A Guide to United States Air Force Lineage and Honors

Introduction

This Guide to United States Air Force (USAF) Lineage and Honors is designed to assist the researcher in 

understanding unit lineage and honors (L&H). The Guide includes brief histories and explanations for 

terms such as "Squadron," "Group," "Wing," "Bestowed Honors," and "Conferred Honors." It also 

outlines the history of USAF reorganizations affecting the wing and group structure. In addition, the 

Guide includes a comprehensive list defining terms used within the L&H statement.

Origins of USAF Organizations 1913-1947

The Squadron

The term "squadron" literally means a square (from the Latin quadrare, to square). In army application, 

squadron describes a body of troops drawn into a square or arranged in formal order. For more than 

four centuries, western armed forces have ordered personnel and equipment in organizations known as 

squadrons. In navies, a squadron was a group of vessels consisting of two or more divisions of a fleet. For 

armies, the cavalry squadron was the most common type and it consisted of two or more elements called 

troops. How air forces came to adopt the squadron is an interesting story.

Early in the twentieth century, military doctrine treated air operations as an extension of the cavalry--in 

effect a sky cavalry. For example, a January 1912 report to the French Chamber of Deputies argued that 

"the aeroplane should not replace the cavalry, even in reconnaissance work; its action should be auxiliary 

to that of [the cavalry] and complete it." Echoing this sentiment in 1913, Brig Gen George P. Scriven, 

Chief Signal Officer of the US Army, testified before Congress "the aeroplane is an adjunct to the 

cavalry." Even as late as 1920 a much celebrated US Army Air Service regulation seemed to reflect 

cavalry connections: "Pilots will not wear spurs while flying!"

When the time came to form tactical aviation organizations, most military planners simply adapted the 

cavalry squadron organization to their purposes. Like cavalry squadrons, the new aero squadrons were 

administrative and tactical units, which usually consisted of two or more elements. In England, the Royal 

Flying Corps formed the first two aero squadrons in May 1912. Other nations quickly followed the 

British example. The US Army Signal Corps organized the 1st Provisional Aero (now, 1st 

Reconnaissance) Squadron on 5 March 1913. The widespread adoption of the squadron model prompted 

Gen Henry H. (Hap) Arnold, Commanding General of the US Army Air Forces in World War II, to 

observe that it is "the smallest administrative organization practically universally accepted for air units."

Initially, US aero squadrons consisted of two elements called companies. By the time the United States 

entered World War I, they contained two or more elements called flights. Through the years, squadrons 

have varied in size and composition according to specific needs. However, the squadron design still 

endures and continues to give formal order to US Air Force assets. Air Force Instruction 38-101, "Air 

Force Organization," defines the squadron as "the basic unit of the Air Force." A squadron may be 

either a functional organization, such as a maintenance, communications, or transportation squadron, or 

a mission organization such as a flying, space, or missile squadron.

The Group

When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Gen John J. Pershing, the commander of the 

American Expeditionary Forces soon developed a plan for the deployment of over two hundred combat 

squadrons to France. As these units entered combat, American airmen soon realized that they needed an 
intermediate organization between the squadrons and the command level. They looked to the British who 

had more experience in dealing with combat units and were already engaged in flying combat missions. 

By December 1917, after looking at British groups, the Americans decided to adopt the "group," making 

it the smallest self-contained tactical bombardment unit. The Americans had no expectation of bombing 

by squadron but by groups and perhaps combinations of groups depending on the target. By the end of 

1918, the War Department had created one pursuit wing and fourteen service, fighter, bomber, or 

observation groups in France. After the war the US Army quickly demobilized most of its air arm, 

including the wing, all of the groups, and most of the squadrons. Almost immediately, however, the Army 

began to create new organizations for peacetime service, and the concept of the group survived, although 

in the 1920s and 1930s there were few groups in existence.

In January 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to strengthen America's air power, 

which, the President said, was "utterly inadequate." On 1 September 1939, Germany attacked Poland, 

beginning the Second World War. In the months that followed, as Axis forces won one victory after 

another, the Army's air arm expanded rapidly. By the end of 1940 there were 33 groups. Within another 

year, that is, by the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war, the 

number of active groups had increased to 94. The air arm grew even more rapidly in the months 

following Pearl Harbor, and by the end of 1943 there were 395 groups. These groups were fighting from 

Europe to the Mediterranean to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean and their contribution to winning 

the war cannot be underestimated. Once the victory had been gained, the United States plunged into 

demobilization, just as it had done at the end of the First World War. Officers and men went home. 

Groups inactivated, and once again a new Air Force had to be built. In 1947 the Congress created the 

Department of the Air Force and established the United States Air Force as a separate service equal to 

the Army and the Navy.

