355th Fighter Wing

The 355th Fighter Wing (355 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command's Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where in operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The wing's mission is to provide close air support (CAS), air interdiction (AI), forward air control (FAC), combat search and rescue (CSAR), ground based tactical air control, and airbase operations.

Subordinate organizations
355th Operations Group (355 OG)
 * 354th Fighter Squadron (354 FS)
 * 357th Fighter Squadron (357 FS)
 * 358th Fighter Squadron (358 FS)
 * 355th Training Squadron (355 TRS)
 * 607th Air Control Squadron (607 ACS)
 * 355th Operations Support Squadron (355 OSS)
 * West Coast A-10 Demonstration Team

355th Maintenance Group (355 MXG)
 * 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (355 AMXS)
 * 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron (355 MOS)
 * 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron (355 EMS)
 * 355th Component Maintenance Squadron (355 CMS)

355th Mission Support Group (355 MSG)
 * 355th Civil Engineer Squadron (355 CES)
 * 355th Communications Squadron (355 CS)
 * 355th Contracting Squadron (355 CONS)
 * 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron (355 LRS)
 * 355th Force Support Squadron (FSS)
 * 355th Security Forces Squadron (355 SFS)

355th Medical Group (355 MDG)
 * 355th Dental Squadron (355 DS)
 * 355th Medical Operations Squadron (355 MDOS)
 * 355th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (355 AMDS)
 * 355th Medical Support Squadron (355 MDSS)

World War II
The 355th Fighter Group was first activated 12 November 1942. Originally equipped with P-47 Thunderbolts, the group began using P-51 Mustangs in 1944 and quickly gained acclaim as the "Steeple Morden Strafers," a reference to its base in England and its lethal accuracy at low level. The group was under the command of the 65th Fighter Wing of the VIII Fighter Command, Eighth Air Force. Aircraft of the group were identified by white around their cowling and tail.

The group consisted of the following squadrons:


 * 354th Fighter Squadron (WR)
 * 357th Fighter Squadron (OS)
 * 358th Fighter Squadron (YF)

The 355th FG flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep over Belgium, on 14 September 1943 and afterwards served primarily as escort for B-17/B-24 bombers that attacked industrial areas of Berlin, marshalling yards at Karlsruhe, an airfield at Neuberg, oil refineries at Misburg, synthetic oil plants at Gelsenkirchen, locks at Minden, and other objectives. The group also flew fighter sweeps, area patrols, and bombing missions, striking such targets as air parks, locomotives, bridges, radio stations, and armoured cars.

On 5 April 1944, shortly after converting from P-47's to P-51's, the group successfully bombed and strafed German airfields during a snow squall, a mission for which the group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation.

The group provided fighter cover for Allied forces landing in Normandy on 6 June 1944, and afterwards hit transportation facilities to cut enemy supply lines. Hit fuel dumps, locomotives, and other targets in support of ground forces during the breakthrough at Saint-Lô in July.

The 355th Fighter Group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945. On 3 July the group transferred to Gablingen, Germany for duty with United States Air Forces in Europe as part of the army of occupation. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to Mitchel Field New York on 1 August 1946. It was inactivated on 20 November due to the Air Force's policy of retaining only low-numbered groups on active duty after the war, the unit being redesignated as the 14th Fighter Group in an administrative redesignation.

The fighter group destroyed or damaged 1,500 enemy planes, making it the top strafing outfit in the VIII Fighter Command during World War II.

Cold War
In the mid-1950s, the group was reactivated and assigned to the Air Defense Command as the 355th Fighter Group (Air Defense). It was assigned to McGhee Tyson AFB, near Knoxville Tennessee, replacing the 516th Air Defense Group. Flying the F-86D Sabre, the group provided fighter defense for the Oak Ridge Atomic Energy Plant, the Tennessee Valley Authority dams, and the eastern region of the United States. Regular Air Force operations at McGhee Tyson AFB ended on 8 January 1958. The 354th FIS inactivated in that date. The 355th Fighter Group remained until 1 July 1960 when it was inactivated along with the F-86D interceptor squadrons, and the base turned over to Tennessee Air National Guard control.

