ABOUT 81st Training Wing
- Origins During World War II: The 81st Training Wing traces its heritage to the 81st Fighter Group, which was activated in 1942 and served in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II, flying P-39 Airacobra and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.
- Reactivation and Jet Era: The unit was reactivated as the 81st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in 1950, becoming one of the first U.S. Air Force units to operate the F-86 Sabre jet during the early Cold War years.
- Cold War Service in Europe: The 81st was stationed at RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in England for over 40 years, tasked with air defense and tactical nuclear strike missions during the height of the Cold War.
- Transition to A-10 Thunderbolt II: In the late 1970s and 1980s, the 81st Wing became one of the primary operators of the A-10 "Warthog" in Europe, focusing on close air support and anti-armor missions.
- Key Role in Gulf War Preparations: Although not deployed to the Gulf War, the 81st provided trained personnel and supported operations in the build-up to Operation Desert Storm.
- Reorganization and Move to Keesler AFB: In 1993, the 81st was inactivated in the UK and almost immediately reactivated at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, as the 81st Training Wing, shifting its mission from combat to technical training.
- Largest Technical Training Wing: The 81st Training Wing is the largest technical training wing in the U.S. Air Force, training more than 28,000 students annually in fields such as cyber operations, avionics, medical, and weather specialties.
- Hurricane Katrina Response: Keesler AFB and the 81st Training Wing were severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, leading to a major evacuation and subsequent humanitarian assistance and recovery efforts.
- Cyber Training Leadership: The 81st Training Wing is home to the Air Force’s Center of Excellence for Cyber Operations, training enlisted and officer personnel for critical cyber warfare missions.
- Distinctive Emblem and Motto: The wing’s emblem features a golden “81” and a lightning bolt, symbolizing speed and power, and their motto is “Train to Fight, Fight to Win,” reflecting their commitment to producing combat-ready Airmen and Guardians.
