50th Space Wing
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| 50th Space Wing | |
|---|---|
 50th Space Wing Insignia |
|
| Active | May 16, 1949 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Space Control |
| Size | Wing |
| Part of | Air Force Space Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Schriever Air Force Base |
| Motto | Master of Space |
| Decorations |  DUC AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Cary Chun |
The 50th Space Wing (50 SW) is a wing of the United States Air Force under the major command of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). It was activated on January 30, 1992, replacing the 2d Space Wing, which was inactivated on the same date. The unit is the host wing at Schriever Air Force Base, located east of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their primary responsibility is to track and maintain the command and control, warning, navigational, and communications satellites for AFSPC. The 50th Space Wing also manages the Global Positioning System.
Typical satellite monitoring tasks such as tracking and telemetry are the main part of their mission, and in so doing, they employ over 4,000 personnel (military, contractors, and DoD civilians.)
Contents |
[edit] Organizational Units
The wing is divided into three groups:
- 50th Mission Support Group
- 50th Network Operations Group
- 50th Operations Group
All are ostensibly located at Schriever, but personnel are emplaced at remote locations, such as remote tracking stations (RTS).
[edit] History
- See 50th Operations Group for complete history and lineage
[edit] Lineage
- Established as 50 Fighter Wing on 16 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jun 1949
- Redesignated 50 Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 Mar 1950
- Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951
- Inactivated on 2 Jun 1951
- Redesignated 50 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Nov 1952
- Activated on 1 Jan 1953
- Redesignated 50 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jul 1958
- Inactivated on 30 Sep 1991
- Redesignated 50 Space Wing on 1 Jan 1992
- Activated on 30 Jan 1992.
[edit] Assignments
- First Air Force, 1 Jun 1949
- Attached to 33d Fighter [later, 33 Fighter-Interceptor] Wing, 1 Jun 1949-
- Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 Sep 1950-2 Jun 1951
- Remained attached to 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing to 2 Jun 1951
- Ninth Air Force, 1 Jan 1953
- Twelfth Air Force, 9 Aug 1953
- United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Jan 1958
- Seventeenth Air Force, 15 Nov 1959-30 Sep 1991
- Air Force Space Command, 30 Jan 1992
- Fourteenth Air Force, 20 Sep 1993-Present
[edit] Stations
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951
- Clovis AFB, New Mexico, 1 Jan-23 Jul 1953
- Hahn AB, West Germany, 10 Aug 1953
- Toul-Rosieres AB, France, 17 Jul 1956
- Hahn AB, West Germany, 10 Dec 1959-30 Sep 1991
[edit] Components
- 50 Fighter (later, 50 Fighter-Interceptor; 50 Fighter-Bomber; 50 Operations) Group: 1 Jun 1949-2 Jun 1951; 1 Jan 1953-8 Dec 1957; 30 Jan 1992-Present
- 750 Space Group: 30 Jan 1992-25 Jun 1999
- 1000th Satellite Operations Group: 30 Jan-31 Jul 1992.
- 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 8 Mar-2 Apr 1973 and 6 Sep-6 Oct 1975
- 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 11 Sep-7 Oct 1971 and 23 Sep-24 Oct 1976.
- 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 10 May-7 Jun 1977
- 69 Pilotless Bomber (later, 69 Tactical Missile): attached 14 Mar 1955-15 Apr 1956.
- 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 5 Sep-16 Nov 1961
- 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 5-25 Aug 1977
- 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached c. 24 Oct-11 Dec 1962.
- 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 1-24 Nov 1968, assigned 25 Nov 1968-15 May 1991
- 509 Fighter-Bomber: attached 15 Jan-24 Mar 1958
- 614 Tactical Fighter: attached 5 Sep-14 Nov 1961.
