Lineage. Established as 57 Fighter Wing c. 15 Mar 1948. Organized on 20 Apr 1948. Redesignated 57 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 20 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1951. Redesignated 57 Fighter Weapons Wing on 22 Aug 1969. Activated on 15 Oct 1969. Redesignated: 57 Tactical Training Wing on 1 Apr 1977; 57 Fighter Weapons Wing on 1 Mar 1980; 57 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991; 57 Wing on 15 Jun 1993.
Assignments. Alaskan Air Command, 20 Apr 1948-1 Jan 1951. USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Fighter Weapons; USAF Weapons and Tactics; Air Warfare) Center, 15 Oct 1969-.
Components. Groups. 57 Fighter (later, 57 Fighter-Interceptor; 57 Operations): 20 Apr 1948-1 Jan 1951 (detached 10 Dec 1950-1 Jan 1951); 1 Nov 1991-. 57 Test: 1 Nov 1991-1 Oct 1996. 4440 Tactical Fighter Training (Red Flag): attached 1 Oct 1979-28 Feb 1980, assigned 1 Mar 1980-1 Nov 1991. 4443 Tactical Training: 26 Jan 1990-1 Nov 1991.
Squadrons. 4 Troop Carrier: attached 2 Dec 1948-28 Feb 1949 and 14 Aug-14 Nov 1949. 7 Troop Carrier: attached 28 Feb-1 Jun 1949. 8 Troop Carrier: attached 1 Sep-2 Dec 1948 and 1 Jun-15 Aug 1949. 37 Troop Carrier: attached 4 Jul-1 Sep 1948. 54 Troop Carrier: attached c. 20 Apr-c. 1 Jul 1948 and 20 Sep 1949-31 Dec 1950. 64 Fighter Weapons (later, 64 Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor; 64 Aggressor): 15 Oct 1972-5 Oct 1990. 65 Fighter Weapons (later, 65 Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor; 65 Aggressor): 15 Oct 1969-7 Apr 1989. 66 Fighter Weapons: 15 Oct 1969-30 Dec 1981. 414 Fighter Weapons: 15 Oct 1969-30 Dec 1981. 422 Fighter Weapons (later, 422 Test and Evaluation): 15 Oct 1969-1 Nov 1991. 431 Fighter Weapons (later, 431 Test and Evaluation): 1 Oct 1980-1 Nov 1991. 433 Fighter Weapons: 1 Oct 1976-30 Dec 1981. 4460 Helicopter: 1 Nov 1983-1 Jun 1985. 4477 Test and Evaluation Flight (later, 4477 Test and Evaluation Squadron): 1 Apr 1977-15 Jul 1990. USAF Air Demonstration: 15 Feb 1974-. Schools. USAF Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Weapons): 30 Dec 1981-. USAF Combat Rescue: 2 Jul 1993-15 Jul 1995. Detachments: Det 3: 15 Jun 1992-30 Sep 1995. Det 4: 15 Jun 1993-1 Nov 1999. Det 5: 1 Sep 1995-1 Nov 1999.
Stations. Elmendorf AFB, AK, 20 Apr 1948-1 Jan 1951. Nellis AFB, NV, 15 Oct 1969-.
