Established in July 1947 as the 1st Fighter Wing at March Field, CA with P-80s, the wing changed designation several times before becoming a Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1970 with the F-4 at MacDill AFB, FL. The wing moved to Langley AFB in June 1975 and converted to the F-15A. The 6th ACCS with EC-135Ps was added in August 1976. The wing subsequently upgraded to the F-15C/D. The 71st and 27th TFS were the first two USAF fighter units to deploy to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield on 7 and 8 August 1990, respectively. The wing was credited with an Iraqi Mirage F1 kill on 17 January 1991. The designation was changed from Tactical Fighter Wing to the current Fighter Wing in October 1991. The 6th ACCS was deactivated during 1992, with the EC-135s retired or transferred to the 55th Wing. The wing became responsible for the 41st and 71st RQS at Patrick AFB in 1993.