from around the world. 17 JUNE 2021 . Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, right, and Third Air Force leadership, left, on 606th ACS equipment and capabilities at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 22, 2022. They also relocated their entire operation from Baghdad International Airport to Balad Air Base. 4. Gen. Lance K. Landrum took command from Maj. Gen. Barre R. Seguin. Katelyn Ramsey, 57th Rescue Squadron aviation resource management NCOIC, middle, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Francis Hallada, 57th Rescue Squadron commander, right, brief Third Air Force leadership at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 22, 2022. Since arriving at Aviano, the wing has also participated in numerous training exercises with international partners, including training deployments to Latvia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Slovenia and Poland. Gen. Jason E. Bailey is scheduled to take command of Avianos 31st Fighter Wing during a virtual ceremony Friday, wing officials said. The 16 AF also operated SAC bases in Morocco from 1958 through 1963. Air Force), Brig. In the aftermath, the Secretary of Defense recommended complete closure of the base, but in June 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended realigning the base under the Air Force Reserve Command and inactivating the 31st Fighter Wing. Sgt. Win the current fight and be ready to win the next fight. The wing celebrates the heritage of its predecessor by flying its honors on the wing flag. . 31st Fighter Wing commander . France is a command pilot with more than 2,900 hours in the F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon. It passed three major inspections with high marks and was heavily involved in four Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotations to Iraq. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes), Rows of American airmen view a 31st Fighter Wing change-of-command ceremony Friday, June 10, 2016 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. From March to September 2000, the 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons conducted back-to-back deployments to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of Operation Southern Watch. Col. Vincent J. OConnor is the Vice Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. In one of them, pilots and aircraft from the wing set a record at Balad Air Base by flying 667 sorties in less than a month. Your connection to everything Aviano. Major November 1, 2011 The wide-ranging operational capabilities are brought by COLONEL JEFFREY S. FEWELL On 30 March 1981, the wing assumed a larger responsibility for training all F-4 aircrews. Franklin has experience with one of the Air Force’s newest fighters: the F/A-22. Its mission was to execute aerospace operations through expeditionary force command and control in support of the U.S. European Command and NATO. Official site for the 31st Force Support Squadron, Aviano Air Base. In 1961, General David Wade was dispatched to Torrejn, where he took command of SAC's 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force. He received his promotion to lieutenant general on 1 August 1963 and left Torrejn to assume command of SAC's Second Air Force with headquarters then at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. The counteroffensive, however, was short-lived and by May 1943, the Germans surrendered in North Africa. During 1962, the wing moved from George to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, while simultaneously deploying a squadron to Kadena Air Base, Japan for four months without losing any operational capability. He had held all the "right" jobs and knew success in his upcoming touras Aviano's 31st Fighter Wing (31 FW) Commander would provide a great shot for promotionto Brigadier General. Michael Wayne Morris, a maintainer at Aviano Air Base, Italy, died Jan. 12, 2021 from the coronavirus, his friends and family said in Facebook posts. Its headquarters is at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. 2. Gen. Jason Bailey, incoming commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2016 [25][26] On 27 June 1972, Lt Col Farrell J. Sullivan and Captain Richard L. Francis of the 523d Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 405th Fighter Wing were shot down over Hanoi while flying an F-4E assigned to the 308th squadron while the 308th was on temporary duty at Udorn. Air Force), Brig. Brig. A year later, a massive search and rescue operation took place to extract USAF captain Scott O'Grady[30] of the 555th FS from behind enemy lines. [19], As the Allied forces looked to Europe, the 31st once again rose to the challenge as they were the first US Army Air Forces unit in combat in Malta and Sicily and the first to land in Italy. [17] They flew from Gibraltar to Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria, where they scored their first victories in the campaign shooting down three French fighters that were strafing the airfield just as the 31st arrived. On 14 October 1942, the group was declared non-operational on prior to boarding ships bound for its next assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder), An official website of the United States government, U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil, By Senior Airman Jessica Blair, Senior Airman Brooke Moeder, Airman 1st Class Thomas Calopedis. Since then, the wing has been stationed at George Air Force Base, California and Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, until finally coming to Aviano Air Base, Italy in April 1994. The 31st Force Support Squadron provides morale, welfare, and recreations support for Aviano Air Base members as well as other support structures such as Family support, Military Personnel, passport assistance, and education services. They included Nouasseur Air Base, Ben Guerir Air Base, and Rabat-Sale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder), U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek France, Third Air Force commander, and his spouse Mrs. Amanda France, pose for a photo before flying in an HH-60G Pave Hawk assigned to the 56th Rescue Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 21, 2022. