Selfridge AFB 1st Fighter Wing

squadron personnel of 71st fighter-interceptor squadron



94th fighter-interceptor squadron f-106

the organizational instability of 1950s rooted in demands of korean war. end of war in korea air defense command found in position return more traditional command structure. 1st fighter-interceptor wing redesignated 1st fighter wing (air defense) on 14 september 1956 , activated on 18 october 1956 @ selfridge afb, michigan. assigned eastern air defense force. after enduring six-year period of frequent organizational changes, wing began period of stability. approximately next thirteen years remained @ selfridge. both 71st , 94th fis traded f-86s f-102 delta dagger interceptors between 1958 , 1960. while wing , units operated selfridge afb 27th fighter-interceptor squadron remained on east coast. of 31 december 1961 stationed @ dow afb, maine, , assigned bangor air defense sector, 26th air division. @ time squadron equipped f-106 delta darts, , not part of 1st fighter wing.

in october 1962 wing responded cuban missile crisis deploying aircraft, support personnel, equipment , supplies patrick air force base, florida, , volk field, wisconsin. 19 october through 27 november wing aircraft flew 620 sorties , 1,274 hours, patrick afb, while maintaining mission-ready rate of approximately eighty percent. wing life reverted more normal training routines @ year s end, , pattern continued through 1963 , 1964.

on 15 march 1963 2 soviet bombers overflew alaska , alaskan air command f-102s unable intercept them. response intrusion deploy ten f-106s 325th fighter wing alaska in called operation white shoes. while 325th wing upgraded f-106s, 1st fighter wing relieved march june 1964. while deployed in alaska, 2 of wing s f-106s damaged in friday earthquake.

beginning in 1965 wing began transfer pilots other units in or en route south vietnam. while wing did not participate in vietnam war, units manned personnel had completed tours in southeast asia, 1st serving transition unit many pilots en route or returning southeast asia.

organizational changes continued whittle away @ wing s strength in 1966 , 1967. wing assigned 34th air division, first air force, on 1 april 1966. organization changed again on 16 january 1967, when 71st fighter-interceptor squadron, had won top prize in f-106 category @ 1965 william tell weapons competition @ tyndall afb, florida, transferred 328th fighter wing (air defense), tenth air force, @ richards-gebaur air force base, missouri. reorganization left 1st fighter wing 1 fighter squadron, 94th. however, reduced wing stayed busy. 24 july through 4 august 1967 selfridge became hub of federal activities mobilized during 1967 detroit riots. elements of 3d brigade, 82d airborne division , 2d brigade, 101st airborne division, total of 12,000 combat , support personnel, passed through base. 1500 on 24 july 1500 next day, base received 4,700 troops , 1,008 tons of cargo. on 1 august base handled 363 c-130 hercules sorties, 6,036 troops, , 2,492 tons of cargo. time tactical command post @ selfridge closed @ 1130 on 4 august, base had processed 1,389 c-130 sorties, 12,058 troops, , 4,735 tons of cargo.

in september 1968 detached 71st fighter-interceptor squadron relieved assignment 328th fighter wing, , transferred 28th air division, tenth air force, @ malmstrom afb, montana, became self-contained unit operating on sac base. between 20 may , 5 november 1969, 94th fis eployed osan air base, korea, exercise college cadence.

it 1st fighter wing s last major air defense effort. on 1 december 1969 94th transferred wurtsmith afb, michigan, pending inactivation of 1st fighter wing, assigned 23d air division on date. on 31 december 1969 wing, no units under control, transferred hamilton afb, california, , assigned 26th air division. wing s personnel , equipment transferred 4708th air base group, 23d air division, @ duluth international airport, minnesota, on 1 january 1970.

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