388th Fighter Wing, US Air Force
388TH FIGHTER WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 388 Fighter-Day Wing on 23 March 1953. Redesignated as 388 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 5 November 1953. Activated on 23 November 1953. Inactivated on 10 December 1957. Redesignated as 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 1 May 1962. Organized on 1 October 1962. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 February 1964. Activated on 14 March 1966. Organized on 8 April 1966. Redesignated as 388 Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991. Trained as a fighter-bomber wing, February–October 1954. Moved overseas in November–December 1954 with elements operating at four European bases. Participated in NATO operations and exercises, December 1954–December 1957. Trained for fighter-bomber operations, October 1962–January 1964. Replaced 6234 Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand in April 1966. Flew combat missions in Southeast Asia, April 1966–August 1973. Primarily conducted interdiction, direct air support, armed reconnaissance, and fighter escort missions. In 1967, concentrated on key logistical and industrial targets in North Vietnam. Added a variety of other special-purpose aircraft and related missions as the war progressed. Following the final ceasefire in August 1973, entered into intensive training program to maintain combat readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and intelligence missions. Provided air cover and escort during the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and of Americans and selected Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, in April 1975. Participated in the rescue of the crew and recovery of the S.S. Mayaguez from the Cambodians in May 1975. Ceased all aircraft operations in November 1975 and moved in name only in December 1975, replacing a holding unit—Det 1, 67 Combat Support Group. In January 1976, began participation in training missions and numerous exercises in a variety of offensive tactical situations. First wing to be equipped with the F–16 Fighting Falcon, on 6 January 1979. During initial stages of conversion, trained F–16 instructor pilots and provided replacement training for new F–16 pilots. Thereafter trained for war readiness at US and NATO locations. Won the USAF Worldwide Gunsmoke Fighter Gunnery Meet in 1987. Deployed two squadrons to Southwest Asia for training and combat operations, 28 August 1990–27 March 1991. A number of wing aircraft deployed to Spain as attrition reserves, January–December 1991; later, deployed to Southwest Asia to protect Coalition assets and ensure that Iraq complied with treaty terms, December 1991. Conducted and participated in various tactical exercises, in air-to-ground and air-to-air roles, worldwide. Routinely deployed operational elements to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH for the enforcement of no-fly zones over Iraq from 1992-2003. Trained personnel and equipment for a continuous sequence of Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployments, 2004-.
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Origin/meaning
The Emblem was approved on 11 March 1955; newest rendition approved on 17 January 2008.
Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons, Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/
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