| 54th Tactical Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E Phantom II 67-0231, Kusan AB, South Korea, 1970 | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1946–1950; 1970 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Fighter |
| Engagements | Southwest Pacific Theater[1] |
| Decorations | Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1] |
The54th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with thePacific Air ForcesFifth Air Force, atKunsan Air Base, South Korea where it was inactivated on 31 October 1970.
DuringWorld War II, the54th Troop Carrier Wing was aFifth Air Forceairlift wing that commanded five combat cargo and troop carrier groups in theSouth West Pacific Theater.
In the early postwar years, the54th Fighter Wing commanded 56 units of theAir National Guard throughout the Southeastern United States.
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The54th Troop Carrier Wing commenced air transport and medical air evacuation operations in support ofFifth Air Force on 26 May 1943. advancing as battle lines permitted.
The wing employedDouglas C-47 Skytrains almost exclusively, but during late 1943 and much of 1944 also used 13 convertedBoeing B-17E Flying Fortresses for armed transport missions in enemy-held territory. The 54th supported every major advance made by the allies in theSouthwest Pacific Theater, operating from primitive airstrips carved from jungles and air-dropping cargo where airstrips unavailable.
The unit took part in the airborne invasion ofNadzab, New Guinea, in September 1943 by dropping paratroopers of the503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as well as Australian engineers and heavy equipment. In July 1944, the wing dropped 1,418 paratroopers on Noemfoor Island to aid the allied invasion forces. Then assumed the task of handling all freight and personnel moving in troop carrier aircraft in the Southwest Pacific, in addition to scheduled and unscheduled air movement of cargo and troops, and air evacuation of wounded personnel.
SomeCurtiss C-46 Commandos began operating within thewing in late 1944, and during 1945 large numbers of C-46s were used in addition to C-47s. By late 1944 and during the early months of 1945, most wing missions were flown to the Philippines. In February 1945, the wing flew three more airborne operations, all in the Philippines, to help encircle Japanese concentrations. Wing C-47s droppednapalm onCarabao Island, inManila Bay, in March 1945.
When hostilities ended, the wing moved the entire11th Airborne Division (11,300 personnel) from the Philippines toOkinawa on short notice, and then began transporting occupation forces into Japan. During September 1945, the wing also evacuated over 17,000 former prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines.
The wing served as part of the occupation forces in Japan from 25 September 1945 to about 26 January 1946, while continuing routine air transport operations and a scheduled courier service. Beginning in December 1945 and continuing into mid-1946, most of the wing's components were reassigned to other units or inactivated, and on 15 January 1946 the wing became a component of the Far East (soon, Pacific) Air Service Command.
Moving to the Philippines, the wing gained new components and flew scheduled routes between Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and theHawaiian Islands. Replaced by the403d Troop Carrier Group on 31 May 1946 and was inactivated.
Allotted to theNational Guard to command units in the Southeastern region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 2 October 1946.
At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to theWing Base Organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from theAir National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950. The116th Fighter Wing was allotted to the state of Georgia, federally recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated wing.
In June 1970, as the54th Tactical Fighter Wing, was activated and replaced the354th Tactical Fighter Wing atKunsan Air Base, South Korea, assuming control of personnel and attachedMcDonnell F-4C Phantom II squadrons. Was inactivated on 31 October 1970 when the deployed F-4 squadrons returned to the United States and the base was placed in a non-flying status. Base operations personnel were absorbed by the 6175th Air Base Group.
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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