6 - 18 January. A detachment of the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing was deployed to Chiayi AB.
31 January. Fifth Air Force discontinued the rotation of Fighter Bomber Squadrons to Taiwan. The 311th Fighter Bomber Sq at Chiayi AB was the last bomber squadron rotated to Taiwan by Fifth Air Force. They had been deployed to Taiwan on two month rotation periods since 1955.
1 February. 17th Tactical Missile Squadron was relieved from PACAF and assigned to Thirteenth Air Force per PACAF General Order 5 dated 29 January 1958.
11 – 20 February. Thirteenth Air Force deployed a task force of the 12th Fighter Bomber Squadron to Chiayi AB.
12 February. 12th Fighter Bomber Sq Task Force participated in a BLUE SKY exercise with the Chinese Air Force.
19 February – 1 March. Reconnaissance Task Force KENTUCKY deployed to Taoyuan and Chiayi Air Bases.
21 February – 1 March. Thirteenth Air Force deployed a task force of the 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron aircraft to Chiayi AB.
March. Communications circuits between E Laui Pi Taiwan and Port Point Philippines became operational.
14 March. Headquarters, US Taiwan Defense Command and the Military Assistance Advisory Group consolidated into a single headquarters designated as the US TAIWAN Defense Command and Military Assistance Advisory Group (USTDC-MAAG). The Commander, USTDC, was designated as commander of the combined commands. Commander, Air Task Force Thirteen (Provisional) was assigned the additional duty of Chief, Air Force Section, MAAG, on 1 April 1958.
27 March. A task force of 17th Missile Squadron deployed to Bangkok, Thailand; participated in “Royal Thai Air Force Day” and provided a missile display and demonstration per ATF 13 (P) OPORD 300-58-7.
April. QUICK STRIKE began operations at Tainan Air Base.
1 April. Brigadier General Fred M. Dean, Commander, Air Task Force Thirteen (Provisional) was assigned additional duty as Chief, Air Force Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) per USAF Special Order A-621, paragraph 2, dated 1 April 1958.
2 May. A TN-61C missile was launched by 17th Tactical Missile Sq in a dress rehearsal for project TOPMAN before the US Ambassador to China and President and Madame Chiang Kai-shek and other representatives.
20 May. Concurrent use and support agreements were signed by Brigadier General Fred M. Dean, Commander, ATF 13 (P), with the 176th Army Security Agency (CO) and Navy Security Group for USAF to be host at Shu Lin Kou Air Station. Agreements had been approved at PACAF headquarters on 28 March 1958.
23 – 24 May. A task force of the 17th Tactical Missile Squadron deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa for a display and launching of a TM-61C missile in support of project COURTESY VISIT (Weapons Demonstration) per ATF 13 (P) OPORD 300-58-9 dated 9 April 1958. Missile was successfully launched.
4 – 14 June. Reconnaissance Task Force (KENTUCKY) was deployed to Taoyuan AB.
4 – 14 June. A 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron task force was at Chiayi AB for low altitude bombing practice.
6 June. A detailed reorganization plan of ATF 13 (P) was forwarded to Thirteenth Air Force for approval. This revised plan was approved by Thirteenth Air Force and sent to PACAF ON 13 June 1958 with the recommendation that the new organization be designated as a numbered division.
14 – 24 June. The 25th FIS was deployed to Chiayi AB.
1 July. 17th Tactical Missile Squadron attached to ATF 13 (P) for operational control and further attached to Tainan AB Group for administrative and logistical support per Thirteenth Air Force General Order 25 dated 25 June 1958.
1 July. Lieutenant Colonel Stanley W. Tobiason assumed command of Tainan Air Base Group this date. As no colonel had been assigned when the Kinmen emergency began, the position was filled be a series of temporary appointments of colonels on temporary duty in Taiwan. Colonel Oattis E. Parks assumed command on 1 September 1958 per 6214 ABG GO 1, 1 Sep 1958; Colonel Dean A. Fling on 22 October 1958 per 6214th ABG GO 4, 22 Oct 1958; Colonel Frederick W. Searles on 9 Nov 1958 per 6214th GO 6, 9 Nov 1958 and Colonel Joseph C. Ware Jr. on 29 Dec 1958 per 6214th GO 11, 29 December 1958.
