ACC Grows, Changes Sole Active Rescue Wing

Air Combat Command plans to move the 23rd Fighter Group from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., (which transfers to the Army under BRAC 2005) to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, making the group part of the 347th Rescue Wing, which ACC subsequently plans to rename the 23rd Wing to preserve the Flying Tiger heritage. ACC will put the group under the wing on Aug. 18, and then, on Oct. 1, deactivate the 347th RQW and activate the 23rd Wing. The command plans to begin physically moving the 23rd FG with its A-10 attack aircraft to Moody in mid-2007. The end result: an expanded combat search and rescue wing, comprising traditional CSAR HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and HC-130 tankers with CSAR-supporting A-10 Warthogs. Command officials say they plan to add other units, such as the 820th Security Forces Group, to the new 23rd Wing in the future.