The 23d American Volunteer Group "Flying Tigers" began missions against Japan in the skies over China under the command of Major General Claire Lee Chennault.

The 23d AVG became absorbed into the Army Air Corps, giving birth to the 23d Fighter Group, activated at Kunming, China.

The 23d Fighter Group inactivated at Fort Lewis Staging Facility, Washington.

The 23d Fighter Wing activated for the first time at Northwest Field, Guam.

The 23d Fighter Wing moved to Howard AFB, Panama Canal Zone.

The 23d Fighter Wing and Group redesignated as the 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing and Group, respectively.

The 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing and Group activated at Presque Isle AFB, Maine.

The 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing and Group inactivated at Presque Isle AFB, Maine.

The 23d Fighter Wing, redesignated the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing, activated at McConnell AFB, Kansas.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing supported operations in Vietnam, flying more than 2,200 sorties.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing moved without equipment or personnel to England AFB, Louisiana, flying the A-7D aircraft.

The 23d Security Police Squadron received the Air Force’s first female security policeman.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing swept the available awards at the Royal Air Force Tactical Bombing Competition at Lossiemouth, Scotland.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing won the Royal Air Force Tactical Bombing Competition at Lossiemouth, Scotland for the second year in a row.

Members of the 23d Transportation Squadron assisted in humanitarian operations after Hurricane David devastated Puerto Rico.

The wing received its first A-l0A aircraft.

The wing’s flying mission converted to solely A-l0A operations.

The last active duty, assigned A-7D aircraft departed England AFB.

The wing received its second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

Eight A-10s, 177 personnel, and over 200 tons of cargo from the 76th TFS deployed from to Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico, in support of Operation Urgent Fury, the stabilization of Grenada.

The wing received its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

The wing received the last production model of the A-l0A Thunderbolt II.

The wing received the coveted Daedalian Maintenance Trophy for outstanding maintenance during 1984.

The wing won Gunpowder ‘85, 9th Air Force's competition to determine the participant for Gunsmoke ‘85, the Air force- wide air-to-ground gunnery competition.

Wing personnel deployed to Fort Hood, Texas to participate in a live-fire display held for visiting Soviet military officials.

The 74th and 76th Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield.

After flying more than 2,700 combat sorties and losing only two aircraft in combat, wing personnel returned home after supporting Operations Desert Shield and Storm, without any loss of personnel.

The 23d Tactical Fighter Wing redesignated as the 23d Fighter Wing.

The 23d Fighter Wing inactivated at England AFB, Louisiana, redesignated the 23d Wing, and activated at Pope AFB, North Carolina as the first Airland Composite Wing, flying both A-lOA and C-130E aircraft in support of its mission.

The wing hosted the 50th reunion of the AVG Flying Tigers.

The 23d Wing supported relief operations after Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida.

The 23d Wing supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

The 23d Wing received its first issue of the F-1 6C/D aircraft.

The 74th Fighter Squadron activated, flying F-16C/D aircraft, adding another dimension to the wing's airland capabilities.

The wing began supporting Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The wing supported Operations Restore Democracy and Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

The 23d Wing supported Operation Vigilant Warrior in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Members of the 23d Security Police Squadron supported Operation Safe Haven in Panama.

The 2d and 41st Airlift Squadrons supported Operation Maintain Democracy in Haiti.

The 23d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron supported Operation United Shield in Mombassa, Kenya.

The 2d and 41st Airlift Squadrons, and 74th Fighter Squadron, partook in Cobra Gold `95, a joint training exercise involving the armed forces of Thailand and the US.

The 2d and 41st Airlift Squadrons participated in Big Drop II, a joint exercise with the U. S. Army’s 82d Airborne, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units.

The 23d Security Police Squadron was awarded the Best Active Duty Medium Unit Award for the US Air Force.

The majority of the 23d Wing aircraft evacuated for Hurricane Felix.

