77th Aeronautical Systems Wing

The 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing (77 ASW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Its World War II predecessor unit, the 77th Reconnaissance Group supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas.

Units

The 77 ASW supports the Aeronautical Systems Center. It's units perform a variety of missions

• Human Systems Group

Provides advanced performance, survival, and force protection capabilities to U.S. and allied air, ground, and naval forces through development, production, and sustainment of human-centered systems including aircrew life support, egress, survival, aeromedical equipment, medical information, aerovac equipment testing/certification, AF uniforms, and aircraft mishap analysis.

• Simulator Systems Group

Responsible for the development, production, test, integration, deployment, modification, and sustainment of common training solutions for joint ground-based training and mission rehearsal systems.

• Aging Aircraft Systems Squadron

Develops and fields products that enhance the Air Force's aircraft fleet availability and mission capability while reducing total ownership cost. The squadron is responsible for the development, acquisition, and fielding of cross-enterprise materiel solutions that enhance fleet availability and mission capability.

• Propulsion Systems Squadron

Responsible for the development, production, test, and fielding of propulsion systems for the Joint Strike Fighter, F/A-22, and C-17. It also manages the Component Improvement Program, critical sustaining engineering for Air Force propulsion, and modernization of all Air Force propulsion systems, future propulsion capabilities, and allied F-15/F-16 engines.

• Combat Electronics Systems Squadron

Responsible for the development, testing, acquiring, fielding and sustainment of materiel capabilities for multiple Department of Defense and allied aircraft weapon systems.

History

Lineage

• Established as 77 Observation Group on 5 February 1942

Activated on 2 March 1942

Redesignated: 77 Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943

Redesignated: 77 Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 August 1943

Disestablished on 30 November 1943

• Reestablished, and redesignated 77 Tactical Intelligence Wing, on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
• Consolidated (16 September 1994) with 2852 Air Base Wing, which was established, and organized, on 1 August 1953.

Redesignated: 2852 Air Base Group on 16 October 1964

Redesignated: 652 Support Group on 1 October 1992

Redesignated: 652 Air Base Group on 1 October 1993

Redesignated: 77 Air Base Wing on 1 October 1994

Inactivated on 13 July 2001

• Consolidated (23 June 2006) with Agile Combat Support Systems Wing, which was established on 23 November 2004

Activated on 18 January 2005

Redesignated: 77 Aeronautical Systems Wing on 14 July 2006.

Assignments

Components

• 5 Observation: 25 January – 2 April 1943
• 27 Observation (later, 27 Reconnaissance; 27 Tactical Reconnaissance): 17 July 1942 – 30 November 1943
• 35 Photographic Reconnaissance: 11 August – 30 November 1943 (detached 11 August – 31 October 1943)
• 113 Observation (later, 113 Reconnaissance; 113 Tactical Reconnaissance): 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943
• 120 Observation (later, 120 Reconnaissance; 120 Tactical Reconnaissance): 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943
• 125 Observation (later, 125 Liaison): 12 March 1942 – 11 August 1943
• 128 Observation (later, 21 Antisubmarine): 12 March 1942 – 8 March 1943 (detached 3 July – 7 September 1942 and 15 October 1942 – 3 March 1943).

Stations

Aircraft

Operations

During World War II the 77th supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. One squadron (113th) flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico from March until June 1942 when it was relieved by another squadron (128th). Still another squadron (120th) patrolled the Mexican border from March–July 1942. A detachment of the 77th served in India from February until July 1943. The 77th was deactivated in 1943.

The 77th was reactivated in 1985 and consolidated with the 2852nd Air Base Wing in 1994 to provide services and support for McClellan AFB with its satellite installations and the Sacramento Air Logistics Center with its tenant organizations (the 2852nd had been performing this duty since 1 August 1953 until the base was officially closed in 2001.

The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group moved from Brooks City-Base, San Antonio to Wright-Patterson AFB in mid 2009.^[1]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Wright-Patt AFB Home Page
• 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing

External links