History of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing


Lineage:
Established as 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Nov 1952.
Activated on 1 Jan 1953.
Redesignated 366th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Jul 1958.
Inactivated on 1 Apr 1959.
Activated on 30 Apr 1962.
Organized on 8 May 1962.
Redesignated 366th Wing on 1 Oct 1991.

Assignments:
Ninth Air Force, 1 Jan 1953 (attached to Nineteenth Air Force, 15 Feb 1956 24 Sep 1957)
834th Air Division, 25 Sep 19571 Apr 1959.
United States Air Forces in Europe, 30 Apr 1962
Seventeenth Air Force, 8 May 1962
Twelfth Air Force, 12 Jul 1963
832d Air Division, 1 Oct 1964
2d Air Division, 20 Mar 1966
Seventh Air Force, 1 Apr 1966
Thirteenth Air Force, 27 Jun 1972
832d Air Division, 31 Oct 1972
Twelfth Air Force, 1 Jul 1975.

Components:

Groups: 366th Fighter-Bomber (later, 366th Operations): 1 Jan 195325 Sep 1957; 1 Mar 1992. 401st Fighter-Bomber: attached 5 Feb 195425 Sep 1957.

Squadrons: 4th Tactical Fighter: 12 Apr 196931 Oct 1972 (detached 29 31 Oct 1972). 20th Tactical Air

Support: 15 Mar27 Jun 1972. 35th Tactical Fighter: attached 3 Apr12 Jun 1972. 352d Tactical Fighter: 15 Aug10 -Oct 1966. 362d Tactical Electronic Warfare: 1 Feb27- Jun 1972. 388th Tactical Fighter Training (later, 388th Electronic Combat): 1 Jul 1977-30 Sep 1979; 1 Jul 1981-15 Dec 1982. 389th Fighter-Bomber (later, 389th Tactical Fighter; 389th Tactical Fighter Training): 25 Sep 1957-1 Apr 1959 (detached 25 Sep22 Dec 1957); 8 May 1962-15 Jun 1969 (detached 15 Sep-16 Dec 1965); 31 Oct 1972-22 Jul 1991 (detached 16 Sep-5 Oct 1976). 390th Fighter-Bomber (later, 390th Tactical Fighter; 390th Electronic Combat): 25 Sep 1957-1 Apr 1959; 8 May 1962-29 Oct 1965; 10 Oct 1966-30 Jun 1972; 31 Oct 1972-1 Oct 1982 (detached 19 Aug-16 Sep 1976); 15 Dec 1982-1 Mar 1992. 391st Fighter-Bomber (later, 391st Tactical Fighter): 25 Sep 1957-1 Apr 1959; 8 May 1962-26 Jan 1966; 31 Oct 1972-1 Jul 1990. 420th Air Refueling, Fighter-Bomber: attached 18 Mar 1954-22 Sep 1955. 421st Tactical Fighter: 16 Apr 196931 May 1972 (detached 23 Apr 25 Jun 1969). 480th Fighter-Bomber (later, 480th Tactical Fighter): 25 Sep 1957-1 Apr 1959; 8 May 1962-1 Feb 1966; 10 Oct 1966-15 Apr 1969. 614th Tactical Fighter: 18 Sep-10 Oct 1966. 615th Tactical Fighter: 16 Jul 10- Oct 1966. 622d Air Refueling, Fighter-Bomber: attached 18 Jul 1955 -1 Jul 1958.

Detachment: Det 1, 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 15 May 10 Oct 1966.

Stations: Alexandria (later, England) AFB, LA, 1 Jan 19531 Apr 1959. Chaumont AB, France, 8 May 196215 Jul 1963; Holloman AFB, NM, 15 Jul 196311 Mar 1966; Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 20 Mar 1966; Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, 10 Oct 1966; Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 27 Jun31 Oct 1972; Mountain Home AFB, ID, 31 Oct 1972.

Commanders: Col Reginald F. C. Vance, 1 Jan 1953; Col William A. Daniel, 14 Jul 1953; Col Victor E. Warford, 29 Aug 1957; Col Clyde B. Slocumb, Jr., 25 Sep 1957; Lt Col David N. Harmon, 1 Jun 1958; Col Robert J. Rogers, 17 Jul 1958; Lt Col Frank L. McGuinness, 6 Mar 1959; Col Robert J. Rogers, 23 Mar1 Apr 1959. None (not manned), 30 Apr7 May 1962; Col James S. Coward, 8 May 1962; Col George S. Weart, 12 Mar 1964; Col Frank J. Collins, 16 Mar 1964; Col George S. Weart, 7 Jul 1965; Col Carlos M. Talbott, 15 Jul 1965; Col George S. Weart, May 1966; Col Allan P. Rankin, 10 Oct 1966; Col Jones E. Bolt, 20 Mar 1967; Col Robert W. Maloy, 27 May 1967; Col Clifford H. Meier, 19 Dec 1967; Col Paul C. Watson, 17 Jan 1968; Col John W. Roberts, 2 Jan 1969; Col Edward H. Risher, 19 Apr 1969 (temporary); Brig Gen John W. Roberts, 4 May 1969; Col Joseph C. Secino, 1 Oct 1969; Col Daniel C. Perry, 19 Sep 1970; Col John R. Spalding, Jr., 18 Feb 1971; Col Julian D. Sawyer, 7 Jul 1971; Col George W. Rutter, 22 Mar 1972; Col Lynwood E. Clark, 31 Oct 1972; Brig Gen Howard W. Leaf, 15 May 1973; Col Robert K. Parsons, 12 Jul 1974; Col Samuel Huser, 2 Jun 1976; Col John L. Pickitt, 8 Jan 1977; Col Von R. Christiansen, 17 Jul 1978; Col Jerry D. Holmes, 11 Aug 1980; Col Earnest L. Coleman, 2 Jul 1981; Col Loren D. Eastburn, 8 Oct 1982 (temporary), 26 Oct 1982 (permanent); Col Malcolm B. Armstrong, 10 Apr 1984; Col Dennis C. Sammer, 16 Dec 1985; Col Richard G. Hellier, 14 Aug 1987; Col Victor C. Andrews, 24 Mar 1989; Brig Gen William S. Hinton, Jr., 25 Jul 1991; Brig Gen David J. McCloud, 23 Jun 1993.

