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United States Air Force: Lead Wings and Lead Wings in Extremis

Latest update: January 2024

Five USAF wings have been named as Lead Wings while another five wings have been named Lead Wings in Extremis by the Commander Air Combat Command.

Lead Wings

Wing Group Squadron Aircraft Code Base Nickname 4th FW   333rd FS F-15E SJ Seymour Johnson AFB, SC Lancers 4th FW   334th FS F-15E SJ Seymour Johnson AFB, SC Fighting Eagles 4th FW   335th FS F-15E SJ Seymour Johnson AFB, SC Chiefs 4th FW   336th FS F-15E SJ Seymour Johnson AFB, SC Rocketeers 23rd WG 23rd FG 74th FS A-10C FT Moody AFB, GA Flying Tigers 23rd WG 23rd FG 75th FS A-10C FT Moody AFB, GA Tiger Sharks 23rd WG 347th RQG  41st RQS HH-60W FT Moody AFB, GA Jolly Green 23rd WG 347th RQG  71st RQS HC-130J FT Moody AFB, GA Kings 55th WG 55th OG 38th RS RC-135V/W, TC-135W OF Offut AFB, NE Hellcats 55th WG 55th ECG 41st ECS EC-130H DM Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Scorpions 55th WG 55th ECG 43rd ECS EC-130H DM Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Bats 55th WG 55th OG 45th RS OC-135B OF Offut AFB, NE Sylvester 55th WG 55th OG 45th RS WC-135C/R/W OF Offut AFB, NE Sylvester 55th WG 55th OG 45th RS RC-135S/U OF Offut AFB, NE Sylvester 55th WG 55th OG 82th RS RC-135U/V/W OF Kadena AB, Japan   55th WG 55th OG 95th RS RC-135U/V/W OF RAF Mildenhall, UK   55th WG 55th OG 338th CTS RC-135U/V/W OF Offut AFB, NE   55th WG 55th OG 343rd RS RC-135U/V/W OF Offut AFB, NE   355th WG   354th FS A-10C DM Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Bulldogs 355th WG   357th FS A-10C DM Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Dragons 355th WG 563rd RQG  55th RQS HH-60G DM Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Night Hawks 355th WG 563rd RQG  66th RQS HH-60G FT Nellis AFB, NV   355th WG 563rd RQG  79th RQS HC-130J DM/OT Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Desert Knights 366th FW   389th FS F-15E MO Mountain Home AFB, ID Thunderbolts 366th FW   391st FS F-15E MO Mountain Home AFB, ID Bold Tigers 366th FW   428th FS F-15SG MO Mountain Home AFB, ID Buccaneers

Lead Wings in Extremis

Wing Group Squadron Aircraft Code Base Nickname 1st FW   27th FS F-22A FF Langley AFB, VA Fightin' Eagles 1st FW   71st FS T-38C FF Langley AFB, VA Ironmen 1st FW   94th FS F-22A FF Langley AFB, VA Hat in the Ring 20th FW   55th FS F-16C/D SW Shaw AFB, SC Fighting Fifty-Fith 20th FW   77th FS F-16C/D SW Shaw AFB, SC Gamblers 20th FW   79th FS F-16C/D SW Shaw AFB, SC Tigers 325th FW   2th FTS T-38C TY Tyndall AFB, FL American Beagle Squadron 325th FW   43rd FS F-22A TY Tyndall AFB, FL Hornets 325th FW   95th FS F-22A TY Tyndall AFB, FL Mr. Bones 388th FW   4th FS F-35A HL Hill AFB, UT Fightin' Fuujins 388th FW   34th FS F-35A HL Hill AFB, UT Rams 388th FW   421st FS F-35A HL Hill AFB, UT Black Widows 633rd ABW         Langley AFB, VA

Comment(s): In above reports all flying squadrons assigned to the wings are included. Obviously the T-38C squadrons as well as the Singaporese Air Force 428th FS will not deploy when a Lead Wing or Lead Wing in Extremis has been tasked to deploy.