14th Flying Training Wing

Air Defense

The 14th Fighter Wing was established on 29 July 1947. It provided air defense for the northeastern United States, 1947–1949.

Vietnam War

The unit was redesignated as the 14th Air Commando Wing and was reactivated at Nha Trang Air Base Republic of Vietnam on 8 March 1966. On 1 August 1968 it was renamed the 14th Special Operations Wing and was the host unit at the base until 30 September 1971. From 15 October 1969 through 30 September 1971 the 14th SOW also operated and conducted missions from Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

Operations included close and direct air support, interdiction, combat airlift, aerial resupply, visual and photographic reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency operations, psychological warfare (including leaflet dropping and aerial broadcasting), forward air control operations and escort, search and rescue, escort for convoy and defoliation operations, flare drops, civic actions, and humanitarian actions.

The 14th Air Commando Wing distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism, exceptional gallantry and outstanding performance of duty in action against hostile forces in Southeast Asia from 8 March 1966 to 7 March 1967, earning a Presidential Unit Citation. Flying thousands of different sorties, elements of the Wing caused many enemy casualties and destroyed or damaged more than 8,500 structures, 500 trucks and 60 fuel sites as well as numerous automatic weapon positions, radio stations, bridges and boats.

Flying the venerable Douglas C-47 aircraft, one squadron of the Wing helped abort a large number of night hostile operations against friendly forts and hamlets through flare drops and minigun saturation fire. Despite the often heavy and accurate enemy antiaircraft fire, the search and rescue missions of the Wing recovered 91 skilled airmen during this period. In addition, the Wing's psychological warfare missions directly or indirectly influenced the surrender of thousands of enemy soldiers.

The wing also provided maintenance support for a number of tenants. The wing trained Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) personnel in AC-119 operations and maintenance, February–August 1971, and transferred some of its AC-119s to the VNAF, August–September 1971 as part of a phase-down for inactivation.

Flying training at Columbus

The 14th replaced, and absorbed resources of, the 3650th Pilot Training Wing in June 1972 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, and assumed an undergraduate pilot training program, plus base operations and maintenance.

Units

14th Operations Group

37th Flying Training Squadron T-6 Texan II "Bengal Tigers"

41st Flying Training Squadron T-6 Texan II "Flying Buzzsaws"

43d Flying Training Squadron T-6 Texan II, T-1 Jayhawk, and T-38 Talon

48th Flying Training Squadron T-1 Jayhawk "Alley Cats"

49th Fighter Training Squadron T-38 Talon "Black Knights"

50th Flying Training Squadron T-38 Talon "Strikn' Snakes

14th Operations Support Squadron

14th Student Squadron "Eagles"

14th Mission Support Group

14th Civil Engineering Squadron

14th Communications Squadron

14th Contracting Squadron

14th Logistics Readiness Squadron

14th Security Forces Squadron

14th Mission Support Squadron

14th Medical Group

Additionally, the 14th Comptroller Squadron reports directly to the wing.

Lineage

Established as the 14th Fighter Wing on 29 July 1947

Organized on 15 August 1947 Inactivated on 2 October 1949

Redesignated 14th Air Commando Wing and activated on 28 February 1966 (not organized)

Organized on 8 March 1966 Redesignated 14th Special Operations Wing on 1 August 1968 Inactivated on 30 September 1971

Redesignated 14th Flying Training Wing on 22 March 1972

Activated on 1 June 1972

Assignments

First Air Force, 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949

Pacific Air Forces, 28 February 1966

2d Air Division, 8 March 1966

Seventh Air Force, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1971

Air Training (later, Air Education and Training) Command, 1 June 1972

Nineteenth Air Force, 1 July 1993 – present

Components

Group

14th Fighter (later, 14th Operations): 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949; 15 December 1991 – present

Squadrons

1st Air Commando: 8 March 1966 – 20 December 1967

3d Air Commando (later, 3d Special Operations): 1 May 1968 – 15 September 1969

4th Air Commando (later, 4th Special Operations): 8 March 1966 – 15 December 1969

5th Air Commando (later, 5th Special Operations): 8 March 1966 – 15 October 1969

6th Air Commando: 29 February – 15 July 1968

9th Air Commando (later, 9th Special Operations): 25 January 1967 – 30 September 1971

14th Air Commando: 25 October 1967 – 1 May 1968

15th Air Commando (later, 15th Special Operations): 15 March 1968 – 31 October 1970

17th Special Operations: 1 June 1969 – 30 September 1971

18th Special Operations: 1 October 1969 – 25 August 1971

20th Air Commando (later, 20th Special Operations): 8 March 1966 – 1 September 1971

37th Flying Training: 1 June 1972 – 15 December 1991

42d Flying Training: 25 June 1990 – 15 December 1991

43d Flying Training: 25 June 1990 – 15 December 1991

49th Flying Training: 25 June 1990 – 15 December 1991

50th Flying Training: 1 June 1972 – 15 December 1991

71st Special Operations: 20 December 1968 – 10 June 1969

90th Special Operations: 31 October 1970 – 1 September 1971

602d Air Commando: 8 March 1966 – 8 April 1967

604th Air Commando (later, 604th Special Operations): 15 November 1967 – 1 March 1970 (detached)

3588th Flying Training: 1 October 1990 – 18 October 1991

Stations

Dow Field (later Dow Air Force Base), Maine, 15 August 1947 – 2 October 1949

Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 March 1966

Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, 15 October 1969 – 30 September 1971

Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, 1 June 1972 – present