Aircraft: F51, 1953; F86, 19531955, 1956; F84, 19541958; KB29, 19541957; KB50, 19571958; F100, 19571959. F84, 19621965; F100, 1963, 1966; F4, 19651972; EC47, 1972; O2, 1972; OV10, 1972; F111, 19721991; EF111, 19811992; F15, 1991; F16, 1991; KC135, 1992; B52, 1992.

Operations: Replaced the 132d Fighter-Bomber Wing when activated in Jan 1953. Trained to maintain combat proficiency. Conducted air refueling, Sep 1954 Jul 1958. Rotated tactical squadrons to France, 19541956, and to Italy, 19551957. Served as conventional strike force in Europe, 19621963. Moved to the United States in Jul 1963 and converted to F4 aircraft in 1965. Moved to Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, in Mar 1966 for combat operations. In addition to its F4 squadrons, also controlled several F100 squadrons in 1966. On 10 Oct 1966, wing designation moved "on paper" to Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, giving the 366th new personnel, equipment, and facilities. By early 1967, many of the wing's combat missions involved flying cover for F105 strike aircraft, offering numerous opportunities for aerial combat with North Vietnamese MiG aircraft. Wing pilots scored 18 aerial victories in Southeast Asia. In 1972, gained the 362d TEWS, equipped with EC47N/P/Q aircraft, and 20th TASS, flying O2A and OV10A aircraft. The former was assigned an electronic countermeasures mission; the latter carried out a forward air control mission. Moved to Thailand in Jun 1972 with little change in combat missions; aircraft now limited to F4s. Continued combat operations until moved without personnel or equipment to the United States in Oct 1972. Replaced the 347th TFW at Mountain Home AFB, ID, becoming operational with F111F aircraft. In 1977, in a three-way switch of aircraft, transferred F111Fs to a wing in England and gained F111A aircraft from a wing at Nellis AFB, NV. Thereafter, in addition to a wartime strike/ interdiction mission, the wing also trained replacement aircrews for the USAF's F111A community. Acquired electronics countermeasures capabilities with addition of EF111A radar jamming aircraft in late 1981. Operated an electronic combat range and provided mobile electronic range support for exercises held by other units. In Dec 1989, deployed EF111A aircraft to support to USAF units involved in the invasion of Panama. The 366th also deployed EF111A aircraft and maintenance support personnel to Saudi Arabia in AugSep 1990, and it conducted extensive electronic warfare operations in Southwest Asia. In the summer of 1991, the wing relinquished its F111A aircraft and the accompanying replacement crew training role; its complement of EF111A aircraft departed the following year. In the meantime, the 366th transitioned to the composite wing concept, beginning with the introduction of F16C/D fighter and F15E strike fighter aircraft in the fall of 1991, adding F15C fighters and KC135R tankers in mid-1992. A squadron of B52G bombers was also assigned in Jul 1992, although the unit remained physically located at Castle AFB, CA.

Honors:

Service Streamers: None.

Campaign Streamers: Vietnam: Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: None.

Decorations: Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 23 Apr1 Aug 1967; 1 Apr 31 Oct 1972. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 10 Oct 1966-31 Mar 1967; 1 Apr 1967-31 Mar 1968; 1 Apr 1968-31 Jul 1969; 1 Aug 1969-1 Aug 1970; 2 Aug 1970-31 Mar 1972; Air Force

Outstanding Unit Awards: 17 Apr 1974-15 Apr 1976; 18 Aug-16 Sep 1976; 16 Apr 1976-27 Mar 1978; 1 Apr 1984-31 May 1985; 1 Mar 1989-28 Feb 1991. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-31 Oct 1972.

Bestowed Honors: Authorized to display honors earned by the 366th Operations Group prior to 1 Jan 1953.

Service Streamers: None.

Campaign Streamers: World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Normandy, 11 Jul 1944. Citations in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 1 Oct-17 Dec 1944; 18 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere