33rd Fighter Wing, US Air Force

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33RD FIGHTER WING, US AIR FORCE

History: Established as 33 Fighter Wing on 15 October 1947. Organized on 5 November 1947. Redesignated as 33 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 January 1950. Inactivated on 6 February 1952. Redesignated as 33 Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 September 1956. Activated on 18 October 1956. Inactivated on 18 August 1957. Redesignated as 33 Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 9 February 1965. Organized on 1 April 1965. Redesignated as 33 Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991. 33 Fighter Wing headquarters was not operational and all of its components were detached, November 1947– November 1948, with the 509 Bombardment Wing at Walker AFB, NM, controlling the wing’s tactical units. Headquarters of the 33 Fighter Wing became operational upon movement to Otis AFB, MA, in mid-November 1948. The wing trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in exercises and aerial demonstrations November 1948–November 1949. It assumed an air defense mission in December 1949 and provided air defense in the northeastern United States until inactivated in February 1952. Once again it provided air defense in the northeastern United States, October 1956–June 1957, but was non-operational, 1 July–18 August 1957. In April 1965 the wing activated at Eglin AFB, FL, and embarked on a program of tactical training operations to maintain proficiency. Operated a test support division, July 1965–December 1967, and a special test squadron, December 1967–April 1971, in support of tests for weapon systems, aircraft armament and munitions, and tactical procedures of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. The wing also provided F–4 replacement training, 15 December 1966–28 February 1967. Through deployment of combat-ready tactical components, with personnel and equipment transferred to PACAF units upon arrival, the wing provided fresh aircraft and aircrews for the forces in Southeast Asia and in Korea. Entire resources of squadrons were released as follows: 40 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), May 1967, November 1968, and May 1969; 4 TFS, July 1967; and 16 TFS, October 1967 and April 1969. In all cases except for the 40 TFS, in May 1969, the squadrons were immediately remanned and reequipped. The wing also transferred two of its combat-ready squadrons to PACAF, the 25 TFS in May 1968 and the 4 TFS in April 1969. The wing’s last combat-ready squadron, the 58 TFS, deployed to Southeast Asia for combat operations from April to October 1972 and again from June to September 1973. The wing supported the 4485 Test Squadron of the Tactical Air Warfare Center in weapon systems evaluation program tests, January–December 1973, and periodically thereafter until July 1978. Aircrews ferried F–4Es to Israel in October 1973. The Wing augmented intercept defense forces of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), 1 January 1976–15 January 1979 and 4 January–5 April 1982. While awaiting delivery of F–15s, the 60 FS conducted F–15 mission qualifications training for the 18 TFW, 15 July 1979–30 April 1980. The wing provided personnel and equipment to fly combat air patrols and air intercept missions for contingency operations in Grenada, October–November 1983, and Panama, December 1989–Janauary 1990. During combat operations while deployed in Southwest Asia, 26 August 1990–12 April 1991, wing personnel were credited with sixteen air-to-air victories. Wing personnel and aircraft continued rotations to Saudi Arabia to protect coalition assets and to ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms. From 1992-2002, continued to deploy aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in operations SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET MACAW; RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT JUSTICE IV; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. It lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996. Between 2001 and 2010, supported operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Trained US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy and international partner pilots and maintainers of F-35 joint strike fighter aircraft, 2010-.


Coat of arms (crest) of the 33rd Fighter Wing, US Air Force
Official blazon
English blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The Emblem was approved for 33 Group on 21 February 1942 and for 33 Fighter Wing on 5 October 1965.

Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/


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