Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
48th FIGHTER WING (USAFE)
Lineage. Established as 48 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 Jun 1952. Activated on 10 Jul 1952. Redesignated as: 48 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jul 1958; 48 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments. Twelfth Air Force, 10 Jul 1952; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Jan 1958; Third Air Force, 1 Oct 1959; United States Air Forces in Europe, 12 Oct 1959; Seventeenth Air Force, 15 Nov 1959; Third Air Force, 15 Jan 1960; Seventeenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1961; Third Air Force, 1 Sep 1963; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Nov 2005; Air Command Europe, 18 Nov 2005; Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 Dec 2006-.
Operational Components. Groups. 48 Fighter-Bomber (later, 48 Operations): 10 Jul 1952-8 Dec 1957; 31 Mar 1992-. 85: 8 Oct 2004-28 Jun 2006. Squadrons. 492 Fighter-Bomber (later, 492 Tactical Fighter, 492 Fighter): attached 15 Mar-7 Dec 1957, assigned 8 Dec 1957-31 Mar 1992 (detached 20 Nov 1990-10 May 1991; Dec 1991-Mar 1992). 493 Fighter-Bomber (later, 493 Tactical Fighter, 493 Fighter): attached 15 Mar-7 Dec 1957, assigned 8 Dec 1957-18 Dec 1992 (detached 2 Sep 1990-15 Mar 1991; Mar-Jun 1992). 494 Fighter-Bomber (later, 494 Tactical Fighter, 494 Fighter): attached 15 Mar-7 Dec 1957, assigned 8 Dec 1957-31 Mar 1992 (detached 2 Sep 1990-15 Mar 1991; Sep-Dec 1991). 495 Tactical Fighter: 1 Apr 1977-13 Dec 1991. 509 Fighter-Bomber: attached 5 Oct 1957-15 Jan 1958.
Stations. Chaumont AB, France, 10 Jun 1952; RAF Lakenheath, England, 15 Jan 1960-.
Aircraft. F-84, 1952-1954; F-86, 1953-1956; F-100, 1956-1972; F-4, 1972-1977; F-111, 1977-1992; F-15, 1992-; HH-60, 2004-.
Operations. The 48th served as one of USAFE’s fighter wings with a commitment to NATO. It operated a special aerobatic team, the “Sky Blazers,” c. Jun-Nov 1953 and Jul 1954-Oct 1956. Its mission was limited because it was equipped with very few aircraft, Feb 1972-Jul 1974. In 1977, it converted to F-111F aircraft and continued its commitment to NATO as a nuclear, conventional, mobility, and quick reaction conventional force. The Wing’s elements participated in the air raid on Tripoli, Libya, 15/16 April 1986, in retaliation for that country’s sponsorship of terrorist attacks. The 48th deployed its fighter squadrons and other personnel to Saudi Arabia, Aug 1990-May 1991. During the war against Iraq in 1991, squadron pilots struck bridges, tanks, and bunkers. The wing deployed aircrews and F-111’s to Turkey, Sep 1991-Jun 1992, flying air suppression missions to enforce Iraq’s compliance with U.N. treaty terms. Transitioning to F-15E aircraft, Feb-Dec 1992, it made plans to resume deployments to Turkey. Through the 48 Operations Group, the 48 Fighter Wing supported combat operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Southwest Asia, from 1991-2003. Wing’s fighter squadrons supported Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) commitments in Southwest Asia, 2000-. The wing’s HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters performed rescue operations in hostile environments; also performed civil search and rescue, medical evacuation and humanitarian assistance, 2004-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation: Libya, 10-16 Apr 1986. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 25 Aug 1990-31 Mar 1991. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1961-29 Feb 1964; 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1968; 14 Oct 1976-31 Dec 1977; 1 Apr 1978-31 Mar 1980; 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988-30 Jun 1990; 20 Aug 1990-11 May 1991; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Aug 1996-30 Sep 1998; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; [14 Apr]-10 Jun 1999; 1 Oct 2000-24 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-31 Oct 2005; 1 Nov 2005-31 Dec 2006; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2007; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2008; 1 Jan 2009-31 Dec 2010.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display the honors earned by the 48 Operations Group prior to 10 Jul 1952. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 6 Dec 1944. Cited in the Orders of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 1 Oct-17 Dec 1944; 18 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.
Emblem. Approved on 5 Jul 1962, modified on 21 Nov 1994; replaced emblem approved on 20 Mar 1953; newest rendition approved on 15 Jun 2007.