 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2012) |
| 33rd Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1947–1952; 1956–1957; 1965–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Eglin Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Nomads[1] |
| Motto(s) | Fire From the Clouds[2] |
| Engagements | Southwest Asia[2] |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2] |
| Website | 33fw.af.mil |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel David M. Skalicky |
| Vice Commander | Colonel Jordan G. Grant |
| Command Chief | Chief Master Sergeant Kelvin J. Hatcher |
| Notable commanders | Carrol Chandler John P. Jumper William R. Looney III Gregory S. Martin[2] |
| Insignia | |
| 33rd Fighter Wing emblem (approved 5 October 1965)[2] |  |
The 33rd Fighter Wing, sometimes written 33d Fighter Wing, (33 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where it is a tenant unit.
The 33 FW is an AETC training unit. Its main mission is to train United States Air Force and partner nation pilots and maintainers on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. When the wing was initially assigned the F-35 training mission on 1 October 2009 it was to include USN/USMC F-35C and USMC F-35B training as well as USAF F-35A and international partner training. Navy squadron VFA-101 was assigned to the wing to conduct F-35C training and USMC squadron VMFAT-501 to conduct F-35B training. In July 2014 VMFAT-501 was detached from the 33rd Fighter Wing and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) at MCAS Beaufort, SC ending the USMC presence in the wing. In December 2017 the USN reactivated VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore, CA under Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Fleet to conduct F-35C training for the USN and USMC. On 1 July 2019 VFA-101 was deactivated ending the USN presence in the 33rd Fighter Wing.
Prior to its assignment as a training wing, while still an operational fighter wing, following the 11 September 2001 attacks, the Nomads provided armed over-watch throughout North America for Operation Noble Eagle, securing two presidents of the United States, multiple Space Shuttle launches and other high-visibility events. The 33rd Fighter Wing closed its operations with the F-15 Eagle in September 2009 and became the Department of Defense's first F-35 Lightning II training wing on 1 October 2009.
- ^ "A look back: 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm" - Eglin AFB
- ^ a b c d e Bailey, Carl E. (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 33 Fighter Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2017.