History 1971

4453rd CCTW History

1971

In February the Wing was tasked with providing familiarization training (FAM) for eight Spanish Air Force (SAF) instructor pilots in preparations of the SAF taking delivery of 36 surplus F-4C's.

On 17 February F-4C 64-7476 crashed.

Wing Deactivation

The inactivation of the 4453rd CCTW was set and the draw down with the inactivation's of the 4456th CCTS on 30 July, the 4454th CCTW on 16 August and the 4455th CCTS on 30 September. The 4457th CCTS was deactivated in this time frame. The Wing officially stood down on 30 September.

The F-4 operations were reassigned to the 58th TFTW at Luke AFB, AZ. The F-4C assets were used to form the 310th, 426th and 550th TFTS / 58th TFTW. The switch brought the A-7D Corsair II to Davis-Monthan AFB with the reactivation of the 355th TFW on 1 July 1971. The 4453rd CCTW operated along side the 355th TFW (actually the same personnel) until the transfer to Luke AFB was completed and deactivation on 30 Sept. 1971. Most of the former 4453rd personnel stayed at DM with the 355th TFW.

There has long been a debate among historians about whether or not the 4453rd CCTW was, as a Wing, actually attached to the 355th TFW, effective 1 July. The 355th TFW history lists the 4453rd CCTW as attached 1 July through 30 September.

The 4453rd CCTW also had the 4472nd CCTS which operated the DC-130A drone carrier. It was redesignated the 4472nd Support Squadron (Special Projects Activity) on 1 Jul 1969 when it was coded within the 4453rd CCTW. The 4472nd CCTS was replaced with the 11th Tactical Drone Squadron (TDS) of the 355th TFW on 1 July with the deactivation of the 4453rd CCTW.

History	Home Page