David A. Britt wrote on 2004-03-15 15:09:04.0
Comments: The 27TH FIGHTER WING was reactivated in July 1947 at Kearney Air Force Base, Nebraska as fighter escort for heavy bombers of 8th Air Force and Strategic Air Command. At the time of reactivation, the 27th Fighter Wing was equipped with the wartime P-51 Mustang fighter aircraftredesignated as the F-51. Colonel Gwen Atkinson was the Wing commandeering officer. In November, 1947, the 27th Fighter Wing received its first F-82 Twin Mustang fighter aircraft--forerunner of the F-82 Twin Mustang now being used by the Wing. In December, 1947, the 27th Fighter Group left Kearney Air Force Base for its first gunnery missionflying the F-51s. The three fighter squadrons, the 522nd, the 523rd, and the 524th, conducted gunnery missions from McDill Air Force Base at Tampa, Florida and Eglin Air Force Base at Valparaiso, Florida until March, 1948at which time the group returned to its parent field, Kearney. Shortly after returning to Kearney, the Fighter Group again departed, this time for Tacoma, Washington, where it conducted interception missions during the months old April and May, 1948. In January, 1948, Colonel Ashley B. Packard assumed command of the 27th Fighter Wing. Colonel Atkinson was transferred to Walker Air Force Base at Roswell, New Mexico, where he became commanding officer of the 33rd Fighter Group. Colonel Packard had just returned from a tour of duty in Korea. In September, 1948, the Kearney Air Force Base held open house for civilians of Nebraska on Air Force Day. Over 15,000 people turned out for the eventfar surpassing anticipated expectations. In November, December, and January, the 27th Fighter Wing and Kearney Air Force Base conducted a phase of Operation Snow-Bound in the Nebraska area. During the month of January, and part of February, Operation Haylift was conducted from the basefeeding cattle from the air, dropping emergency supplies to stranded ranch houses, and delivering snowplowing equipment to isolated areas. In January, 1949, the 27th Fighter Wing was assigned an escort mission that turned out to be the aerial review at the inauguration of President Harry S. Truman in Washington. Also in January, the 27th took off for its first longrange over--water navigation mission in the Caribbean Area. During this tour, the 27th established two first in aviation annals. It was the first longrange overwater flight of fighter aircraft to use celestial navigation and the first fighter mission over water without heavier aircraft escort. In February, 1949, the initial announcement was made that the 27th Fighter Wing was to have a new homeBergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas. Personnel morale jumped over two hundred percent at the time of the announcement. On 11 March, 1949, the 27th Fighter Group flew in formation to Bergstrom Air Force Base. Governor Beauford Jester, (then) Mayor Tom Miller, and church, civil and social leaders turned out to welcome the 27th Fighter Wint to Austin. Since the initial arrival, the 27th Figfhter Wing and Bergstrom Air force Base have been host to many dignitaries, including move stars Joel McCrea, Alexis Smith, and William Bendix; the Royal Canadian Air Forces Central Bandin Austin for memorial ceremonies honoring the RCAFs dead from Texas. [Added by David A. Britt] In 1950 the 27th Fighter Wings F-82s were replaced with Republics F-84E Thunderjet. In November 1950 the 27th Fighter Group was alerted for overseas. The F-84s were flown to California where the aircraft and personnel were transported to Japan on two aircraft carriers, the Bataan and the Bairoka. Aircraft and crews were positioned in a number of places both in Japan and Korea. Itazuke in Japan and Taegu in Korea were leading bases in the 27th Fighter Groups operations during the Korean War. General Orders Number 557, Headquarters Far East Air Force, APO 925, Dated 27 November 1951, awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation to the 27th Fighter-Escort Group. The 27th Fighter Group was highly decorated and sadly lost a number of its comrades in this war. COMMAND SECTION COLONEL ASHLEY B. PACKARD, commanding officer of the 27th Fighter Wing and Bergstrom Air Force Base, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, on June 14, 1938. After graduation, he attended basic and primary pilot training at Randolph AF Base from September 1938 to May 1939. He then completed advanced pilot training at Kelly AF Base at San Antonia in August 1939. Colonel Packard served in the Pacific Theater as chief of the training branch, A-3 Division, at Headquarters, USAAF, Guam; Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands and headquarters FEAF, Tokyo. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Special Order of Yan Hui (Chinest Decoration) and various theater ribbons. He commanded the 475th Fighter Group, Kimpo Korea, prior to his assignment to the 27th Fighter Group. Colonel Packard was formerly of Douglas, AZ. COLONEL CY WILSON, commanding officer of the 27th Fighter Group, graduated from Texas A & M in 1934, with a degree in engineering and enlisted in the Air Force October 1943 as a cadet at Randolph Field. Colonel Wilson served ten months overseas in Island and completed 78 missions in the European Theater during WWII. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Commendation by General Officers, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Croix de Guerre with Palms. After being shot down in combat, the Colonel was taken prisoner of war by the enemy and held for eleven months. Colonel Cy Wilson is a native Texan, born at Humble, Texas. Some of you may not remember Colonel Wilson, he was the one with the Cushman motor scooter on his way to fly his F-82, Ole 97. LT. COL. ROSWELL FREEMAN, COMMANDING, Matagorda Island Bombing and Gunnery Range. Was born in New York City, NY. MAJ. RAY L. NORRIS, Adjutant 27th Fighter Wing, was born in Conway S. Carolina. MAJ. ARTHUR E. JUSTICE, JR., 27th Fighter Group Adjutant CAPT. JULIAS MERANEY, Chaplain CAPT. STEPHEN A. JANTO, Catholic Chaplain Each fighter squadron begins its command list with officers in charge. See those list for names in the list that follow.
Keywords: Honoring the 27th Fighter Escort Wing an its commanders Contents: This history of the 27th FEW is from the year book by Mrs. Lena B. Grubb of Fort Worth, Texas; circa 1948. Contact me with your inputs.
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