488th Tactical Missile Wing
| 488th Tactical Missile Wing | |
|---|---|
TM-76 Mace Missile | |
| Active | 1943–1944; 1957-1958 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment and Tactical missile training |
| Commanders | |
| 588th Tactical Missile Group commander[1] | Lt. Col. Bowers W. Espy. |
The 488th Tactical Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was formed by the consolidation of the 488th Bombardment Group and the 588th Tactical Missile Group in 1985, but has not been active since consolidation.
The 488th Bombardment Group was a
MacDill Field
, Florida, where it was disbanded on 1 May 1944.
The 588th Tactical Missile Group was a
Orlando Air Force Base
, Florida, where it was inactivated on 15 July 1958.
History
World War II
The 488th Bombardment Group was activated at
At MacDill the
Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[7] This resulted in the 488th, along with other units at MacDill, being disbanded in the spring of 1944[2]
and being replaced by the 317th AAF Base Unit, which assumed the group's mission, personnel, and equipment
Cold War
The 588th Tactical Missile Group was formed as a unit including launch, maintenance and support squadrons which could be deployed together rather than
Tainan Air Station
, Taiwan.
In April the
310th Tactical Missile Squadron;[10] or the newly activated 58th Support Squadron and 58th Communications and Guidance Squadron.[11]
In July 1958 the 4504th Wing reorganized and the 588th was inactivated and replaced by the 4504th Tactical Missile Training Squadron and the 4504th Support Squadron, which absorbed its remaining personnel and equipment.[12]
The 488th Bombardment Group and the 588th Tactical Missile Group were consolidated on 31 July 1985 as the 488th Tactical Missile Wing,[13] but the consolidated unit has not been active.
Lineage
|
|
Assignments
- II Bomber Command, 1 October 1943
- III Bomber Command, 1 November 1943 – 1 May 1944
- 4504th Missile Training Wing, 8 January 1957 – 15 July 1958
Components
- 840th Bombardment Squadron (later 818th Bombardment Squadron): 1 October 1943 – 1 May 1944[14][a]
- 841st Bombardment Squadron: 1 October 1943 – 1 May 1944[15]
- 842d Bombardment Squadron: 1 October 1943 – 1 May 1944[15]
- 843d Bombardment Squadron: 1 October 1943 – 1 May 1944[15]
- 17th Tactical Missile Squadron, 8 January 1957 – 6 February 1958
- 24th Tactical Missile Squadron, 25 April 1958 – 15 July 1958
- 588th Communications and Guidance Squadron (Tactical Missile), 8 January 1957 – 15 July 1958
- 588th Support Squadron (Tactical Missile), 8 January 1957 – 15 July 1958
Stations
- Geiger Field, Washington, 1 October 1943[2]
- MacDill Field, Florida, 1 November 1943 – 1 May 1944[2]
- Orlando Air Force Base, Florida, 8 January 1957 - 15 July 1958[16]
Aircraft and Missiles
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943-1944[2]
- Martin TM-61 Matador, 1957-1958
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- 840th Bombardment Squadron(earlier 818th Bombardment Squadron). The two units swapped numbers on 15 February 1944. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 767-768, 777-778.
- Citations
- ^ "Abstract, History 588 Tactical Missile Group, activation-Jun 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, p. 358
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 777-776
- ^ "Abstract, History 841 Bombardment Squadron Oct-Nov 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ a b Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
- ^ "Abstract, History Geiger Field May-June 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Craven & Cate, p. 7
- ^ "Abstract, History 4504 Tactical Missile Wing Jan-Jun 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (8 February 2018). "Factsheet 58 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 376
- ^ See Fletcher, [page needed]
- ^ "Abstract, History 4504 Missile Training Wing Jul-Dec 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ a b c Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 767-768
- ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 776
- ^ "Abstract, History 588 Tactical Missile Group, Jul-Dec 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48-3657.
- Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Further reading
- Mindling, George; Bolton, Robert (2008). U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949–1969: The Pioneers. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press, Inc. LCCN 2008908364.
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