3RD WING

The United States Air Force's '3rd Wing' is the host wing for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It is the largest and principal organization in the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force.

Mission

The mission of the 3d Wing is to support and defend U.S. interests in the region and around the world by providing units who are ready for worldwide air power projection and a base that is capable of meeting PACOM's theater staging and throughput requirements.
the 3rd Wing provides air superiority and defense for Alaska. The wing supports the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region mission and flexible alert concept by deploying aircraft and crews to Galena and King Salmon airports periodically. These forward operating bases allow the F-15s a quicker response time on identifying aircraft approaching North American airspace. At Elmendorf, the aircraft stand alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition, the 3rd Wing supports Pacific Air Forces in the Pacific Command area of responsibility.

Units Assigned

The 3d Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs Aircraft and Aircraft support equipment maintenance. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. While the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.

'3rd Operations Group' (Tail Code: AK) ★ 3rd Operations Support Squadron ★ 19th Fighter Squadron (F-15C/D) ★ 90th Fighter Squadron (F-22A) ★ 517th Airlift Squadron (C-17, C-12) ★ 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron (E-3) ★ 525th Fighter Squadron (Coming soon- F-22A) '3rd Maintenance Group' ★ 3rd Air Maintenance Squadron ★ 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron ★ 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron ★ 3rd Maintenance Operations Squadron ★ 703rd Air Maintenance Squadron 'Wing Staff Agencies'	'3rd Mission Support Group' ★ 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron ★ 3rd Communications Squadron ★ 3rd Contracting Squadron ★ 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron ★ 3rd Mission Support Squadron ★ 3rd Security Forces Squadron ★ 3rd Services Squadron '3rd Medical Group' ★ 3rd Aerospace Medical Squadron ★ 3rd Dental Squadron ★ 3rd Medical Operations Squadron ★ 3rd Medical Support Squadron

The 3d Wing operates the F-22 Raptor, F-15C/D Eagle, E-3 Sentry, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-12F Huron.

History

Lineage

Pre-World War II ★ 'U.S. Army Surveillance Group', 1 July 1919 ★ '1st Surveillance Group', 5 August 1919 ★ '3d Group (Attack)', 15 September 1921 ★ '3d Attack Group', 25 January 1923 ★ '3d Bombardment Group (Light)', 15 September 1939 United States Army Air Forces ★ '3d Bombardment Group (Dive)', 28 September 1942 ★ '3d Bombardment Group (Light)', 25 May 1943	United States Air Force ★ '3d Bombardment Wing, (Light)' ★ ★ , 18 August 1948 ★ '3d Bombardment Wing, (Tactical)', 1 October 1955 ★ '3d Tactical Fighter Wing', 8 January 1964 ★ '3d Wing', 19 December 1991

'Note:
★
★ ' USAF 3d Bombardment Wing was bestowed lineage, history and honors of USAAF 3d Bombardment Group, 1952.

Bases Assigned

Pre-World War II ★ Kelly Field, Texas, (1919), (1921-1926) ★ Ft Bliss, Texas, (1919 - 1921) ★ Ft Crockett, TX, (1926 - 1935) ★ Barksdale Field, Louisiana, (1935 - 1940) ★ Savannah Airfield, Georgia, (1940 - 1942) United States Army Air Forces ★ Brisbane, Australia, (1942) ★ Charters Towers, Australia, (1942 - 1943) ★ Port Moresby, New Guinea, (1943) ★ Dobodura, New Guinea, (1943 - 1944) ★ Nadzab, New Guinea, (1944) ★ Hollandia, New Guinea, (1944) ★ Dulag, Leyte, Philippines, (1944) ★ San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, (1944 - 1945) ★ Okinawa, (1945) ★ Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan, (1945 - 1946)	United States Air Force ★ Yokota AB, Japan, (1946 - 1950), (1960 - 1964) ★ Johnson AB, Japan, (1950), (1954 - 1960) ★ Iwakuni AB, Japan, (1950 - 1951) ★ Kunsan AB, South Korea, (1951 - 1954), (1971 - 1974) ★ England AFB, Louisiana, (1964 - 1965) ★ Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, (1965 - 1971) ★ Clark AB, Philippines, (1974 - 1991) ★ Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, (1991 - Present)

Aircraft Flown

B-26, 1948-1950, 1950-1956; F-15 Reporter, 1949; RF-80, 1949-1950; C-47, 1951; B-57, 1956-1963; RB-50, 1960-1961; KB-50, 1960-1962; C-130, 1961-1962. 1992-; F-102, 1961-1962; F-100, 1964-1970; F-5, 1965-1967. 1977-1988; A-1, 1965-1966; U-10, 1965-1966; C/AC/HC-47, 1965-1966; A-37, 1967-1970; F-4, 1971-1974, 1974-1991; T-33, 1974-1987; C-9, 1974-1975; CH-3, 1974-1975; T-38, 1976-1980; C-130H, 1972-2007; UH-1, 1991; F-15, 1991-; C-12, 1992-; E-3, 1993-; C-17 Globemaster III, 2007-; F-22 Raptor, 2007-.

