509th Bomb Wing

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This article is about the post-World War II bombardment wing. For the World War II B-29 unit, see 509th Composite Group.

509th Bomb Wing
T-38C

The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.[6]

The 509 BW is the host unit at Whiteman, and operates the

B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The wing can launch combat sorties directly from Missouri to any spot on the globe, engaging adversaries with large payloads of traditional or precision-guided munitions.[6]

The wing's

B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped the two atomic bombs that helped end the war in the pacific.[6]

The 509th BW led the way for America's first military response following the

Al Qaeda forces. During this operation, the aircraft flew roundtrip from Missouri, logging combat missions in excess of 40 hours—the longest on record.[7]

Units
13th Bomb Squadron
393d Bomb Squadron
509th Operations Support Squadron
709th Munitions Squadron
509th Munitions Squadron
509th Maintenance Operations Squadron
509th Maintenance Squadron
509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
509th Force Support Squadron
509th Civil Engineer Squadron
509th Logistics Readiness Squadron
509th Security Forces Squadron
509th Contracting Squadron
509th Communications Squadron
509th Medical Operations Squadron
509th Medical Support Squadron

History

Further information on lineage and history: 509th Composite Group and 509th Operations Group
B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay
" during WW2

World War II

The wing's

atomic bomb. The group made history on 6 August 1945, when the Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay," piloted by Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr., dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The B-29 "Bockscar," piloted by Maj. Charles Sweeney, flew over the Japanese mainland on 9 August 1945 and dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.[6]

Cold War

The wing was established as 509th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 3 November 1947 and organized on 17 November 1947.[6] The initial mission of the 509th Bomb Wing was to carry out strategic bombing missions using Atomic Bombs at the discretion of the President of the United States.

The wing's mission expanded in July 1948 when it received the

KC-97 Stratofreighter replaced the aging KB-29Ms.[6]

The 509th BW entered the jet age in June 1955 when it received the

Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire in August 1958.[6]

By 1961 it was believed that the B-47 was becoming obsolete and President John F. Kennedy directed that the phaseout of the B-47 be accelerated. However this was delayed in July by the onset of the Berlin crisis of 1961–62. There, the wing continued to function as an integral part of Strategic Air Command (SAC). By 1965, its B-47s were scheduled for retirement. Unfortunately, this retirement also included the 509th. Fate intervened, however, as SAC decided to keep the 509th alive and equipped it with B-52s and KC-135s.[6]

The 509th was initially phased down for inactivation in late 1965 as a part of the retirement of the B-47, but instead was converted to a

Andersen AFB, Guam to support SAC operations in Southeast Asia.[1]

Mark 82 practice bombs during a training mission over Nomans Land

On 1 December 1969 was wing redesignated as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Medium and began receiving the

FB-111A strategic bomber in December 1970.[6] The FB-111A was the all-weather strategic bombing version of the Tactical Air Command F-111 which was equipped to carry the AGM-69 SRAM that carried a nuclear warhead with an explosive yield of 200 kilotons. The 509th would operate the aircraft for two decades. Won the SAC Bombing and Navigation competition and the Fairchild trophy in 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1983. Awarded the Sanders trophy for best air refueling unit in 1982.[1]

Over the next two decades, little changed for the 509th BW as it became SAC's fighter-bomber experts. However, a 1988 decision by the Department of Defense to close Pease created major changes for the famous 509th. Headquarters SAC decreed that the 509th would not inactivate but would transfer to Whiteman Air Force Base to become the first B-2 stealth bomber unit. As such, the wing moved to Whiteman on 30 September 1990, without people or equipment.[6]

As the Rockwell B-1B Lancer came into service, the FB-111 became redundant to SAC needs. In 1988, Pease was identified as one of several Air Force installations to be closed by 1991 as part of a

Base Realignment and Closure Commission
(BRAC) recommendation. The 509th's FB-111s were transferred from SAC to TAC between June and December 1990, being re-designated as the F-111G and converted into a tactical bomber.

