81st Training Wing

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81st Training Wing

Official crest of the 81st Training Wing
Active 15 April 1948
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role education / training
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Second Air Force
Garrison/HQ Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
Equipment see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
Decorations see "Lineage and honors" section below
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brigadier General Paul Capasso
Vice-Commander Colonel Richard Pierce
Command Chief Chief Master Sergeant Ronald S. Owens


Contents

[edit] History

The 81st Fighter Wing conducted air defense of Hawaii, December 1948–May 1949, then became part of Western Air Defense Force's air defense structure in November 1949. From 1951 to mid-1954, it worked with Royal Air Force Fighter Command to provide air defense in England. The wing changed in 1954 from fighter-interceptor to fighter-bomber operations, carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. Charged with tactical operations in support of USAFE and NATO, with air defense as a secondary mission, 1954–1979 and 1988–1990. Also operated out of RAF Woodbridge, 1958–1993. The 81st began conversion to A-10s in late 1978, as its mission changed to close air support and battlefield air interdiction in support of NATO ground forces. It conducted joint operations with US and British ground forces and participated in rotational deployments to specified wartime operating locations throughout Europe. It won the A-10 category of the 1987 USAF Gunsmoke Gunnery meet. It added the 527th Aggressor Squadron, flying F-16s in 1988, to provide the only Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Tactics training for USAFE and NATO pilots in Europe, from July 1988 to September 1990. The wing conducted escort missions with A-10s for Coalition airlift forces during relief efforts in Turkey and northern Iraq, 6 April 1991–8 December 1992. Began preparation for base closure in December 1992, ending flying operations on 1 April 1993. The 81st Training Wing replaced Keesler Training Center in July 1993, taking on the mission of specialized technical training in electronics, avionics, computers, operations, maintenance, and personnel and information management for Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, other Department of Defense agencies, and foreign nations.

[edit] Background of name

[edit] In popular culture

29 August 2005 tested the resolve of the 81st Training Wing in as drastic a manner as imaginable. When Hurricane Katrina barrelled into the gulf coast as a category 4 storm, the eye was only approximately 30 miles off a head-on hit with Keesler Air Force Base. Because of the hurricane, all students and non-essential personnel of the 81st were evacuated to other Air Force bases, effectively shutting down the training wing. Operation Dragon Comeback, the monumental relief and recovery mission the Air Force initiated, saw over $950 million in damage just to the base, but some 8,500 volunteers from Keesler helped not only the air base but also the surrounding communities get back to some semblance of normalcy after this disaster.

It only took until 16 September 2005 for students to start coming back to Kessler to train for their Air Force careers.[1] In less than a month, Keesler managed to clean up, pump out, dig through, and resuscitate the ailing training wing and bring it back to full mission readiness.


[edit] Mission

“ The 81st Training Wing is in a constant state of transition as it seeks excellence in all we do. It is comprised of several Wing Staff agencies and 3 large Groups of Squadrons. The Groups are...: 81st Training Group, 81st Medical Group, and the 81st Mission Support Group.

The 81st Training Wing is an important link in the chain through Second Air Force established by Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Our largest training mission is to take young men and women, many fresh from basic military training, and teach them skills to benefit the nation and the Air Force as well as our sister services and foreign countries.

Keesler also does advanced training for pilots in C-21 aircraft, and doctors, nurses, and technicians in medical specialties.[2]

 ”


[edit] Operations

The 81st Training Wing has the Air Force’s largest Technical Training Group, and is the Air Force’s computer and electronics training "Center of Excellence." The wing trains more than 40,000 students annually. Training includes weather, basic electronics, communications electronic systems, communications computer systems, air traffic control, airfield management, command post, air weapons control, precision measurement, education and training, financial management and comptroller, information management, manpower and personnel.


[edit] Lineage and honors

Established as 81 Fighter Wing on 15 April 1948. Activated on 1 May 1948. Redesignated: 81 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 January 1950; 81 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 April 1954; 81 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958. Inactivated on 1 July 1993.

Redesignated 81 Training Wing, and activated, on 1 July 1993.

Bestowed Honors: Authorized to display honors earned by the 81st Fighter Group prior to 1 May 1948. (italicized).

[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

[edit] Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

  • World War II European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Air Combat
  • World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater: China Defensive, China Offensive.

[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

Approved on 14 May 1956.


