21st Space Wing
21st Wing | |
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Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[3] |
The 21st Wing (21 WG) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force.
It was established in 1953 as the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, deploying to Europe to join NATO's
The 21st Wing was activated as a space wing on 15 May 1992, replacing the
Operations
The 21st Space Wing was the
The 21st Space Wing served as the host wing for
Structure in 2020
- Cape Cod Air Force Station
- 7th Space Warning Squadron (7 SWS), Beale Air Force Base
- Cavalier Air Force Station
- Thule Air Base
- Clear Air Force Station
- Vandenberg Air Force Base
- 20th Space Control Squadron (20 SPCS), Eglin Air Force Base
- Detachment 1, 20th Space Control Squadron, White Sands Missile Range
- Detachment 2, 20th Space Control Squadron, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia
- Detachment 3, 20th Space Control Squadron, Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory
- Operating Location – Fylingdales (OL-F), RAF Fylingdales
- 21st Operations Support Squadron (21 OSS)
21st Mission Support Group (21 MSG)
- 21st Civil Engineer Squadron (21 CES)
- 21st Communications Squadron (21 CS)
- 21st Contracting Squadron (21 CONS)
- 21st Force Support Squadron (21 FSS)
- 21st Security Forces Squadron (21 SFS)
21st Medical Group (21 MDG)
- 21st Healthcare Operations Squadron (21 HCOS)
- 21st Operational Medical Readiness Squadron (21 OMRS)
- 4th Space Control Squadron(4 SCS)
- 5th Space Control Squadron(5 SCS)
- 16th Space Control Squadron(16 SCS)
- 721st Operations Support Squadron (721 OSS)
- 821st Support Squadron (821 SPTS)
- 821st Security Forces Squadron (821 SFS)
21st Comptroller Squadron (21 CPTS)
Shield
The 21st Space Wing shield was approved for use on 23 July 1957. The blue shield represents the sky, which is the 21st Space Wing's area of operations. The upraised sword represents the strength and readiness of the 21st Space Wing to perform its mission, in both peace and war. The lightning is symbol of the heavens beyond and the power of the 21st Space Wing. The blue, red, and yellow signify the three original fighter squadrons of the 21st Fighter-Bomber wing. The motto of the 21st Space Wing, "Strength and Preparedness" was derived from the original motto of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, "Fortitudo et Preparatio."[6]
History
21st Fighter-Bomber Wing (1953–1958)
On 1 January 1953 the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing (21 FBW) was activated as a part of
In September and October 1953, each of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing's squadrons rotated through a two-week arctic indoctrination program at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska to prepare it for winter warfare operations. The 21st FBW also participated in defense diplomacy, sending six of its F-86F Sabres to participate in Project Willtour, visiting twelve different Central American, South American, and Caribbean states and performing joint training with their armed forces. In April and May 1954 the 21 FBW conducted Operation Boxkite, an exercise at North Field, South Carolina, which was designed to test the ability of a tactical wing to deploy to a forward base and sustain combat operations for thirty days.[6]
On 22 June 1954 it was announced that the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing would be transferred to Europe to reinforce
In Europe the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing conduced close air support exercises with
Among the pilots of the 21st Fighter-Bomber wing was then First Lieutenant Michael Collins, who would later go on to become a NASA astronaut on Apollo 11, the first crewed mission to the Moon.[6]
On 8 February 1958 the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing was inactivated, with its assets distributed to various USAFE units.[6]
21st Tactical Fighter Wing (1958–1960)
On 1 July 1958 the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing (21 TFW) was reactivated at
The 21st Tactical Fighter Wing was tasked, along with the
Even with two units transitioning to different platforms, the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing still managed to achieve an "Excellent" rating in the Fifth Air Force's tactical evaluation and operational readiness inspection in August and September 1959, achieving the best bomb score average in the history of the Fifth Air Force. These training successes were repeated in operations, with the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing regularly intercepting Soviet Air Forces Tupolev Tu-16 Badger and Myasishchev M-4 Bison bombers encroaching on Japanese airspace, with First Lieutenant Charles Ferguson of the 531st Fighter Squadron achieving the first ever interception of a M-4 Bison bomber on 1 October 1959 and others taking valuable air-to-air photos of the Tu-16 Badger bomber for Air Force intelligence.[6]
