Ninth Air Force. Initially, its only operational squadron was the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The mission of the 12th TFW was to be prepared for tactical worldwide deployments and operations. Until 1964, the wing flew obsolete Republic F-84F Thunderjets reclaimed from the Air National Guard. In January 1964, the wing was chosen to be the first Air Force combat wing to convert to the new McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II. It was expanded as follows: 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Activated on 8 January 1964 as part of a wing transition from three squadrons of 25 aircraft each to four squadrons of 18 aircraft each) The wing was soon involved in F-4C firepower demonstrations, exercises, and ultimately, at the Paris Air Show. The conflict in Southeast Asia was escalating, and throughout 1965, the wing supported Pacific Air Forces Contingency Operations by rotating combat squadrons quarterly to Naha Air Base in the Ryuku Islands. The 12th TFW began its permanent deployment to the first Air Force expeditionary airfield at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam, on 6 November 1965. The 12th TFW combat squadrons initially scheduled for deployment to Vietnam were the 555th, 557th, and 558th TFS. Ultimately, the 559th TFS took the place of the 555th when the squadron was diverted to a second TDY with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, followed by a reassignment to the 8th TFW at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Still later, the 555th was assigned to the 432d TRW at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base. 15th Tactical Fighter Wing On 17 April 1962, the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing was activated at MacDill and assigned to 9th Air Force. Operational squadrons of the wing and squadron tail codes were: 45th Tactical Fighter squadron (FC) 46th Tactical Fighter squadron (FD) 47th Tactical Fighter squadron (FE) 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (FB) (Activated on 8 January 1964 as part of a wing transition from three squadrons of 25 aircraft each to four squadrons of 18 aircraft each) The 12th and 15th TFWs constituted the 836th Air Division at MacDill AFB on 1 July 1962. Initially equipped with theF-84F Thunderjet, in 1964 the 15th TFW subsequently upgraded to the tail-coded McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom II. The mission of the 15th TFW was to conduct tactical fighter combat crew training. The wing participated