The Wing

During the Korean War, precipitated by the Communist attack on the Republic of Korea, the number of 

groups increased drastically. Then in June 1952 the Air Force began expressing its strength in terms of 

"wings" rather than "groups." It began to inactivate the combat groups and assign their combat 

squadrons directly to the wing.

Organizations known as "wings" have been used by the Air Force for many years. Indeed, in July 1918 

the American Expeditionary Forces of the United States Army organized in France its first aircraft 

organization higher than a group-the 1st Pursuit Wing. Although this wing did not survive post-World 

War I demobilization, new wings were created in the 1920s and 1930s. During World War II numerous 

wings existed; some provided training in the United States, while others controlled combat groups and 

support organizations overseas.

Post World War II Organization

Most of the wings that remained active after World War II were redesignated as numbered air divisions. 

The newly independent Air Force instituted in 1947-1948 a service test of a wing-base plan, which 

prompted an important change in the field structure and organization of the Air Force. Old-style World 

War II wings supervised a mixture of combat groups and support organizations. None of the subordinate 

organizations were permanently affiliated with the wings or possessed similar numerical designations or 

standard functions. The wings organized for the service test featured standard functions. Each test wing 

had a combat group, a maintenance and supply group, an airdrome (later, air base) group to operate 

base facilities and services, and a station medical group, all with identical numerical designations. The 

wing-based service test rendered more nearly uniform the functions of the wing elements and 

permanently aligned, or affiliated, support organizations with the parent wings through identical 
numerical designations. All of the wings involved in the service test became in 1948 Air Force-controlled 

(AFCON) establishments. The term AFCON applies to all those organizations under the direct control of 

Headquarters USAF for organizational actions. The Air Force reserved the numbers 1 through 999 for 

these permanent organizations, with the numbers 101 through 300 allotted to the Air National Guard.

In addition to the permanent AFCON wings, the USAF provided temporary organizations to be 

controlled by the major commands. The commands wanted a flexible organization at the lower echelons 

to permit rapid adjustments in manning that short-term requirements often dictated. Because the 

manning of permanent organizations was judged to be too rigid, in 1948 the Air Force created a new type 

of temporary organization. These major command-controlled organizations were identified as 

"MAJCON." Using four-digit numbers allotted to each command (for example, 3900-4399 for Strategic 

Air Command) by Headquarters USAF, the commands could create and end MAJCON organizations as 

needed. When a MAJCON organization was discontinued or inactivated, its life ended, never to be 

revived. The number of this organization could then be reused to designate another, entirely new 

MAJCON organization. Although the original intent was to provide major command flexibility in 

establishing and terminating short-lived, temporary organizations, some MAJCON organizations existed 

more than forty years.

USAF Cold War Organization

The subordinate four-group structure accepted from the 1947-1948-service test (i.e., combat, 

maintenance and supply, air base, and medical) remained intact only a few years. Under the new AFCON 

organizational scheme, the combat wing and its integral combat group carried the same numerical and 

functional designations; for example, the 9th Bombardment Group was an integral part of the 9th 

Bombardment Wing. In February 1951 the Strategic Air Command (SAC) began to eliminate its combat 

groups by reducing group headquarters to token strength (one officer and one enlisted man) and 

attaching the combat squadrons directly to the wings. Thus, the wing replaced the group as the basic 

combat element of SAC. On 16 June 1952, with the approval of Headquarters USAF, SAC inactivated all 

its combat groups and assigned the combat squadrons to the wings. By the mid-1950s most USAF wings 

had inactivated their combat groups and assigned the flying squadrons directly to the wing. Maintenance 

and supply groups were eliminated, with their squadrons realigned either directly under the wing or 

under the air base group. Functionally, directorates within the wing headquarters controlled the 

subordinate squadrons. The Air Force reorganized medical functions and inactivated or redesignated the 

medical groups under the wing. Of the original four groups, most wings only retained the air base (later 

redesignated to combat support) group. A few combat groups were again assigned briefly in the late 

1970's and early 1980's to combat wings, but in general the trend to do away with them continued to the 

early 1990's. But, a few survived as independent groups assigned usually to numbered air divisions, and 

others survived in the reserve forces.

USAF Bestowed History

The SAC reorganization of 1952 also retired the World War II histories and honors of the combat 

groups, but the SAC wings, having been created during or after 1947, possessed no World War II 

histories or honors. Deviations from the wing-base plan by other commands, particularly Air Defense 

Command (ADC), also affected the perpetuation of histories and honors of World War II groups. In 1954 

SAC and ADC leaders asked Headquarters USAF to perpetuate the histories and honors of the World 

War II combat groups. The ad hoc committee that reviewed these requests rejected the idea of 

redesignating combat groups as wings. Instead, the committee recommended that combat groups and 

wings be maintained as separate and distinct organizations, and that the histories and honors of combat 

groups be bestowed upon the similarly designated combat wings. Although the ad hoc committee's 

proposed bestowals ran counter to a longstanding policy of the Air Force against transferring history and 

honors from one organization to another, Headquarters USAF accepted the recommendations. Beginning 
in November 1954 the Department of the Air Force in a series of letters bestowed upon each combat wing 

the history and honors of its similarly designated predecessor combat group; for example, 9th 

Bombardment Wing received by bestowal the history and honors of the 9th Bombardment Group.

