| 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing | |
|---|---|
 508th Fighter GroupF-105 Thunderchief | |
| Active | 1944–1945; 1952–1956; 1973; 1975–1982; 2005–2010 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Aircraft Support |
| Mottos | Knowledge and Courage |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lt GenGerald W. Johnson |
| Insignia | |
| 508th Aircraft Sustainment Wing emblem |  |
| 508th Tactical Fighter Group emblem |  |
| Patch with 508th Strategic Fighter Wing emblem[note 1][1] |  |
The508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing was awing of theUnited States Air Force based atHill Air Force Base,Utah. It was activated in 2005, after being formed by the consolidation of two units in 1984.
The508th Fighter Group was activated late inWorld War II. The group was designed as a long range fighter escort unit, but when Japanese fighter defenses weakened, the group instead providedair defense of theHawaiian Islands and training for otherfighter units in the Pacific. It was inactivated in late 1945 and its personnel and equipment were used to form the15th Fighter Group. The group was redesignated the508th Tactical Fighter Group and activated in theAir Force Reserve, in 1973. It trained pilots in fighter tactics until 1982, when its resources were used to form the419th Tactical Fighter Wing.
The508th Fighter Escort Wing was formed inStrategic Air Command (SAC) in 1951 to provide fighter escort for SACbombers and conductlong range penetration missions. It deployed to Japan to provide air defense of northern Japan and to fly escort missions forreconnaissance missions in the area. The wing was inactivated in 1956 and some of its personnel were used to form thecadre for the4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. In January 1984, it was consolidated with the 508th Tactical Fighter Group.
Media related to508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing (United States Air Force) at Wikimedia Commons
The508th Fighter Group was activated on 12 October 1944 atPeterson Field, Colorado with the466th,467th and468th Fighter Squadrons assigned as ifs first operational units.[2][3][4] Itscadre moved toPocatello Army Air Field, Idaho two weeks later to begin training. The group trained with late modelRepublic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft to provide very-long-range escort forBoeing B-29 Superfortresses in thePacific Theater of Operations.[5]
The lack of significant Japanese fighter defense by late 1944[6] caused a change of mission and thegroup's destination was changed to Hawaii, where it arrived in January 1945. The 508th acted as part of the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands. In Hawaii, the group also trained replacement pilots for other organizations, repaired P-47s andNorth American P-51 Mustangs of fighter units engaged in combat, and ferried aircraft to forward areas.[5]
The unit was inactivated in Hawaii on 25 November 1945 and replaced by the15th Fighter Group, which moved on paper fromIwo Jima and assumed the 508th's mission, personnel and equipment.[5][7]
The508th Fighter-Escort Wing was activated atTurner Air Force Base, Georgia byStrategic Air Command in July 1952, drawing its initial personnel and equipment from the31st Fighter-Escort Wing, which was already stationed at Turner.[1] Its mission was to provide fighter escort forStrategic Air Command (SAC) bombers and to provide point defense, particularly for areas of strategic importance. It had a secondary mission of conducting long range offensive intruder missions.[8]
Little more than six months after its activation the wing became the508th Strategic Fighter Wing, emphasizing that its mission went beyond escorting bombers.[1] In Operation Long Stride, the wing performed what at the time was the longest nonstop flight by single engine jet aircraft in history. In August 1953, twenty wing aircraft flew from its home base at Turner toRAF Lakenheath in England, returning in September.[9][10]
Strategic Air Command fighterwings had deployed to augment theair defenses ofFar East Air Forces since theKorean War. In 1953 and 1954, the wing twice deployed toMisawa Air Base, Japan, to augment the 39th Air Division, which was responsible for air defense in northern Japan.[1] SAC fighters deployed to Japan also provided escort forreconnaissance aircraft flying missions in the area.[11][note 3]
The wing was inactivated on 11 May 1956 in Project Black Knight. Its 508th Tactical Hospital was transferred to the4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which activated at Turner on 1 May and a number of its personnel were transferred to form the cadre for the 4080th Wing.[1][12] The 506th's commander, ColGerald W. Johnson became the first commander of the 4080th.[13]
In 1972 theAir Force Reserve began to receiveRepublic F-105 Thunderchiefs, which were becoming surplus to Air Force needs in Southeast Asia. To operate these fighters, it formed threetactical fighter groups, the last of which was the508th Tactical Fighter Group atHill Air Force Base, Utah, which was activated in January 173.[14] Hill was selected because the945th Military Airlift Group there was slated to lose itsDouglas C-124 Globemaster IIs, which were being removed from the inventory. The transition from four reciprocating engine transports to supersonic jet fighters was one of the most difficult the reserves had faced.[15]
Less than four months later the Reserve reassigned its tactical fighter squadrons directly to the301st Tactical Fighter Wing. During the period the group was inactive, its place was taken by Detachment 508, 301st Fighter Wing.[16] After two years the group was once again activated.[17] The group trained in fighter tactics, upgrading to the F-105D and F-105F in 1980.[18] The unit inactivated and its mission, personnel and equipment were absorbed by the activating419th Tactical Fighter Wing.[19]
The 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing was activated in February 2005 asAir Force Materiel Command reorganized its management offices into a structure of wings, groups and squadrons. It sustained existing weapons and support systems and assisted with the acquisition new systems. It served all United States military services, civil agencies and a number of foreign countries. Its support included acquisition, engineering and technical modification, modernization, as well as maintenance, repair and planning. Wing functions included acquisition, modification, modernization and maintenance and repair of the systems it supported.[20]
Its 508th Aircraft Sustainment Group acted in concert with theGeneral Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon System Program Office atWright-Patterson Air Force Base to direct F-16 "production, sustainment, engineering and manufacturing development, modification and worldwide deployment" for F-16 aircraft for units of theUnited States Air Force and the air arms of 18 foreign nations. This included foreign co-production and is still among the most complex acquisition program in theDepartment of Defense.[20]
Its 508th Mature Aircraft and Simulator Sustainment Group, and later, the 558th Aircraft Sustainment Group was responsible for acquiring improved capabilities and sustainment for 36 different aircraft weapon systems. "Mature aircraft" are out of production but still active in the Air Force inventory. The largest programs were associated with theFairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II,Cessna T-37 Tweet andNorthrop T-38 Talon. The groups also supported aircraft not in the active Air Force inventory that were flown by foreign countries or other agencies of the United States. This group included theMcDonnell F-4 Phantom II,Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter,Douglas C-47 Skytrain and others.[20]
Its 508th Attack Sustainment Squadron executed programs to sustain and improve the A-10 aircraft. Responsibilities include planning, programming and budgeting for modification and structural upgrade programs for the Thunderbolt II.[20]
In addition, the wing managed sustainment programs for aerial targets and training devices for aircraft and for space systems and control and air traffic control towers. The wing also prepared for sustainment programs for theLockheed Martin F-22 Raptor andLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft.[20]
The wing was inactivated in 2010 when Air Force Materiel Command returned to its traditional directorate system for program and maintenance management.[21]
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Asiatic-Pacific Theater without inscription | 6 January 1945 – 25 November 1945 | 508th Fighter Group[5] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) (Powerpoint presentation, slide 5)
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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