[edit] Assignments

7th Air Division, 1 May 1948; Pacific Air Command, 3 September 1948; Twelfth Air Force, 21 May 1949 (attached to Western Air Defense Force, 10 November 1949); Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1950 (remained attached to Western Air Defense Force to 1 August 1950); Western Air Defense Force, 1 August 1950 (attached to Third Air Force, 5 September 1951–8 September 1951); Third Air Force, 9 September 1951 (attached to 49 Air Division, Operational [later, 49th Air Division (Operational)], 1 March 1954–1 July 1956); Seventeenth Air Force, 1 July 1961; Third Air Force, 1 September 1963–1 July 1993.

Second Air Force, 1 July 1993–.


[edit] Components (historic)

Groups:

Squadrons:


[edit] Components (current)

  • 81st Training Group
  • 81st Medical Group
  • 81st Mission Support Group


[edit] Stations

Wheeler Air Force Base (later, Wheeler Army Airfield), Territory of Hawaii, 1 May 1948–21 May 1949; Camp Stoneman, California, 27 May 1949; Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 5 June 1949; Moses Lake Air Force Base (later, Larson Air Force Base, Grant County International Airport), Washington, 2 May 1950–16 August 1951; Bentwaters RAF Station (later, RAF Bentwaters), England, 6 September 1951–1 July 1993; (RAF Woodbridge, England ["Twin Base" with RAF Bentwaters], 8 July 1958–1 February 1980).

Keesler AFB, MS, 1 July 1993–.


[edit] Aerospace vehicles

P-47 (later, F-47 Thunderbolt), 1948–1949; F-80 Shooting Star, 1949; F-86 Sabre, 1949–1955; F-51 Mustang, 1951; F-84 Thunderjet, 1954–1959; F-101 Voodoo, 1958–1966; F-4 Phantom II, 1965–1979; A-10 Thunderbolt II, 1978–1993; F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1988–1990.


[edit] Commanders

Colonel Thomas W. Blackburn, 1 May 1948; Lieutenant Colonel Francis R. Royal, 21 May 1949; Colonel Thomas W. Blackburn, by 28 June 1949; Colonel Gladwyn E. Pinkston, 28 April 1950; Colonel Robert F. Harris, 22 August 1951; Colonel Gladwyn E. Pinkston, 27 September 1951; Colonel Robert F. Harris, c.3 January 1953; Colonel Gladwyn E. Pinkston, c.20 February 1953; Colonel Robert J. Garrigan, 20 June 1953; Colonel Gladwyn E. Pinkston, c.20 August 1953; Colonel Harold N. Holt, 2 June 1954; Colonel Ivan W. McElroy, 10 June 1955; Colonel Lester L. Krause Jr., 18 June 1957; Colonel Henry L. Crouch Jr., 8 July 1957; Colonel James R. DuBose Jr., 6 May 1960; Colonel Eugene L. Strickland, 9 July 1960; Colonel William C. Clark, 9 July 1962; Colonel Robin Olds, 9 August 1963; Brigadier General DeWitt R. Searles, 26 July 1965; Colonel Ramon R. Melton, 28 July 1967; Colonel George S. Dorman, 5 July 1968; Colonel Devol Brett, 25 September 1968; Colonel David J. Schmerbeck, 29 August 1969; Colonel John C. Bartholf, 6 March 1970; Colonel James W. Enos, 4 September 1970; Colonel Dwaine L. Weatherwax, 22 June 1971; Brigadier General Charles E. Word, 16 August 1972; Colonel John R. Paulk, 19 April 1974; Brigadier General Clyde H. Garner, 14 March 1975; Colonel Gerald D. Larson, 11 February 1976; Brigadier General Rudolph F. Wacker, 6 May 1977; Colonel Gordon E. Williams, 7 August 1979; Brigadier General Richard M. Pascoe, 24 April 1981; Brigadier General Dale C. Tabor, 2 August 1982; Colonel Lester P. Brown Jr., 20 March 1984; Colonel William A. Studer, 26 March 1986; Colonel Harold H. Rhoden, 30 July 1987; Colonel Tad J. Oelstrom, 5 August 1988; Colonel Roger E. Carleton, 13 July 1990; Colonel Roger R. Radcliff, 12 July 1991–1 July 1993.

Brigadier General Karen S. Rankin, 1 July 1993; Brigadier General Andrew J. Pelak Jr., 7 November 1995; Brigadier General John M. Speigel, 4 August 1997; Brigadier General Elizabeth Anne Harrell, 14 July 1999; Brigadier General Roosevelt Mercer Jr., 5 September 2000; Brigadier General Michael W. Peterson, 2 May 2002–.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Jenifer, Perry. "Keesler Air Force Base: One year after Katrina", AFPN, 81st Training Wing Public Affairs, 2006-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  2. ^ 81st Training Wing Fact Sheet. 81 TRW Public Affairs Office. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.


[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../8/1/s/81st_Training_Wing_0002.html"