474th Tactical Fighter Wing

Lineage. Established as 474^th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 Jun 1952. Activated on 10 Jul 1952. Inactivated on 8 November 1954. Activated on 8 Oct 1957. Redesignated 474^th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1989.

Assignments. Tactical Air Command, 10 Jul 1952-8 Nov 1954 (attached to Fifth Air Force, 10 Jul 1952-1 April 1953; 58^th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 Apr 1953-8 Nov 1954). 832^d Air Division, 8 Oct 1957; USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, 20 Jan 1968; 832^d Air Division, 20 Mar 1968 (attached to Seventh Air Force, ADVON, c. 27 Sep 1972-c. 23 Mar 1973); Twelfth Air Force, 1 Jul 1975-30 Sep 1989.

Components. Group. 474^th: 10 Jul 1952-8 Nov 1954 (detached 1 Apr 1953-8 Nov 1954). Squadrons. 428th: 8 Oct 1957-30 Jul 1973 (detached Feb-Jun 1959, 31 May-23 Jun 1960, 2 Oct 1961-15 Feb 1962, 18 Oct-30 Nov 1962 9 Jan-14 Apr 1963, 12 Feb-8 May 1964, 24 Nov 1964-13 Mar 1965; not operational, 15 Sep 1965-30 Jan 1967, c. 30 Jun 1967-20 Jan 1968; detached c. 23 Mar-30 Jul 1973); 15 Jun 1975-30 Sep 1989. 429^th 8 Oct 1957-30 Jul 1973 (detached  Jun-Nov 1959, 1 Sep-Nov 1961, 11 Jun-22 Oct 1962, 22 Oct-28 Nov 1962, 3 Jul-13 Nov 1963, 7 Apr-c. May 1964, 16 Nov 1964-12 Feb 1965, 13 Jul-16 Dec 1965; not operational, c. 16 Dec 1965-15 May 1967; detached 15 May 1967-15 May 1968, c. 23 Mar-30 Jul 1973); 21 Jun 1975-30 Sep 1989. 430^th: 8 Oct 1957-15 Nov 1966 (detached Nov 1959, 7 Jun-Oct 1960, 5 Sep-28 Nov 1961, 2-18 Apr 1962, 1 Sep-16 Dec 1962, 30 Apr-18 May 1963, 20 Oct 1963-Feb 1964, 25 Aug-Nov 1964, 13 May-unkn 1965; not operational, 15 Sep 1965-15 Nov 1966); 15 Sep 1968-30 Sep 1989. 442^d Tactical Fighter Training: 15 Oct 1969-31 Jul 1977. 478^th: 8 Oct 1957-1 Nov 1966 (detached 7 Oct 1960-21 Feb 1961, 5-24 Feb 1962, 20 May-3 Sep 1962, 17 Oct-30 Nov 1962, 19 Apr-5 Jul 1963, 1 Jun-Aug 1964, 11 Feb-15 May 1965; not operational, 15 Sep 1965-1 Nov 1966). 4474^th Tactical Training; 1 Dec 1968-15 Jun 1970 (not operational). 4527^th Combat Crew Training: 20 Jan 1968-15 Oct 1969.

Stations. Misawa AB, Japan, 10 Jul 1952; Kunsan AB), South Korea, 10 Jul 1952; Taegu AB, South Korea, 1 Apr 1953-8 Nov 1954; Cannon AFB, NM, 8 Oct 1957; Nellis AFB, NV, 20 Jan 1968-15 Oct 1989. (deployed: Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, c. 18 Mar-22 Nov 1968, 27 Sep 1972-23 Mar 1973)

Aircraft. F-84, 1952-1953; F-100, 1957-1965; F-111, 1968-1977; F-4, 1977-1980; F-16, 1980-1989.

Operations. Activated in Japan and moved the same day to South Korea with tactical components to begin combat operations. Tactical components were detached on 1 Apr 1953, while the rest of the wing reduced to “paper” status, a condition which prevailed until the wing inactivated in 1954. Activated in the United States in Oct 1957 and until mid-Sep 1964 maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations, deploying components, aircraft, and crews on a global basis in support of NATO, PACAF, AAC, and other organizations. Deployed three squadrons to southeastern United States during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Entire wing, except for a deployed squadron in Southeast Asia, reverted to “paper” status on 15 Sep 1965, the single detached squadron being reduced to “paper” status upon its return to the United States. Wing gained sparse manning on 1 Oct 1966 in anticipation of conversion to F-111 aircraft, and c. 30 Jun 1967 again reverted to “paper” status. On 20 Jan 1968 the 474^th TFW, 474^th FMS and the 428^th TFS moved without personnel or equipment to Nellis AFB,NV, and the 474^th AEMS and 474^th MMS inactivated. The units that moved to Nellis absorbed the resources of an inactivating wing. Gaining the 474^th Tactical Hospital and 474^th Supply Squadron, the 474^th Wing became the host unit for Nellis. There it acquired the F-111 equipped 4527^th CCTS. On 20 Jan 1968 the 428^th TFS organized Detachment 1, which also received F-111 aircraft. This detachment deployed c. 18 Mar to 22 Nov 1968 to Southeast Asia under the program known as “Combat Lancer”. On 15 May 1968 the 429^th TFS discontinued attachment to another wing and rejoined the 474^th Wing without personnel or equipment. A former component, the 430^th TFS, became part of the wing on 15 Sep 1968. Tactical components on the wing received their initial F-111s between Nov 1968 and Mar 1969 and began training for proficiency in the new weapon system. The 4527^th CCTS trained F-111 aircrews for the wing and for other USAF units until replaced in Oct 1969 by the 44nd TFTS, which assumed the mission. The 4474^th TTS, assigned 1 Dec to 15 Jun 1970, was sparsely manned and never equipped with F-111s. Upon inactivation of the 474^th CSG, 474^th Tactical Hospital, and 474^th Supply Squadron in Feb 1970, the 474^th Wing became a tenant at Nellis AFB. Wing assumed an operational ready status between 31 Jan and 8 Sep 1971, and from Sep 1971 initiated tactical exercises for the maintenance of tactical operational proficiency. Over 1600 tactical and support personnel of the wing deployed on 27 Sep 1972 to Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, to participate in combat operations in Southeast Asia. A real echelon of wing headquarters remained at Nellis to control units not deployed. The 430^th TFS returned to Nellis on 23 Mar 1973, assuming a replacement training unit mission; on 30 Jul 1973, the 428^th and 429^th squadrons became subordinate units of the 347^th TFW in Southeast Asia. In 1975 both of these overseas squadrons were again assigned to the 474^th Wing. On 6 Aug the last F-111 aircraft and crews were transferred to Mountain Home AFB, ID, and the 474^th Wing absorbed the F-4D aircraft, crews and resources of the inactivating Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional, 4474^th. Trained combat-ready force of aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute fighter attacks against enemy forces and facilities in time of crisis, 1975-1989.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953; Vietnam Ceasefire.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 28 Sep 1972-22 Feb 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 9 Mar 1961-9 Mar 1962. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 10 Jul 1952-30 Mar 1953. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 28 Sep 1972-22 Feb 1973.

Emblem. Approved 14 Nov 1958.