81st Training Wing, US Air Force

81ST TRAINING WING, US AIR FORCE

History: Established as 81 Fighter Wing on 15 April 1948. Activated on 1 May 1948. Redesignated as: 81 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 January 1950; 81 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 April 1954; 81 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958. Inactivated on 1 July 1993. Redesignated as 81 Training Wing, and activated, on 1 July 1993. he 81 Fighter Wing conducted air defense of Hawaii, December 1948-May 1949, then became part of Western Air Defense Force's air defense structure in November 1949. From 1951 to mid-1954, it worked with Royal Air Force Fighter Command to provide air defense in England. The wing changed in 1954 from fighter-interceptor to fighter-bomber operations, carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. Charged with tactical operations in support of USAFE and NATO, with air defense as a secondary mission, 1954-1979 and 1988-1990. Also operated out of RAF Woodbridge, 1958-1993. The wing began conversion to A-10s in late 1978, as its mission changed to close air support and battlefield air interdiction in support of NATO ground forces. It conducted joint operations with US and British ground forces and participated in rotational deployments to specified wartime operating locations throughout Europe. It won the A-10 category of the 1987 USAF Gunsmoke Gunnery meet. It added the 527 Aggressor Squadron, flying F-16s in 1988, to provide the only Dissimilar Aircraft Combat Tactics training for USAFE and NATO pilots in Europe, from July 1988 to September 1990. The wing conducted escort missions with A-10s for Coalition airlift forces during relief efforts in Turkey and northern Iraq, 6 April 1991-8 December 1992. Began preparation for base closure in December 1992, ending flying operations on 1 April 1993. The 81 Training Wing replaced Keesler Training Center in July 1993, taking on the mission of specialized technical training in electronics, avionics, computers, operations, maintenance, weather, radar, precision measurement, network controllers, and personnel and information management for USAF, AF Reserve, Air National Guard, other DoD agencies, and foreign nations. Keesler AFB received severe damage from Hurricane Katrina on 29 August 2005. The wing's relief and recovery mission, Operation Dragon Comeback, restored the base to full mission readiness within a month.

(Historical - 81st Fighter Group)

(Modern)

Official blazon

81st Fighter Group: Or a dragon salient wings displayed and addorsed Azure, armed and langued Gules incensed proper, building in its dexter claw a stylized Boll weevil Sable. Approved 2 March 1943.

Origin/meaning

The Emblem was approved on 14 May 1956.

Literature: 81st Fighter Group from Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/