1992: 1,400 see birth of 919th SOW June 7

  • Published
  • By Spectre - July 1992
  • 919th Special Operations Wing
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  (Editor's Note: This story is republished as a historic tribute to the 919th Special Operations Wing's Midnight Express newspaper, which goes out of print beginning this month.)

Formal ceremonies deactivating the 919th Special Operations Group and activating the 919th Special Operations Wing were held June 7, 1992 on the Duke Field aircraft parking ramp. 

More than 1,400 members of the 919th stood in military formation to hear the reading of the orders and witness the conversion. 

Approximately 40 distinguished, invited guests were also present for the historic event. Two former 919th commanders, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Donald Haugen and Col. (Ret.) Billie Parker, and U.S. Congressman Earl Hutto headed the VIP list of attendees. 

Maj. Gen. Robert A. McIntosh, vice commander, Air Force Reserve, presided over the ceremony with Maj. Gen. Bruce L. Fister, commander Air Force Special Operations Command, also seated on the officials' platform. 

Effective date for the deactivation of the 919th SOG (Dept. of the Air Force Special Order Nr. 059192) and activation of the 919th SOW (DAF SO Nr. 059193) was June 1, 1992.
Col. Ernest R. Webster, third person on the officials' platform, became the last commander of the 919th SOG and the first commander of the AFRES' only special operations wing, the 919th SOW. 

After the retirement of the 919th SOG flag and presentation of the new wing colors, Generals McIntosh and Fister spoke briefly, praising the "...illustrious" history of the 919th SOG, how the unit has always responded to all tasking and how the wing will be expected to continue the tradition. 

The 919th has been at Duke Field since July 30, 1971. It's early airlift mission was changed to special operations on July 1, 1975 and it has grown steadily to its present strength of almost 1,800 members (at Duke Field and Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.).
Realignment of the 919th from group to wing status will not just happen overnight, Colonel Webster acknowledges. 

"This is a time of change for all of us," he said. "But, it's a positive change that will only help the unit continue to grow."