Description
Computer made 3.5 inch-86mm
33rd FIGHTER WING (ACC)
Lineage. Established as 33 Fighter Wing on 15 Oct 1947. Organized on 5 Nov 1947. Redesignated 33 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Redesignated 33 Fighter Wing (Air Defense) on 14 Sep 1956. Activated on 18 Oct 1956. Inactivated on 18 Aug 1957. Redesignated 33 Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 9 Feb 1965. Organized on 1 Apr 1965. Redesignated 33 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments. Eighth Air Force, 5 Nov 1947 (attached to 509 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, 17 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948); First Air Force, 1 Dec 1948 (attached to Eastern Air Defense Force, 10 Nov 1949-31 Aug 1950, and further attached to 32 Air Division [Defense], 20 Feb 1950-); Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 Sep 1950-6 Feb 1952 (remained attached to 32 Air Division [Defense] to 1 Feb 1952). 26 Air Division (Defense), 18 Oct 1956 (attached to 4622d Air Defense Wing [SAGE], 18 Oct 1956-7 Jan 1957); Boston Air Defense Sector, 8 Jan-18 Aug 1957. Tactical Air Command, 9 Feb 1965; 836 Air Division, 1 Apr 1965; Ninth Air Force, 30 Jun 1971-.
Components. Wing. 50 Fighter (later, 50 Fighter-Interceptor): attached 1 Jun 1949- 2 Jun 1951.
Group. 33 Fighter (later, 33 Fighter-Interceptor; 33 Fighter; 33 Operations): 5 Nov 1947-6 Feb 1952 (detached 5 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948); 18 Oct 1956-18 Aug 1957 (detached 1 Jul-18 Aug 1957); 1 Dec 1991-.
Squadron. 4 Tactical Fighter: 20 Jun 1965-12 Apr 1969. 16 Tactical Fighter: 20 Jun 1965-1 Nov 1970 (detached 27 Aug-13 Sep 1966, 13-31 Oct 1967, 26 May-9 Sep 1970). 25 Tactical Fighter: 20 Jun 1965-28 May 1968. 40 Tactical Fighter: 20 Jun 1965-15 Oct 1970. 58 Tactical Fighter: 1 Sep 1970-1 Dec 1991 (detached 29 Apr-14 Oct 1972, 8 Jun-14 Sep 1973, 8- 22 Aug 1975, 31 Jan-14 Feb 1977; 28 Aug 1990-1 Dec 1991). 59 Tactical Fighter (later 59 Fighter): 1 Sep 1970-1 Dec 1991 (detached 24-29 Mar 1974). 60 Tactical Fighter (later 60 Fighter): 1 Sep 1971-1 Dec 1991. 133 Fighter: attached 21 Jul 1951-6 Feb 1952. 786 Tactical Fighter: 1 Apr-20 Jun 1965. 787 Tactical Fighter: 1 Apr-20 Jun 1965. 788 Tactical Fighter: 1 Apr-20 Jun 1965. 789 Tactical Fighter: 1 Apr-20 Jun 1965. 4533 Tactical Training Squadron (Test): 7 Dec 1967-12 Apr 1971.
Stations. Roswell AAFld (later, Walker AFB), NM, 5 Nov 1947; Otis AFB, MA, 16 Nov 1948-6 Feb 1952. Otis AFB, MA, 18 Oct 1956-18 Aug 1957. Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Apr 1965-.
Aircraft. F-51, 1948-1950; F-84, 1948-1950; F-86, 1950-1952; F-94, 1951-1952; F-47, 1951-1952. F-89, 1956-1957; F-94, 1956-1957. F-4, 1965-1979; F-15, 1978-.
Operations. The 33d wing headquarters was not operational and all of its components were detached, Nov 1947- Nov 1948, with the 509th Bombardment Wing at Walker AFB, NM, controlling the wing’s tactical units. Headquarters of the 33d Fighter Wing became operational upon movement to Otis AFB, MA, in mid-Nov 1948. The wing trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in exercises and aerial demonstrations Nov 1948-Nov 1949. It assumed an air defense mission in Dec 1949 and provided air defense in the northeastern United States until inactivated in Feb 1952. Once again it provided air defense in the northeastern United States, Oct 1956-Jun 1957, but was non-operational, 1 Jul-18 Aug 1957. In Apr 1965 the wing activated at Eglin AFB, FL, and embarked on a program of tactical training operations to maintain proficiency. Operated a test support division, Jul 1965-Dec 1967, and a special test squadron, Dec 1967-Apr 1971, in support of tests for weapon systems, aircraft armament and munitions, and tactical procedures of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. The wing also provided F-4 replacement training, 15 Dec 1966-28 Feb 1967. Through deployment of combat-ready tactical components, with personnel and equipment transferred to PACAF units upon arrival, the wing provided fresh aircraft and aircrews for the forces in Southeast Asia and in Korea. Entire resources of squadrons were released as follows: 40th TFS, May 1967, Nov 1968, and May 1969; 4th TFS, Jul 1967; and 16th TFS, Oct 1967 and Apr 1969. In all cases except for the 40th, in May 1969, the squadrons were immediately remanned and reequipped. The wing also transferred two of its combat-ready squadrons to PACAF, the 25th TFS in May 1968 and the 4th TFS in Apr 1969. The wing’s last combat-ready squadron, the 58th TFS, deployed to Southeast Asia for combat operations from Apr to Oct 1972 and again from Jun to Sep 1973. The wing supported the 4485th Test Squadron of the Tactical Air Warfare Center in weapon systems evaluation program tests, Jan-Dec 1973, and periodically thereafter until Jul 1978. Aircrews ferried F-4Es to Israel in Oct 1973. The Wing augmented intercept defense forces of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), 1 Jan 1976-15 Jan 1979 and 4 Jan-5 Apr 1982. While awaiting delivery of F-15s, the 60 FS conducted F-15 mission qualifications training for the 18 TFW, 15 July 1979-30 April 1980. The wing provided personnel and equipment to fly combat air patrols and air intercept missions for contingency operations in Grenada, Oct-Nov 1983, and Panama, Dec 1989-Jan 1990. During combat operations while deployed in Southwest Asia, 26 Aug 1990-12 Apr 1991, wing personnel were credited with sixteen air-to-air victories. Wing personnel and aircraft continued rotations to Saudi Arabia to protect coalition assets and to ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms. From 1992-2002, continued to deploy aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in operations SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET MACAW; RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT JUSTICE IV; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. It lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 Jun 1996.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1968- 30 Jun 1969; 1 Oct 1978-30 April 1980; 1 May 1984-30 April 1986; 1 Apr 1990-31 Mar 1992; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1998.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 33d Operations Group prior to 5 Nov 1947. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Air Combat, EAME Theater; India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Tunisia, 15 Jan 1943.
Emblem. Approved for 33 Operations Group on 21 Feb 1942 and for 33 Fighter Wing on 5 Oct 1965.