In addition to conducting air defense operations, the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing also deployed forces to South Korea, deterring North Korea from resuming hostilities. On 7 August 1959, two F-100D's from the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron conducted the first transpolar flight by American jet aircraft, flying from Weathersfield, England to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. On 18 June 1960 the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated again, due to the United States placing a limit on the amount of fighter wings in the Air Force, resulting in a reorganization of Fifth Air Force. The assets of the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing were transferred among the rest of the assets of the 39th Air Division.[6]
21st Composite Wing (1966–1979), 21st Tactical Fighter Wing (1979–1991), and 21st Wing (1991)
On 8 July 1966 the 21st Composite Wing (21 CW) was reactivated at
The air defense mission was carried out by the
The technologically outdated F-102s were starting to become ineffective against
In 1975 the 21st Composite Wing was divested of its helicopter and transport forces and inactivated the 5021st Helicopter Squadron, which were realigned under Military Airlift Command across the Air Force, however the 21 CW gained two airbase wings and responsibility for all of Alaska's air control and missile and space warning sites.[6]
In 1977 the
On 1 October 1979 the 21st Composite Wing was redesignated as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing (21 TFW), reorganizing it along the lines of a standard tactical fighter wing in response to a study initiated by its commander, Colonel Michael Nelson. All of the aircraft from the composite wing were dispersed to other units, except for its 40 F-4E fighters, 12 T-33 trainers, and a Beechcraft C-12 Huron. The F-4Es remained with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron and 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron, while the T-33s and C-12 were assigned to the newly activated 5021st Tactical Operations Squadron. F-4Es from the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to Chongju Air Base, South Korea to participate in Exercise Team Spirit with the Republic of Korea Air Force. The 21st Tactical Fighter Wing also practiced dissimilar air combat training starting in March 1980, while also conducting combat air patrols, air interdiction operations, and composite force tactics training.[6]
In March 1980, the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing received its first
In May 1987, the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing received its first F-15C and F-15D Eagles, with the D variants replacing the T-33 as the unit's trainer and resulting in the inactivation of the 5021 Tactical Operations Squadron in 1988. The 21st Tactical Fighter Wing also hosted numerous dignitaries, such as
In 1990, Alaskan Air Command became
In 1991 the Air Force directed the implementation of the one wing, one base policy resulting in the redesignation of the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing as the 21st Wing (21 WG) on 26 September 1991, in preparation for its inactivation on 19 December 1991. It's flying units were consolidated under the 3rd Wing.[6]
21st Space Wing (1992–present)
On 15 May 1992, the 21st Space Wing (21 SW) was reactivated at
The 21st Space Wing's primary mission was
In addition to these space systems, the 21st Space Wing operated a number of terrestrial radar sites, spread across the world. The
In April 1995 the 21st Space Wing gained the 721st Space Group, which would later be redesignated the 721st Support Group, and in 2002 the 721st Mission Support Group, which oversaw operations at
Due to the obsolescence of passive radar systems, the Deep Space Tracking System and Low Altitude Space Surveillance System was decommission, with 1 SPSS inactivating in 1995, 17 SPSS inactivating in 1996, Detachment 1 at Osan AB inactivating in 1997, 5 SPSS inactivating in January 2002, and 3 SPSS inactivating in February 2002. 19 SPSS and its Turkish radar site was inactivated in 1999. The 721st Mobile Command and Control Squadron was inactivated in 1998, but reactivated as the
In 1996, the 821st Space Group at
During the
The 21st Space Wing began to focus more on counter-space capabilities, assuming the space control mission. In 2000, it activated the
As the space control mission grew, so did the requirement for space situational awareness. To this end, the four detachments of the 21st Operations Group, worked with the
As part of the Air Force's manpower reductions, in July 2004 the
In April 2013, the
The 21st Space Wing also earned numerous awards, including the General Robert T. Herres Award for Best Space Wing in and General Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. Award for Air Force Space Command's Best Operational Wing in 2013. The 21st Space Wing also made increased strides in activating the new
On 20 December 2019 the 21st Space Wing, along with the rest of Air Force Space Command became part of the
Commanders
Commander, 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Colonel James B. Buck | 1 January 1953 | 27 April 1953 | 116 days | |
