48th Fighter Wing, US Air Force
48TH FIGHTER WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 48 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 June 1952. Activated on 10 July 1952. Redesignated as: 48 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958; 48 Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991. 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. June–November 1953 and July 1954–October 1956. Its mission was limited because it was equipped with very few aircraft, February 1972–July 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, August 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, Septmeber 1991–June 1992, flying air suppression missions to enforce Iraq’s compliance with U.N. treaty terms. Transitioning to F–15E aircraft, February–December 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-.
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Origin/meaning
The Emblem was approved on 5 July 1962, modified on 21 November 1994; replaced emblem approved on 20 March 1953; newest rendition approved on 15 June 2007.
Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons
. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/