NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — For the 12th time in its history, and for the sixth consecutive 2-year period, Air Force officials endorsed the 57th Wing as among the very best, as it earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2015.
The mission statement of the 57th WG, the U.S. Air Force’s most diverse wing, is to “Provide advanced, realistic, and relevant training focused on ensuring dominance through Air, Space, and Cyberspace.”
“It is a well-deserved recognition of the efforts and accomplishments of the outstanding men and women of the Bullseye Wing and their significant contribution to our Air Force,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Short, 57th Wing commander.
The 57th WG’s personnel provide advanced air and space training to Air Force, Joint, and Coalition warfighters while managing the fast-paced and demanding flying operations at Nellis Air Force Base.
Specifically, wing responsibilities include advanced aircrew training, tactics development and publication, maintenance and logistics, command and control training, and operational test support for U.S. and allied combat air forces the world over.
Units of the wing include the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, the 57th Operations Group, the 57th Maintenance Group, the U.S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron (the Thunderbirds), and the 561st Joint Tactics Squadron.
Thirteen geographically separated units across 12 states extend the impact of the wing.
The Air Force established the 57th WG at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in March 1948 to provide air defense of Alaska, flying F-51, F-80, C-47, C-54, and C-82 aircraft. The unit redesignated as the 57th Fighter-Interceptor Wing on Jan. 20, 1950, before its inactivation on Jan. 1, 1951.
The service redesignated the unit as 57th Fighter Weapons Wing on Aug. 22, 1969, activating it at Nellis AFB to replace the 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing on Oct. 15, 1969. Initially at Nellis AFB, the wing flew the A-7, F-4, F-100, F-105, F-111 and T-39 aircraft.
Other redesignations include the 57th Tactical Training Wing on April 1, 1977; 57th Fighter Weapons Wing on March 1, 1980; 57th Fighter Wing on Oct. 1, 1991; and 57th Wing on June 15, 1993.