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, July 2019, (Change 1, 25 November 2019) Chapter One, The Army Profession, Ethic and Leadership pages 1-13 to 1-23, (Paragraphs 1-73 to through 1-132). 2022 Spark Tank. Third Air Force exercises delegated authorities over assigned forces that include personnel management, General Courts Martial Convening Authority, and advising subordinate commands on requirements, programs and budget. [17], On 8 February 1964, the 308th Fighter Squadron flew a non-stop mission from Homestead to Cigli Air Base, Turkey. Wyvern Warrior of the Week: Victor Villareal 03.20.2023. The 31st FW is the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps. On 1 April 1994, the 31st Fighter Wing inactivated at Homestead and subsequently activated at Aviano Air Base, Italy in place of the 401st Fighter Wing. The 31st Maintenance Group maintains combat capability for 56 combat-coded F-16 C/D and HH-60 aircraft valued at $2.4B, and provides force infrastructure support for 1,600 military and civilian personnel, Col. Kevin Crofton is the the Commander, 31st Operations Group, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. After the U.S. force reduction in Vietnam, the wing switched to F-4s. May 2021 present, Vice Commander, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano AB, Italy, SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS Gen. Lance K. Landrum, the new commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, surveys his airmen after taking command on Friday, June 10, 2016. Two months later in November, the 31st Fighter Wing was organized as part of the test by the Air Force of the wing base organization system, which unified combat groups and their support organizations under a single wing, carrying the same number as the combat group. The Agents An interesting twist to the Aviano program is that there can be four agents who actually contract the work to be done in the program. The 31st Maintenance Group leadership immersed themselves with each 31st MXG unit to, The 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight conducted a new jet fueling capability demonstration to base leadership, 17 March.The demonstration was intended to prove contingency operations capabilities of the new Fluid Powered Additive Injector Carts concept to Mission Support, Women of the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron put on a firefighting demonstration during Women of Aviano Event at Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 22, 2023. Gen. Craig Franklin, right, takes the 31st Fighter Wing from Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop, the 3rd Air Force commander, during a change of command ceremony Friday at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Both use the tail code "AV" for AViano. from around the world. August 2002 September 2003, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Sheppard AFB, Texas As the operation came to an end on 31 March, so began Operation Unified Protector, with NATO taking the lead until the operation's conclusion 31 Oct of that year. Best nuclear assurance inspection grade in years, Ray said. The Military Personnel Flight (MPF) provides support to the 31st Fighter Wing Aviano Air Base Mission, Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder), U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek France, Third Air Force commander, shoots a weapon during an immersion at the 31st Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance facility at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 22, 2022. In June 1972, Captains John Cerak and David B. Dingee of the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron were shot down and captured by North Vietnamese forces and were confirmed as prisoners of war. The clinic houses rehabilitation equipment, such as gait retraining software, anti-gravity treadmills for rehab, recovery modalities and a float pod for sensory deprivation. On 15 October 1970, the wing returned to Homestead without people or equipment as part of the United States force reduction in Vietnam. Col. Timothy P. Maxwell is the Commander of the 31st Mission Support Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Air Force), Brig. conducted in 31 FW aircraft, while the 31st Operations Group Commander (31 OG/CC) has the primary responsibility for oversight of the program. On 24 August 1992 Hurricane Andrew swept across southern Florida, leaving extensive damage in its wake. Brig. . At the same time, the wing switched from flying North American F-100 Super Sabres to McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs.[24]. The 31st FW maintains two F-16 fighter squadrons, the 555th Fighter Squadron and the 510th Fighter Squadron, capable of conducting offensive and defensive air combat operations. from around the world. The 31st Fighter Wing was the first F-16 Falcon unit to fly combat missions utilizing night vision goggles, and wing aircraft provided close air support during Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Sarajevo. Two of the wing's fighter squadrons, the 307th and 309th, were designated to perform pilot replacement training. The 56th RQS integrates with the Guardian Angels weapon system and other special forces to support insertion, extraction and recovery of both U.S. and allied combatants. 