2 | Colonel Robert R. Rowland | 27 April 1953 | 29 June 1956 | 3 years, 63 days | |
3 | Colonel Robert N. Baker | 29 June 1956 | 8 February 1958 | 1 year, 224 days |
Commander, 21st Tactical Fighter Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Colonel Frank J. Collins | 1 July 1958 | 21 April 1959 | 294 days | |
2 | Colonel William W. Ingenhutt | 21 April 1959 | 28 September 1959 | 221 days | |
3 | Colonel Dean Davenport | 28 September 1959 | 18 June 1960 | 203 days |
Commander, 21st Composite Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Colonel Donald H. Lynch | 8 July 1966 | 30 June 1968 | 1 year, 358 days | |
2 | Colonel Charles W. Johnson, Jr. | 30 June 1968 | 23 September 1969 | 1 year, 146 days | |
3 | Colonel Kenneth D. Dunaway | 23 September 1969 | 15 January 1970 | 53 days | |
4 | Colonel John A. Nelson | 15 January 1970 | 1 September 1970 | 290 days | |
5 | Colonel Kenneth D. Dunaway | 1 September 1970 | 23 July 1971 | 264 days | |
6 | Colonel James R. Larkins | 23 July 1971 | 9 August 1971 | 17 days | |
7 | Colonel James R. Brickel | 9 August 1971 | 12 July 1972 | 338 days | |
8 | Colonel David T. Stockman | 12 July 1972 | 4 June 1973 | 327 days | |
9 | Colonel Charles F. Loyd | 4 June 1973 | 1 July 1974 | 1 year, 27 days | |
10 | Colonel Fredrick C. Eaton | 1 July 1974 | 1 July 1975 | 1 year, 0 days | |
11 | Colonel Edward L. Tixier | 1 July 1975 | 29 April 1977 | 1 year, 302 days | |
12 | Colonel John T. Wotring | 29 April 1977 | 16 April 1979 | 1 year, 352 days | |
13 | Colonel Michael A. Nelson | 16 April 1979 | 1 October 1979 | 168 days |
Commander, 21st Tactical Fighter Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Colonel Michael A. Nelson | 1 October 1979 | 20 February 1981 | 1 year, 142 days | |
2 | Colonel Jerry D. Cobb | 20 February 1981 | 15 April 1982 | 1 year, 54 days | |
- | Colonel Robert W. Hibarger Acting | 15 April 1982 | 22 April 1982 | 7 days | |
3 | Colonel Evan J. Griffith, Jr. | 22 April 1982 | 16 April 1984 | 2 years, 1 day | |
4 | Colonel Wilfred K. Abbott | 16 April 1984 | 10 July 1984 | 55 days | |
5 | Colonel Pat R. Paxton | 10 July 1984 | 19 March 1985 | 282 days | |
6 | Colonel William R. Povilus | 19 March 1985 | 17 October 1986 | 1 year, 212 days | |
7 | Colonel Stuart L. Alton | 17 October 1986 | 23 August 1988 | 1 year, 311 days | |
9 | Colonel Harold S. Storer, Jr. | 23 August 1988 | 20 March 1990 | 1 year, 209 days | |
10 | Colonel Donald J. Creighton | 20 March 1990 | 26 September 1991 | 1 year, 251 days |
Commander, 21st Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Colonel Rodney P. Kelly Acting | 26 September 1991 | 20 December 1991 | 24 days | |
2 | Colonel Donald J. Creighton | 20 December 1991 | 2 February 1992 | 44 days |
Commander, 21st Space Wing
No. | Commander[6] | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Ronald D. Gray | Brigadier General15 May 1992 | 1 September 1993 | 1 year, 109 days | |
2 | Donald G. Cook | Brigadier General1 September 1993 | 10 January 1995 | 1 year, 131 days | |
3 | Gerald F. Perryman Jr. | Brigadier General10 January 1995 | 7 June 1996 | 1 year, 149 days | |
4 | Franklin J. Blaisdell | Brigadier General7 June 1996 | 19 June 1998 | 2 years, 12 days | |
5 | Jerry M. Drennan | Brigadier General19 June 1998 | 22 August 2000 | 2 years, 64 days | |
6 | C. Robert Kehler | Brigadier General22 August 2000 | 15 May 2002 | 1 year, 266 days | |
7 | Duane W. Deal | Brigadier General15 May 2002 | 11 March 2004 | 1 year, 301 days | |
8 | Richard E. Webber | Brigadier General11 March 2004 | 10 November 2005 | 1 year, 244 days | |
9 | Jay G. Santee | Colonel10 November 2005 | 28 June 2007 | 1 year, 230 days | |
10 | John W. Raymond | Colonel28 June 2007 | 20 August 2009 | 2 years, 53 days | |
11 | 20 August 2009 | 28 June 2011 | 1 year, 312 days | ||
12 | Chris D. Crawford | Colonel28 June 2011 | 26 July 2013 | 2 years, 28 days | |
13 | John E. Shaw | Brigadier General26 July 2013 | 12 June 2015 | 1 year, 321 days | |
14 | 12 June 2015 | 11 July 2017 | 2 years, 29 days | ||
15 | Todd R. Moore[8] | Colonel11 July 2017 | 10 July 2019 | 1 year, 364 days | |
16 | Thomas G. Falzarano[9] | Colonel10 July 2019 | 12 May 2020 | 307 days | |
17 | Sam Johnson[10] | Colonel12 May 2020 | 24 July 2020 | 73 days |
References
- ^ a b "Space Force begins transition into field organizational structure".
- ^ a b "Welcome to the 21st Space Wing". Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "21 Space Wing (AFSPC)". Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "21st Space Wing Fact Sheet". Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Units of the 21st Space Wing". Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "21st Space Wing Heritage Pamphlet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Chiles, Cody (30 December 2019). "14th Air Force redesignated as Space Operations Command". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Welcome Col. Moore". 18 July 2017.
- ^ "Guidon passed as 21st Space Wing changes command". 15 July 2019.
- ^ "Team Pete mourns unexpected death of wing commander". 18 May 2020.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency