England Air Force Base - History

History

The base was opened on 21 October 1942 and during the Second World War performed Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircrew training. It was placed on inactive status on September 23, 1946, although a small cadre of Army and Air Force personnel (331 Comps Squadron) remained assigned to Alexandria Municipal Airport throughout the late 1940s.

On 10 October 1950, the United States Air Force reopened Alexandria Air Force Base during the Korean War. The station's primary mission was tactical fighter operations for Tactical Air Command.

Its major operating units were:

• United States Army Air Force

67th Airdrome Sq, 1 February 1943 – 25 March 1943

471st Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943 – 7 May 1943

469th Bombardment Group, 7 May 1943 – 1 April 1944

221st AAF Base Unit, 25 March 1944 – 1 March 1945

329th AAF Base Unit, 1 March 1945 – 23 September 1946

• United States Air Force

4416th Base Complement Sq, 23 October 1950 – 22 December 1950

137th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 22 December 1950 – 2 May 1952

Composite Air National Guard wing activated to Federal Service due to Korean War

Flew Republic F-84 "Thunderjets". Three operational squadrons 125th (Oklahoma ANG, F-84B/G, 127th (Kansas ANG F-84C/G), 128th (Georgia ANG, F-84B/G)). ANG personnel trained at Alexandria AFB 1950/51, being replaced by active duty Air Force personnel in 1951/52. Wing reassigned to USAFE at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France

132d Fighter-Bomber Wing, 2 May 1952 – 1 January 1953

Iowa ANG Wing activated to Federal Service replacing reassigned 137th FBW

One operational squadron (124th FIS). Flew Republic straight winged F-84s. Returned to state control.(F-84Fs were not assigned to front line units until January 1954-please see pages 42/3 in POST WORLD WAR TWO FIGHTERS 1945-73 U S Government Printing Office)

366th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 January 1953 – 1 April 1959

Active duty Air Force wing activated at Alexandria AFB. Three operational squadrons (389th, 390th, 391st) being initially equipped with North American F-51D Mustang, reequipped with North American F-86F "Sabre" jet aircraft by end of 1953.

Wing became first TAC unit to perform six-month TDY rotations with NATO at Aviano AB, Italy, with rotations continuing to support NATO in France and Italy. Redesignated 366th Tactical Fighter Wing 1 July 1958. Inactivated 1 April 1959 as part of a general budgetary reduction of USAF wings. Aircraft transferred to Air National Guard.

420th Air Refueling Squadron (Tactical), 18 March 1954 – 4 October 1955

(Activated at England AFB, equipped with Boeing KB-29P.

First unit in TAC of its type. Provided TAC with independent air refueling capability. Reassigned to USAFE at RAF Sculthorpe, England.

622d Air Refueling Squadron (Tactical), 18 July 1955 – 1 April 1964

Activated at England AFB, assigned to 4505th Air Refueling Wing, Langley AFB, Virginia 1 July 1958.

Equipped with Boeing KB-29P (1955–57), later turbojet-augmented Boeing KB-50J (1957–64) aircraft. Aircraft became obsolescent and unit deactivated 1 April 1964.

401st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 April 1959 – 27 April 1966

According to AIR FORCE COMBAT WINGS 1947-1977(GPO) pages 194/5 and 214, the 366th FBW had two FB Groups under it: 366th & 401st. The 366th WING became a TFW in July 1958 and inactivated in April 1959. Meanwhile, the 401st FBG upgraded to a FBW in September 1957 and remained in place with four squadrons of F-100D/Fs. The aircraft and most of the personnel of the 366th Wing were transferred to other units in TAC and overseas. There was no redesignations of any 366th squadrons to 401st squadrons.

Four tactical fighter squadrons (612th, 613th, 614th, 615th) redesignated from former 366th TFW units. Participated in numerous firepower demonstrations, tactical exercises and maneuvers in the United States and overseas, and deployed its tactical squadrons to bases in Europe and the Middle East in support of NATO. Deployed to Homestead AFB, Florida during Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) as tactical airstrike unit. Wing designation along with 613th TFS reassigned to USAFE at Torrejon Air Base, Spain.

3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 9 January 1964 – 7 November 1965

Reassigned from Yokota AB, Japan, Equipped with F-100 Super Sabres after arrival at England AFB.

Four tactical fighter squadrons (90th, 416th, 510th, 531st)., with the 510th coming from Clark AB, RP and the 416th and 531st moving from Misawa AB Japan, each unit with about 25 F-100D/Fs, then trained and rotated its squadrons in detached status to Southeast Asia for combat duty. Reassigned to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam. The 3rd Wing number transferred from Yokota AB Japan along with one squadron number, the 90th "Pair-O-Dice", in the spring of 1964, so the wing had four squadrons assigned.

834th Air Division, 1 July 1964 – 15 October 1966

Assumed command and control over 3d and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings.

After reassignment of wings, assumed remaining organization and operational squadrons of former 401st TFW. Deployed to South Vietnamese bases (834th AD to Tan Son Nhut AB), (612th, 614th, 615th) TFS to Phan Rang AB, Phu Cat AB).

1st Air Commando/Special Operations Wing 15 January 1966 – 15 July 1969

317th, 319th Air Commando/Special Operations Squadrons

Reassigned from Hurlburt Field Florida. Redesignated 1st SOW 8 July 1968. Reassigned to Hurlburt Field, Florida.

4410th Combat Crew Training Wing/Group 15 July 1969 – 31 July 1973

6th Special Operations Training Squadron, 427th, 4412th, 4532d Combat Crew Training Squadrons

Wing reassigned from Hurlburt Field Florida. Redesignated as Group, 15 September 1970. Inactivated July 1973 due to US withdrawal from South Vietnam. Upon group inactivation, 6th SOTS reassigned to 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field but remained at England AFB until deactivation, January 1974.

4403d Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 September 1970 – 1 July 1972

416th Tactical Fighter Squadron 28 September 1970 – 1 July 1972

Absorbed returning North American F-100 Super Saber aircraft of 31st TFW from Tuy Hoa Air Base South Vietnam and transferred assets to Air National Guard. Acted as holding unit for arriving Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II aircraft starting April 1972.

23d Tactical Fighter (later Fighter) Wing, 1 July 1972 – 1 June 1992

Wing reactivated at station w/p/o/e taking over organization and assets of temporary 4403d TFW designation.

Three A-7D tactical fighter (74th, 75th, 76th) squadrons formed. Re-equipped with Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 1981. Redesignated 23d Fighter Wing 1 October 1991. Inactivated 1 June 1992.

In October 1990, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided that England Air Force Base would be closed by September 1992. A drawdown of equipment and personnel began almost immediately. The 23d Fighter Wing's A-10 aircraft were sent to other units, and EAFB was closed 15 December 1992.

During the period of its military use, Air Force units from England Air Force Base served in combat in World War II, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.