1 July. The 6209th Air Base Squadron assumed USAF Host Services at Shu Lin Kou Air Station.
8 July. The 17th Tactical Missile Squadron was redesignated as the 868th Tactical Missile Squadron and assigned to Thirteenth Air Force per PACAF GO 46 dated 10 July 1958. 868th TMS was attached to ATF 13 (P) for operational control and further attached to Tainan ABG for administrative and logistical support per Thirteenth GO 32 dated 15 July 1958.
6 August. Premier Khrushchev of Russia called on Mao Tes Tung (Communist China Chairman) for the renewed shelling of the island of Kinmen.
6 August. Diplomatic agreement between GRC and US gave the same type of extension of the “MAAG Agreement” (See 1 November 1952) to the scatter-wave radio facility at Chiu Tsu-lu.
18 August. 6214th Communications Squadron was organized at Taipei and placed under administration of 6214th Air Base Group at Tainan AS. On 2 September 1958 it was placed under operational control of 1961st AACS Sq at Clark AB. Its mission was to provide communications in support of ATF 13 (P) and US section of the Joint Operations Center (JOC).
18 August. Det 1, 6200th Air Base Wing, Taipei; (its function was assumed by the 6214th ABG at Tainan AS) Det 2, 6200th Air Base Wing, Tainan; and Det 2, 14th Communications Sq Taipei, were discontinued this date per Thirteenth Air Force GO 39, dated 8 August 1958. The same General Order activated 6214th Air Base Group, Tainan, 6214th Support Squadron, Tainan and 6214th Communications Squadron, Taipei. Also 6214th Air Base Group was attached to Det 1, Thirteenth Air Force at Taipei for operational, administration and logistical control.
23 August. The battle of the Taiwan Straits began with the Chinese Communists firing 41,000 artillery rounds on Kinmen Islands in two hours.
28 August. The US Air Force assigned F-100F aircraft to the Chinese Air Force. They arrived at Chiayi AB on 1 September 1958.
29 August. First aircraft arrived on Taiwan under Combined Air Strike Force X-RAY TANGO (CSAF) (F-86 aircraft of the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron) were assigned to Tainan AS.
2 September. 6214th Air Base Group at Tainan AS moved into their new headquarters building. The 868th Tactical Missile Squadron moved into a new building at the same time.
4 September. 388th Tactical Fighter Squadron, a (CSAF TANGO) unit, equipped with F-100D aircraft, arrived at Chiayi Air Base.
6 September. US Air Force on Taiwan assumed night air defense in a working agreement with Chinese Air Force.
7 September. Brigadier General Avelin P. Tacon Jr. was assigned as Deputy for Operations, ATF 13 (P) and served as the Director of Combat Operations with Captain Glenn B. Butler, US Navy, as the Assistant Director per ATF Thirteen (P) GO 5, 11 Nov 1958.
8 September. The CAF shot down seven Communist MIG-17 aircraft and damaged two others off the mainland coast.
8 September. All personnel functions for Taiwan were consolidated in the 6214th Air Base Group at Tainan AS, Taiwan.
11 September. Brigadier General Fred M. Dean as Air Component Commander of the subordinate unified command was designated as Air Defense Commander for Taiwan and assumed that responsibility at 1200 hours, 16 September 1958.
11 September. The Joint Chiefs of Staff concurred in the establishment of a subordinate unified command, and on that date the Commander in Chief Pacific (CINCPAC) established the United States Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC) as a subordinate unified command under CINCPAC. Commander USTDC was designated as the Commander of this subordinate unified command. He exercised control of Air Force forces through his Air Force component commander (ATF 13 (P) per JCS message 947808.
11-15 September. Detachments of 5th Communications Group were deployed to Taoyuan and Hsinchu Air Bases to support deployed tactical units by providing base communications.
17 September. US Air Force on Taiwan began participation in day air defense.
18 September. The 507th Communications and Control Group arrived in Taiwan and was stationed 26 miles from Taichung (Wu Chi Air Station.)
18 September. The CAF shot down five Communist MIG-17 aircraft.
19-29 September. The 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was deployed to Tainan AS.
The VMF-451 was deployed to Ping Tung.
The VMF-115 was deployed to Ping Tung.
The VMF-MAG-11 was deployed to Hsinchu AB.
19 September. The 25th *Fighter Interceptor Squadron was deployed to Taoyuan AB.
Ed. note: Was the 25th FIS split between Tainan and Taoyuan?