In the years since its implementation, bestowal has generated much confusion. Many throughout the Air 

Force did not understand that the group and the wing remained two separate and distinct entities. To 

alleviate some of the confusion, the Air Force in the 1980s consolidated some combat wings with their 

predecessor combat groups. These consolidations were limited to wings and groups whose period of 

active service did not overlap, since consolidation of organizations with overlapping active service adds 

confusion, violates lineage principles, and contravenes Air Force policy. By consolidation, the wing and 

group became one organization, eliminating the need for bestowal of group history and honors on the 

wing. Bestowal, however, continued to be the policy for the majority of active Air Force wings.

In bestowing group histories and honors on wings, Department of the Air Force directives noted only that 

bestowals are temporary. Over the succeeding years, the Air Force formulated more specific rules 

governing temporary bestowals of histories and honors. Currently, the bestowal of a combat group's 

history and honors to a wing follows these guidelines. Bestowal:

1. Will be made only from the group that has the same numerical designation as the recipient wing 

and that the Air Force regards as the primary-mission group and thus is an integral part of the 

wing. 

2. May be made if the group is 

a. Inactive 

b. Active and assigned to the similarly designated wing. 

3. Will not be made if the group is active and assigned to any organization other than the similarly 

designated wing. 

4. Will apply only to that portion of the group's history that the group accrued and to those honors 

that the group earned during a period when the wing was not active. 

5. Is temporary and 

a. Becomes effective upon activation of the wing. 

b. Terminates if 

(1) The group is assigned to any organization other than its similarly designated 

wing. 

(2) The wing is inactivated.

Post-Cold War Reorganization

Early in the 1990s with the declared end of the Cold War and the continued decline in military budgets, 

the Air Force restructured to meet changes in strategic requirements, decreasing personnel, and a 

smaller infrastructure. This major reorganization stressed elimination of unnecessary layers of authority, 

decentralization of decision-making, and consolidation of functions. The US Air Force restored a wing 

organizational structure, called the "objective wing," similar to the original wing-base plan. It organized 

each operational wing with a combat (now called operations) group, as well as logistics, support, and 

medical groups, with most wing squadrons assigned under the appropriate groups. Overall, the 

restructuring maintained a high combat capability while increasing the operational flexibility of the 

much-reduced force.

At the same time, the Air Force withdrew the authorization for major commands to create MAJCON 

organizations. Those four digit organizations active on 30 April 1991, changed to organizations under the 

direct control of Headquarters USAF for organizational actions, eliminating all MAJCON organizations. 
Among the former MAJCON organizations were about twenty active four-digit wings. Within a few 

years, however all those wings were inactivated, consolidated with, or replaced by lower numbered wings.

Air Expeditionary Forces

On 2 August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded and overran the neighboring State of Kuwait. Five days later, 

American forces began deploying to the Persian Gulf area. The United States Air Force utilized 

"provisional" units, which are temporary, in moving personnel and aircraft to the area. These 

"provisional" units, along with Army, Navy, and Allied counterparts, defeated the Iraqi forces and 

liberated Kuwait.

Based on Air Force policy and long-standing tradition, the history, lineage, and honors of a "provisional" 

unit terminates when it inactivates, and battle honors earned by the "provisional" unit are not shared 

with the permanent unit that provided the resources. However, Central Air Force (CENTAF) with inputs 

from the major commands compiled a list of the regular Air Force units to earn the Gulf War campaign 

streamers. Air Force Military Personnel Center (AFMPC) then published the list awarding the first two 

campaign streamers for the Persian Gulf War.

In mid-1996, the Air Force, in response to budget cuts, major drawdowns, and changing world situations, 

began experimenting with air expeditionary organizations. These organizations, from squadron to wing 

and above, were, by definition, provisional in nature. Thus once again, in regard to air expeditionary 

organizations, the Air Force faced the question regarding honors earned by "provisional" units.

The Air Force Historical Research Agency coordinated with USAF Directorate of Manpower and 

Organization and with the major commands to establish the following policies in transferring honors 

from provisional units to permanent units.

1. Major force provider is the single permanent unit which provides the majority of manpower and 

other resources to the expeditionary organization. 

a. Lineage: 

1) Establishments and units given term "Expeditionary" in designation are 

provisional. 

