58th Special Operations Wing


The 58th Special Operations Wing is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing is part of the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force.
The wing serves as the premiere training site for Air Force special operations, combat search, and rescue aircrews. It provides undergraduate, graduate, and refresher aircrew training for special operations, rescue, missile site support, and distinguished visitor airlift via helicopter, fixed-wing, and tilt-rotor operations. In total, the wing employs more than 1,800 personnel and trains over 2,000 students annually.

Mission

The mission of the 58th Special Operations Wing is to train mission-ready United States Air Force special operations, combat search and rescue, missile site support, and UH-1 Distinguished Visitor airlift crews. In addition, the wing conducts all survival, evasion, resistance, and escape training.
The wing operates eight different weapon systems: UH-1N, TH-1H, HH-60G, HH-60W, AC-130J, HC-130J, MC-130J, and CV-22, totaling more than 60 assigned aircraft. It teaches more than 100 courses in 18 different crew positions, including pilot, combat systems officer, flight engineer, communications system operator, loadmaster and special mission aviator. The wing also responds to worldwide contingencies and provides search and rescue support to the local community. Additionally, the 58th is responsible for training all SERE students for the Air Force.
The unit also provides personnel and airlift in response to crises around the world and assists civilian authorities in regional rescue operations. Supporting the 58th SOW training mission are approximately 2,000 military and civilian personnel administering over 90 training systems courses in 18 different crew positions. Assigned units are:
The 58th Operations Group is composed of six flying and two support squadrons, as well as three geographically separated pilot training units, one unit at Fort Rucker, Alabama, another unit at MCAS New River, North Carolina, and the third unit at Fairchild AFB, WA.
  • 58th Maintenance Group
  • 336 Training Group

    History

Bestowed History and Prehistory

Established as the 58 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 June 1952. Activated on 10 July 1952 in Japan absorbing the personnel and equipment of the Texas Air National Guard 136th Fighter-Bomber Group. It traces its roots directly back to the 58th Pursuit Group, established 20 November 1940 and activated 15 January 1941 in Michigan. It even displays their achievements and awards.

Korean War

The wing moved to K-2 Air Base, later known as Taegu Air Base, South Korea, in August 1952 where they provided close air support for United Nations ground forces. Often flying deep into North Korea's "MiG Alley," the 58th targeted airfields, railways, enemy positions, bridges, dams, electric power plants and vehicles. In 1952 and early 1953 the wing flew interdiction and close air support missions in as well as attacking special strategic targets such as military schools, dams, and port facilities. Having entered the war with slow, short-ranged Republic F-84D Thunderjets, the wing transitioned in late 1952 to the new F-84G model, designed with more speed and range. The wing attacked the major supply port of Sinuiju in September, inflicting heavy damage without loss of personnel or aircraft. Combining with other fighter-bomber units, it attacked the Kumgang Political School at Odong-ni, Kumgang County in October 1952 and the North Korean tank and infantry school at Kangso in February 1953.
Later, truce talks between North Korea and the United Nations stalled in the spring of 1953. As a result, the Air Force began attacking previously excluded targets in the north. On 13 May 1953, Thunderjets from the 58 FBW struck the Toksan Dam, near Pyongyang causing a massive flood. Floodwaters from the breached dam destroyed ten bridges, ruined several square miles of rice crops, flooded over 1,000 buildings and rendered the Sunan Airfield inoperable. Three days later, the wing attacked the Chosan irrigation dam with similar results. The Far East Air Forces commander later credited the 58 FBW by stating the destruction of the Toksan and Chosan irrigation dams resulted in the enemy coming to the truce talks in earnest. On 27 July 1953 it attacked runway at Kanggye and, with the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, bombed Sunan Airfield for the final action of the war. The wing earned a second DUC for its actions in the last three months of the war.
These missions were not easy and they came at a cost. By the end of December 1952, the war claimed 18 members of the 58 FBW. According to recent listings from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, the fates of 14 members assigned to the 58th are still unaccounted for.
The wing served in three Korean War campaigns and earned the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its actions in combat. After the armistice the 58th provided air defense for South Korea and deployed tactical components on rotational basis to Taiwan from January 1955 – February 1957. From 15 March 1953 to 8 November 1954 the 58th service-tested a "reinforced" wing organization, exercising direct control of the tactical components of the attached wings. They switched to F-86 Sabres in 1954 and relocated to Osan Air Base in 1955, they were deactivated on 1 July 1958.
In October 1958 it was re-armed with the TM-61C tactical missile to provide a deterrent against attacks on South Korea, a mission that continued until 1962.

