Douglas Laferney

4th Fighter Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 4th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. It is a combat-ready fighter wing comprised of F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft which are utilized for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The wing has a long and distinguished history, dating back to its activation during World War II. It has participated in numerous military campaigns and exercises, demonstrating its capabilities and dedication to the mission.

The 15th Security Police Squadron (15th SPS) was a unit of the United States Air Force responsible for base security, law enforcement, and force protection. Activated at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, the 15th SPS played a crucial role in safeguarding key Air Force assets and personnel during the Cold War and into the post-Vietnam era. The squadron conducted base defense operations, coordinated emergency response, and maintained readiness for potential threats, both external and internal. In later years, the unit underwent organizational changes and was eventually redesignated as the 15th Security Forces Squadron, continuing its mission under a new name.

The 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing (23rd TFW) was activated in 1948 and is best known for inheriting the lineage and traditions of the legendary "Flying Tigers" from World War II. During the Vietnam War, the 23rd TFW operated F-105 Thunderchiefs and later A-7D Corsair IIs, conducting ground-attack and close air support missions. The wing was stationed at various bases, including England Air Force Base, Louisiana, and played a crucial role in supporting U.S. and allied forces during numerous conflicts. In the 1990s, it transitioned to flying A-10 Thunderbolt IIs before being inactivated in 1992, with its heritage continuing under the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

The 317th Airlift Wing, originally established as the 317th Troop Carrier Group in 1942, played a pivotal role during World War II, participating in major airborne operations across Europe, including D-Day and Operation Market Garden. In the postwar years, the unit supported various airlift missions, adapting to new aircraft and evolving operational requirements during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Reactivated and redesignated several times, the 317th has flown the C-130 Hercules since the 1960s, providing crucial tactical airlift capability for the United States Air Force. Today, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, the 317th Airlift Wing continues to support global mobility and humanitarian operations around the world.

The 379th Bomb Wing was first activated in 1955 at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, as part of the Strategic Air Command, equipped initially with B-47 Stratojet bombers. During the Cold War, the wing played a key role in the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy, later transitioning to B-52 Stratofortress bombers. In the 1990s, the unit was inactivated but reactivated in 2003 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, where it became a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force operations in the Middle East, conducting strategic bombing, air refueling, and reconnaissance missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Today, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (as it is now known) remains a vital component of U.S. airpower projection in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.