Sole Stealth bomber unit

509th BW B-2A being prepared for Operation Odyssey Dawn[note 2]

In 1988, Congressman

Whiteman AFB, Missouri. It was also announced that the 509th Bombardment Wing would become the USAF's first B-2 Spirit active-duty wing. Military personnel began leaving Pease in June 1990, and on 30 September 1990, the 509th was inactivated at Pease and activated at Whiteman Air Force Base as a non-operational unit the same day without aircraft, personnel or equipment. With the reassignment the unit was redesignated as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Heavy. On 1 June 1992, the Air Force disestablished the Strategic Air Command (SAC), transferring all bomber aircraft to the newly established Air Combat Command (ACC). The 509th was redesignated the 509th Bomb Wing on 1 September 1991, and became part of the new Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992.[1]

In 1993, after two years of non-operational status, the 509th became operational again. On 1 March 1993, the wing activated the

stealth bomber on 17 December 1993 (the date was the 49th anniversary of the activation of the 509th Composite Group and the 90th of the Wright brothers' flight).[6]

Since its arrival at Whiteman, the 509th underwent inspections, tests, and other challenges to insure it was ready to return as an integral part of the nation's defensive coalition. With the B-2, the wing can bring massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses. The wing has deployed elements into combat over the skies of

Libya during Operation Odyssey Dawn.[8]

The wing began to continuously deploy to Andersen AFB, Guam, in February 2005. This deployment provides a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region and augmented Pacific Command's establishment of a deterrent force.[9]

On 1 February 2010, the 509th Bomb Wing became part of the Air Force's newest command, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).[6]

On June 5, 2015, Paul W. Tibbets IV, grandson of the World War II nuclear pilot, assumed command of the 509th Bomb Wing.[10]

131st Bomb Wing

On 16 March 2006, the Air Force announced that elements of the

131st Fighter Wing, Missouri Air National Guard (MOANG), would become an associate unit assigned to the 509th BW.[11]
The 131st Fighter Wing transitioned from flying and maintaining the F-15C Eagle fighter to the B-2 Spirit bomber. The final flight of the F-15C Eagle by the 131st occurred in June 2009 from St. Louis's Lambert International Airport. The unit was redesignated as the 131st Bomb Wing on 1 October 2008.

The 509th and the 131st joined forces according to what is known as a "classic associate wing" structure. The active-duty wing, the 509th retains full "ownership" of the operational assets; aircraft, maintenance facilities, etc. Each wing has its own chain-of-command and organizational structure, but the members of each unit perform their duties in a fully integrated manner. Translation, active-duty and ANG pilots and maintainers fly B-2 missions and sustain the aircraft as though it were one unit.[12]

Emblem

Or, in base a label Gules of three, surmounted by an atomic cloud Proper, between a pair of wings Azure; all with a diminished bordure of the first. Attached below the shield a White scroll edged with a narrow Yellow border and inscribed "DEFENSOR VINDEX" (Latin for "Champion Defender") in Blue letters.

The 509th Bombardment Wing's emblem is rich in tradition. Each symbol on the shield represents some part of the past. The Air Force wings represent the branch of service but are not in the familiar outstretched position. When the ancient Greeks approached a stranger, they raised their arms with palms outward to show they were carrying no weapons – a sign of peace. The 509th obtained special permission to display the wings in this configuration to show that it, too, comes in peace. The atomic cloud burst represents two things: that the 509th is the only unit to ever drop atomic bombs in wartime and that it still uses atomic power as a deterrent to war and defender of peace. Finally, the 'eldest son' symbol (the red 'tripod') shows that the wing is the oldest atomic trained military unit in the world.

Lineage

  • Established as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 3 November 1947
Organized on 17 November 1947
Redesignated: 509th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 1 August 1948
Redesignated: 509th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 2 April 1966
Redesignated: 509th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 1 December 1969
Redesignated: 509th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 30 September 1990
Redesignated: 509th Bomb Wing on 1 September 1991[1]

Assignments

Components

Wing

  • 33d Fighter Wing: attached 17 November 1947 – 15 November 1948[1]

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Northrop B-2A Block 30 Spirit 93-87 "Spirit of Pennsylvania". Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn supported the no-fly zone over Libya. Picture taken 20 March 2011.
  2. ^ Aircraft is Northrop B-2A Block 10 Spirit 82-1071 "Spirit of Mississippi", taken 19 March 2011.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Haulman, Daniel L. (22 June 2017). "Factsheet 509 Bomb Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  2. ^ "509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ "509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  4. ^ "509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. ^ Ravenstain, pp. 276–277
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "509th Bomb Wing". Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  7. ^ "44 Hours" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit – 30 years". 17 July 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Wing's legacy continues". 15 November 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ Sudekum, Maria (5 June 2015). "Grandson of Enola Gay Pilot Takes Command of B-2 Bomb Wing". ABC News. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  11. ^ Air Force News, Missouri Guard unit first ever selected for B-2 mission and Missouri Air National Guard gets sneak preview of B-2
  12. ^ "Meet the 131st Bomb Wing". 21 July 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2020.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

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