2) Lineage and heritage of provisional organizations will terminate upon 

inactivation. 

3) No lineal connection exists between the expeditionary unit and the major force 

provider.

b. Honors: 

1) Combat or expeditionary honors earned by provisional expeditionary 

establishment or unit may be "conferred" to corresponding permanent active 

organization with same numerical designation. 

2) Activation order must state: "Upon inactivation, any awards or honors earned by 

(designation of provisional organization) are conferred on (designation of 

permanent organization)." 

3) Honors are normally "conferred" only at the wing, group, or squadron levels. 

4) Honors may be "conferred" only from a single expeditionary organization to a 

single permanent organization. For example, honors earned by the 4th 

Expeditionary Fighter Squadron may be "conferred" only on the 4th Fighter 

Squadron. 

5) Expeditionary organization may borrow temporarily the major force provider's 

honors and history.

c. Emblems: Expeditionary organization may display officially approved emblem of the 

major force provider with its commander's permission. 
2. "Rainbow" (no major source provider) expeditionary organization converted from permanent 

units by DAF letters. Example: 363 Fighter Wing redesignated to 363 Air Expeditionary Wing, 

converted to provisional status, and activated in Saudi Arabia. 

a. Lineage: 

1) Continues lineage of permanent unit. 

2) May use permanent unit honors and history.

b. Honors: Evolves any earned honors to the permanent unit, consequently conferral is 

unnecessary. 

c. Emblems: May display or use officially approved emblem/patch of the permanent unit. 

The Lineage and Honors History

The following explains the arrangement of information, and the terms and format used in USAF lineage 

and honors statements.

Lineage. Air Force Instruction 84-105, para 2.1.1, states, "The lineages of permanent organizations are 

continuous. Neither inactivation nor disbandment terminates their lineage or heraldry." Lineage entails 

tracing the organizational actions affecting the history of an organization. The official USAF statement of 

lineage forms the foundation of the organization's history and governs the organization's inheritance of

emblem and honors. A basic policy of the Air Force is that each organization will have a unique lineage. 

This policy was in effect in the War Department when military aviation was under the Army and has 

been continued by the United States Air Force since its inception in 1947. No two organizations can have 

the same lineage, although at different times in their existence they may have possessed similar or even 

identical designations. A description of the lineage system may be found in Air Force Instruction 38-101 

"Air Force Organization." The Air Force is composed of primary organizations called units and 

establishments. Units divide among three primary categories: squadrons (the numbered flight is 

considered a "small" squadron), miscellaneous (a category including such organizations as bands, 

infirmaries, hospitals, etc.), and headquarters. The headquarters organizations serve as headquarters for 

establishments.Establishments are Air Force organizations at group echelon or higher, having a 

headquarters organization as their primary component. The lineage of each organization (unit or 

establishment) is ultimately determined by the language employed in the War Department and 

Department of the Air Force letters and major command orders relating to organizational actions. The 

following glossary defines lineage terms. 

Glossary

Activate. To bring into physical existence by assignment of personnel (from 1922-1959, and again after 

1968). In 1922, "activate" replaced the term "organize." During the period 1959-1968, however, activate 

meant to place on the active list, available to be organized. See also "organize."

Assign. To place in a military organization, as a permanent element or component of that organization.

Attach. To place one military organization temporarily with another for operational control and other 

purposes, including administration and logistical support. An attached organization is one that is 

temporarily serving away from the establishment to which it is assigned. It is usually attached to another 

establishment.

Authorize. To designate an organization and place it on the inactive Army list. Used during the middle 

and late 1920s and early 1930s in place of "constitute," particularly for organizations held for an 

emergency and not scheduled for immediate activation.

Consolidate. To combine two (or more) organizations, merging their lineage into a single line, thereby 

forming a single organization. Organizations with concurrent or overlapping periods of activation cannot 

be consolidated.
Constitute. After 1922, to give an official name, or number and name, to an organization and place it on 

the inactive Army/Air Force List. See also "designate."

Demobilize. To withdraw all personnel from an active organization and remove the organization 

entirely from the Army List. Used 1907-1922. See also "disband."

Designate. To give an official name, or number and name, to an organization and place it on the inactive 

Army List, 1907-1922. After 1922, see "constitute." Also to give an official name, or number and name, to 

a nonconstituted organization.

Designation. The name of a unit or establishment. The designation includes all parts of the name: 

numerical, functional, and generic. A designation also applies to named activities and certain functions.

Disband. After 1922, to remove an inactive organization from the inactive Army/Air Force List. Shortly 

before and during World War II, this action was also used to withdraw all personnel from an active 

organization and simultaneously remove the organization from the Army List. Replaced the term 

"demobilize."