Overview

The United States Army Air Service emerged from World War I with three distinct missions, pursuit, bomber, and attack/observation. These organizations became today's 1st Fighter Wing, 2d Bomb Wing, and 3rd Wing. Including squadrons active in World War I (the 19th and 90th Fighter Squadrons) the 3d wing and its organizations have participated in virtually every major U.S. conflict of the 20th century.
As the first organized attack group to form within the Army Air Service, the '3rd Attack Group' was instrumental in developing close air support doctrine in the inter-war period. The group pioneered dive bombing, skip-bombing, and parafrag attacks in the 1920s--the earliest forms of precision guided attack from aircraft--and put this work to good use in World War II.
Notable alumni include General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, General Jimmy Doolittle, General Lewis Brereton, General Richard Ellis, General John "Jock" Henebry, General Paul I. "Pappy" Gunn, and General Nathan Twining.
As an attack bomber group during World War II and the Korean War, the wing was honored by the selfless service of two posthumous Medal of Honor recipients, Major Raymond H. Wilkins and Captain John S. Walmsley.

Interwar Years

Curtiss A-12 Shrike Serial 33-229 of the 13th Attack Squadron.

Northrup A-17A Serial 36-207 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It was assigned to the 90th Attack Squadron (1937-40). It is the only A-17A known to exist.

The USAF '3rd Group/Wing', in one form or another, has served the United States on a continuing basis since its activation as the 'U.S. Army Surveillance Group' on 1 July 1919. Initially the group used Airco DH-4B's to patrol the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Nogales, Arizona as revolution and disorder had broken out in Mexico, resulting in border violations and the killing of American citizens.
Operational squadrons of the 3d Group during the interwar years were
★
★
★ :

★ 8th (assigned 1919)

★ 13th (assigned November 1929)

★ 90th (assigned 1919)
The unit was redesignated as the '3d Attack Group' in 1921. and participated in maneuvers, tested new equipment, experimented with tactics, flew in aerial reviews, patrolled the United States–Mexico border (1929), and carried Airmail (1934) flying a wide variety of biplanes (DH-4, XB-1A, GA-1, A-3).
In 1935, the group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, as part of the '3d Wing, General Headquarters Air Force'. The wing was composed of the '3rd Attack Group' (8th, 13th, & 90th Attack Squadrons) and the '20th Pursuit Group' (55th, 77th & 79th Pursuit Squadrons). Aircraft assigned to the group were the Curtiss A-12 Shrike in 1935 and the Northrup A-17/A-17A Nomad in 1937
In 1936, some A-12s were transferred to Wheeler Field, Hawaii, and later reassigned to Hickam Field, Hawaii. The commander of the 3rd Attack Group at this time was Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickam, who was killed on November 5, 1934, when the A-12 he was piloting (33-250) crashed while landing at Fort Crockett, Texas. Hickam Field was named in his honor. Some A-12s were still at Hickam Field on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked, however, none of the aircraft saw any combat. The A-12 was withdrawn from service soon after.
The A-17s were was fairly fast and had a fairly heavy forward-firing armament for its time, and during 1938-39 war games it was deemed to be the most effective ground attack aircraft yet devised. However the career of the A-17 with the Army was quite brief. After only three years of service with the Army, the A-17As were declared surplus In 1940, the unit was redesignated as the '3rd Bombardment Group (Light)', being reequipped with the Boeing B-18 Bolo and B-12 bombers and reassigned to Savannah Airfield, Georgia.

'Note:
★
★
★ ' The '8th Aero Squadron' was organized on 21 June 1917; the '13th Aero Squadron' on 14 June 1917, and the '90th Aero Squadron' on 20 August 1917 by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. These squadrons served in combat during World War I prior to their assignment to the 3d.

