Lineage. Established as 323 Bombardment Wing, Light on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 28 Mar 1951. Redesignated as 323 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 9 May 1955. Activated on 8 Aug 1955. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1957. Redesignated as 323 Flying Training Wing on 28 Jul 1972. Activated on 1 Apr 1973. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1993. Redesignated as 323 Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 25 Mar 2003. Activated on 14 Mar 2008. Inactivated on 30 Apr 2008.
Assignments. Twelfth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949; Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1950-28 Mar 1951. Ninth Air Force, 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957. Air Training Command, 1 Apr 1973; Nineteenth Air Force, 1 Jul-30 Sep 1993. United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 25 Mar 2003. Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), attached, 14 Mar-30 Apr 2008.
Operational Components. Groups. 323 Bombardment (later, 323 Operations): 27 Jun 1949-17 Mar 1951; 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957; 15 Dec 1991-31 May 1993. 386 Fighter-Bomber: attached 8 Apr 1956-9 Apr 1957. Squadrons: 449 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Jul 1988. 450 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991. 451 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991. 452 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991. 453 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991. 454 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991. 455 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1973-15 Dec 1991.
Stations. Tinker AFB, OK, 27 Jun 1949-28 Mar 1951. Bunker Hill AFB, IN, 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957. Mather AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1973-30 Sep 1993. Balotesti, Romania, 14 Mar-30 Apr 2008.
Commanders. Brig Gen W. C. Lewis, 27 Jun 1949; Col Clint T. Johnson, c. Aug 1950-Mar 1951. Col Carter E. Duncan, 8 Aug 1955; Col Bernard R. Muldoon, 21 Dec 1955; Col Joseph H. Moore, 14 Jul 1956; Col Billy Cornett, 22 Jul 1957; Col Henry J. Chisholm, 15 Aug-1 Sep 1957. Col Norris M. Overly, 1 Apr 1973; Brig Gen Robert W. Bazley, 13 Oct 1973; Col Dennis B. Sullivan, 18 Jul 1975; Col Attilio Pedroli, 13 Sep 1976; Col Roy K. Baliles, 13 Jun 1979; Col Richard D. Paul, 7 Jul 1981; Col John B. Tarsoly, 31 Mar 1983; Col William E. Collins, 20 May 1985; Col Roy D. Sheetz, 5 Jun 1987; Col John R. Morrison Jr., 12 Apr 1989; Col Joseph H. Wehrle Jr., 25 Jul 1991; Col Robert J. Martinelli, 5 Jun 1992-30 Sep 1993.
Aircraft. T-6, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; B-26, 1949-1951; T-7, 1950-1951. F-86, 1955-1957; F-100, 1956-1957. T-29, 1973-1975; ET-29, 1973-1974; T-43, 1973-1993; T-37, 1974-1993.
Operations. Trained in the organized Reserve, 1949-1951. Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951; personnel used as "fillers" to meet USAF world-wide requirements for strategic and tactical forces. Trained to become proficient in tactical operations as part of Tactical Air Command (TAC), Mar 1956-May 1957. Phased down and replaced by 4041 Air Base Group on 1 Sep 1957. Replaced 3535 Navigator Training Wing in Apr 1973. Operated Mather AFB, published Navigator magazine, and conducted training for navigators, navigator-bombardiers, and electronic warfare officers beginning in Apr 1973. Conducted operational test and evaluation of T-43A aircraft, 1 Aug-31 Oct 1973. Began converting to T-43s in 1973. As the only USAF school for teaching navigation, the wing served not only the USAF as a whole but also Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and friendly nations. Began training US Navy and US Coast Guard flight officers in Jul 1976 and began supporting Marine Aerial Navigation School (that moved from Texas to Mather AFB) in Jul 1976, although the USMC conducted its own navigation training. Began training female navigators in Mar 1977. Under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, Mather AFB closed on 30 Sep 1993 and 323 Flying Training Wing inactivated; USAF Navigator School moved to Randolph AFB, TX.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr-31 Dec 1973; 1 Jan 1976-28 Feb 1977; 1 Jan 1978-30 Apr 1979; 1 Jan 1980-30 Apr 1981.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 323 Operations Group prior to 26 Jun 1949. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decoration. Distinguished Unit Citation: Belgium and Germany, 24-27 Dec 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 13 May 2010.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1993.
Supersedes statement prepared on 6 Mar 2003.
Emblem. Approved on 25 Sep 1973.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.