The unit is headquartered at Danilo Atienza Air Base, Sangley Point, Cavite, just outside the capital Manila.

Under the Wing's command were units broken up into 3 major groups: Tactical, Maintenance and Supply, and Air Base.

Ten (10) airmen were sent to the 410th Air Materiel Wing to undergo maintenance on-the-job training (OJT), in February 1974.

This unit was activated and manned on 1 August 1974, with LT Colonel Santiago O Pitpitan JR PAF as Squadron Commander.

On 18 February 1975, after training a handful of Combat-Ready Pilots, the Wing deployed four (4) T-28D aircraft to Edwin Andrews Air Base, Zamboanga City, in support of SOWESCOM operations.

On 17 March 1975, three (3) SF-260W aircraft were deployed at the 15th SW Advance Command Post at Francisco Bangoy Airport, Davao City.

With the acquisition of additional T-28D aircraft from Udorn AFB in Thailand, another unit, the 25th Attack Squadron, was activated on 29 March 1976.

LT COL TERESO J ISLETA first commanded the 25th Attack Squadron with 71 officers and 36 enlisted personnel.

A crippling shortage of spares was felt in 1979, and a drastic reorganization move was put in place to increase the operational rate of the assigned aircraft.

This was the 20th Combat Support Group headed by LT COL NORBERTO P FERRERAS, who was also the wing's chief of maintenance.

In 1984, President Ferdinand Marcos facilitated the acquisition of Sikorsky AUH-76 helicopters, which the Philippine Air Force configured as a platform for rockets and machine guns, from its original design as a VIP passenger aircraft.

With the political tension that pervaded the country after the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr., economic instability spelled budgetary cuts for the government.

These events eventually led the rebels to raise the white flag, thus ending the coup attempt.

The government, on the other hand, realized the implications of this situation; so, 5th Fighter Wing was tasked to conduct persuasion flights.

As a response, air strikes were conducted, inflicting heavy damage on aircraft and facilities controlled by the enemy.

Unfortunately, Major Atienza crashed after flames from the explosion of a fuel depot engulfed his F-5, killing him in the process.

Due to the increase in manpower and equipment that was brought upon by the merging of the two units, the 505th Air Rescue Squadron was transferred to the 205th Helicopter Wing on 16 July 1987.

On November 27, 2001, a few months after the squadron's reactivation, the 17th AS conducted several missions against the secessionist Misuari Renegade Group in Zamboanga City.

This unit will manage, operate and maintain the Wing's assets in Mindanao such as the OV-10 Bronco, MD-520 MG and SF-260 TP aircraft.