37th Training Wing History
Lineage
Established as 37th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 3 Mar 1953. Activated on 8 Apr 1953. Inactivated on 25 Jun 1953. Redesignated 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 26 Oct 1966. Organized on 1 Mar 1967. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1970. Activated on 30 Mar 1981. Redesignated 37th Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 8 Jul 1992. Redesignated 37th Training Wing, and activated, on 1 Jul 1993.
Assignments
Ninth Air Force, 8 Apr - 25 Jun 1953. Pacific Air Forces, 26 Oct 1966; Seventh Air Force, 1 Mar 1967 - 31 Mar 1970. 831st Air Division, 30 Mar 1981; Twelfth Air Force, 5 Oct 1989 - 8 Jul 1992. Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993.
Components
Groups: 37th Fighter-Bomber (later, 37th Operations): 8 Apr - 25 Jun 1953; 1 Nov 1991 - 8 Jul 1992. 37th Maintenance & Supply (later, 37th Logistics): 8 Apr-25 Jun 1953; 1 Nov 1991-8 Jul 1992;1 Jul 1993-. 37th Combat Support (later, 37th Support): 1 Mar 1967-31 Mar 1970, 5 Oct 1989-8 Jul 1992, 1 Jul 1993-. 394th Technical Training (later, 37th Training): 1 Jul 1993-. 737th Training: 1 Jul 1993-. Inter-American Air Forces Academy: 24 Oct 1994.
Squadrons: 174th: 14 May 1968 - 11 May 1969. 355th: attached 3 Feb - 4 Jul 1968, assigned 5 Jul 1968 - 15 May 1969. 389th: 15 Jun 1969 - 31 Mar 1970. 415th: 5 Oct 1989 - 1 Nov 1991. 416th: 15 Apr 1967 - 27 May 1969; 5 Oct 1989 - 1 Nov 1991. 417th Tactical Fighter Training (later, 417th Fighter): 5 Oct 1989 - 1 Nov 1991. 480th: 15 Apr 1969 - 31 Mar 1970. 561st: 30 Mar 1981 - 5 Oct 1989. 562nd Tactical Fighter Training: 30 Mar 1981 - 5 Oct 1989. 563rd: 30 Mar 1981 - 5 Oct 1989. Inter-American Air Forces Academy: 1 Jul 1993-24 Oct 1994. AETC Band of the West: 1 Oct 1994-. 37th Comptroller: 15 May 1995.
Detachment: Det 1., 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 Jun 1967 - 13 Apr 1969
Stations
Clovis AFB, NM, 8 Apr - 25 Jun 1953. Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, 1 Mar 1967 - 31 Mar 1970. George AFB, CA, 30 Mar 1981; Tonopah Test Range, NV, 5 Oct 1989 - 8 Jul 1992. Lackland AFB, TX, 1 Jul 1993.
Commanders
Lt Col George W. Bacon, 8 Apr 1953; Col Wallace E. Hopkins, 27 Apr 1953; Col Stephen B. Mack, 4 May - 25 Jun 1953. None (not manned), 26 Oct 1966 - 28 Feb 1967; unkn, 1 Mar - 5 May 1967; Col Raymond C. Lee, Jr., 6 May 1967; Col Edwin A. Schneider, 15 May 1967; Col Leroy J. Manor, 15 May 1968; Col Harry B. Trimble, 1 May 1969 - 31 Mar 1970. Col Luther E. Thweatt, 30 Mar 1981; Col Joseph W. Ashy, 10 Aug 1982; Col Ronald C. Spivey, 7 May 1984; Brig Gen Larry L. Henry, 12 May 1986; Col Russell A. Everts, 17 May 1988; Col Anthony J. Tolin, 5 Oct 1989; Col Alton C. Whitley, 17 Aug 1990 - 8 Jul 1992. MGen Billy G. McCoy, 1 Jul 1993; MGen Henry M. Hobgood, 5 Aug 1993; BGen Robert J. Courter, Jr., 10 Jun 1995; BGen Barry W. Barksdale, 2 Jul 1997.
Aircraft
F - 100, 1967 - 1969; F - 4, 1969 - 1970. F-4, 1981 - 1989; T - 38, 1989 - 1992; F - 117, 1989 - 1992.
Operations
Not tactically operational, 1953. The 37th Combat Support Group was already operational at Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, when the wing organized in 1967. Personnel for the wing headquarters and tactical components were in transit from the United States and elsewhere, and tactical operations did not commence until mid-April. Combat in Southeast Asia, 15 Apr 1967 - 31 Mar 1970. Flew interdiction, bombardment, escort, and close air support missions. From Jun 1967 to May 1969, also used F - 100F two-place aircraft for visual and weather reconnaissance and forward air control operations. Activated on 30 Mar 1981, gaining a portion of the assets of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, CA. Equipped with F - 4G "Wild Weasel" radar suppression aircraft. As the only "Wild Weasel" training wing in the world, it provided instructor pilots and qualified aircrews for the other two "Wild Weasel" wings in the Philippines and Germany. Participated in numerous tactical, maritime, and electronic warfare exercises locally and worldwide in hunter/killer tactics, suppression of enemy air defenses, force escort operations and dissimilar air combat training with US Armed Forces, Air National Guard and Reserves, and various allies. Served as an advisor to many Air National Guard units, 30 Mar 1981 - 30 Mar 1984. Won the United States Air Force Worldwide Fighter gunnery meet, 1985 and 1987. Turned over F - 4G aircraft to 35th TFW and moved to Tonopah Test Range, NV, without personnel and equipment on 5 Oct 1989, absorbing the manpower, equipment, and the world’s first Stealth fighter, the F - 117A, of the former 4450th Tactical Group. Trained to integrate stealth technology with more conventional methods of combat operations. Dropped the first bombs to begin the invasion of Panama on 20 Dec 1989. Began deploying to Southwest Asia in Aug 1990. On 17 Jan 1991, Stealth fighters hit 26 high-value Iraqi targets in and around Baghdad. Continued interdiction missions throughout the remainder of the air war. Personnel and aircraft remained on indefinite alert in Saudi Arabia as a component member of Central Air Forces’ (CENTAF) post-Desert Storm task force in Southwest Asia. After departure of the F - 117 Stealth Fighters in May - Jul 1992, the 37th Fighter Wing inactivated. A year later, it replaced Lackland Training Center at Lackland AFB, TX, as the 37th Training Wing, assigned to Air Education and Training Command.
Honors
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers.
Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground;
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counter offensive; Vietnam Summer - Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter - Spring, 1970
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.Decorations.
Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam, 1 Jul - 31 Dec 1968.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Apr 1967 - 30 Jun 1968; 1 Apr 1969 - 31 Mar 1970.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1985 - 31 May 1987; 16 Mar 1990 - 15 Mar 1992.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Mar 1967 - 30 Mar 1970.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 37th Operations Group prior to 8 Apr 1953.
Service Streamers.
World War II American Theater
Campaign Streamers. None.
Decorations. None.
Emblem
Azure, a saltier within a diminished bordure Or. Motto: DEFENDERS OF THE CROSSROADS. Approved for 37th Gp on 23 Jun 1941 and for 37th Wg on 4 Aug 1953; reinstated on 10 Mar 1992 (K 7006); replaced emblem approved on 23 Mar 1990 (DFSC 91 - 00143).
37 TRW Historian
DSN 473-2211; Comm 671-2211