Vietnam era
On 13 April 1962 the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing was established and activated at George AFB, California, being equipped with the new F-105 Thunderchief. After a period of organization at George, the wing was assigned to McConnell AFB, Kansas, becoming the host unit at the base.

The unit transferred to the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand in 1965. During the next five years, it flew more than 101,000 sorties over North Vietnam, dropping 202,596 tons of bombs and destroying 12,675 targets. The wing's pilots were credited with twenty airborne kills of MiG aircraft and eight aircraft destroyed on the ground. Nicknamed "PACAF's Pride," the unit received three Presidential Unit Citations and three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with the combat "V" device. It is also noteworthy that, of the twelve airmen awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, two belonged to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing: Majors Merlyn H. Dethlefsen and Leo K. Thorsness.

The 355th was inactivated at Takhli on 10 December 1970 as part of the drawdown of US Forces in Southeast Asia in the early 1970s.

The 355th was reactivated at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 1971, being assigned to Tactical Air Command. Initially, the wing had four squadrons (333d, 354th, 357th and 358th) equipped with the new A-7D Corsair II ground air support aircraft. It achieved operationally-ready status in 1972. In late 1972, the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed its Corsairs to Korat Royal Thai Air Fore Base, Thailand and was attached to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Forward Echelon), which had deployed to Korat from Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. From Korat, the 354th, and later the 357th, which replaced the 354th TFS in June 1973, conducted combat operations first in South Vietnam, then in 1973, in Cambodia, supporting the Lon Nol Government until 15 August 1973 when US combat operations in Southeast Asia were halted by Congress.

Post Vietnam
Withdrawing from Thailand in 1974, the wing began to send its Corsairs to the Air National Guard, and transitioning to the new A-10 Thunderbolt II. By 1979, the wing had completely transitioned to the A-10 and achieved operationally ready status. On 1 September 1979, Tactical Air Command took the 355th off deployment status and redesignated it as the 355th Tactical Training Wing becoming the USAF's A-10 Thunderbolt II Operational Training Unit.

In 1984 the 355th Fighter Group was consolidated with the Wing, giving the 355th Tactical Training Wing the history, honors and lineage of the World War II and Cold War organization.

As the wing entered the 1990s, it continued to train A-10 crews for assignments to units in the United States, England, and South Korea. The 355th Wing regularly participated in air support exercises such as Air Warrior and weapons competitions such as Long Rifle, in which it consistently captured top A-10 honors. However, the wing's excellence wasn't limited to the cockpit; in 1990, it received the TAC Commander's Award for top aircraft maintenance, in the A-10 category, for the third consecutive year.

The wing's training program paid off when in 1990 squadrons were deployed to King Fhad International Airport in Saudi Arabia, being assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) during operation Desert Shield. In 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, when 355th-trained A-10 pilots destroyed 1,000 tanks, 2,000 vehicles, 1,200 artillery pieces, and two helicopters. While the wing as a whole did not deploy to the Persian Gulf, more than 250 members augmented forces in theater and filled shortages in the United States.

Modern era
On 1 October 1991, the 355th Tactical Training Wing was redesignated as the 355th Fighter Wing under the "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force as the lines between tactical and strategic forces blurred and the Air Force leadership began to merge these forces under Air Combat Command. The flying components of the wing were reassigned to the newly established 355th Operations Group. As part of this restructuring, on 1 May 1992, the 355th became a composite wing, absorbing elements of the 602nd Air Control Wing, the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron, and of most other activities currently operating at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. With these diverse units as part of the organization, the designation was changed to the 355th Wing on 1 May 1992.