19 September. The 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron was deployed to Taoyuan.
 |
| United Press International (UPI). 9/19/1958. A U.S. AFB, FORMOSA: Crew members of the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron stand in chow line with newly erected tents in background. Maj. Gen. Thomas Moorman, Commander of 13th U.S. Air Force visited this fast-growing airbase this week to check on construction of new barracks and facilities for American military men moving in new weapons. This squadron is from Hamilton AFB, Calif. This base is now capable of hurling atomic retaliation at Red China in event of any aggression against the Nationalist's stronghold. UPI TELEPHOTO.-tf- |
They were:
Admiral Harry D. Felt, Commander in Chief, Pacific Forces.
General Lawrence S. Kuter, Commander, Pacific Air Forces.
Admiral Wallace Beakley, Commander, Seventh Fleet.
Admiral Roland N. Smoot, Commander, Taiwan Defense Command.
Yu, Ta-wei, National Defense Minister, ROC.
General (Tiger) Wang Shu-ming.
24 September. The CAF shot down 10 Communist MIG-17 aircraft and probably damaged six others off the mainland coast.
25 September. The 2165th Communications Squadron, Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 were designated and organized per MATS GO-140, 25 September 1958.
27th September. F-86D aircraft of 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron moved into Hsinchu AB and assumed alert status.
29 September. The VMF-451 (Marine Corps) aircraft moved into Hsinchu AB and assumed alert status.
30 September. Detachment 1, 13th Air Force had 61 officers and 99 airmen assigned plus 77 officers and 110 airmen on temporary duty at their headquarters.
30 September. Cho En-lai denounced the United States for supplying the Chinese Nationalist Air Force with Sidewinder missiles and he threatened “powerful blows” in retaliation.
1 October. Major James B. Carter assumed command of 6214th Support Squadron.
10 October The CAF shot down five Communist MIG-17 aircraft and damaged two others off the mainland coast but lost one F-86 in the battle.
20 October. Base Supply Account (AFB 5240) was established at Tainan AS to supply all US Air Force units on Taiwan.
21 October. Personnel functions for Taiwan were transferred from Tainan AS to Taipei AS.
23 October. US Secretary of State Dulles and President Chiang issued a joint communiqué reaffirming solidarity between the two countries and stating that the Kinmen and Matsu Islands were “closely related” to the defense of Taiwan and Penghu under present conditions.
24 October. Air Task Force Thirteen (Provisional) was reorganized with a full staff organized under a “Double Deputy” system with a Deputy for Operations and a Deputy for Administration and Logistics.
November. Cooperation between Chinese Air Force and US Air Force was of the highest motivations according to ATF 13 (P) Commander, General Dean. The Chinese were generous, if not over-generous in accommodating US forces. They had to be stopped from literally giving “the shirts off their back.”
3 November. The Chinese Communists fired 36,000 rounds at Kinmen.
15 November. The Provisional Signal Detachment 8678, AAV, was organized under MAAG to provide on and off island communication support for MAAG.
17 November. An agreement was signed between the USG and GRC on defending Taiwan.
6 December 1958 – February 1959. 337th Fighter Interceptor Squadron arrived at Taoyuan AB to replace the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron.
24 December. Armed Forces Radio Taiwan, Tainan Air Station, began broadcasting (100 watts) from a mobile van located on land borrowed from the Chinese Air Force Second Air Depot.
Please take a minute to write to me if you have information I have not included during this time period or you find a mistake.
I am most happy to receive your e-mail. Quick link to me HERE
2 comments:
18 September. The 507th Communications and Control Group arrived in Taiwan and was stationed 26 miles from Taichung (Wu Chi Air Station.)
Any one with information on Wu Chi Air Station would be appreciated.
Airman Lawrence H. 'Howie' Howard 2nd Radio Relay Squadron, 5th Comm. Group, 5th Air Force. Why is nothing said about our setting up hundreds of comm.channels in August 1958 and maintaining those sites for about 6 months. Our An/TRC 24 equipment provided voice, teletype, and top secret Crypto channels for nearly all of Taiwan from north of Taipai, the air bases, at tainan, Ping Tung, Taichung and others being used for F-86D, F-100, RB-57 and all other U S aircraft for planning and scrambling and we even had a radio site on one of the main islands between Taiwan and mainland China. We were there because the Chinese Nationalists had almost no communcations on Taiwan until we were set up! That according to recently released Military Docs. in recent years. I was on duty at the Kaohsuing Terminal and watched as US Marine CB's built 100 ft. permanent Microwave towers as our TDY ended back to Kadena AB on Okinawa.
Post a Comment