Discontinue. To withdraw all personnel from a constituted organization, used only during period, 1959-

1968. See "inactivate."

Disestablish. To terminate an establishment concurrent with disbandment of its headquarters 

organization, until reestablished.

Establish. To assign a designation to an establishment concurrent with the designation or the 

constitution of the headquarters organization.

Establishment. A military organization at group or higher echelon composed of a headquarters 

organization and any other components that might be assigned. Personnel are not assigned to an 

establishment, but to its components.

Inactivate. To withdraw all personnel from a constituted organization and place the organization on the 

inactive list (from 1922 to 1959 and from 1968 to date). During the period 1959-1968, however, to be 

inactivated meant to be transferred from the active to the inactive list, after being discontinued.

Order to the Active Service. To place a Reserve or National Guard organization on active duty with the 

regular Air Force.

Organization. The term organization applies to units and establishments.

Organize. To assign personnel to a designated organization (1907-1922), a nonconstituted organization 

(1944-1968), or a constituted organization (1959-1968). See also "activate."

Reconstitute. To return a disbanded or demobilized organization to the inactive Army/Air Force List, 

making it available for activation (1922-current).

Redesignate. To change the designation of an organization.

Reestablish. To return a previously existing establishment from disestablished status to the active list, so 

that it can be activated.

Relieve from Active Duty. Reserve organizations are relieved from active duty with the regular Air 

Force upon completion of a period of active duty. 

ASSIGNMENTS. Each of the organization's immediate "parent" organizations is listed 

chronologically. The designation of the parent organization is shown in abbreviated form, omitting 

information such as "Heavy," "Medium," or "Light." A single date indicates the date of assignment; 

where a double date appears, the second date indicates termination of assignment. A semicolon is used to 

show a change of assignment while the organization remained active, a period indicates the organization 

was demobilized, disbanded, discontinued, or inactivated. If the organization was attached for 

operational control to another organization, the attachment appears in parentheses, with brackets used 

to set off parenthetical elements within parentheses. Each attachment contains double dates. Where the 

exact dates for attached service could not be determined with certainty a circa (c.) date is used.
COMPONENTS. Tactical components assigned, or attached for operational control, are listed in 

hierarchical and numerical order. Each list shows only those components at the first subordinate 

echelon; the list does not show subordinate squadrons of an assigned or attached organization because 

these squadrons were not directly assigned. Only the numerical designation appears if the functional 

designations (e.g., fighter, bombardment) were identical for both the component and establishment. If the 

numerical designation of a component changed during its period(s) of assignment or attachment, the 

later designation is shown parenthetically. Example: 705th (later, 962d). Support-type components are 

excluded. A semicolon separating dates indicates a break in assignment or attachment. A comma 

indicates a change with no break in control. A squadron attached for a time and then assigned (with no 

break in control), for example, would be shown: Attached 1 January-29 July 1952, assigned 30 July 1952-

12 July 1957. Interrupted attached service in a series would read: Attached 12 July-10 August 1956, 17 

November 1956-3 January 1957, 10 July-19 August 1957, and so forth, with commas separating the series 

entries. This same procedure is used to show detached status of assigned components, when such 

detached periods are frequent. Periods of detached service, when components are detached for duty with 

another organization, appear in parentheses. In some cases the exact dates for detached service could not 

be determined with certainty. A circa (c.) date is used in these instances.

STATIONS. Permanent locations of the organization are listed chronologically. The name of each base 

is the one in use at the time the organization arrived, with any changes appearing in parentheses. Foreign 

nations that hosted Air Force organizations are identified by their "popular" name, rather than their 

official name. Thus, the Republic of Korea appears as South Korea, the Republic of Vietnam as South 

Vietnam, and the Republic of China as either Formosa or Taiwan, depending upon the time. 

Organizations located in occupied Germany or in the Federal Republic of Germany are listed as being in 

Germany. A single date indicates the arrival of the organization at a base. Semicolons separate the 

station-and-date entries while the organization remained active but changed stations. If an organization 

moved from one continent to another, a double date is provided for the station being vacated. A double 

date is also provided whenever an organization arrived at a base and was subsequently demobilized, 

disbanded, discontinued, or inactivated. A period at the end of a second date indicates demobilization, 

disbandment, discontinuance, or inactivation. Where the exact dates of attached or detached service 

could not be determined with certainty, a circa (c.) date is used.

COMMANDERS. Where included, commanders of the organization are listed chronologically, along 

with the highest rank attained during the command tenure. When an organization was active but not 

manned, the statement "none (not manned)" and double dates appear. If for some reason a commander 

was at first temporarily and then permanently appointed, the commander's name may be followed by one 

date and a parenthetical "temporary," followed by a second date and parenthetical "permanent." Lists 

of commanders are as accurate as the sources permit. Commander lists sometimes contain "unknown" as 

an entry, and in many of the commander lists, circa (c.) or some other indicators such as "by" a date are 

to be found. A second date followed by a period indicates the organization inactivated.

