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OPERATION ALLIED FORCE
31st Fighter Wing History
The 31st Fighter Wing was activated Feb. l, 1940, as the 31st Pursuit Group (PG) by the Army Air Corps at Selfridge Field, Mich. Comprised of two operational squadrons, the 39th and 40th Pursuit Squadrons (PS), its mission was interceptor training in both the P-35 and P-40 aircraft.
In September 1941, the group was reassigned to Bear Field, Ind., and following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, it was subsequently moved to Paine Field, Wash., to prepare for overseas movement. The following month, the 31st PG gained the predecessors of its current squadrons: the 307th, 308th, and 309th PSs . At the same time, the unit was redesignated as the 31st Fighter Group.
Five months later, the 31st FG rotated to Atcham AB, United Kingdom, to begin training in the British-built Spitfire fighter. On Aug. l9, 1942, 2nd Lt. Samuel Junkins of the 31st FG became the first American to shoot down a German aircraft operating over the British Isles . In October, the group was transferred to Gibraltar to assist in the invasion of North Africa. During that campaign, the group destroyed 51 enemy aircraft and damaged 38 more. The 31st FG remained in the Mediterranean theater for the remainder of the European conflict, joining in the invasions of Sicily, Italy, and southern France. In the summer of 1944, the group's Spitfires were replaced by the P-51 Mustangs.
The first of two Distinguished Unit Citations for the group was earned for its participation in the famous oil field bombing raids on Ploesti, Romania. The second was awarded following missions to Poland and the Soviet Union.
At the close of World War II, the group was inactivated at Drew Field, Fla. Inactivation was short as the 31 FG was reactivated at Giebelstadt, Germany, in August 1946, to serve as part of the occupation forces. In July 1947, the group was reassigned to Langley Field, Va., and became part of the new Tactical Air Command. Two months later, the group was moved without people or equipment, to Turner Field, Ga., and redesignated the 31st Fighter Wing.
By August 1948, the wing was operational and flying the F-84. During the Berlin Airlift, many of its members were temporarily assigned to Rhein-MainAB, Germany. On NewYear's Day, 1950, the 31st FW was again redesignated, as the 31st Fighter Bomber Wing. Following this change, the unit transferred from TAC to thestrategic Air Command. Six months later, the unit was again redesignated, becoming the 31st Fighter Escort Wing.
Col. David Schilling, 31st FEW commander, made aviation history Sept. 22, 1950, by becoming the first pilot to fly non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean in a jet aircraft. Colonel Schilling made the crossing from England to Maine in an F-84 and was handed the 1950 Harmon Trophy for his feat.
In September 1950, the 30th Fighter Bomber Squadron was activated and assigned to the 31st FEW.
In January 1953, the wing was once again renamed the 31st Fighter Bomber Wing and returned to TAC. On July 1, 1958, the 31st FBW became known as the 31st TFW and less than a year later transferred from its home at Turner to George AFB, Calif.
Thestay at George was short due to tensions building with Cuba in early 1962. At this time the 31st TFW moved from George to Homestead AFB, Fla., where - with the exception of aVietnam tour and short-term deployments elsewhere - it remained until 1993.
The 31st TFW's participation in military operations surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 brought the unit its second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Throughout the crisis, the 31st TFW kept updating its projected target listing andstood prepared tostrike at a moment's notice.
Aviation history was made by the 31st again when the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew 6,600 miles non-stop from Homestead AFB to Cigli AB, Turkey, Feb. 8, 1964. This was the longest mass flight of jet aircraft across the Atlantic using in-flight refuelling. For this effort, the wing was recognized with TAC ' s Outstanding Fighter Wing Award for 1964.
The wing's involvement with the Vietnam War began in June 1965, with the 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron being deployed to Bien Hoa AB, Republic of Vietnam. Six months later, the 308th TFS replaced the 308th at that site.
In 1966, the wing saw more overseas deployments with the 309th relieving the 306th at Cigli AB in January. In April, the 307th TFS had a permanent change-of-station move to Torrejon AB, Spain.
