jem3@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (John E McKillop) (06/29/91)
From: jem3@pyuxf.cc.bellcore.com (John E McKillop)
This USAF unit news is from the BRITISH AVIATION REVIEW published
by the British Aviation Research Group.
- RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge, currently home of the 81st
Tactical Fighter Wing, will be returned to the Brits by Sep 93. The
81st Tactical Fighter Wing will be inactivated and its 80 A-10As
will be distributed to other units.
- RAF Alconbury, home of the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing (USAFE) and the
17th Reconnaissance Wing (SAC) will remain a USAF base. The 10th
Tactical Fighter Wing will loose its 39 A-10As beginning late in 1991
although the wing may remain active. Units that will move to RAF
Alconbury include:
39th Special Operations Wing and 7th Special Operations Squadron from
Rhein Main, Germany
21st and 67th Special Operations Squadrons from RAF Woodbridge
- The number of TR-1As assigned to the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron
(SAC) at RAF Alconbury will be reduced by four aircraft. This squadron
currently reports to the 17th Reconnaissance Wing (SAC) at RAF
Alconbury. The wing will be inactivated and the 95th Recon Sqdn will
report to the 7th Air Divison (SAC) at Ramstein AB, Germany.
- The 316th Air Division (USAFE) at Ramstein AB, Germany was inactivated
on 1 May 91 and its two subordinate units, the 86th Tactical Fighter
Wing and 377th Combat Support Wing, were merged to form the 86th Fighter
Wing.
- The 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn AB, Germany will be inactivated
by the end of Sep 91 and its F-16C/Ds will be distributed to units in
the US.
- A composite wing is expected to be formed from scratch at Mountain
Home AFB, Idaho, date unknown. The wing will probably have the following
aircraft assigned:
12 F-15Cs
12 F-15Es
24 F-16Cs
3 E-3s
6 KC-10As
with an option to add B-52s later.
- The 71st Air Rescue Squadron (MAC) at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska was
inactivated on 17 May 91 with one of its last two HH-3Es going to
the 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing (MAC) at Kirland AFB, New
Mexico. Search and Rescue responsibilities have been taken over by
the 210th Air Rescue Squadron, 176th Composite Group, Alaska ANG.
The 210th is equipped with HC-130 and MH-60G aircraft. Also
reported to the 176th is the 144th Tactical Airlift Squadron
equipped with C-130s. All three units are at Kulis ANGB, Anchorage.
The third Alaska ANG squadron is the 168th Air Refueling Squadron,
168th Air Refueling Group at Eielson AFB, Fairbanks with KC-135s.
- Other ANG unit news:
The 110th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Missouri ANG at Lambert Field,
St. Louis will convert from F-4Es to F-15As and become the ANG F-15
training unit.
The 154th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Arkansas ANG, at Little Rock has
been redesigned 154th Tactical Airlift Training Squadron and is
responsible for all ANG C-130E/H training.
The 155th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Tennessee ANG, at Memphis will
trade convert from C-130As to C-141Bs by the end of Fiscal Year 1991
and will become the 155th Military Airlift Squadron
- The 303d Tactical Airlift Squadron, Air Force Reserve, at March
AFB, California is to be inactivated.
- The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) was activated on
22 May 90 as the air component of the US Speial Operations Command, a
unified command. All USAF special operations force previously under the
Military Airlift Command have been reassigned to AFSOC. Units currently
assigned to AFSOC are:
1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
8th Special Operations Squadron (MC-130E), Hurlburt Field
9th Special Operations Squadron (HC-130N/P), Eglin AFB, Florida
16th Special Operations Squadron (AC-130H), Hurlburt Field
20th Special Operations Squadron (MH-53J), Hurlburt Field
55th Special Operations Squadron (MH-60G), Eglin AFB, Florida
39th Special Operations Wing, Rhein Main AB, Germany
7th Special Operations Squadron (MC-130E), Rhein Main AB
21st Special Operations Squadron (MH-53J), RAF Woodbridge, UK
67th Special Operations Squadron (HC-130N/P), RAF Woodbridge, UK
353d Special Operations Wing, Clark AB, Philippines
1st Special Operations Squadron (MC-130E), Clark AB
17th Special Operations Squadron (HC-130N/P), Kadena AB, Japan
31st Special Operations Squadron (MH-53J), Clark AB
Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units gained by AFSOC include:
71st Special Operations Squadron (CH/HH-3E), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz
193d Special Operations Squadron (EC-130E), Harrisburg, Pa
711st Special Operations Squadron (AC-130A), Duke Field, Fla
- Detachment 509 (SAC) was activated at Whiteman AFB, Missouri in late
1990. Conjecture is that this will become the 509th Bombardment Wing,
the first B-2A unit and will probably report to the 100th Bombardment
Wing. [NOTE: The 509th Composite Group of WWII was the first A-bomb unit
and dropped the two A-bombs on Japan.]
- HQ First Air Force, Tactical Air Command, will move from Langely
AFB, Virginia to Tyndall AFB, Florida in late 1991.