Moody Air Force Base is home to the USAF 23rd Wing and recently the 93rd Air Ground Wing.

 23rd Wing 


The 23rd Wing consists of six groups and is tasked to organize, train and employ combat-ready pararescuemen, A/OA-10, HH-60, and HC-130 forces totaling 5,500 military and civilian personnel including three geographical separated units. The wing executes worldwide close air support and combat search and rescue operations in support of humanitarian interests, United States national security and the global war on terrorism.

  

  The Flying Tigers heritage dates back to 1941, when a group of American volunteer pilots banded together under secret presidential sanction to defend China against the Japanese. The unit eventually became renowned for its combat successes, often while flying in adverse conditions, as well as its distinctive Curtiss P-40 planes, which had shark-like faces painted on the front.

 

 In September 2006, along with accepting the 23rd Wing designation, Moody Air Force Base accepted the responsibility of carrying on the historic Flying Tiger's heritage. In the days immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a group of volunteer pilots successfully fought the Japanese in the skies over China. Because of their extraordinary abilities and the distinct "shark-teeth" paintings on their aircraft, the group was heralded as the Flying Tigers by the American press. This tradition has carried over for more than 60 years and numerous aircraft and locations. 



History of Moody 


The base was named in memory of Maj. George Putnam Moody, an early Air Force pioneer killed in May 1941 while serving with the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kan. At the time of his death, the major was working on the inspection board for AT-10 transitional trainers which were later sent to Moody. 

The base had its beginning in 1940 when a group of concerned Valdosta and Lowndes County citizens began searching for a way to assist the expanding defense program. The citizens rallied interest in the War Department for a 9,300 acre tract known as the Lakeland Flatwoods Project, northeast of Valdosta. On May 14, 1941, the War Department was granted exclusive use of the land by the Agriculture Department. 

On Feb. 19, 1942, the Moody Field Advanced Pilot Training School began training 50 Army Air Corps cadets in the Beech AT-10. Following World War II, Moody was placed on inactive status in November 1947, but was reactivated in May 1951 when the Korean conflict created a need for more Air Force pilots. 

The base's primary mission in its early years was to meet the requirements of the Air Force Pilot Instrument School and Instrument Flying School.

In September 1975, the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, belonging to Tactical Air Command, relocated from Thailand to Moody. 

In December 1975, the 347th TFW formally replaced the 38th Flying Training Wing, flying the F-4E Phantom II. 

Moody won the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award for 1991, and the 1994 Verne Orr Award, which is presented by the Air Force Association to the unit that most effectively uses human resources to accomplish its mission. In June 1997, the wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the eighth time in its illustrious history. 

On July 1, 1994, the Air Force converted the 347th Fighter Wing to the 347th Wing, a force projection, airland composite wing. 

On May 8, 2001, the 347th Wing converted again to the 347th Rescue Wing, becoming the Air Force's only active-duty combat search and rescue wing. 

On Oct 1, 2003, the 347th RQW was realigned from ACC to AFSOC in an effort to bring all CSAR assets under the same command. 

On April 3, 2006, the 347th RQW was realigned from AFSOC to ACC to ensure CSAR assets are directly linked to the combat air forces and the personnel they support.

On Sept 29, 2006, the 347th RQW was redesignated to the 23rd Wing.  Along with accepting the 23rd Wing designation, the base will accept the responsibility of carrying on the historic Flying Tiger's heritage.