AIRCRAFT/MISSILES/SPACE VEHICLES. The aircraft, missiles, and/or space vehicles used by 

the organization appear in this section. Aircraft are listed by series and number (e.g., F-86 or EC-135), 

but normally not by model (e.g., B-52H or KC-135A). In the missile category, only strategic or tactical 

surface-to-surface missiles are included; air-to-air, air-to-ground, or surface-to-air missiles are 

considered ordnance. Missiles are listed by their popular names (e.g., Atlas, Titan I, Minuteman III). 

Space vehicles are listed as satellites. The years during which the organization possessed a weapon system 

are also listed (e.g., RF-101, 1959-1965). For each period of an organization's active service, semicolons 

separate different weapon systems possessed and the final entry is followed by a period. An organization 

sometimes temporarily lost possession of its weapon system. A comma shows such temporary absences of 

a weapon system. Example: B-52, 1957-1960, 1960-1962, 1963-1965. In other words, for a time in 1960 
and from a period in 1962 to sometime in 1963, the organization had no B-52 aircraft for its own use, all 

being under the control of another organization.

OPERATIONS. Information in this section is extremely abbreviated, but mentions all combat and 

some other significant operations. In wing entries, overseas deployments are mentioned, together with 

changes in wing status and the wing's mission. Readers who wish to know more about an organization's 

operations may visit the Air Force Historical Research Agency to conduct research, or purchase through 

the mail microfilm copies of unclassified histories. Some additional information about squadrons may be 

found in the entries of the wing(s) to which a squadron was assigned or attached, either at 

http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/ or in Charles A. Ravenstein, Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors 

Histories, 1947-1977.

SERVICE STREAMERS. Service streamers represent noncombat service in the various theaters of 

military operations and bear no embroidery. Those service streamers earned by the organization are 

listed here. If an organization participated in combat operations in a theater, it earned a campaign 

streamer instead of a service streamer. For a color photograph and a description of the streamer, see 

A.T.Warnock, Air Force Combat Medals, Streamers, and Campaigns.

World War I

Theater of Operations: 6 April 1917-11 November 1918

World War II

American Theater: 7 December 1941–2 March 1946.

European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater: 7 December 1941–8 November 1945.

Asiatic-Pacific Theater: 7 December 1941–2 March 1946.

Korean War

Korean Theater: 27 June 1950–27 July 1954.

Vietnam

Vietnam Theater: 1 July 1958-28 March 1973.

Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia Theater: 2 August 1990-30 November 1995.

CAMPAIGN STREAMERS. Verified combat credit entitles an organization to the appropriate 

campaign streamers representing the named campaign in which it participated. The campaign streamer 

will be embroidered with the name and years of the campaign. The Historical Research Agency has 

traditionally evaluated and verified combat credits. Campaign streamers listed reflect each 

organization's verified combat record except for the Gulf War campaign credits. US Central Command 

Air Forces provided the credits for the first two campaigns of the Persian Gulf War. Recipients of the 

third and final campaign streamer credit have not yet been announced. For a color photograph of the 

streamer, maps of the campaigns, and a brief description of each campaign, see A.T. Warnock, Combat 

Medals, Streamers, and Campaigns.
World War I

Campaign Name 

Embroidered on 

Streamer

Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

Some Defensive 21 March-6 April 1918 1918

Lys 9-27 April 1918 1918

Champagne-Marne 15-18 July 1918 1918

Aisne-Marchne 18 July-6 August 1918 1918

Somme Offensive 8 August-11 November 1918 1918

Oisne-Aisne 18 August-11 November 1918 1918

St. Mihiel 12-16 September 1918 1918

Meuse-Argonne 26 September-11 November 1918 1918

Alsace

Defensive Sectors - no dates embroidered on 

streamer(s)

Champagne

Flanders

Ile-de-France

Lorraine

Picardy
World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Theater

Campaign Name 

Embroidered on 

Streamer

Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

Air Combat 7 December 1941-2 September 

1945 1941-1945

Antisubmarine 7 December 1941-2 September 

1945 1941-1945

Egypt-Libya 11 June 1942-12 February 1943 1942-1943

Algeria-French Morocco 8-11 November 1942 1942

Tunisia 12 November 1942-13 May 1943 1942-1943

Sicily 14 May-17 August 1943 1943

Naples-Foggia 18 August 1943-21 January 1944 1943-1944

Anzio 22 January-24 May 1944 1944

Rome-Arno 22 January-9 September 1944 1944

North Apennines 10 September 1944-4 April 1945 1944-1945

Po Valley 5 April-8 May 1945 1945

Air Offensive, Europe 4 July 1942-5 June 1944 1942-1944

Normandy 6 June-24 July 1944 1944

Northern France 25 July-14 September 1944 1944

Southern France 15 August-14 September 1944 1944

Rhineland 15 September 1944-21 March 1945 1944-1945

Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944-25 January 

1945 1944-1945

Central Europe 22 March-11 May 1945 1945
World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Campaign Name 

