77th Aeronautical Systems Wing
Encyclopedia
The 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing (77 ASW) is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
, Ohio
.
Its World War II
predecessor unit, the 77th Reconnaissance Group supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas.
. It's units perform a variety of missions
the 77th supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance
, artillery
adjustment, fighter
, and bomber
missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. One squadron
(113th) flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico
from March until June 1942 when it was relieved by another squadron (128th). Still another squadron (120th) patrolled the Mexican
border from March–July 1942. A detachment of the 77th served in India
from February until July 1943. The 77th was deactivated in 1943.
The 77th was reactivated in 1985 and consolidated with the 2852nd Air Base Wing in 1994 to provide services and support for McClellan AFB with its satellite installations and the Sacramento Air Logistics Center with its tenant organizations (the 2852nd had been performing this duty since 1 August 1953 until the base was officially closed in 2001.
The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group moved from Brooks City-Base
, San Antonio to Wright-Patterson AFB in mid 2009.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center
Aeronautical Systems Center
The Aeronautical Systems Center is an Air Force product center that designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities...
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Its World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
predecessor unit, the 77th Reconnaissance Group supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance, artillery adjustment, fighter, and bomber missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas.
Units
The 77 ASW supports the Aeronautical Systems CenterAeronautical Systems Center
The Aeronautical Systems Center is an Air Force product center that designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities...
. It's units perform a variety of missions
- Human Systems Group
- Provides advanced performance, survival, and force protection capabilities to U.S. and allied air, ground, and naval forces through development, production, and sustainment of human-centered systems including aircrew life support, egress, survival, aeromedical equipment, medical information, aerovac equipment testing/certification, AF uniforms, and aircraft mishap analysis.
- Simulator Systems Group
- Responsible for the development, production, test, integration, deployment, modification, and sustainment of common training solutions for joint ground-based training and mission rehearsal systems.
- Aging Aircraft Systems Squadron
- Develops and fields products that enhance the Air Force's aircraft fleet availability and mission capability while reducing total ownership cost. The squadron is responsible for the development, acquisition, and fielding of cross-enterprise materiel solutions that enhance fleet availability and mission capability.
- Propulsion Systems Squadron
- Responsible for the development, production, test, and fielding of propulsion systems for the Joint Strike Fighter, F/A-22, and C-17. It also manages the Component Improvement Program, critical sustaining engineering for Air Force propulsion, and modernization of all Air Force propulsion systems, future propulsion capabilities, and allied F-15/F-16 engines.
- Combat Electronics Systems Squadron
- Responsible for the development, testing, acquiring, fielding and sustainment of materiel capabilities for multiple Department of Defense and allied aircraft weapon systems.
Lineage
- Established as 77 Observation Group on 5 February 1942
- Activated on 2 March 1942
- Redesignated: 77 Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943
- Redesignated: 77 Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 August 1943
- Disestablished on 30 November 1943
- Reestablished, and redesignated 77 Tactical Intelligence Wing, on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
- Consolidated (16 September 1994) with 2852 Air Base Wing, which was established, and organized, on 1 August 1953.
- Redesignated: 2852 Air Base Group on 16 October 1964
- Redesignated: 652 Support Group on 1 October 1992
- Redesignated: 652 Air Base Group on 1 October 1993
- Redesignated: 77 Air Base Wing on 1 October 1994
- Inactivated on 13 July 2001
- Consolidated (23 June 2006) with Agile Combat Support Systems Wing, which was established on 23 November 2004
- Activated on 18 January 2005
- Redesignated: 77 Aeronautical Systems Wing on 14 July 2006.
Assignments
- Air Force Combat Command, 2 March 1942
- 2 Air Support CommandII Air Support CommandThe II Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, 12 March 1942 - III Ground Air Support CommandIII Air Support CommandThe III Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 16 March 1942.-Lineage:...
