78th Air Base Wing

78th Air Base Wing
Active 1948-1952, 1956-1969, 1972-1977, 1994–present
Country United States
Branch Air Force
Type Base Support
Part of Air Force Material Command
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
Garrison/HQ Robins Air Force Base
Motto ABOVE THE FOE (Approved 26 September 1942.)
Decorations DUC
AFOUA
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Warren Berry
A guard dog from 78th Security Forces Squadron while participating to a training scenario.

The 78th Air Base Wing (78 ABW) is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 78th ABW acts as the host unit at Robins.

Units

78th Civil Engineer Group (78 CEG)

Communications Directorate (78ABW/SC)

78th Mission Support Group (78 MSG)

78th Medical Group (78 MDG)

78th Operations Support Squadron (78 OSS)

78th Contracting and Comptroller Squadron (78 CCS)

History

For additional history and lineage, see 78th Fighter Group

Air Defense Command

84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Hamilton Air Force Base, California May 1968 McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo 57-370 identifiable
Convair F-106A-90-CO Delta Dart Serial 57-2504 of the 84 FIS. This aircraft served in ADC and later ADTAC for many years until being retired in 1988, then being expended as a QF-106 drone on 2 August 1993.
83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Lockheed F-104A Starfighters, Hamilton AFB, California, 1958. Visible are 56-781 and 58-769
84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Northrop F-89C-5-NO Scorpion 50-746 Preparing for takeoff on a training mission. Stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 1952.

On 24 September 1948 the 78th Fighter Wing was established at Hamilton AFB, California by the Hobson Plan, with the 78th Fighter Group becoming a component of the wing, controlling its flying resources

Redesignated the 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in January 1950 as part of Air Defense Command. The group's squadrons (82d, 83d, 84th FIS) flew numerous interceptors for West Coast air defense. Inactivated on 6 February 1952 as part of a reorganization of ADC, its operational element was replaced by the 4702d Defense Wing. Its support elements were replaced at Hamilton by the 566th Air Base Group the same day. This group was redesignated the 566th Air Defense Group and assumed operational responsibilities at Hamilton on 16 February 1953. On 18 August 1955, the 566th Air Defense Group was replaced by a former element of the wing, the 78th Fighter Group (Air Defense).

In 1956, it was decided to elevate the operational units at Hamilton back to a Wing level, and the wing was reactivated, with its operational squadrons still controlled by the 78th Fighter Group. The group component of the wing was considered to be a redundant level of organization by the late 1950s, and the 78th FIG was inactivated on 1 February 1961, with its flying units being directly assigned to the Wing.

The 78th Fighter Wing was the host unit at Hamilton until it was inactivated in 1969 in another effort by the Air Force to close the facility, as well as the lessened need for aircraft air defense in an age of ICBMs.

Air Training Command

The 78th Flying Training Wing replaced and absorbed resources of the 3560th Pilot Training Wing at Webb AFB, Texas, on 1 December 1972. Squadrons were 82d, 83d, 3389th Flying Training Sqdns. The wing performed pilot training for both USAF and allied officers.

In 1977 the end of the Vietnam War meant a decrease in the need for Air Force pilots and Webb AFB was closed. The 78th FTW was inactivated.

In 1989 the Dutch government allowed USAF to upgrade its headquarters unit at Soesterberg AB from squadron to group status. The story goes that the USAF wanted to change the 32d into the 78th TFG but that the Dutch government didn't allow another number as not to stir up the people who were against the American presence in the Netherlands.

Robins AFB

Since its reactivation in 1994, the 78th Air Base Wing has provided host services and support for the Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center and its tenant organizations.

Lineage

Activated on 16 November 1948
Redesignated 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 January 1950
Inactivated on 6 February 1952
Activated on 18 October 1956
Inactivated on 31 December 1969
Activated on 1 December 1972
Inactivated on 30 September 1977
Activated on 1 October 1994

Assignments

Attached to Western Air Defense Force, 10 November 1949 – 31 July 1950

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

Aircraft Operated

  • P-51 Mustang (1949–52)
  • F-84 Thunderjet (1949–52)
  • F-89 Scorpion (1951–52, 1956–59)
  • F-86 Sabre (1956–58)
  • F-102 Delta Dagger (1957–60)
  • F-104 Starfighter (1958–60)
  • F-101 Voodoo (1959–68)
  • F-106 Delta Dart (1959–60, 1968–69)
  • T-37 Tweet (1972–77)
  • T-38 Talon (1972–77)
  • T-41 Mescalero (1972–73)

See also

References

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

    External links