The wing was first formed as the 53d Troop Carrier Wing during World War II for command of glider and troop carrier units and its components were heavily involved in airborne operations in North-West Europe from the Normandy Landings to the crossing of the River Rhine.
This wing is not related to the 53d Wing located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida or that wing's predecessor units, the 53d Fighter Group and the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center.
The wing was formed as a World War II command and control organization for newly organized troop carrier groups and glider units being trained for overseas deployment to combat theaters. It deployed to England in 1944[1] and its units subsequently engaged in combat operations, carrying Army parachutists and towing gliders during Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity. The 53d was also engaged in aerial resupply and casualty evacuation of wounded personnel as well as theater troop transport operations. It operated until V-E Day, then supported occupation units in Germany until fall 1945.
Pennsylvania Air National Guardedit
The wing was redesignated as a fighter wing and reactivated in 1947 as part of the PA ANG.[1] It was a command and control organization, controlling one Bombardment Group at Philadelphia International Airport and two Fighter Groups at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland as its operational components. It was also the headquarters for an Aircraft Control & Warning Group (AC&W Gp)located at Harrisburg State Airport and three Air Service Groups, which were colocated with its flying groups and had flights located with each of the squadrons assigned to the flying groups. Shortly before the wing was inactivated, its 113th Fighter Group was federalized for the Korean War. At the end of October 1950, the ANG converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950. Its personnel and those of its 211th Air Service Group formed the cadre for the 111th Composite Wing, while its elements in Pittsburgh formed the cadre for the 112th Fighter Wing, which were simultaneously allotted to the ANG and activated. The 153d AC&W Gp was transferred directly to the PA ANG.
Lineageedit
Constituted as 53d Troop Carrier Wing On 27 July 1942[1]
^ abcdefghMaurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1..
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6.
January 01, 1970
53rd, fighter, wing, fighter, wing, disbanded, unit, united, states, force, last, stationed, philadelphia, international, airport, pennsylvania, withdrawn, from, pennsylvania, national, guard, inactivated, october, 1950, fighter, wingactive1942, 1945, 1947, 19. The 53d Fighter Wing 53 FW is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force last stationed at Philadelphia International Airport Pennsylvania It was withdrawn from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard PA ANG and inactivated on 31 October 1950 53d Fighter WingActive1942 1945 1947 1950Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceTypeWingRoleCommand and ControlPart ofPennsylvania Air National GuardEngagementsAmerican Theater of World War II European Theater of World War IIInsignia53d Troop Carrier Wing emblem The wing was first formed as the 53d Troop Carrier Wing during World War II for command of glider and troop carrier units and its components were heavily involved in airborne operations in North West Europe from the Normandy Landings to the crossing of the River Rhine This wing is not related to the 53d Wing located at Eglin Air Force Base Florida or that wing s predecessor units the 53d Fighter Group and the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Pennsylvania Air National Guard 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Components 2 2 1 World War II 2 2 2 Air National Guard 2 3 Stations 2 4 Awards 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory editWorld War II edit The wing was formed as a World War II command and control organization for newly organized troop carrier groups and glider units being trained for overseas deployment to combat theaters It deployed to England in 1944 1 and its units subsequently engaged in combat operations carrying Army parachutists and towing gliders during Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity The 53d was also engaged in aerial resupply and casualty evacuation of wounded personnel as well as theater troop transport operations It operated until V E Day then supported occupation units in Germany until fall 1945 Pennsylvania Air National Guard edit The wing was redesignated as a fighter wing and reactivated in 1947 as part of the PA ANG 1 It was a command and control organization controlling one Bombardment Group at Philadelphia International Airport and two Fighter Groups at Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and Andrews Air Force Base Maryland as its operational components It was also the headquarters for an Aircraft Control amp Warning Group AC amp W Gp located at Harrisburg State Airport and three Air Service Groups which were colocated with its flying groups and had flights located with each of the squadrons assigned to the flying groups Shortly before the wing was inactivated its 113th Fighter Group was federalized for the Korean War At the end of October 1950 the ANG converted to the wing base Hobson Plan organization As a result the wing was withdrawn from the Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950 Its personnel and those of its 211th Air Service Group formed the cadre for the 111th Composite Wing while its elements in Pittsburgh formed the cadre for the 112th Fighter Wing which were simultaneously allotted to the ANG and activated The 153d AC amp W Gp was transferred directly to the PA ANG Lineage editConstituted as 53d Troop Carrier Wing On 27 July 1942 1 Activated on 1 August 1942 1 Inactivated on 11 October 1945 1 Redesignated 53d Fighter Wing and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946 1 Extended federal recognition on 17 January 1947 1 Inactivated and allotment to the Air National Guard withdrawn on 31 October 1950 Disbanded on 15 June 1983 Assignments edit I Troop Carrier Command 1 August 1942 IX Troop Carrier Command 11 March 1944 12 August 1945 Pennsylvania Air National Guard 17 January 1947 31 October 1950 Components edit World War II edit 61st Troop Carrier Group 3 November 1942 15 February 1943 63rd Troop Carrier Group April 1942 July 1943 89th Troop Carrier Group 3 November 1942 24 December 1942 313th Troop Carrier Group 2 March 1942 24 April 1943 314th Troop Carrier Group 30 August 3 November 1942 316th Troop Carrier Group 14 February 12 November 1942 433rd Troop Carrier Group 15 April 2 June 1943 434th Troop Carrier Group 15 April 16 October 1943 3 March 1944 July 1945 435th Troop Carrier Group 3 November 1943 5 August 1945 436th Troop Carrier Group 15 April 19 July 1943 3 March 1944 August 1945 437th Troop Carrier Group 17 February 1944 10 July 1945 438th Troop Carrier Group February 1944 18 July 1945 440th Troop Carrier Group July 1943 Air National Guard edit 111th Bombardment Group 20 December 1948 31 October 1950 112th Fighter Group 23 April 1949 31 October 1950 113th Fighter Group 17 January 1947 31 October 1950 District of Columbia ANG 153d Aircraft Control and Warning Group ca Feb 1949 31 October 1950 211th Air Service Group 17 Jan 1947 31 October 1950 212th Air Service Group Group headquarters apparently not organized only constituent flights 213th Air Service Group 17 Jan 1947 16 October 1950 104th Fighter Squadron 17 January 1947 31 October 1950 Maryland ANG 142d Fighter Squadron 17 January 1947 31 October 1950 Delaware ANG Stations edit General Billy Mitchell Field Wisconsin 1 August 1942 Pope Field North Carolina 26 August 1942 Fort Sam Houston Texas 15 September 1942 Bergstrom AAF Texas 5 November 1942 Sedalia AAF Missouri 15 April 1943 Alliance AAF Nebraska 25 July 1943 Laurinburg Maxton AAB North Carolina 19 September 1943 Pope Field North Carolina 20 December 1943 19 January 1944 RAF Greenham Common AAF 486 England 11 March 1944 Voisenon France 20 February October 1945 Camp Shanks New York 10 11 October 1945 Philadelphia International Airport 17 January 1947 31 October 1950 Awards edit nbsp American Theater of World War II nbsp European Theater of World War II Campaigns 1 Normandy Northern France Southern France Rhineland Ardennes Alsace Central Europe nbsp World War II Army of OccupationReferences editNotes edit a b c d e f g h Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 53rd Fighter Wing amp oldid 1205391719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