, 24 May 1942 - 2 Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 21 August 1942 - II Ground Air Support CommandII Air Support CommandThe II Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, 7 September 1942
- Attached to III Ground Air [later, III Air] Support CommandIII Air Support CommandThe III Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 16 March 1942.-Lineage:...
, 7 September 1942 – 5 August 1943
- III Air Support (later, III Reconnaissance) CommandIII Air Support CommandThe III Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 16 March 1942.-Lineage:...
, 6 August – 30 November 1943 - Sacramento Air Materiel Area (later, Sacramento Air Logistics Center), 1 August 1953 – 13 July 2001
- Aeronautical Systems CenterAeronautical Systems CenterThe Aeronautical Systems Center is an Air Force product center that designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities...
, 18 January 2005–present
Components
- 5 Observation: 25 January – 2 April 1943
- 27 Observation (later, 27 Reconnaissance; 27 Tactical Reconnaissance): 17 July 1942 – 30 November 1943
- 35 Photographic Reconnaissance: 11 August – 30 November 1943 (detached 11 August – 31 October 1943)
- 113 Observation (later, 113 Reconnaissance; 113 Tactical Reconnaissance): 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943
- 120 Observation (later, 120 Reconnaissance; 120 Tactical Reconnaissance)120th Fighter SquadronThe 120th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 140th Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.-Mission:...
: 12 March 1942 – 30 November 1943 - 125 Observation (later, 125 Liaison)125th Fighter SquadronThe 125th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 138th Fighter Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Combat Command...
: 12 March 1942 – 11 August 1943 - 128 Observation (later, 21 Antisubmarine)128th Airborne Command and Control SquadronThe 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard that flies the E-8C Joint STARS. Its parent unit is the 116th Air Control Wing....
: 12 March 1942 – 8 March 1943 (detached 3 July – 7 September 1942 and 15 October 1942 – 3 March 1943).
Stations
- Salinas Army Air Base, California, 2 March 1942
- Brownwood Army Airfield, Texas, c. 22 March 1942
- DeRidder Army Airbase, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 25 July 1942 - Alamo Field, Texas, 28 September 1942
- Abilene Army Airfield, Texas, 6 April 1943
- Esler Army Airfield, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 13 September 1943 - Birmingham Army Airfield, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 14–30 November 1943 - McClellan AFB, California, 1 August 1953 – 13 July 2001
- Wright-Patterson AFB, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 18 January 2005–present
Aircraft
- O-38Douglas O-38-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
(1942–1943) - O-47North American O-47|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946....
(1942–1943) - O-52 Owl (1942–1943)
- L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1942–1943) - O-46 (1942)
- Douglas O-43Douglas O-43-External links:***...
(1942) - A-18 (1942)
- L-1 VigilantStinson Vigilant|-See also:-Bibliography:* Donald, David . American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng . The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1* Merriam, Ray . World War II Journal #15: U.S....
(1942–1943)
- L-4 (1942–1943)
- L-3 (1942–1943)
- L-6 (1942–1943)
- B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
(1942–1943) - O-49 VigilantStinson Vigilant|-See also:-Bibliography:* Donald, David . American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng . The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1* Merriam, Ray . World War II Journal #15: U.S....
(1942) - P-39 Airacobra (1942–1943)
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
(1943) - A-20 Havoc (1943)
Operations
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the 77th supported ground units in training by flying reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
, artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
adjustment, fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, and bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
missions, and in the process trained reconnaissance personnel who later served overseas. One squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
(113th) flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
from March until June 1942 when it was relieved by another squadron (128th). Still another squadron (120th) patrolled the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border from March–July 1942. A detachment of the 77th served in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from February until July 1943. The 77th was deactivated in 1943.
The 77th was reactivated in 1985 and consolidated with the 2852nd Air Base Wing in 1994 to provide services and support for McClellan AFB with its satellite installations and the Sacramento Air Logistics Center with its tenant organizations (the 2852nd had been performing this duty since 1 August 1953 until the base was officially closed in 2001.
The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group moved from Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base
Brooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
, San Antonio to Wright-Patterson AFB in mid 2009.