Fighter Training Wing

On 22 August 1969, the Air Force re-designated the wing as the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing and activated it under Tactical Air Command at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing. The wing conducted training of U.S., German Air Force, and other friendly foreign-nation aircrew and support personnel, and participated in numerous operations and tactical exercises while operating at Luke Air Force Base until 1 April 1977 when it became the 58th Tactical Training Wing. In November 1974 they received the first F-15 Eagle with President Ford included in the welcoming committee. It managed Tactical Air Command's Central Instructor School from 1971–1981. On 29 June 1892 they graduated the last F-4 class and received their first F-16 Fighting Falcons on 6 December 1982. Beginning in early 1983, it performed tactical fighter training for U.S. and foreign aircrews in the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.
They were then yet again redesignated, this time as the 58th Fighter Wing in 1991. The 58th deployed support personnel to Europe to augment United States Air Forces Europe units during the war against Iraq in 1991.
In the fall of 1991, its primary mission expanded to include tactical training in the F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather strike fighter. By 1994, the wing had trained pilots and support personnel from the Netherlands, South Korea, Turkey, Pakistan, the Republic of Singapore, Norway, Greece, Egypt, Indonesia, and Venezuela.

Operations at Kirtland

On 1 April 1994 they became the 58th Special Operations Wing. That same month, the wing's mission changed from the training of USAF and Allied fighter pilots to the training of USAF helicopter aircrews, and it moved to Kirtland Air Force Base. It also trained crews in special operations aircraft, including helicopters and modified C-130 Hercules aircraft. It performed pararescue training and search and rescue missions as well. Additionally, the wing trained for missile site support and airlift for distinguished visitors. At the same time, the wing continued to deploy personnel worldwide for contingency and combat operations.
Beyond training, this unit also participated in local/regional search and rescue operations. They are called up 2 or more times per year to support rescue operations, to date they have participated in over 300 of these operations, saving more than 225 lives.
The 58th airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to investigate the crash site of the fourth airliner following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Since that time the 58th has deployed personnel and equipment to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since September 11, they deployed over 200 personnel during which on 23 November 2003 they suffered their first casualty during this time, Major Steven Plumhoff, a helicopter pilot during a crash in Afghanistan.
Today, the wing trains aircrews in the MC-130J Commando II and the CV-22 Osprey for the Air Force Special Operations Command; the HC-130J Combat King II and the HH-60G Pavehawk for the Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and United States Air Forces in Europe; the UH-1N Huey or Iroquois for Air Force Space Command; the TH-1H Huey or Iroquois for initial helicopter flight crew qualification; and those aircrew operationally gained to those commands from the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard. They received the first Osprey on 20 March 2006.

Lineage

  • Established as the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 June 1952

    Assignments

  • Tactical Air Command, 10 July 1952
  • Far East Air Forces, 1 January 1957
  • 314th Air Division, 1 January 1957 – 1 July 1958
  • Twelfth Air Force, 15 October 1969
  • Tactical Training, Luke, 1 April 1977
  • 832d Air Division, 1 December 1980
  • Twelfth Air Force, 1 October 1991
  • Nineteenth Air Force, 1 July 1993
  • Air Education and Training Command, 12 July 2012 – present

    Components

Wings
  • 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing: attached 16 – 31 March 1953
  • 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing: attached 1 April 1953 – 8 November 1954
Groups
  • 49th Fighter-Bomber Group: attached 16 – 31 March 1953
  • 58th Fighter-Bomber Group : 10 July 1952 – 8 November 1957; 1 October 1991 – present
  • 474th Fighter-Bomber Group: attached 1 April 1953 – 24 November 1954
Squadrons
  • 23d Flying Training Squadron: 1 April 1994 – present
  • 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron : attached 1 March - 7 November 1957, assigned 8 November 1957 – 1 July 1958, 15 October 1969 – 16 March 1983
  • 71st Special Operations Squadron: 20 May 2005 – present
  • 310th Fighter-Bomber Squadron : attached 1 Mar - 7 November 1957, assigned 8 November 1957 – 1 July 1958; assigned 15 December 1969 – 1 October 1991.
  • 311th Fighter-Bomber Squadron : attached 1 Mar - 7 November 1957, assigned 8 November 1957 – 1 July 1958; assigned 18 January 1970 – 1 October 1991.
  • 312th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 1 October 1984 – 18 January 1991
  • 314th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 1 October 1986 – 1 October 1991
  • 333d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 22 March-31 July 1971
  • 415th Special Operations Squadron: 12 September 2011 – present
  • 418th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 1 October 1976
  • 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 22 August 1979
  • 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 18 January 1970 – 1 January 1981
  • 461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 1 July 1977 – 29 August 1979
  • 512th Special Operations Squadron : 25 March 1994 – present
  • 550th Special Operations Squadron: 1 April 1994 – 29 September 2016
  • 550th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 1 April 1970 – 29 August 1979
  • 555th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 5 July – 29 August 1979
  • 4461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron: 23 June 1976 – 1 July 1977
  • 4511th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 18 January 1970
  • 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 15 October – 15 December 1969
  • 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 18 January 1970
  • 4516th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 18 January 1970