Lineage. Established as 81 Fighter Wing on 15 Apr 1948. Activated on 1 May 1948. Redesignated as: 81 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 Jan 1950; 81 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 Apr 1954; 81 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jul 1958. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1993. Redesignated as 81 Training Wing, and activated, on 1 Jul 1993.
Assignments. 7 Air Division, 1 May 1948; Pacific Air Command, 3 Sep 1948; Twelfth Air Force, 21 May 1949 (attached to Western Air Defense Force, 10 Nov 1949-); Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 1950 (remained attached to Western Air Defense Force to 1 Aug 1950); Western Air Defense Force, 1 Aug 1950 (attached to Third Air Force, 5-8 Sep 1951); Third Air Force, 9 Sep 1951 (attached to 49 Air Division, Operational [later, 49 Air Division (Operational)], 1 Mar 1954–1 Jul 1956); Seventeenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1961; Third Air Force, 1 Sep 1963–1 Jul 1993. Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993-.
Operational Components. Group. 81 Fighter (later, 81 Fighter-Interceptor; 81 Fighter-Bomber): 1 May 1948–8 Feb 1955. Squadrons. 78 Fighter-Bomber (later, 78 Tactical Fighter): attached c. 22 Apr 1954–7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955–1 May 1992. 91 Fighter-Bomber (later, 91 Tactical Fighter): attached c. 22 Apr 1954–7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955–14 Aug 1992. 92 Fighter-Bomber (later, 92 Tactical Fighter): attached c. 22 Apr 1954–7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955–31 Mar 1993. 116 Fighter (later, 116 Fighter-Interceptor): attached 10 Feb–9 Aug 1951 (further attached to 81 Fighter-Interceptor Group). 509 Tactical Fighter: 1 Oct 1979–1 Jun 1988. 510 Tactical Fighter: 1 Oct 1978–1 Oct 1992. 511 Tactical Fighter: 1 Jan 1980–1 Sep 1988. 527 Aggressor: 14 Jul 1988–30 Sep 1990.
Stations. Wheeler AFB, Territory of Hawaii, 1 May 1948–21 May 1949; Camp Stoneman, CA, 27 May 1949; Kirtland AFB, NM, 5 Jun 1949; Moses Lake (later, Larson) AFB, WA, 2 May 1950–16 Aug 1951; Bentwaters RAF Station (later, RAF Bentwaters), England, 6 Sep 1951–1 Jul 1993. Keesler AFB, MS, 1 Jul 1993–.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 28 Mar 1959–30 Jun 1961; 1 Jul 1961– 30 Jun 1963; 1 Jun 1966–31 May 1968; 1 Jul 1968–30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1976– 30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1979–30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1981–30 Jun 1983; 1 Jun 1989–31 May 1991; 1 Jun 1991–30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jun 2005-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2009; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2011-30 Jun 2013; 1 Jul 2013-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2015-30 Jun 2017; 1 Jul 2017-30 Jun 2018; 1 Jul 2018-30 Jun 2020.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 81 Fighter Group prior to 1 May 1948. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Air Combat, EAME Theater; China Defensive; China Offensive. Decorations. None.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 Dec 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 22 Jun 2011.
Emblem. Approved on 14 May 1956; latest rendering, 8 Mar 2021.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.