633rd Air Base Wing
{{About|the 633rd Air Base Wing|the 633d Special Operations Wing|633d Special Operations Wing}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 633d Air Base Wing
| image=U.S. Airmen with the 633rd Air Base Wing participate in a mock base attack during exercise Eagle Flag at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 20, 2011 110820-F-NW323-1359.jpg
| image_size = 290
|caption=Members of the 633d Air Base Wing participate in Exercise Eagle Flag
|dates= 1966–1970; 1989–1994; 2010–present
|country={{USA}}
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type=
|role=Support for Air Force and Army units
|size=
|command_structure=
|current_commander= Colonel Matthew Altman
|commander2= Colonel Harry D. Hung (USA)
|commander2_label= Vice Commander
|commander3= Chief Master Sergeant Greg G. Peterson
|commander3_label= Command Chief
|garrison= Joint Base Langley-Eustis
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
|identification_symbol=150px
|identification_symbol_label=633d Air Base Wing emblem (Approved 25 June 1993){{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16431 |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 633 Air Base Wing (ACC)|date=9 March 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150929005457/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16431 |archive-date=29 September 2015|access-date=24 October 2016}}
|identification_symbol_2=
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}}
The United States Air Force's 633rd Air Base Wing is the host organization for Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Its headquarters are at Langley Air Force Base. The unification of support for Langley and Fort Eustis was directed by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
The wing was first activated at Pleiku Air Base, where it supported special operations and forward air control units in the Central Highlands of South Viet Nam. It served as the host organization for Andersen Air Force Base on Guam when that base was transferred from Strategic Air Command to Pacific Air Forces in 1989 until it was replaced by the 36th Air Base Wing in 1994.
History
=Vietnam War=
File:A-1E 6SOS Pleiku 1968-69.jpg
The wing was originally organized as the 633d Combat Support Group at Pleiku Air Base in April 1966, when it took over the mission, personnel and equipment of the 6254th Combat Support Group, which was simultaneously discontinued. The 6254th had been organized on 8 July 1965 to provide security and maintenance support for Air Force organizations operating from Pleiku, primarily the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron.See {{cite web|url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433939/19-weapons-squadron-acc/|title=Factsheet 19 Weapons Squadron (ACC)|last1=Endicott|first1=Judy G.|date=8 January 2008|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=31 October 2015}} (19th Tactical Air Support Squadron operations)
Operations at Pleiku expanded in February 1968, when the 6th Air Commando Squadron moved to Pleiku from England Air Force Base, Louisiana and began flying Douglas A-1 Skyraiders from the base.{{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10478 |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 6 Special Operations Squadron (AFSOC)|date=9 April 2015|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001551/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10478 |archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=24 October 2016}} The expanded operations resulted in the 633d Special Operations Wing being activated on 15 July 1968 from elements of the 14th Special Operations Wing and 1st Special Operations Wing personnel on temporary duty at Pleiku to command operations at Pleiku. The 633d Group was assigned to the 633d Wing upon its formation. The 633d Wing conducted strike missions and advised the South Vietnamese. The wing and group inactivated in March 1970 and Pleiku was turned over to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.
=Andersen Air Force Base=
The group was redesignated the 633d Air Base Wing and was activated on 1 October 1989, when Pacific Air Forces took over Andersen Air Force Base, Guam from Strategic Air Command. The base replaced the 43d Combat Support Group, which was inactivated, although the 633d continued to support the 43d Bombardment Wing until it inactivated the following September.
In August 1990, 633d personnel began shipping more than 37,000 tons of munitions to forces in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. – More than 30,000 tons went by sealift, and more than 2,200 troops and 2,200 tons of cargo moved aboard 200 aircraft. Wing personnel cared for more than 20,000 people and 1,100 pets in June 1991 when Operation Fiery Vigil evacuated Americans from Luzon following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.
On 1 October 1994, the 633d inactivated and the 36th Air Base Wing was activated and absorbed its mission in keeping with the policy of the Air Force Chief of Staff to maintain the most highly decorated and longest-serving Air Force units on active duty.