Embroidered on 

Streamer

Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

Air Combat 7 December 1941-2 September 1945 1941-1945

Antisubmarine 7 December 1941-2 September 1945 1941-1945

Central Pacific 7 December 1941-6 December 1943 1941-1943

Philippine Islands 7 December 1941-10 May 1942 1941-1942

East Indies 1 January-22 July 1942 1942

Papua 23 July 1942-23 January 1943 1942-1943

Aleutian Islands 3 June 1942-24 August 1943 1942-1943

Guadalcanal 7 August 1942-21 February 1943 1942-1943

Northern Solomons 22 February 1943-21 November 

1944 1943-1944

Bismarck Archipelago 15 December 1943-27 November 

1944 1943-1944

Eastern Mandates 7 December 1943-16 April 1944 1943-1944

Western Pacific 17 April 1944-2 September 1945 1944-1945

New Guinea 24 January 1943-31 December 1944 1943-1944

Leyte 17 October 1944-1 July 1945 1944-1945

Luzon 15 December 1944-4 July 1945 1944-1945

Southern Philippines 27 February-4 July 1945 1945

Burma 7 December 1941-26 May 1942 1941-1942

India-Burma 2 April 1942-28 January 1945 1942-1945

Central Burma 29 January-15 July 1945 1945

China Defensive 4 July 1942-4 May 1945 1942-1945

China Offensive 5 May-2 September 1945 1945

Ryukyus 26 March-2 July 1945 1945

Air Offensive, Japan 17 April 1942-2 September 1945 1942-1945
Korea

Campaign Name 

Embroidered on Streamer Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

UN Defensive 27 July-15 September 1950 1950

UN Offensive 16 September-2 November 1950 1950

CCF Intervention 3 November 1950-24 January 

1951 1950-1951

First UN Counter-offensive 25 January-21 April 1951 1951

CCF Spring Offensive 22 April-8 July 1951 1951

UN Summer-Fall Offensive 9 July-27 November 1951 1951

Second Korean Winter 28 November 1951-30 April 

1952 1951-1952

Korea, Summer-Fall 1 May-30 November 1952 1952

Third Korean Winter 1 December 1952-30 April 1953 1952-1953

Korea, Summer 1 May-27 July 1953 1953
Vietnam

Campaign Name Embroidered 

on Streamer Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

Vietnam Advisory 15 November 1961-1 March 

1965 1961-1965

Vietnam Defensive 2 March 1965-30 January 

1966 1965-1966

Vietnam Air 31 January-28 June 1966 1966

Vietnam Air Offensive 29 June 1966-8 March 1967 1966-1967

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 9 March 1967-31 March 1968 1967-1968

Vietnam Air/Ground 22 January-7 July 1968 1968

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1 April-31 October 1968 1968

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1 November 1968-22 February 

1969 1968-1969

TET 69/Counter-offensive 23 February-8 June 1969 1969

Vietnam Summer-Fall 9 June-31 October 1969 1969

Vietnam Winter-Spring 1 November 1969-30 April 

1970 1969-1970

Sanctuary Counter-offensive 1 May-30 June 1970 1970

Southwest Monsoon 1 July-30 November 1970 1970

Commando Hunt V 1 December 1970-14 May 

1971 1970-1971

Commando Hunt VI 15 May-31 October 1971 1971

Commando Hunt VII 1 November 1971-29 March 

1972 1971-1972

Vietnam Ceasefire 30 March 1972-28 January 

1973 1972-1973
Southwest Asia

Campaign Name Embroidered 

on Streamer Inclusive Dates

Date 

Embroidered 

on Streamer

Defense of Saudi Arabia 2 August 1990-16 January 

1991 1990-1991

Liberation and Defense of Kuwait 17 January-11 April 1991 1991

Southwest Asia Ceasefire * 12 April 1991-30 

November 1995 1991-1995

Kosovo

Campaign Name 

Embroidered on Streamer

Inclusive Dates Date Embroidered 

on Streamer

Kosovo Air Campaign 24 Mar 1999-10 Jun 1999 1999
ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMERS. Until 1983, this Joint Chiefs of Staff award 

was given only to individuals, not to any USAF organization. Since that date, the Armed Forces 

Expeditionary Streamer has been given to Air Force organizations for only two operations: the invasion 

and occupation of Grenada, 23 October-21 November 1983, and the US invasion of Panama, December 

1989-January 1990. For a color photograph of the streamer and a brief description of each operation, see 

A.T. Warnock, Combat Medals, Streamers, and Campaigns.