World War II

The 3d Group served in combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1 April 1942 until V-J Day. It wss reassigned to Australia early in 1942 and became part of Fifth Air Force. Redesignated '3rd Bombardment Group (Dive)' in September 1942, being equipped with the The Douglas A-20 Havoc and the Douglas A-24 Dive Bombers. In May 1943, the group was re-equipped with the North American B-25 Mitchell and was redesignated as the '3rd Bombardment Group (Light)'.
World War II squadrons of the 3d Bomb Group were:

★ 8th Bombardment

★ 13th Bombardment

★ 89th Bombardment (1941-1946)

★ 90th Bombardment
The group had its headquarters in Australia until January 1943, but its squadrons operated from forward locations in New Guinea, bombing and strafing enemy airfields, supply lines, installations, and shipping as the Allies halted the Japanese drive toward Port Moresby and drove the enemy back from Buna to Lae. At the end of that campaign, group headquarters moved to New Guinea.
For the next year and a half the group continued to serve in the Southwest Pacific, where it played an important role in the offensives in which the Allies pushed along the northern coast of New Guinea, taking Salamaua, Lae, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, and Noemfoor. In March 1943 it took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, which ended Japanese attempts to send convoys to Lae. In August 1943, when Fifth Air Force struck airfields at Wewak to neutralize Japanese airpower that threatened the advance of Allied forces in New Guinea, the group made an attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire on 17 August, destroyed or damaged many enemy planes, and won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.
In the fall of 1943 the group struck Japanese naval and air power at Rabaul to support the assaults on Bougainville and New Britain. In an attack on shipping at Simpson Harbor, New Britain, on 2 November 1943, the 3rd group encountered heavy opposition from enemy fighters and from antiaircraft batteries on the ships. In that attack 'Major Raymond H Wilkins', commander of the 8th squadron, sank two ships before he was shot down as he deliberately drew the fire of a destroyer so that other planes of his squadron could withdraw safely - an action for which Maj Wilkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The group moved to the Philippines late in 1944. Equipped with A-20's, it bombed and strafed airfields; supported ground forces on Mindoro, Luzon, and Mindanao; attacked industries and railways on Formosa; and struck shipping along the China coast.
'Captain John S Walmsley Jr' was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 14 September 1944: flyding a night mission in a B-26, Capt Walmsley discovered and attacked an enemy supply train, and after exhausting his ammunition he flew at low altitude to direct other aircraft to the same objective; the train was destroyed but Walmsley's plane crashed in the target area.
The group moved to Okinawa early in August 1945 and flew some missions to Japan before the war ended. Moved to Japan in September 1945 and, as part of U.S. Far East Air Forces, became part of the army of occupation.

Cold War

3d Bomb Wing B-26B-50-DL Invaders during the Korean War. Serial 44-34306 identifiable.

Martin B-57B-MA Serial 53-3896 of the 3d Bomb Wing.

North American F-100D-50-NH Super Sabre 55-2881 of the 3d TFW 531st TFS (Taken at Bien Hoa AB)

McDonnell Douglas F-4E-42-MC Phantom
Serial 69-0275 of the 90th TFS/3d TFW Clark AFB, Phillpines, 1979. Later, this aircraft was converted to the F-4G configuration. To AMARC as FP1024 3/25/1996. To Holloman AFB as QF-4G AF151. Expended 2/5/1998.

Northrup F-5E Tiger IIs of the 26th Training Agressor Squadron at Clark AB. Serial 73-0847 in foreground was originally scheduled for shipment to the South Vietnamese Air Force, however the aircraft was retained by the USAF after the collapse of the South Vietnamese government in 1975. With the deactivation of the 26th TAS in 1988, this aircraft was sold to the Honduras Air Force

Korea

After the formal independence of the United States Air Force on 18 September, 1947, the former USAAF groups were realigned into a new wing structure; the 3rd Attack Group became the '3rd Bombardment Wing (Light, Attack)'.
Flying Douglas A-26 Invaders (after 1948, the B-26) the 3rd Wing participated from the first bombing sortie to the very last during the Korean War. Operatonal B-26 squadrons of the wing during the Korean War were:

★ 8th Bombardment Squadron (September 1947 - August 1956)

★ 13th Bombardment Squadron (September 1947 - August 1956)

★ 731st Bombardment Squadron (December 1950 - Inactivated June 1951)
Redsesignated: 90th Bombardment Squadron (June 1951 - August 1956)
The first Americans to lose their lives during the Korean War, '1Lt Remer L. Harding' and 'SSgt William Goodwin', were assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Bombardment Wing when they lost their lives 28 June 1950 returning from a sortie on the Korean Peninsula.
In recognition of the wing's distinguished service, the 3rd Bombardment Wing's was granted the privilege of conducting the last bombing mission over North Korea minutes before implementation of the ceasefire of 27 July 1953.