=Joint Base Support=
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the consolidation of support functions for military installations located close to one another. This consolidation included installations that served different services. Langley Air Force Base, a United States Air Force station and Fort Eustis, a United States Army post, are both located near Hampton, Virginia, and the commission recommended combining them into Joint Base Langley-Eustis. This recommendation was implemented on 7 January 2010, when the wing was reactivated, taking over support activities at Langley from the 1st Mission Support Group, which was inactivated.{{cite web|url=https://www.jble.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/259107/historic-633d-abw-activation-begins-new-era-at-langley/|title=Historic 633d ABW activation begins new era at Langley|last1=Brown|first1=A1C Jason J.|date=8 January 2010|publisher=633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs|access-date=31 October 2015}} Later that month, the 733d Mission Support Group was activated to manage support functions at Ft Eustis.
Lineage
=Assignments=
- Pacific Air Forces, 14 March 1966 (not organized)
- Seventh Air Force, 8 April 1966
- 633d Special Operations Wing, 15 July 1968 – 15 March 1970
- Thirteenth Air Force, 1 October 1989 – 1 October 1994
- Ninth Air Force, 7 January 2010 – 20 August 2020
- Fifteenth Air Force, 20 August 2020 – present{{Cite web |last=Ream |first=Margaret E. |date=9 November 2020 |title=Fifteenth Air Force (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433462/fifteenth-air-force-acc/ |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Air Force Historical Research Agency |language=en-US}}
=Components=
; Groups
- 633d Logistics Group: 1 April 1992 – 1 October 1994
- 633d Medical Group: 1 October 1989 – 1 October 1994, 7 January 2010 – presentSee {{cite web|url=https://www.jble.af.mil/Units/Air-Force/|title=JBLE: Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Air Force Units|publisher=633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs|access-date=31 October 2015}} (listing 633d Air Base Wing units).
- 633d Operations Group: 1 April 1992 – 1 October 1994
- 633d Support Group (later 633d Mission Support Group): 1 April 1992 – 1 October 1994, 7 January 2010 – present
- 733d Mission Support Group: 29 January 2010 – present
; Squadrons
- 27th Communications Squadron (later 633d Communications Squadron): 1 October 1990 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Air Police Squadron (later 633d Security Police Squadron): 8 June 1966 – 15 March 1970, 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Civil Engineering Squadron: 15 January 1967 – 15 March 1970, 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Comptroller Squadron: 1 October 1989 – 16 October 1991, 7 January 2010 – present
- 633d Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 8 April 1966 – 15 July 1968, 30 June 1990 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Mission Support Squadron: 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Services Squadron (later 633d MWR and Services Squadron): 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Supply Squadron: 15 January 1967 – 15 July 1968, 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 633d Transportation Squadron: 1 October 1989 – 1 April 1992
- 733d Logistics Readiness Squadron (Current)
; Other
- 633d USAF Dispensary, 15 January 1967 – 15 July 1968
=Stations=
- Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 April 1966 – 15 March 1970
- Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, 1 October 1989 – 1 October 1994
- Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 7 January 2010 – present
=Awards and campaigns=
{{unit awards table
|award_image1=AF OUA w/ v
|award_name1=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
|award_date1=8 April 1966 – 30 April 1967
|award_notes1=633d Combat Support Group
|award_image2=AF OUA w/ v
|award_name2=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
|award_date2=15 July 1968 – 31 May 1969
|award_notes2=633d Combat Support Group
|award_image3=AF OUA
|award_name3=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date3=3 June 1990 – 1 June 1992
|award_notes3=633d Air Base Wing
|award_image4=AF OUA
|award_name4=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date4=1 August 1992 – 31 July 1994
|award_notes4=633d Air Base Wing
|award_image5=AF OUA
|award_name5=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date5=1 June 2014 – 31 May 2016
|award_notes5=633d Air Base Wing{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
|award_image6=VGC
|award_name6=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
|award_date6=[8] April 1966 – 15 March 1970
|award_notes6=633d Combat Support Group
}}
class="wikitable" | |||
style="background:#efefef;"
! Campaign Streamer ! Campaign ! Dates ! Notes | |||
200px | Vietnam Air | 8 April 1966 – 28 June 1966 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Air Offensive | 29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II | 9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Air/Ground | 22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III | 1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV | 1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Tet 1969/Counteroffensive | 23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 | 9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969 | 633d Combat Support Group |
200px | Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 | 3 November 1969 – 15 March 1970 | 633d Combat Support Group |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{cite web |url= https://www.jble.af.mil |title=JBLE: Joint Base Langley-Eustis|publisher=633d Air Base Wing Public Affairs|access-date=31 October 2015}}
{{USAF Air Combat Command}}
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