Commanders. Col Thomas L. Mosley, 20 Apr 1948; Col Harry W. Generous, 10 Sep 1948; Brig Gen Donald R. Hutchinson, 24 May 1949; Col James T. Posey, 18 Sep 1950; Col James W. Andrew, 18 Dec 1950-1 Jan 1951. Col William B. Williamson Sr., 15 Oct 1969; Col Brian J. Lincoln, 1 Feb 1970; Col Freddie L. Poston, 16 Feb 1971; Col David D. Young, 23 May 1972; Col Wilford E. Deming III, 5 Jul 1973; Col William L. Strand, 3 Mar 1975; Col Ronald M. Clements, 5 Aug 1977; Brig Gen Thomas S. Swalm, 26 Feb 1979; Brig Gen Charles J. Cunningham Jr., 15 Jan 1980; Brig Gen Michael P.C. Carns, 14 Oct 1980; Brig Gen Michael C. Kerby, 10 May 1982; Brig Gen Joseph W. Ashy, 24 May 1984; Brig Gen Joel T. Hall, 22 Jan 1986; Brig Gen John P. Jumper, 8 Feb 1988; Brig Gen W. Thomas West, 21 May 1990; Brig Gen Anthony J. Tolin, 12 Nov 1991; Col John B. Gibbs, 14 Aug 1993; Brig Gen John L. Welde, 10 Sep 1993; Brig Gen John F. Miller Jr., 13 Feb 1995; Brig Gen T. Michael Moseley, 1 Jun 1996; Brig Gen Theodore W. Lay II, 27 Oct 1997; Brig Gen David L. Moody, 14 May 1999; Brig Gen Daniel J. Darnell, 7 Jun 2001; Brig Gen Gregory J. Ihde, 16 Jun 2003; Brig Gen William J. Rew, 1 Sep 2005; Brig Gen Stephen L. Hoog, 31 Jul 2007; Brig Gen Russell J. Handy, 18 Jan 2008; Brig Gen Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, 16 Jul 2010; Brig Gen Charles L. Moore, Jr., 26 Mar 2012; Brig Gen Christopher M. Short, 28 Feb 2014; Brig Gen Jeannie M. Leavitt 15 Apr 2016-.
Aircraft. F-51, 1948; F-80, 1948-1950; C-47, 1948; C-54, 1948, 1949-1950; C-82, 1948-1949, 1950. A-7, 1969-1975; F-4, 1969-1985, 1992-; F-100, 1969; F-105, 1969-1975; F-111, 1969-1995; T–39, 1969-c. 1972; T-38, 1972-1990; F-5, 1975-1989; F-15, 1976-; A-10, 1977-; F-16, 1980-; UH-1, 1981-1985; B-1, 1993-1999; B-52, 1993-1999; F-4G, 1993-1995; HH-60, 1993-; RQ-1A, 1995-.
Operations. The 57 Fighter Wing replaced 57 Fighter Wing (Provisional) in Apr 1948. It operated Elmendorf AFB, AK, and several satellite bases, and provided air defense of Alaska, Apr 1948–Dec 1950. In addition, the wing provided intra-theater troop carrier and airlift support, 1948-1950, using several attached troop carrier squadrons. In Jan 1951, it was replaced by 39th Air Depot Wing. The Wing moved to Nevada and replaced the 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, in Oct 1969. At Nellis, it trained tactical fighter aircrews, conducted operational tests and evaluations, demonstrated tactical fighter weapon systems, and developed fighter tactics and from Feb 1970 to Oct 1979 and operated Nellis AFB for all base tenants. The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (the “Thunderbirds”) was assigned to the wing in Feb 1974 and has remained an integral part of the wing to present. The 57th assumed operational control of “RED FLAG” exercises in Oct 1979; developing realistic combat training operations featuring adversary tactics, dissimilar air combat training, and electronic warfare. It incorporated intelligence training after Mar 1980. In 1990 the aggressor mission transferred to 4440th TFTG and later to the 414th CTS. The wing added instruction in hunter/killer counter electronic warfare tactics until 1996. From 1992-1999, the wing operated detachments at Cannon AFB, NM, Ellsworth AFB, ND, and Barksdale AFB, LA that flew and tested the F-111, B-1, and B-52 respectively.
It added the 66th Rescue Squadron, equipped with HH-60 helicopters, on 1 Feb 1993 while the squadron was deployed in Southwest Asia. From 1991 to present, the 57th provided combat aircrew capabilities, operating the USAF Weapons and the USAF Combat Rescue Schools, developing techniques and procedures and conducting operational test and evaluation on all major aircraft in the AF inventory.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-S.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 25 Oct 1969-25 Sep 1971; 1 Jun 1984-31 May 1986; 1 Jan 1987-31 Dec 1988; 1 Jan 1989-31 Dec 1990; 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003; 1 Jan 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2010-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2013.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display the honors earned by the 57th Operations Group prior to 20 Apr 1948. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, 24 Oct 1942–17 Aug 1943; Tunis and Cape Bon Area, 18 Apr 1943; Italy, 14 Apr 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Oct 1942–May 1945.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 21 Jul 2017.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 2008.
Supersedes statement prepared on 15 Jul 2009.
Emblem. Approved on 2 Sep 1970; latest rendering, 19 Jun 2018.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.