The 2d Airlift Squadron, 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons deployed to support Operation Southern Watch.

Thirty-five members of the 23d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.

Two units, the 2d and 41st Airlift Squadrons, engaged in Big Drop III, the largest airdrop operation since World War II.

The 74th Fighter Squadron began its command-directed shift from flying the F-16C/D to the A-10A aircraft.

The 2d Airlift Squadron competed in the 15th International Airlift Rodeo competition at McChord AFB, Washington where it would bring home several top awards.

The 23d Wing evacuated its flyable A-10As, C-130Es, and remaining F-16C/D aircraft for the impending arrival of Hurricane Bertha.

Once again the 23d Wing evacuated its flyable A-10A and C-130E aircraft for the encroaching Hurricane Fran, one of the most destructive tropical storms in recent history.

The 23d Wing received its fourth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

On the first day of April, the 23d Wing inactivated and redesignated as the 23d Fighter Group, keeping the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons, the 23d Operations Support Squadron, and 23d Maintenance Squadron.

The 75th Fighter Squadron departed for a 45-day deployment to Kuwait in support for Operation Southern Watch.

The 75 FS returned from Kuwait, and the 74 FS took up the mantle in their place for a further 45 days.

The 23 FG entered "The Year of the Tiger", on the Chinese calendar.

Apr 16 1999

Sixty personnel and five A-10A aircraft from the 74 FS (tail #s 1967, 1953, 0144, 1990, and 0194) deployed to Goie del Colla, Italy, in support of Operation ALLIED FORCE. The operation was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air campaign against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia intended to stop Serbian ethnic cleansing against Albanians in the area. The United States’ commitment was entitled Operation NOBLE ANVIL.

July 21 1999

On this day, Col Dale A. Elliott relinquished command of the 23 FG to Col Joseph R. Wood. Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Victor E. Renuart, Jr., commander of the 347th Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia (GA), presided over the ceremony.

Sep 16 1999

Hurricane Floyd, nicknamed "the storm of the century," made landfall along the eastern coast of the United stated and caused severe flooding in eastern North Carolina.

Sep 18 1999

Following the hurricane, ACC’s Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) at Langley AFB, VA, tasked the 347 WG to send an HC-130 and two aircrews from the 71 Rescue Squadron (71 RQS) to Pope AFB to help in efforts related to Hurricane Floyd. The deployment also received local assistance from the 23 FG. For more information, see section II: Operations and Exercises.

Apr 16 2000

The 74 FS took 12 A-10A Thunderbolt II fighters and more than 200 personnel from Pope AFB to begin a three month tour to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. This constituted the first major deployment since their support of OPERATION ALLIED FORCE over the Republic of Yugoslavia in the Summer of 1999, based out of Goia Del Colla Air Station in Italy. The A-10s flew a variety of missions, including close air support (CAS), combat search and rescue (CSAR) and joint maritime operations (JMO).

Jun 27 2000

The 23 FG is reassigned from the 347 Fighter Wing, Moody AFB, GA to the 4 Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson, AFB, NC

Mar 8 2001

Col Vincent P Wisniewski assumes command of the 23 FG

Mar 1 2002

Operation ANACONDA begins in Afghanistan. The 23 FG launches from Al Jaber, AB, Kuwait and after a 14 hour Combat Mission recovers in a classified location

Mar 10 2002

During a mission over Afghanistan Lt. Col Kostelnik and Capt. Scott Campbell are credited with killing over 200 al Qaeda and Taliban in a single

Mar 25 2002

The 23 Fighter Group became the first fixed-wing aircraft stationed inside Afghanistan. 23d Fighter Group personnel operated simultaneously in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH for nearly six months. During this time the 23d Fighter Group flew 2,148 combat missions over Afghanistan and Iraq

Apr 15 2002

A 75 FS A-10 passed the 9000 flying-hour mark becoming the most traveled fighter aircraft in Air Force history