52nd Fighter Wing [52nd FW]
The 52nd Fighter Wing is the largest fighter operation in Germany and the most versatile wing in U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with three fighter squadrons and an air control squadron. The mission of the 52nd Fighter Wing is to be constantly ready to deploy/employ expertly trained, well-equipped forces to achieve U.S./NATO objectives through suppression, interdiction and close air support, as well as maintenance and support of tactical operations. The wing is the only active-duty Air Force wing to have an air control squadron assigned, the 606th ACS.
In 1990, there were 30 major USAFE installations and an equivalent of 30 fighter squadrons spread from England to Turkey. Left today: six main bases and nine fighter squadrons, with Spangdahlem remaining as the only U.S. fighter wing in Germany. As one of only three USAFE fighter wings and owner of almost half of the command's fighter squadrons, the 52nd FW finds itself as a frequent sparring partner. On a typical day in the late 1990s, 12 percent of Spangdahlem's 5,700 people and nearly a third of its 72 fighter aircraft are deployed for either real-world or training missions. In 1997 it simultaneously supported two contingencies, played in three major NATO exercises and deployed for some 20 training exercises.
Although the wing has a long history, the present day 52nd FW took shape Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Dec. 31, 1971. Upon activation, the 52nd possessed both F-4D Phantom II and EB-66 Destroyer aircraft. The EB-66 airplanes departed in January 1973, but the wing received a squadron of F-4C Wild Weasel airplanes in the same month. By mid 1982, the unit had exchanged its contingent of F-4C and F-4D airplanes for more advanced F-4E and F-4G fighters. The 52nd FW became the first all-defense suppression wing outside the continental United States in November 1983. Under this configuration, each of the wing's three fighter squadrons flew a mixture of F-4E and G model fighters. The airplanes were paired into Wild Weasel hunter/killer teams capable of locating and destroying enemy radar-guided, surface-to-air threats.
In April 1987, the wing began replacing its aging F-4E fighters with brand new F-16C/D airplanes straight from the General Dynamics production line in Fort Worth, Texas. The last E model aircraft departed Spangdahlem Air Base in December 1987.
With this changeover, the 52nd FW secured a place in Air Force history by becoming the first wing to successfully employ two completely different fighters in a hunter/killer role within each of its fighter squadrons. These versatile airplanes echoed the wing's motto "Seek, Attack, Destroy" and enabled the unit to fulfill its unique mission of providing lethal defense suppression in support of NATO and U.S. forces.
In August 1990, the 52nd was the first 17th Air Force unit to deploy to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Shield. During Operation Desert Storm, the wing deployed 24 F-4G aircraft to Bahrain, and 12 F-4G and 12 F-16C aircraft deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Along with aircraft, the wing deployed more than 1,300 people and 13 million pounds of equipment. The wing is proud it lost no aircraft or people to enemy fire during the war. The 52nd was credited with flying more than 3,900 sorties and 7,200 combat hours while recording 142 radar site kills during 40 days of combat.
With the 1993 restructuring of the Air Force, the 52nd reconfigured its fighter squadrons. Both the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons were assigned the F-16 aircraft while the 81st Fighter Squadron employed A/OA-10 aircraft. Also, the 53rd FS relocated and brought it’s F-15C aircraft from the former Bitburg Air Base to Spangdahlem on Feb. 25 1994. The 52nd Fighter Wing had four fighter squadrons and one air control squadron assigned. Both the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons flew the F-16 Flying Falcon, the 53rd Fighter Squadron flew the F-15 Eagle, and the 81st Fighter Squadron flew the A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II. Each unit had 18 aircraft assigned.
In March 1999, the 53rd FS inactivated and its aircraft were sent to RAF Lakenheath, England and Langley AFB, Va. The inactivation was part of the Air Force’s realignment of assets and bringing fighter squadrons from 18 primary assigned aircraft to 24 aircraft. The wing has been continually involved, supporting two contingency operations in both Iraq and Bosnia.
Since the end of the Gulf War, the wing has had F-4Gs, A-10s, F-16s and F-15s deployed to Incirlik AB, in support of Operation Provide Comfort and now Operation Northern Watch. Since July 1993, the wing has had A-10, F-15 and F-16 aircraft deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, in support of Operation Deliberate Forge. This operation enforces a no-fly zone over Bosnia.
Both operations are ongoing and the 52nd FW has people and aircraft deployed to both locations today.
If airpower was the sword that drove the Serbs to the bargaining table during the conflict in Kosovo, then the men and women of the 52nd Air Expeditionary Wing were the sharp edges of the sword. Comprised of more than 4,900 people, five operating locations, four expeditionary operations groups and three major weapons systems, the wing played a significant role in bring an end to the 78 day conflict. The “Stingers” of the 22 nd FS flew a total of 632 combat sorties and 2,991 flying hours. The “Fighting Hawks” of the 23 rd FS flew 802 sorties in 3,662 flying hours, while the “Panthers” of the 81st flew 1,181 sorties in 4,705 flying hours. The F-117’s assigned to the 52nd AEW flew 315 combat sorties during the campaign.
In October 1998 approximately six A-10 Thunderbolt II, 30 F-16CJ and 15 F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft and more than 700 airmen from the 52nd Fighter Wing deployed to a forward location in support of possible NATO contingency operations in Kosovo. The A/OA-10A close air support aircraft were from the 81st Fighter Squadron. Known as the Panthers, they won the 1997 Commander in Chief's Trophy for USAFE's best fighter squadron. The F-16CJ multi-role fighter aircraft were assigned to the 22d Fighter Squadron, the Stingers; and the 23rd Fighter Squadron, the Fighting Hawks. The 23rd Fighter Squadron was the first in USAFE to have the HARM targeting system. Both the 22nd and the 23rd squadrons had recently returned from weapons training deployments in Zaragoza, Spain. The F-15C air superiority fighters are the 53rd Fighter Squadron NATO Tigers. The 53rd is the only stand-alone F-15 squadron in the Air Force. They had recently returned from Iceland where they performed air defense rotation support.
During Operation Allied Force, the 52nd Fighter Wing operated as the 52nd Air Expeditionary Wing with assets spread out between Germany and Italy in support of the Kosovo operation. Additional 52 FW units were deployed to Aviano Air Base and Lecce, Italy, assigned to the 31st Air Expeditionary Wing. April 6th, Spangdahlem Air Base made it’s mark in history--In support of NATO Operation Allied Force, F-16CJ and F-117 Stealth Fighters flew the first combat missions from Germany since the end of World War II.
The 52nd AEW consisted of four Expeditionary Operations Groups made up of seven expeditionary Fighter Squadrons of F-16CJ, A/OA Aircraft, and F-117A Stealth Fighters. Fifty-second aircraft flew more than 3,000 missions in support of Allied Force. AEW aircraft destroyed or disrupted critical lines of communications and re-supply routes, including bridges, road and rail routes. It also targeted military infrastructure and fielded forces. The 606th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron supported the campaign by providing control of airspace within the area of operation. During its participation, the unit controlled more than 4,500 tankers, receivers and defensive counter air missions totaling 8,500 missions over the Adriatic Sea and into the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
More than 120 52nd Fighter Wing members returned home 01 July 2001 after a two-week deployment to Konya, Turkey, for Anatolian Eagle. The multinational weapons training exercise was the first of its kind involving the US Air Force, primarily 22nd Fighter Squadron F-16CJs. Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron and Polygon Electronic Warfare Range, Ramstein Air Base, and the 4th Air Support Operations Group, Heidelburg, Germany, also participated.
