53rd Wing

53rd Wing
53rd Wing
	31st Test and Evaluation Squadron F-35 Lightning II
Active	1941–1944; 1955–1960; 1963–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Operational test and evaluation
Size	2100
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Eglin Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Defense by Offense (1941–1960)
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ; Organizational Excellence Award
Commanders
Current; commander	Colonel Matthew Bradley
Notable; commanders	Paul V. Hester ; Ronald Keys
Insignia
53d Wing emblem

The 53rd Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing reports to the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, which in turn reports to Headquarters Air Combat Command.

The 53d Wing serves as the focal point for the combat air forces in electronic warfare, armament and avionics, chemical defense, reconnaissance, and aircrew training devices. The wing is also responsible for operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these air forces. Current wing initiatives include advanced self-protection systems for combat aircraft, aircrew life support systems, aerial reconnaissance improvements, new armament and weapons delivery systems, and improved maintenance equipment and logistics support. The 53d Wing, which consists of four groups, numbers almost 2,000 military and civilians at 17 locations throughout the United States.

Units

53d Test and Evaluation Group

28th Test and Evaluation Squadron

59th Test and Evaluation Squadron

85th Test and Evaluation Squadron

88th Test and Evaluation Squadron

418th Test and Evaluation Squadron

422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron

556th Test and Evaluation Squadron

Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force

53d Weapons Evaluation Group

53d Test Support Squadron

81st Air Control Squadron

82d Aerial Targets Squadron

83d Fighter Weapons Squadron Combat Archer

86th Fighter Weapons Squadron Combat Hammer

753d Test and Evaluation Group^[2]

15th Test and Evaluation Squadron

29th Test and Evaluation Squadron

31st Test and Evaluation Squadron

49th Test and Evaluation Squadron

53rd Computer Systems Squadron

72d Test and Evaluation Squadron

337th Test and Evaluation Squadron

410th Test and Evaluation Squadron

417th Test and Evaluation Squadron

History

World War II

The group was activated in 1941 as the 53d Pursuit Group with the 13th,^[3] 14th,^[4] and 15th Pursuit Squadrons^[5] assigned.^[6] The 53d trained fighter pilots with Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft from its activation until December 1941.^[1]^[7] After the United States entered World War II the group moved to the Panama Canal Zone to fly patrols in defense of the Panama Canal.^[1] In conjunction with the move, the group converted to Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft.^[7] There it was redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group.^[6] The group returned to Florida in November 1942, where it became a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) training replacement fighter pilots. RTUs were oversized units whose mission was to train individual pilots or aircrews.^[8] It used P-39s until June 1943 and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts thereafter.^[7] In early 1943, the group added a fourth squadron, the 438th Fighter Squadron.^[9]

The AAF found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.^[10] The group was disbanded in as a result of this reorganization in 1944^[1] and its personnel, equipment and mission were assumed by the 338th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).^[11]

Cold War Air Defense

The group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense) and activated^[6] to replace the 521st Air Defense Group^[12] at Sioux City Municipal Airport as part of Air Defense Command's Project Arrow to bring back on the active list fighter units that had achieved memorable records in the two World Wars.^[13] The 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), already at Sioux City transferred from the 521st,^[4] while the 13th FIS moved to Sioux City to replace the 519th FIS.^[3] Both squadrons flew rocket armed and radar equipped F-86D Sabres.^[14] Between August 1955 and April 1960 the 53d served as an air defense unit, participating in North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) exercises and testing automated air defense systems.^[1] It also was the host organization for the USAF and was assigned several support units to carry out this function.^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18] In the fall of 1957 both of the group's squadrons upgraded their Sabres to F-86L models with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system.^[14] In July 1959 the 13th FIS moved to Glasgow AFB, Montana and was reassigned. The group and its remaining components were inactivated in 1960.^[1] In 1985, the group was redesignated as the 53d Tactical Fighter Group, but it was never active under that designation.^[1]

Test and Evaluation

The USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center was activated in 1963 to improve use of USAF tactical aviation in support of ground forces by operationally testing weapon systems and tactics for the joint U.S. Strike Command. It employed a cross-section of tactical aircraft from Tactical Air Command (TAC) bases across the country.^[1] During the Vietnam War it tested tactical weapons systems and tactics for use in Southeast Asia.^[1] After the war it continued operational testing of new tactical aviation weapon systems. In 1977 the center began an annual series of Air Force-wide exercises to improve command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) techniques.^[1] Around the same time it embarked on the electronic warfare evaluation program, and continued OT&E of aviation weapon systems for TAC and later Air Combat Command, the Department of Defense, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.^[1] From 1983 to present, responsible for the operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of all Air Force aircraft/weapons systems, and providing range control for live-firing missile programs on the Gulf range and aerial targets, using full scale and subscale drones.^[1] In September 1995, the 53d Tactical Fighter Group and USAF Air Warfare Center were consolidated and the consolidated unit was redesignated as the 53d Wing the following month.^[1]

In 2021 on the activation of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, the 53rd Electronic Warfare Group was inactivated, broken up, and its units transferred to the new wing.

Lineage

Group

Constituted as the 53d Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940

Activated on 15 January 1941

Redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group on 15 May 1942

Disbanded on 1 May 1944

Reconstituted and redesignated as the 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense), on 20 June 1955

Activated on 18 August 1955

Discontinued on 1 April 1960

Redesignated as the 53d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 31, 1985

Consolidated with the USAF Air Warfare Center on 25 September 1995 (consolidated unit designated the USAF Air Warfare Center)^[1]

Center

Designated and organized as the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center on 1 November 1963

Redesignated as the USAF Air Warfare Center on 1 October 1991

Consolidated with the 53d Tactical Fighter Group on 25 September 1995^[1]

Consolidated Wing

Redesignated as the 53d Wing on 1 October 1995^[1]

Assignments

22d Pursuit Wing, 15 January 1941
3d Interceptor (later III Fighter) Command, 2 October 1941
Caribbean (later, Sixth) Air Force, 1 January 1942
26th Interceptor (later, 26th Fighter, XXVI Fighter) Command, 6 March 1942
III Fighter Command, 26 November 1942 – 1 May 1944
31st Air Division, 18 August 1955
20th Air Division, 1 March 1956
Kansas City Air Defense Sector, 1 January 1960 – 1 April 1960
Tactical Air Command, 1 November 1963
Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992
United States Air Force Warfare Center, 1 October 1985 – present^[1]

Stations

MacDill Field, Florida, 15 January 1941
Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida, 8 May 1941 – 8 December 1941
Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone, 1 January 1942 – 10 November 1942
Dale Mabry Field, Florida, 26 November 1942
Drew Field, Tampa, Florida, 7 January 1943
Fort Myers Army Air Field (later Page Field, Florida, 6 February 1943 – 1 May 1944
Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa, 18 August 1955 – 1 April 1960)
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 1 November 1963 – present^[1]

Components

Wing

4485th Test Wing: 16 March 1964 – 30 June 1965

Groups

57th Test Group (later 53d Test Management): 1 November 1991 – 1 August 1997, 1 October 2002 – 1 October 2021^[2]
68th Electronic Combat Group (later 53d Electronic Warfare): 15 April 1993 - 25 June 2021
475th Weapons Evaluation Group (later 53d Weapons Evaluation): 23 January 1991 – present
753d Test and Evaluation Group: 1 October 2021 – present^[2]
4441st Tactical Training Group (Blue Flag) (later 41st Training Group): 1 March 1977 – 15 April 1993
4442d Tactical Control Group (later 505th Air Control, 505th Command and Control Evaluation): 1 March 1980 – 1 October 1997
4443d Test and Evaluation Group (later 79th Test and Evaluation, 53d Test and Evaluation): 1 July 1988 – present^[1]

Squadrons

Fighter Squadrons

13th Pursuit Squadron (later 13th Fighter Squadron, 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944; 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1957.
14th Pursuit Squadron (later 14th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944; 18 August 1955 – 1 April 1960.
15th Pursuit Squadron (later 15th Fighter Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944
438th Fighter Squadron: 20 February 1943 – 1 May 1944^[1]

Test Squadrons

31st Test and Evaluation Squadron: 1 June 1992 – 15 April 1993
49th Test Squadron: 1 June 1992 – 15 April 1993
513th Test Squadron: 1 June 1992 – 15 April 1993
727th Tactical Control Squadron (Test): 1 October 1979 – 1 March 1980
3907th Systems Evaluation Squadron: 1 June 1992 – 15 April 1993
4484th Fighter Weapons Squadron: 1 October 1978 – 1 June 1984
4484th Test Squadron: 15 October 1983 – 1 August 1988
4485th Test Squadron: 12 April 1971 – 1 August 1988
4486th Fighter Weapons Squadron: 1 October 1985 – 1 August 1988, later 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron
4487th Electronic Warfare Aggressor (later 87th Electronic Warfare Aggressor) Squadron: 1 October 1990 – 15 April 1993^[1]