Japan

With the war over in Korea, wing returned to the routine of peacetime duty in the Cold War environment. It remained at Kunsan Air Base until October 1954, when it moved to Johnson AB, Japan. Beginning in January 1956, the 3rd Bombardment Group converted from the B-26 to the Martin B-57B Canberra Night Intruder. Operational squadrons of the wing were:

★ 8th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)

★ 13th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)

★ 90th Bombardment Squadron (August 1956 - January 1964) (B-57)
In November 1960, the 3rd Bombardment Wing moved to Yokota Air Base where it continued to train in bombardment, reconnaissance and aerial refueling operations. The wing also stood nuclear alert with its B-57s along with the '40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron' (December 1961 - May 1962) equipped with the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger for air defense.

Vietnam

In January 1964 the wing was redesignated as the '3rd Tactical Fighter Wing', and was reassigned w/p/o/e to England AFB, Louisiana. It was part of an overall effort to reduce the number of wings in Japan. At the same time, the wing gave up its B-57s, becoming the last bombardment wing to fly the medium bomber. The move also ended the long association with the 8th and 13th Bombardment Squadrons and nearly 22 years of active duty in the Far East.
At England, the wing transitioned into flying primarily North American F-100D/F Super Sabres. It was deployed to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam from 1965-1970. During the Vietnam War, the wing flew thousands of sorties in support of allied forces. Operational F-100 squadrons of the wing were:

★ 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron (June 1964 - November 1965, February 1968 - October 1970) (Tailcode: CR, Blue tail stripe)

★ 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron (March 1964 - November 1969) (Tailcode: CE, Purple tail stripe)

★ 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron (June 1964 - July 1970) (Tailcode: CP, Red tail stripe)
The 3d also supported one B-57 light bomb squadron at Bien Hoa:

★ 8th Bombardment Squadron/Attack Squadron (November 1969 - September 1970) (B-57B) (Tailcode: PQ)
The 8th BS/AS was reassigned from the 35th TFW at Da Nang Air Base, then was redesignated as the '8th Special Operations Squadron' and reassigned to Phan Rang Air Base with A-37Bs.
In late 1969 the F-100s of the 3d TFW began a phaseout at Bien Hoa. The 510th TFS was deactivated on 15 November 1969, the 531st TFS on 31 July 1970. The 90th TFS was redesignated the '90th Attack Squadron' on 15 November 1969 and was re-equipped with A-37Bs and assigned to the 4th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base on 31 October 1970.

Philippines

After its withdrawal from Southeast Asia in 1971, the wing transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and moved to Kunsan AB South Korea with two tactical fighter squadrons (35th, 36th TFS), the scene of much of its success during the Korean War. By 1974, the wing moved to Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines, helping that nation transform into a stable democracy. At Clark, the wing operated the following fighter squadrons with the tail code "PN" :

★ 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron (December 1975 - December 1991) (F-4E)

★ 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron (September 1974 - May 1991) (F-4E/G)

★ 26th Tactical Fighter/Training Aggressor (September 1974 - October 1988) (F-4E "PN", F-5E (no tail code))
Note: F-4Es transferred to 3d TFS December 1975. Squadron redesignated January 1976 and equipped with F-5E aircraft.
The Wing deployed six F-4Es to Turkey for Operation Desert Storm in early 1991 where they flew some of that aircraft's last combat sorties.

Alaska

The wing remained at Clark AB, though treaty negotiations with the Philippines broke down, and it was decided to move the 3rd Wing beginning in 1992-93. The Mount Pinatubo eruption in June 1991 changed these plans and forced the wing's hasty relocation w/p/o/e to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska on 19 December 1991, where it replaced the 21st Wing which previously was the host organization for Elemendorf. With the reassignment, the wing was also redesigned as the '3d Wing' and was realigned to the multi-mission objective wing concept.
Today, the 3d Wing continues to grow in size and importance because of its strategic location and training facilities. It commands and controls fighter, airlift, AWACS squadrons in addition to the expansive Cope Thunder exercises, formerly conducted in the Philippines. The exercises were relocated to ranges near Eielson AFB, and regularly hosts visiting wings as well as participates in the exercises.
Today, the 3d Wing now has responsibilities far beyond the vast borders of Alaska.

References

This article contains information from the ''3d Wing history factsheet'' which is an official document of the United States Government and is presumed to be in the public domain.

★ Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.

★ Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

★ Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.

★ USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

★ [1] ArmyAirForces.com

★ [2] Air Force Historical Research Agency

External Links

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