50th Space Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 50th Space Wing


caption= 50th Space Wing Insignia
dates= May 16, 1949
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Space Control
size= Wing
command_structure= Air Force Space Command
current_commander= Colonel [http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=11232 Cary Chun]
garrison= Schriever Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Master of Space
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

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.)

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).

History

Lineage

* Established as 50th Fighter Wing on 16 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jun 1949.
* Redesignated 50th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 1 Mar 1950. Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 2 Jun 1951.
* Redesignated 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953.
* Redesignated 50th Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jul 1958. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1991.
* Redesignated 50th Space Wing on 1 Jan 1992. Activated on 30 Jan 1992.

Also activated at Falcon AFB are the 50th Operations Group, previously the 50th Tactical Fighter Group, and the 50th Support Group, later renamed 50th Mission Support Group. On the same date the 750th Space Group activated at Onizuka Air Force Station. These organizations took over the personnel, facilities, and missions of the inactivated 2d Space Wing. 750th SG was deactivated in 1996.

The honors and history of the 50th Fighter Group prior to 1949 have been bestowed on the 50th Space Wing.

Assignments

* First Air Force, 1 Jun 1949 (attached to 33d Fighter [later, 33d 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–

Stations

* Otis AFB, MA, 1 June 1949–2 June 1951
* Clovis AFB, NM, 1 January–23 July 1953
* Hahn Air Base, Germany, 10 August 1953
* Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, 17 July 1956
* Hahn Air Base, Germany, 10 Dec 1959–30 Sept 1991
* Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, CO, 30 Jan 1992–present

Commanders

50th Fighter-Bomber Wing (June 1, 1949)

* Brig Gen Bruce Johnson, June 1, 1949 - June 1, 1951

50th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (1 March 1950)

* Brig Gen Bruce Johnson, June 1, 1949 June 1, 1951Unit Inactive

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

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, 1991Unit Inactive

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 [http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123054430]
* Col Teresa A. Djuric, May 22, 2007 - June 12, 2008 [http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123102544]
* Col Cary Chun, June 12, 2008 - present

Equipment operated

* Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN)
* Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)
* Global Positioning System (GPS)
* Milstar
* Vandenberg Tracking Station

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.

References

* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/ Schriever AFB website]
* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123028059 From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': A History of the 50th Space Wing]
* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123035153 From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': 50th FW moves 'there and back again']
* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123042129 From 'Master of the Sky' to 'Master of Space': F-16s join 50th TFW arsenal]
* [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123057918 Commanders lead in challenging times]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/50sw.asp 50th Space Wing Heritage Site]
* [http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070620-031.pdf USAF History and Chronology of 50th Space Wing]

External Links