66th Fighter Wing: Difference between revisions

66th Fighter Wing
Air National Guard
66th Fighter Wing; Air National Guard
Active	1943–1945; 1946-1950
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces; Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Illinois Air National Guard

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Revision as of 13:26, 15 November 2012

The 66th Fighter Wing (66 FW) is an inactive unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Chicago Municipal Airport, Illinois. It was inactivated on 31 October 1950.

This wing is not related to the United States Air Force 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing or subsequent units that was constituted on 15 November 1952 and activated on 1 January 1953.

History

Established in March 1943 at Norfolk Army Airfield Virginia. Supervised training of fighter units for overseas duty.

Reorganized and deployed to England, became an intermediate-level command and control organization for VIII Fighter Command with responsibility for fighter-escort groups of Eighth Air Force. Assigned groups provided fighter escort to B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator heavy bomber groups during combat missions over Occupied Europe July 1943-May 1945. Inactivated in England, 21 November 1945.

Allotted to the Illinois Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946 and re-designated as the 66th Fighter Wing. It was organized at Chicago Municipal Airport, Illinois, and was extended federal recognition on 26 November 1946 by the National Guard Bureau.

Controlled Illinois Air National Guard units, inactivated on 31 October 1950. Personnel, assigned units and mission assumed by 126th Composite Wing.

Lineage

Constituted as 5th Air Defense Wing on 25 March 1943

Activated on 27 March 1943

Re-designated 66th Fighter Wing in 3 July 1943.

Inactivated on 21 November 1945.

Allotted to ANG (Illinois) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 26 November 1946 (Never activated)

Inactivated on 31 October 1950.

Assignments

Eighth Air Force, 27 March 1943
VIII Fighter Command, 3 July 1943 – 21 November 1945

Components

4th Fighter Group: 23 July – 4 November 1945
55th Fighter Group: 14 September 1943 – 23 July 1945
56th Fighter Group: 15 September – 11 October 1945
78th Fighter Group: April 1943 – October 1945
339th Fighter Group: 4 April 1944 – October 1945
353d Fighter Group: 3 August 1943 – October 1945

357th Fighter Group, 31 January 1944 – 8 July 1945
358th Fighter Group, 20 October 1943 – 3 July 1944
359th Fighter Group: October 1943 – November 1945
361st Fighter Group: 30 November 1943 – 1 February 1945; April 1945
479th Fighter Group: 15 May 1944 – 21 November 1945

Stations

Norfolk Airport, Virginia, 27 March-c. 11 May 1943
RAF Duxford (AAF-357), England, c. 3 June 1943
Sawston Hall (AAF-371), England, 20 August 1943
RAF Troston (AAF-595), England, C. 25 October – 21 November 1945.

Operations

Command and control organization for VIII Fighter Command performing combat operations in European Theater, 1943–1945

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ==History==
+Established in March 1943 at [[Norfolk Army Airfield]] Virginia.  Supervised training of fighter units for overseas duty.
-The '''66th Fighter Wing'''  is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] organization. Its last assignment was with the [[VIII Fighter Command]], being stationed at [[RAF Troston]], England. It was inactivated on 21 November 1945.
+Reorganized and deployed to England, became an intermediate-level command and control organization for [[VIII Fighter Command]] with responsibility for fighter-escort groups of [[Eighth Air Force]].   Assigned groups provided fighter escort to B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator heavy bomber groups during combat missions over Occupied Europe July 1943-May 1945.  Inactivated in England, 21 November 1945.
+Allotted to the [[Illinois Air National Guard]], on 24 May 1946 and re-designated as the 66th Fighter Wing. It was organized at [[Chicago Municipal Airport]], Illinois, and was extended federal recognition on 26 November 1946 by the [[National Guard Bureau]].
+Controlled Illinois Air National Guard units, inactivated on 31 October 1950.  Personnel, assigned units and mission assumed by [[126th Composite Wing]].
 ===Lineage===
 * Constituted as '''5th Air Defense Wing''' on 25 March 1943
 : Activated on 27 March 1943
-: Redesignated '''66th Fighter Wing''' in 3 July 1943.
+: Re-designated '''66th Fighter Wing''' in 3 July 1943.
 : Inactivated on 21 November 1945.
 : Allotted to ANG (Illinois) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 26 November 1946 (Never activated)