An era came to a close when on 30 September 2002 the 42d Airborne Command and Control Squadron was designated inactive. The 355th Wing then underwent an extensive reorganization of forces on 1 October 2002. During this reorganization, new squadrons were added to the existing wing structure, while some squadrons were realigned under new group commanders. The 355th Wing also inherited the 48th, 55th, and 79th Rescue Squadrons equipped with HC-130 aircraft and HH-60 helicopters.

Another change saw the 41st and 43d Electronic Combat Squadrons fall under the operational control of the 55th Electronic Combat Group, 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. On 1 October 2003, the three combat search-and-rescue squadrons fell under the command of the 563d Rescue Group.

The 355th Fighter Wing currently provides air assets to Air Expeditionary unit commanders involved in operations around the globe, as part of the Global War on Terrorism.

Lineage

 * Established as 355th Fighter Group, and activated, on 12 November 1942
 * Inactivated on 20 November 1946, aircraft/personnel/equipment reassigned to 14th Fighter Group


 * Redesignated 355th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 June 1955
 * Activated on 18 August 1955 by inactivation and reassignment of aircraft/personnel/equipment of 516th Air Defense Group
 * Inactivated on 8 January 1958


 * Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was established, and activated, on 13 April 1962
 * Organized on 8 July 1962
 * Inactivated on 10 December 1970


 * Activated on 1 July 1971
 * Redesignated: 355th Tactical Training Wing on 1 September 1979
 * Redesignated: 355th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991
 * Redesignated: 355th Wing on 1 May 1992
 * Redesignated: 355th Fighter Wing in 2006

Assignments

 * Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics, 12 November 1942
 * I Fighter Command, 18 February 1943
 * Attached to: Philadelphia Fighter Wing, 4 March – 16 June 1943


 * VIII Fighter Command, c. 6 July 1943
 * 65th Fighter Wing, 18 August 1943
 * Attached to: 2d Bombardment (later Air) Division, 15 September 1944 – 3 July 1945


 * Ninth Air Force, 3 July 1945
 * XXIX Tactical Air Command, 18 July 1945
 * 70th Fighter Wing, c. 10 August 1945
 * 64th Fighter Wing, c. 15 April 1946
 * First Air Force, 1 August – 20 November 1946
 * 35th Air Division (Defense), 20 June 1955


 * 58th Air Division (Defense), 1 March 1956 – 8 January 1958
 * Tactical Air Command, 13 April 1962
 * 831st Air Division, 8 July 1962
 * 835th Air Division, 21 July 1964
 * Thirteenth Air Force, 8 November 1965 – 10 December 1970
 * Attached to 2d Air Division, 8 November 1965 – 31 March 1966
 * Attached to Seventh Air Force, 1 April 1966 – 10 December 1970


 * Twelfth Air Force, 1 July 1971
 * Ninth Air Force, 1 July 1976
 * Tactical Training, Davis-Monthan, 1 April 1977
 * 836th Air Division, 1 January 1981
 * Twelfth Air Force, 1 May 1992–present

Components
Wings
 * 4453d Combat Crew Training: attached 1 July – 30 September 1971.

Groups
 * 1st Air Support: 15 June 1992 – 1 February 1994
 * 3d Air Support: 15 June 1992 – 1 February 1994
 * 355th Operations Group: 1 May 1992–present