In November, the 308th TFS relocated from Bien Hoa to Tuy Hoa. Whilestationed in Vietnam, the wing was assigned to Pacific Air Command's 7th Air Force. The unit provided extensive air support during the 1968 Tet Offensive and also the siege of Khe Sahn in February 1968. By September 1968, the wing had flown more than 100,000 combat sorties against targets in Southeast Asia and garnered its third and fourth Outstanding Unit Awards.
Oct. 15, 1970, saw the 31st TFW return to Homestead AFB. Also, by this time the F-l00s had been replaced with thestate-of-the-art F-4 Phantom. In early 1972, elements of the wing returned to Southeast Asia with the 308th locating to Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. Replacing the 308th at Udorn, the 307th TFS recorded its first airvictory in the Vietnam conflict in October when two crew members shot down a MIG-21 aircraft northeast of Hanoi. The 307th TFS returned to Homestead AFB in November while the 308th rotated to Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, where it remained until the American presence wound down in Spring,1973.
In addition to the Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, the wing, during its Southeast Asia service, was recognized with a Presidential Citation, and two Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palms.
The wing's operational mission at Homestead continued through the mid- and late- 1970's. On March 30, 1981, the wing was handed a dual mission: In addition to its operational function, the unit would be responsible for training aircrews in the F-4. In recognition of their mission, the wing was redesignated the 31st Tactical Training Wing. It remained so until Oct. 1, 1985, when the 31st TTW once again became the 31st TFW.
In mid-1985, the wing began the process of converting from the F-4 Phantom to thestate-of-the-art F-16 Fighting Falcon. The final squadron, the 307th Tactical Training Squadron, was redesignated the 307th TFS March 25, 1988, and completed conversion to the F-16 that summer. Deployment for the fighter squadrons continued throughout l988 and l989, as evidenced by wing participation in Red Flag, Air Warrior, Combat Archer, and other local and command-generated exercises .
Conversion to the F-16 A/B aircraft began in the late summer of l985 and was completed in 1988 with the 31st FW having three operational F-16 squadrons. Due to Air Force restructuring and base closure related actions, the 307th TFS was slated for inactivation. Inactivation occurred April 28, 1989 with mission requirements, operational commitments, some aircraft and personnel transferring to the remaining F-16 squadrons, the 308th and 309th TFSs. The spring of l991 saw the wing upgrade from the F-16 A/B aircraft to the block 40 F-16 C/D models.
In 1991, base closure and realignment announcements allowed the 31st FW to become one of the few bases to gain assets during this cutback with the 307th TFS being reactivated bringing the wing back to three full fighter squadrons.
Summer 1992 brought the worst natural disaster to hit the Unitedstates, Hurricane Andrew. Immediately prior to thestorm, all 31st FW assets deployed to safe havens across the country finally settling at Moody AFB, Ga., and Shaw AFB, S .C. From the hurricane (August 1992) until June 1993, the 31st FW performed salvage and recovery functions. Assets totaling more than $900 million have been recovered to date. During the 1993 round of base closures and realignments, the wing/base was recommended for complete closure (March 1993) by the secretary of defense. However, following regional hearings in May, the BRAC Commission instead recommended realignment of the base and deactivation of the wing. In July l993, then Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. William Perry visited the base and announced the wing and base would become the Department of Defense's model closure/realignment facility.
Another chapter of the 31st FW's illustrious history concluded as the wing flag was furled and sheathed at the deactivation ceremony March 31, 1994, at Homestead AFB, Fla., and travelled across the Atlantic to its new home at Aviano AB, Italy.
The 31st FW reactivated at its new Italian home April 1, 1994. The wing is equipped with two fighter squadrons, the 555th and the 510th Fighter Squadrons. The squadrons maintain 36 F-16 C/D, Block 40 fighter aircraft. The wing is also responsible for the 603rd Air Control Squadron which provides command and control functions, air surveillance and communications. . From that day on the 31st FW was actively engaged in all the air activities inside the various UN and NATO operations over the balkan peninsula
The wing's mission is to provide support to 16th Air Force installations throughout Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey and is responsible for conducting air combat and combat support within Unitedstates Air Forces in Europe and NATO's Southern Region. (update August 1996)
(Aeromedia, maggio 1999)