alongside units such as the 8th Air Force, 9th Air Force, and 12th Air Force. The group was inactivated after the war and later reactivated as the 1st Fighter Wing in 1956, with support from units like the Tactical Air Command and Strategic Air Command. The wing has since been stationed at several bases and has participated in numerous operations, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Southern Watch, with support from units like the 363d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing and 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

● Assignments

The 1st Fighter Wing has been assigned to several major commands, including Tactical Air Command, Strategic Air Command, and Air Combat Command. The wing has also been assigned to several numbered air forces, including the 9th Air Force, 12th Air Force, and 19th Air Force, and has worked closely with other units, such as the 4th Fighter Wing, 20th Fighter Wing, and 325th Fighter Wing. The wing is currently assigned to Air Combat Command and is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it works closely with units like the Air Force Space Command and Air Force Special Operations Command.

● Stations

The 1st Fighter Wing has been stationed at several bases, including March Field, California, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The wing has also been deployed to several locations, including Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and has worked closely with international partners like the Royal Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces. The wing's current home is Langley Air Force Base, where it is co-located with the Air Combat Command headquarters and works closely with units like the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 55th Wing.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States