Flight

15th Test Flight: 1 March 2016 – 1 October 2021^[19]

Support Units

53d USAF Infirmary^[15] (later 53d USAF Dispensary),^[16] 18 August 1955 – 1 April 1960
53d Air Base Squadron, 18 August 1955 – 1 April 1960
53d Materiel Squadron, 18 August 1955 – 1 April 1960^[18]
53d Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 July 1957 – 1 May 1959^[17]

Aircraft flown

P-35 (1941)
P-39 Airacobra (1942–1943)
P-40 Warhawk (1941)
P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1944)
P-51 Mustang (1943)
F-86 Sabre (1955–1959)
C-119 Flying Boxcar (1956, 1963–1973)
C-45 Expeditor (1957)
T-33 Shooting Star (1957, 1963–1973)
A-4 Skyhawk (1963–1973)
A-37 Dragonfly (1963–1973)
B-57 Canberra (1963–1973)

C-123 Provider (1963–1973)
C-124 Globemaster II (1963–1973)
H-3 Sea King (1963–1973)
CH-21 Shawnee (1963–1973)
F-100 Super Sabre (1963–1973)
F-101 Voodoo (1963–1973)
F-104 Starfighter (1963–1973)
F-105 Thunderchief (1963–1973)
O-1 Bird Dog (1963–1973)
OV-10 Bronco (1963–1973)
RB-66 Destroyer (1963–1973)
UH-1 Iroquois (1963–1973)

C-130 Hercules (1964–1974)
F-111 Aardvark (1968–1978)

F-86 Sabre (1955–1959)

RF-4 (1964–1994)
F-5 Freedom Fighter (1965–1978)
A-7 Corsair II (1972–1974)
AC-130 Spectre (1972–1978)
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (1976–present)
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (1978–present)
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (1978–present)
Boeing E-3 Sentry (1980)

SR-71 Blackbird (1986–89)
F-15 Strike Eagle (1988-present)
E-9 (1996–present)
F-117 Nighthawk (1996–2008)
HH-60 Pave Hawk (1996–present)^[1]
HC-130J Combat King II (2010–present)
F-22A Raptor (2010-present)
F-35A Lightning II (2014-present)
F-15EX Eagle II (2021-present)

Awards and campaigns

Award	Dates	Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 1998 – 31 May 2000	53d Wing^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2002 – 31 May 2004	53d Wing^[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2004 – 31 May 2006	53d Wing^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	1 January 1981 – 1 January 1983	53d Wing^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	28 February 1984 – 28 February 1986	USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	1 March 1986 – 28 February 1988	USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	1 January 1989 – 31 December 1990	USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	1 January 1992 – 31 December 1993	USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center^[1]
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award	1 January 1994 – 30 April 1995	USAF Air Warfare Center^[1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Antisubmarine	7 December 1941 – 10 November 1942	53d Pursuit Group (later 53d Fighter Group)^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ Aircraft is Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II, serial 09-5006.
^ Approved 26 May 1964.

Citations

^ ^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 Robertson, Patsy (24 February 2009). "Factsheet 53 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bray, Capt Savannah (1 October 2021). "53d Test Management Group now the 753d Test and Evaluation Group". 53rd Wing public Affairs. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 73
^ ^a ^b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 78
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 83–84
^ ^a ^b ^c Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 115–116
^ ^a ^b ^c "Abstract, History 53 Fighter Group 1941-1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
^ Craven & Cate, Vol. VI, p. xxxvi
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 543
^ Craven & Cate, p. 75
^ "Abstract, History Sections T and O 338 AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter)". Air Force History Index. 1 May 1944. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 82
^ Buss (ed), Sturm, Volan & McMullen, p. 6
^ ^a ^b Cornett & Johnson, p. 114
^ ^a ^b See "Abstract, History 53 Infirmary Jul-Dec 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Abstract, History 53 Infirmary Jul-Dec 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
^ ^a ^b Cornett & Johnson, p. 136
^ ^a ^b Cornett & Johnson, p. 145
^ Lahue, Melissa (14 December 2021). "Factsheet 15 Test and Evaluation Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 April 2022.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1956.
Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657.
Hagendorn, Dan (1995). Alae Supra Canalem: Wings Over the Canal. ingram Publishing Services. ISBN 978-1563111532.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.