Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.5 inch-115mm
406th AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING
Lineage. Established as 406 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 Jun 1952. Activated on 10 Jul 1952. Redesignated 406 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 Apr 1954. Inactivated on 15 May 1958. Redesignated 406 Tactical Fighter Training Wing on 20 Jun 1972. Activated on 15 Jul 1972. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated 406 Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 5 Feb 2001. Activated on 30 Mar 2011. Inactivated on ? Activated on 9 Jun 2023-.
Assignments. Third Air Force, 10 Jul 1952-15 May 1958. Sixteenth Air Force, 15 Jul 1972-31 Oct 1992. USAFE to activate or inactivate at any time after 5 Feb 2001. Third Air Force, 9 Jun 2023-.
Operational Components. Group: 406 Fighter-Bomber (later Fighter-Interceptor) Group, 10 Jul 1952-1 May 1956. 409 Air Expeditionary Group, 9 Jun 2023-; 449 Air Expeditionary Group, 9 Jun 2023-. Squadrons: 87h Fighter-Bomber, attached 21 Dec 1954-8 Sep 1955; 512 Fighter-Interceptor, 1 May 1956-24 Mar 1958; 513 Fighter-Interceptor, 1 May 1956-25 Apr 1958; 514 Fighter-Interceptor, 1 May 1956-15 May 1958.
Stations. RAF Manston, England, 10 Jul 1952-15 May 1958. Zaragoza AB, Spain, 15 Jul 1972-31 Oct 1992. Ramstein AB, Germany, 9 Jun 2023-.
Aircraft. F-84, 1952-1953; F-86, 1953-1958.
Operations. Replaced the 123 Fighter-Bomber Wing in Jul 1952. Trained in fighter-bomber and air defense operations, 1952-1953. Provided air defense in the UK, 1954-1958, and the Netherlands, 1954-1955. Phased down for inactivation, 15 Feb-15 May 1958. Replaced 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group in Jul 1972. Assumed responsibility for operating and maintaining Zaragosa AB, Spain, an associated gunnery ranges of USAFE sent weapons training detachments to Zaragosa for training. These detachments were fully supported and temporarily controlled by the 406 TFTW, although the wing had no tactical squadron or aircraft permanently assigned. In addition to range training, attached detachments often participated in tactical exercises. Beginning in Sep 1972 the wing also operated the USAFE tactical Forces Employment School and in May 1976 began operating the USAFE Instructor Pilot School. Weapons training detachments were principally F-4 aircraft, although F-111s used by the wing’s ranges for a short period in 1974 and USN A-7s also used range facilities in Jun 1974, operating temporarily from Zaragosa. From 1 Nov-17 Dec 1976 and 5 Jan-2 Mar 1977, OV-10 detachments used the ranges and from 15 Nov-17 Dec 1976 and 5 Jan-29 Apr 1977, F-5s also used the ranges. The 406 TFTW began full maintenance support of SAC KC-135 detachment on a permanent basis in Nov 1976. On 12 Sept 1977, another facet was added to the wing’s training operations when it conducted the first Dissimilar air combat training (DACT) missions with USAF and USN aircraft. In 1979, the Instructor Pilot School was closed in Jul, due to broad changes in USAFE’s mission and budget restraints. On 1 Jan 1980, the support mission expanded when the 406 assumed responsibility for various functional areas in support of the four USAF tropo-scatter radar sites at Humosa, Mencora, Soller, and Inoges. The wing provided this support in cooperation with the 401 TFTW assigned to Torrejon AB, Spain. In 1981, the 406 TFTW prepared for F-16 Weapons Training Detachments which began in 1982. Continued to provide support for the USAFE crew training and range training exercises through the 1980s. In Aug 1990, the 406th and Zaragoza provided major air and ground support for Operation Desert Shield, continuing through Operation Desert Storm. The 406th began efforts to end its operations and return Zaragoza to the Spanish Government in 1992. The use of the training range ended in Dec 1991, followed by the turnover of base operations to the Spanish in Apr 1992. Activated in early 2003 as a provisional wing to be used as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), based in Turkey. When Turkey refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the Mar 2003 invasion of Iraq, the 406 AEW was inactivated shortly afterward. Activated on 30 Mar 2011 at Moron AB, Spain to support Operation Odyssey Dawn, to enforce a no-fly zone put in place to protect civilians in Libya during the escalating Libyan Civil War. Activated and made up of two groups, which in turn consist of a total of 10 squadrons, the unit is the only air wing under the control of United States Africa Command. Operating from four airfields, the wing’s mission consists of tactical airlift, personnel recovery, casualty evacuation, and attack operations.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 15 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1973; 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976.
Emblem. Approved on 14 May 1953.