21st Space Wing
The 21st Wing (21 WG) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force.
| 21st Wing | |
|---|---|
Shield of the 21st Wing | |
| Active | 1 January 1953 (as 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing)–24 July 2020 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Nickname(s) | Knights |
| Motto(s) | "Strength and Preparedness" |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
It was established in 1953 as the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, deploying to Europe to join NATO's Allied Command Europe, before being inactivated in 1958. It reactivated in 1958 as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, executing air defense operations over Japan and deterring North Korea, being inactivated in 1960. It was reactivated in 1966 as the 21st Composite Wing, and in 1979 redesignated the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, performing air defense, close air support, and a variety of other missions in Alaska, before being redesignated the 21st Wing and being inactivated in 1991.
The 21st Wing was activated as a space wing on 15 May 1992, replacing the 1st Space Wing and 3rd Space Support Wing. It was inactivated on 24 July 2020 and replaced by the Peterson-Schriever Garrison, with the 21st Operations Group being redesignated as Space Delta 2, the 73 Space Group was redesignated as Space Delta 3, and its ground–based missile warning units, combined with overhead persistent infrared units of the 460th Operations Group, was redesignated as Space Delta 4.