Squadrons
 * 11th Tactical Drone: 1 July 1971 – 1 July 1976
 * 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8-c. 9 November 1965
 * 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1971 – 1 June 1972
 * 41st Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare): attached 8 November 1965 – 18 September 1966 and 8–14 August 1967, assigned 15 August 1967 – 31 October 1969
 * 42d Airborne Command and Control Squadron (42 ACCS): 1 July 1994 – 30 September 2002
 * 42d Tactical Electronic Warfare: 1 January 1968 – 15 October 1970 (detached c. 23 September – 15 October 1970)
 * 44th Tactical Fighter: 15 October 1969 – 10 December 1970
 * 333d Tactical Fighter (later, 333d Tactical Fighter Training) Squadron: 4 December 1965 – 10 December 1970; 31 July 1971 – 15 February 1991
 * 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 November 1965 – 5 February 1966
 * 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 November – 6 December 1965
 * 354th Fighter (later, 354th Tactical Fighter; 354th Tactical Fighter Training) Squadron: 12 November 1942 – 20 November 1946; 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958; 8 July 1962 – 8 November 1965 (detached 24 January – 21 February 1964, 2 May-c. 20 September 1964, 3 March – 12 June 1965); 27 November 1965 – 10 December 1970; 1 July 1971 – 30 April 1982 (detached 12 January – 5 July 1973 and 22 January – 9 February 1979)
 * 357th Fighter (later, 357th Tactical Fighter; 357th Tactical Fighter Training) Squadron: 12 November 1942 – 20 November 1946; 8 July 1962 – 8 November 1965 (detached 9 August – 12 December 1964, 12 June – 8 November 1965); 29 January 1966 – 10 December 1970; 1 July 1971 – 1 May 1992
 * 358th Fighter (later, 56th Reconnaissance, Weather Scouting; 358th Tactical Fighter; 358 Tactical Fighter Training) Squadron: 12 November 1942 – 20 November 1946; 1 June 1972 – 1 May 1992 (detached 28 December 1973 – 15 May 1974)
 * 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 8 July 1962 – 8 November 1965 (detached 15 September – 23 November 1964 and 7 April – 20 August 1965)
 * 469th Fighter-Interceptor (later, 469th Tactical Fighter) Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 8 January 1958; 8 July 1962 – 8 November 1965 (detached 30 November 1964 – 13 March 1965)
 * 562d Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 November-c. 4 December 1965
 * 4455th Combat Crew Training: attached 1–8 October 1971
 * 6460th Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 6460th Tactical Electronic Warfare): attached 8 June – 18 September 1966 and 8–14 August 1967, assigned 15 August 1967 – 1 January 1968
 * Detachment 1, 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 17 March – 19 November 1968.

Stations

 * Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 12 November 1942
 * Norfolk Airport, Virginia, 19 February 1943
 * Philadelphia Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 4 March – 16 June 1943
 * RAF Steeple Morden (USAAF Station 122), England, 6 July 1943
 * AAF Station Gablingen (R-77), Germany, c. 10 July 1945
 * AAF Station Schweinfurt (R-25), Germany, 15 April 1946
 * Mitchel Field, New York, 1 August – 20 November 1946
 * McGhee Tyson AFB, Tennessee, 20 June 1955 – 8 January 1958
 * George AFB, California, 8 July 1962
 * McConnell AFB, Kansas, 21 July 1964-October 1965
 * Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 8 November 1965 – 10 December 1970
 * Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 July 1971–present

Aircraft operated

 * P-47 Thunderbolt (1942–1944)
 * P-51 Mustang (1944–1946)
 * F-86 Sabre (1955–1957)
 * F-105 Thunderchief (1962–1970)
 * EB-66 Destroyer (1966–1970)
 * RB-66 Destroyer (1965–1966)
 * F-111 Aardvark (1968)
 * F-4 Phantom II (1971)
 * A-7 Corsair II (1971–1979)
 * DC-130 Hercules (1971–1976)


 * AQM-34 (1974–1975)
 * BGM-34 (1974–1975)
 * CH-3 (1972–1976)
 * RC-130 Hercules (1975–1976)
 * A-10 Thunderbolt II (1976 – present)
 * EC-130E Airborne Command and Control (ABCCC) (1994–2002)
 * EC-130H Compass Call (1992–Present)
 * O-2 Skymaster (1982–1992)
 * OV-10 Bronco (1982–1992)
 * A-37 Dragonfly (1982–1990)
 * HH-60 Pave Hawk (2003)

In popular culture

 * In the television series The West Wing, White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry flew F-105s for the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing during the Vietnam War. In the third season episode "War Crimes", his mission over Southeast Asia in which he is shot down and evades capture, is depicted.