[edit] Commanders
[edit] 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing (June 1, 1949)
- Brig Gen Bruce Johnson, June 1, 1949 - June 1, 1951
[edit] 50th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (1 March 1950)
- Brig Gen Bruce Johnson, June 1, 1949 June 1, 1951
Unit Inactive
[edit] 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing (Jan. 1, 1953)
- Col Wallace S. Ford, Jan. 1, 1953 - July 21, 1954
- Col Melvin F. McNickle, July 22, 1954 - 23 Jun 1955
- Col Fred J. Ascani, June 24, 1955 - July 25, 1957
- Brig Gen Henry C. Newcomer, July 26, 1957 - Aug. 1959
[edit] 50th Tactical Fighter Wing (July 8, 1958)
- Brig Gen Henry C. Newcomer, July 26, 1957 - Aug. 1959
- Col Frank L. Wood, Aug. 1959
- Col Jack S. Jenkins, Sept. 1, 1959 - July 15, 1962
- Col William P. McBride, July 16, 1962 - Feb. 11, 1963
- Col David T. McKnight, Feb. 12, 1963 - June 8, 1964
- Col Louis J. Lamm, June 9, 1964 - July 19, 1964
- Col George W. McLaughlin, July 20, 1964 - circa May 1966
- Col Richard C. Catledge, circa May 1966
- Col Robert L. Liles, May 20 1966 - June 27, 1968
- Col Forrest L. Rauscher, June 28, 1968 - June 13, 1969
- Col John W. Smith, June 14, 1969 - April 21, 1970
- Col William B. Craig, April 22, 1970 - Nov. 16, 1970
- Col Billy F. Rogers, Nov. 17, 1970 - Sept. 30, 1971
- Col William C. Norris, Oct. 1, 1971 - Jan. 1, 1973
- Brig Gen Michael E. DeArmond, Jan. 2, 1973 - Aug. 25, 1974
- Col Paul M. Ingram, Aug. 26, 1974 - March 13, 1975
- Brig Gen James P. Albritton, March 14, 1975 - May 18, 1978
- Col Emery S. Wetzel, Jr., May 19, 1978 - June 23, 1980
- Col David M. Goodrich, June 24, 1980 - Jan. 28, 1982
- Brig Gen Wilfred L. Goodson, Jan. 29, 1982 - Oct. 19, 1982
- Col John M. Davey, Oct. 20, 1982 - Jan. 7, 1984
- Col Clifton C. Clark, Jr., Jan. 8, 1984 - July 30, 1986
- Brig Gen Ben Nelson, Jr., July 31, 1986 - Feb. 28, 1988
- Col Roger C. Taylor, March 1, 1988 - Feb. 26, 1990
- Col George W. Norwood, Feb. 27, 1990 - Sept. 30, 1991
Unit Inactive
[edit] 50th Space Wing (Jan. 30, 1992)
- Brig Gen Roger G. DeKok, Jan. 30, 1992 - June 16, 1993
- Col Gregory Giles, June 17, 1993 - Nov. 3, 1994
- Col Simon P. Worden, Nov. 4, 1994 - March 21, 1996
- Brig Gen Glen W. Moorhead III, March 22, 1996 - April 24, 1997
- Col Elwood C. Tircuit, April 25, 1997- June 9, 1999
- Col Richard E. Webber, June 9, 1999 - April 19, 2001
- Col Larry D. James, April 20, 2001 - June 8, 2003
- Col Michael D. Selva (Interim), Feb. 7, 2003 - circa May 2003
- Col Suzanne M. Vautrinot, June 9, 2003 - April 3, 2005
- Col John E. Hyten, April 4, 2005 - May 14, 2006
- Col James C. Hutto, Jr. (Interim), May 15, 2006 - Oct. 13, 2006
- Col John E. Hyten, Oct. 14, 2006 - May 21, 2007 [1]
- Col Teresa A. Djuric, May 22, 2007 - June 12, 2008 [2]
- Col Cary Chun, June 12, 2008 - present [3]
[edit] Equipment operated
- Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN)
- Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Milstar
- Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)
[edit] Emblem blazon
Azure, an opinicus passant Argent, all within a diminished bordure Or.
Modified version of 50th Fighter Group emblem approved for the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Jul 1953, and reinstated on 9 Jul 1992; replaced wing emblem approved on 23 Aug 1956. Motto: MASTER OF SPACE. Approved on 10 Sep 1992.
[edit] Awards
- 2008 General Thomas S. Moorman, Jr. Award (outstanding wing in AFSPC) [4]
- 2008 General Robert T. Herres Award (outstanding space wing in AFSPC) [5]
[edit] References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Schriever AFB website
- From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': A History of the 50th Space Wing
- From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': 50th FW moves 'there and back again'
- From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': F-16s join 50th TFW arsenal
- Commanders lead in challenging times
- 50th Space Wing Heritage Site
- USAF History and Chronology of 50th Space Wing
- ^ 50th Space Wing welcomes new commander
- ^ 50th Space Wing welcomes new commander
- ^ 50th Space Wing steps into future with new commander
- ^ [1]
- ^ The Excellence of Space and Missile Wings Recognized
[edit] External links
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![[1]](http://www.schriever.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/090430-F-7787L-147.jpg){kind=link}