27th Tactical Fighter Wing Patch – 3" Embroidered, Hook and Loop

Honor elite U.S. Air Force tactical airpower with this 27th Tactical Fighter Wing (27 TFW) embroidered patch. Featuring crisp stitching and hook-and-loop backing, this 3-inch insignia is ideal for flight suits, jackets, packs, patch boards, and aviation heritage displays.

Perfect for active-duty aircrew, veterans, collectors, and aviation enthusiasts, this patch represents combat power, forward-deployed readiness, and tactical excellence.

Patch Features & Specs

Size: 3 inches
Material: High-quality embroidered cloth
Backing: Hook and loop for fast, secure attachment
Durability: Fade-resistant stitching, structured backing
Construction: Clean edge finish, long-lasting embroidery
Use Cases: Flight suits, jackets, backpacks, kit bags, patch boards, shadow boxes
Offered By: Squadron Nostalgia LLC — Veteran-Owned Business

By United States Air Force - Public Domain,

Wing History – 27th Tactical Fighter Wing

The 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, known as the “Fightin’ Eagles,” has a proud combat lineage dating back to World War II. The wing distinguished itself during the Vietnam War, flying extensive combat operations and later played a key role in Cold War deterrence and tactical airpower projection.

Originally based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, the 27 TFW operated legendary aircraft including the F-100 Super Sabre, F-111 Aardvark, and F-16 Fighting Falcon, conducting:

Tactical strike operations
Close air support
Deep interdiction
Air superiority missions
Joint and coalition combat operations

Today, the wing continues its elite combat legacy as the 27th Special Operations Wing, flying the AC-130, CV-22, MC-130, and U-28, remaining one of the most combat-proven organizations in the U.S. Air Force.

27th Tactical Fighter Wing

HQ USAF redesignated the wing the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958 as part of a worldwide naming change. On 18 February 1959, the 27th was inactivated, as SAC reacquired Bergstrom as a B-52/KC-135 base. The 27th was immediately transferred and reactivated at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, being equipped with the North American F-100 Super Sabre, replacing the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Vietnam War

North American F-100F-10-NA Super Sabre Serial 56-3867 of the 524th TFS in Vietnam-Era camouflage.
During the Vietnam War, the 27th TFW deployed individual F-100 squadrons to Southeast Asia, which included Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Units from Cannon deployed the first F-100 squadron to Thailand in 1962–1963, and South Vietnam in 1964. Beginning in 1964 and throughout the Vietnam War years squadrons from the 27th TFW were deployed and detached to Air Force units and bases around the world. The 27th did not recombine as a cohesive wing until 1973.

In December 1965, with most of its operational squadrons deployed, the mission of the 27th changed from a Tactical Fighter Wing to a replacement training unit. The 27th Tactical Fighter Wing became the largest such unit in TAC. The 4585th Student Squadron was initially activated on 1 January 1966 to perform this mission. Later, the 4429th Combat Crew Training Squadron was organized on 15 May 1968 as a second training squadron, replacing the deployed 523d TFS.

Many F-100 pilots that flew in the Vietnam War trained at Cannon. From Cannon, the aircrews were transferred to the F-100 bases in South Vietnam – Phù Cát Air Base (37th TFW); Phan Rang Air Base (35th TFW) and Tuy Hoa Air Base (31st TFW).

The 27th also trained forward air controllers (FACs) and air liaison officers (ALOs) in Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars from 1969 to 1976. The 4468 Tac Control Squadron initially performed this mission. In 1969, the 4468th was replaced by the '609th Tactical Control Squadron. The 609th operated the Westinghouse AN/TPS-43 long-range, air surveillance radar as its primary mission equipment. The AN/TPS-43 is a transportable 3-dimensional air search radar produced in the United States originally by Westinghouse Defense and Electronic Division, which was later purchased by Northrop Grumman. The 609th was inactivated on 15 June 1976.

Post-Vietnam era

429th ECS General Dynamics EF-111A Ravens being retired at Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona upon arrival at AMARC, 1 April 1988. Serials 67-052 and 66-050 identifiable.
With the withdrawal of the F-100 from Vietnam in 1970, and the phaseout of the aircraft from the active Air Force inventory, the 27th TFW began conversion to the General Dynamics F-111D "Aardvark".

In July 1969, on loan from Nellis AFB Nevada, 10 F-111As facilitated training while the wing waited for its own planes. F-111Es began arriving in October 1969, but their stay was short. In the summer of 1971 wing aircrews ferried the last of them to RAF Upper Heyford England. In 1971, the 27th TFW received the first of its F-111Ds, and in July 1972, the last operational active duty Air Force F-100s were transferred from the 27th TFW to the Air National Guard.

The mission of the 27th TFW expanded in 1988 as a result of decisions made by the Defense Department Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) when the 27th was equipped with the F-111G. (The "G" model was a conversion of the SAC FB-111A all-weather strategic bombing version of the F-111, which was originally intended as an interim successor to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Convair B-58 Hustler.) These aircraft, less their nuclear delivery capability, were transferred to Cannon following the disbandment of SAC's 509th Bomb Wing at Pease AFB New Hampshire and the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh AFB, New York.

The F-111Gs were used primarily for training, but was scheduled to be supplanted in the training role by the F-111E. This made the F-111G surplus to USAF requirements, and the F-111G began to be transferred to AMARC for storage in 1991 with the arrival of the "E" models with the 428th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron. The last G model was sent to AMARC in 1993.

Personnel of the 27th TFW played a role during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Aircrews and aircraft of the 27th did not deploy to the region, but support personnel and a combat support group element of the wing's 27th Combat Support Group, commanded by Colonel David Benson, deployed to Taif. On 16 January 1991, when the U.S. led coalition force initiated the Desert Storm air campaign against Iraq, the 27th TFW had 325 personnel serving in the Persian Gulf region in combat support roles.

1990s to today

U.S. Airmen render a salute for the posting of the colors during the 27th Special Operations Wing's change of command ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, 2 June 2017.
On 1 November 1991, the 27 TFW was re-designated the 27th Fighter Wing as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization.

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