The 58th Special Operations Wing (58 SOW) is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 58 SOW is part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Nineteenth Air Force.
The 58 SOW serves as the premier training site for Air Force special operations and combat search and rescue aircrews. The wing provides undergraduate, graduate and refresher aircrew training for special operations, rescue, missile site support and distinguished visitor airlift helicopter, fixed-wing, and tilt-rotor operations. The wing employs more than 1,800 personnel and trains over 2,000 students a year.
Overview
The 58th Special Operations Wing's mission is to train mission-ready special operations, combat search and rescue, missile site support, and UH-1 Distinguished Visitor airlift crews directly supporting Air Expeditionary Forces for the United States Air Force.
The wing operates eight different weapon systems: UH-1N, HH-60G, HC-130J, MC-130J, and CV-22 totaling more than 60 assigned aircraft. The wing teaches more than 100 courses in 18 different crew positions including pilot, combat systems officer, flight engineer, communications system operator, loadmaster and special mission aviator. Additionally, the wing responds to worldwide contingencies and provides search and rescue support to the local community.
The unit also provides people and airlift needed in response to crises around the world and assists civilian authorities in regional rescues. Supporting the 58th SOW training mission are approximately 1,250 military and civilian personnel administering over 90 training systems courses in 18 different crew positions. Assigned units are:
58th Operations Group (58 OG) The 58th SOW's Operations Group is composed of five flying and two support squadrons, as well as three geographically separated pilot training units, one unit at Fort Rucker, Alabama, another unit at MCAS New River, North Carolina, and the third unit at Fairchild AFB, WA. 23d Flying Training Squadron (23 FTS) (UH-1H & TH-1H) (Fort Rucker, AL) 36th Rescue Squadron (36th RQS) (UH-1N) (Fairchild AFB, WA) 58th Operations Support Squadron (58 OSS) 58th Training Squadron (58 TRS) 71st Special Operations Squadron (71 SOS) (CV-22) 415th Special Operations Squadron (415th SOS) (HC-130J & MC-130J) 512th Rescue Squadron (512 RQS) (UH-1N & HH-60G)
58th Maintenance Group (58 MXG) 58th Maintenance Squadron (58 MXS) 58th Maintenance Operations Squadron (58 MOS) 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (58 AMXS)
History
For additional history and lineage, see 58th Operations Group
Established as 58 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 25 June 1952. Activated on 10 July 1952 in Japan absorbing the personnel and equipment of the Texas Air National Guard 136th Fighter-Bomber Group.
Korean War
The 58 FBW moved to K-2 Air Base, later known as Taegu Air Base, South Korea, in August 1952. Fighter-bomber units like the 58 FBW provided close air support for United Nations ground forces. Often flying deep into North Korea's "MiG Alley," the 58 FBW targeted airfields, railways, enemy positions, bridges, dams, electric power plants and vehicles.