2019 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. On 1 June 2006, the squadron relocated to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, from where it would have executed Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions in support of USAFE. Wing scheduling (31 OSS/OSOS) is designated as the orientation flight Up Next. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder), U.S. Air Force Tech. Existing Spanish Air Force bases near Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza were expanded to accommodate the 16 AF. AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy Brig. Brig. To avoid losing the wing's heritage and history as the highest scoring Army Air Force unit in the Mediterranean Theater in WWII, the impressive combat record in Vietnam and number of significant firsts they produced in the early years of the Air Force, the 31st was chosen to move rather than fade into obscurity. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (Kent Harris / S&S), Senior Airman Benson Cogbill from the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron takes down the name plate of the former commander of the 31st Fighter Wing from an F-16 parked in Hangar 1 to reveal the name of the new U.S. commander at Aviano Air Base: Brig. 10-401 . Like driving the Batmobile into the future: Air Force uses JLTV in mission for 1st time, Trailblazer: First Marine general to lead Defense Intelligence Agency dies at 64, China denounces US Navy reconnaissance planes trip through Taiwan Strait, Reports of sexual assaults increased in Navy, Air Force and Marines in 2022; Army saw decline, New bill aims to expand mental health care for military families, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. [11][12][13][14], The 31st Fighter Wing currently has two operational squadrons, the 555th and 510th Fighter Squadrons flying the F-16CG/DG. U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 465th Air Refueling Squadron conduct preflight checks during a total force training event at Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 2, 2023. “Welcome to the best job, I believe, in the world,” Yates told Franklin during a ceremony attended by Italian and American dignitaries. Commander: Lt Gen Kevin B. Kennedy Jr. Vice Commander: Maj Gen David M. Gaedecke: Deputy Commander: . This event highlighted the various opportunities and careers strengthened by women in the military. The Sixteenth Air Force provides global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber and electronic warfare, and information operations, and serves as the Service Cryptologic Component responsible to the National Security Agency/Central Security Service and the Service Cyber Component to US Cyber Command. [4], At the end of the Cold War Sixteenth Air Force consisted of the following units:[3][5][6]. [5] The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Jeremy L. Bailey returns to Aviano after previously serving as the commander of the 31st Operations Support Squadron, as well as an instructor pilot and chief of wing plans and programs from 2011 to 2013. It later became a provisional Air Expeditionary Task Force under USAFE as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Gen. Jason Bailey, incoming commander of the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy. US Air Force information warfare organization, Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 363d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, "Air Force Information Warfare's new warfighting unit activates", "Factsheet Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) ACC", "Fifty Years On Nato's Southern Flank A History Of Sixteenth Air Force 1954 2004", US Air Force news story on 3AF and 16AF changes, Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Center, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Geospatial and Signatures Intelligence Group, Space, Missiles and Forces Intelligence Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, DEA Office of National Security Intelligence, Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sixteenth_Air_Force&oldid=1145785646, Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations established in 1956, Intelligence units of the United States Air Force, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [29] The fighter squadrons evacuated most of the planes before the storm but were unable to return. Following the war, the 31st Fighter Group, as it was now called, activated at Giebelstadt Army Airfield, Germany as part of the US occupation forces, on 20 August 1946, where they flew Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars, the first operational American jet fighter aircraft. The Frecce Tricolori aerobatic boasts 10 aircraft marking it as the largest aerobatic team in the world and are based out of Rivolto air force base, April 25, 1945, represents a fundamental date in the history of the Italian Republic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder), U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Derek France, Third Air Force commander, left, and U.S. Air Force Brig. July 2014 July 2018, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Director of Operations, 31st Operations Support Squadron; Director of Operations, 555th Fighter Squadron; and Commander, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy Bailey is a 1995 Air Force Academy graduate who has also served overseas as the flight lead and flight commander of the 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan; and commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, a NATO base run by the Italian air force.
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