The 520th Air Base Wing traces its roots as a scion of the 205th Composite Wing that functioned then as a Tactical and Service Support unit, tending to Tactical Operations, its pilots and air assets, while at the same time ensuring the maintenance and upkeep of Nichols Air Base and its facilities including its security.
With this growing need, a unit was then conceived to decongest the 205th Composite Wing of its responsibilities as caretaker of Nichols Air Base in order to allow it to focus on its role in tactical operations. Consequently, on 23 November 1965, the 520th Air Base Group was activated, with initial personnel of eight (8) officers and 55 airmen. The activation, however, was only on paper inasmuch as logistics was never taken into account nor considered its conception. Hence, the 520th ABG was never put into operation even before it could take off.
Ten years later, effective 01 august 1966, pursuant to section II GO Nr 12 1 – hpaf dated 29 july 1966, the 520th ABW became operational with Col Rafael N Diaz as its first Wing Commander. Its mission was “to provide security and maintain base – wide services and facilities at Nichols Air Base.” Since then, 01 August has became the official founding anniversary of 520th Air Base Wing.
With no headquarters of its own, 520th ABW was then temporarily housed at headquarters, 205th Composite Wing until the base engineers constructed the 520th ABW along Andews Avenue beside the 205th CW – its 40 – year location until its transfer to its new site along Paredes Street near the our lady of Loreto Chapel. To adapt itself to the demands of time, several organizational innovations were instituted. In 1985, the two – deputy system was introduced: one for operation and the other for base services. This, however, was short – lived as the demand for security had to take precedence. So in 1986, the Wing had to be recognized into four groups, namely: base security and law enforcement group, base services group, and special reaction group. Eventually, normal conditions dictated its reversion to present setup. Eventually regrouping to form its now organization: the headquarters Administrative Squadron (HAS), the 521st Air Police Group, the 522nd Service Support Group, and t he 523rd Honor Escort Group.