Lineage. Established as 388 Fighter-Day Wing on 23 Mar 1953. Redesignated as 388 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 5 Nov 1953. Activated on 23 Nov 1953. Inactivated on 10 Dec 1957. Redesignated as 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, and activated, on 1 May 1962. Organized on 1 Oct 1962. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Feb 1964. Activated on 14 Mar 1966. Organized on 8 Apr 1966. Redesignated as 388 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments. Ninth Air Force, 23 Nov 1953; Twelfth Air Force, 12 Dec 1954–10 Dec 1957. Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1962; Twelfth Air Force, 1 Oct 1962– 8 Feb 1964. Pacific Air Forces, 14 Mar 1966; Thirteenth Air Force, 8 Apr 1966 (attached to Seventh Air Force, 8 Apr 1966–14 Feb 1973; US Support Activities Group, Seventh Air Force, 15 Feb 1973–c. 30 Jun 1975); 17 Air Division, 1 Jul 1975; Twelfth Air Force, 23 Dec 1975-.
Operational Components. Groups. 388 Fighter-Bomber (later, 388 Operations): 23 Nov 1953–10 Dec 1957; 1 Dec 1991–. Squadrons. 3 Tactical Fighter: 15 Mar 1973–15 Dec 1975. 4 Tactical Fighter (later, 4 Fighter): 23 Dec 1975–1 Dec 1991 (detached 28 Aug 1990–27 Mar 1991). 7 Airborne Command Control: 30 Apr 1972–22 May 1974. 13 Tactical Fighter: attached 15 May 1966–20 Oct 1967. 16 Special Operations: attached 19 Jul 1974–8 Dec 1975. 16 Tactical Fighter Training (later, 16 Tactical Fighter): 1 Jan 1979–30 Jun 1986. 17 Wild Weasel: 1 Dec 1971–15 Nov 1974. 34 Tactical Fighter (later, 34 Fighter): attached 15 May 1966–14 Mar 1971, assigned 15 Mar 1971–1 Dec 1991. 35 Tactical Fighter: attached c. 12 Jun–c. 10 Oct 1972. 42 Tactical Electronic Warfare: attached c. 21 Sep–14 Oct 1970, assigned 15 Oct 1970–15 Mar 1974. 44 Tactical Fighter: 25 Apr 1967–15 Oct 1969 (detached 10–15 Oct 1969). 421 Tactical Fighter (later, 421 Fighter): 8 Apr 1966–25 Apr 1967; 23 Dec 1975– 1 Dec 1991 (detached 9–23 Aug 1977 and 28 Aug 1990–27 Mar 1991). 469 Tactical Fighter: 8 Apr 1966–31 Oct 1972. 553 Reconnaissance: 15 Dec 1970–31 Dec 1971. 560 Tactical Fighter: 1 Oct 1962–8 Feb 1964. 561 Fighter-Bomber (later, 561 Tactical Fighter): attached 1 Jul–10 Dec 1957; assigned 1 Oct 1962–8 Feb 1964. 562 Fighter-Bomber (later, 562 Tactical Fighter): attached 1 Jul–10 Dec 1957; assigned 1 Oct 1962–8 Feb 1964. 563 Fighter-Bomber (later, 563 Tactical Fighter): attached 1 Jul–10 Dec 1957; assigned 1 Oct 1962–8 Feb 1964. 6010 Wild Weasel: 1 Nov 1970–1 Dec 1971.
Stations. Clovis AFB, NM, 23 Nov 1953–28 Nov 1954; Etain-Rouvres AB, France, 12 Dec 1954–10 Dec 1957. McConnell AFB, KS, 1 Oct 1962–8 Feb 1964. Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 8 Apr 1966–23 Dec 1975; Hill AFB, UT, 23 Dec 1975–.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Air; 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; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 10 Mar–1 May 1967. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 29–30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1966–30 Jun 1967; 1 Jul 1967–30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1968–15 Sep 1969; 10 Oct 1970– 20 May 1971; 18 Dec 1972–15 Aug 1973; 15 Oct 1974–12 May 1975; 13–15 May 1975. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2019-31 May 2021; 1 Jun 2021-31 May 2022. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1986–30 Apr 1988; 1 May 1991–30 Apr 1993; 1 Jun 2005-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2020. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 8 Apr 1966–28 Jan 1973.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 388 Bombardment Group prior to 23 Nov 1953. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Regensberg, Germany, 17 Aug 1943; Hanover, Germany (26 Jul 1943), Brux, Czechoslovakia (12 May 1944), and from England to Russia (21 Jun 1944).
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 May 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 18 Dec 2011.
Emblem. Approved on 11 Mar 1955; latest rendering, 17 Jan 2008.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.