DECORATIONS. Decorations include citations and awards recognizing distinguished or meritorious 

acts by an organization. In this list, the type of decoration is cited together with specific dates, if date 

appeared in the award document, usually a general or special order. Air Force Pamphlet 900-2, produced 

by the Air Force Military Personnel Center, contains the official listing of organization decorations up to 

circa mid-1991. In addition, since late 1988 each Major Command has been authorized to award some 

decorations to its subordinate units. The decorations listed in this section of the L&H generally agree 

with those appearing in the orders, but some revisions may be made based on actual operations. For 

example, the dates stated in an order may cover a time before an organization was active or after it 

became inactive. Corrected dates are shown within brackets. The embroidery should be exactly the same 

as the listing on the official Lineage and Honors History for the unit. For example: Ploesti, Rumania, 1 

August 1943.

United States

Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). Used by the US Army and Army Air Forces. First 

established by Executive Order 9075 on 26 February 1942, awarded for extraordinary valor in action on 

or after 7 December 1941.

Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). Equivalent to the Distinguished Unit Citation. The PUC is 

used by the US Navy and was awarded to a number of AAF organizations that operated under Navy 

control or in close support of the Navy. After 1965, the US Air Force adopted the Presidential Unit 

Citation instead of the Distinguished Unit Citation to recognize outstanding combat performance of its 

tactical organizations.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device (AFOUA/V). The AFOUA/V is 

awarded in lieu of the AFOUA (below) to recognize achievement in combat by USAF units and 

establishments. The Combat "V" Device was first used during the conflict in Southeast Asia.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA). USAF decoration used to recognize 

outstanding efforts and meritorious actions of USAF units and establishments in peace and war, the 

AFOUA was announced in Department of the Air Force General Orders No. 1 on 6 January 1954. 

(Several units and establishments received this award retroactively, for meritorious actions during the 

Korean War.)

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA). The AFOEA was established on 26 

August 1969 by the Secretary of the Air Force. It is awarded by the Secretary to recognize the 

achievements and accomplishments of Air Force organizations and activities that do not meet the 

eligibility requirements of the AFOUA (above). The AFOEA may be awarded with the "V" device for 

combat or direct combat support. 

Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC). The US Army's Meritorious Unit Commendation, 

roughly equivalent to the AFOUA (above), has been earned by a number of AAF and USAF 
organizations. This decoration recognizes outstanding and meritorious actions in both peace and war, but 

these actions are considered to be of a lesser consequence than those recognized by a Distinguished Unit 

Citation (above).

Navy Unit Commendation (NUC). The US Navy Unit Commendation, also roughly 

equivalent to the AFOUA (above), has been awarded to a few AAF and USAF organizations which 

worked closely with the Navy. The award recognizes outstanding and meritorious actions in both peace 

and war, but these actions are considered to be of a lesser consequence than those recognized by a 

Presidential Unit Citation (above).

Foreign

Belgium

Citation in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army. A citation by decree of the Belgian Government. 

Numerous AAF units and establishments which operated in or over Belgium during World War II 

received this award.

Belgian Fourragere. A decoration awarded, by decree of the Belgian Government, to 

organizations cited twice in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army. 

France

Croix de Guerre. A citation by decree of the French Government, awarded to Army Air 

Service organizations in World War I and Army units and establishments in World War II. Generally 

identified as French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

French Fourragere. A decoration, awarded by decree of the French Government in World Wars I and II, 

to units and establishments cited twice for the Croix de Guerre.

Korea

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. A citation for achievement during the Korean 

War. Most commonly presented to organizations based in Korea and carrying out combat operations 

there, but also awarded to some organizations, both combat and support types, based in adjacent areas. 

Since the cessation of hostilities in Korea in July 1953, this decoration has been awarded rarely to USAF 

units and establishments--usually in recognition of outstanding support in the defense of Korea.

Philippines

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. A citation for achievement while serving in the 

Philippines during the periods 7 December 1941-10 May 1942 or 17 October 1944-4 July 1945. No date is 

connected with the citation. Only one award is authorized for every eligible organization, including those 

that served in the Philippines during both periods.

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. A number of USAF organizations stationed in 

the Republic of the Philippines in July and August 1972 earned this citation in recognition of their 

participation in disaster relief Operations.
Vietnam

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. This organization decoration was awarded 

to units and establishments actually engaged in combat in defense of the Republic of Vietnam. In 

numerous instances, it was also awarded to combat support organizations and tactical organizations that 

were based outside the Vietnam Theater yet flew missions or provided essential services to organizations 

flying to or operating within the theater.

EMBLEM. Information on the current emblem of the organization is provided.