95th Air Base Wing

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"95th Bombardment Wing" redirects here. For the 95th Combat Bombardment Wing of World War II, see 95th Combat Bombardment Wing.

95th Air Base Wing
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Colonel Charles B. DeBellevue
General John K. Gerhart
General John Dale Ryan
Lt Gen Gerald W. Johnson
Insignia
95th Air Base Wing emblem[note 1][2]
95th Bombardment Wing emblem[note 2][3]
[1]
95th Bombardment Group emblem[note 3][1]
World War II Tail Marking[4]Square B

The 95th Air Base Wing is an inactive

Air Force Flight Test Center of Air Force Materiel Command at Edwards Air Force Base
, California, where it was inactivated on 13 July 2012.

During World War II its predecessor, the 95th Bombardment Group, was a

Distinguished Unit Citations, with the highest total claims of enemy aircraft destroyed of all Eighth Air Force Bomb Groups − 425 aircraft. It was also the first U.S. Army Air Forces group to bomb Berlin.[5] From 1947 to 1949 the 95th Bombardment Group served in the reserves. It was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve flying units under the wing base organization
model.

During the

Goose Air Base, Canada to replace the 4082d Strategic Wing. At Goose, it supported forward deployed SAC tankers. It was inactivated in 1976 as the Air Force withdrew from Goose Air Base.[6]

In 1984, the 95th group and wing were consolidated into a single unit. The consolidated unit was redesignated the 95th Air Base Wing and was activated in 1994 as the host organization at Edwards, absorbing the mission, personnel and equipment of the inactivating 650th Air Base Wing.

History

World War II

Training in the United States

The wing was activated in 1942 as the 95th Bombardment Group at

412th Bombardment Squadrons assigned.[1][10]

The

Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota from 14 December 1942 to 11 March 1943.[5]

The air echelon processed at

Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska and flew its Forts via the southern route, flying to Florida, Trinidad, the northern coast of Brazil, Dakar, Senegal, and Marrakesh, Morocco to RAF Alconbury in the United Kingdom. The ground echelon moved to Camp Kilmer, then sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth to Scotland, arriving in May. The squadron then reunited at RAF Framlingham.[5]

Combat with Eighth Air Force

The group arrived in England equipped with late model B-17F aircraft equipped with "Tokyo Tanks", additional fuel cells located outboard in the wings that gave this model additional range.

airfield near Saint-Omer, France. For the next two months the 95th focused on attacking airfields and V-1 flying bomb launch sites in France.[1]

Group Boeing B-17Gs in combat formation[note 4]

390th Bombardment Group.[1][14]

The 95th began strategic bombing operations in July and continued until flying its last operation on 20 April 1945. Its targets included

4th Bombardment Wing in an attack on Kiel, Germany. The lead aircraft carried Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest as an observer. The aircraft was hit by fighters on its approach to the target, and again after the bomb run was complete. It was last seen spiraling out of control with much of its tail shot away. General Forrest was the first United States general officer killed in action in Europe during the war.[15]

The group received its first

Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, Germany on 17 August 1943 when it maintained its defensive formation despite severe attacks by enemy interceptor aircraft.[1] On 10 October, during an attack on marshalling yards at Münster, Germany, the squadron was subjected to concentrated fighter attacks on the approach to the target and intense flak over the objective.[1] Despite these obstacles, the group's bombs were clustered close to the target.[16]
It was awarded a second DUC for withstanding these attacks to bomb its objective.

334th squadron B-17 under attack by German fighters

From 20 to 25 February 1944 the group participated in the

482d Bombardment Group to determine the release point.[17] It received its third DUC for this operation.[1] This mission was the first time any unit from Eighth Air Force had bombed Berlin.[5]

The group was diverted to bombing priority tactical targets during the preparation for and execution of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, attacking communications and coastal defenses. It hit enemy troop concentrations to facilitate the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô. The 95th attacked enemy troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and bombed airfields to support Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March.[1]

One of the unit's more unusual missions was flown on 18 September 1944, when it led the

13th Combat Bombardment Wing[18] to Warsaw to drop ammunition, food and medical supplies to Polish Resistance forces fighting against German occupation forces.[1] The group landed in the Soviet Union, as it had previously done during shuttle missions to the Soviet Union.[19]

The unit flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, when it attacked marshalling yards near Oranienburg.[20] During its time with Eighth Air Force the 95th flew 320 missions, losing 157 aircraft, but claiming the destruction of 425 German fighters.[5]

In the first week of May, it airdropped food to Dutch citizens in Operation Chow Hound. During the final Chow Hound mission on 7 May one of the group's aircraft had an engine catch fire. The pilot decided to ditch the aircraft when the fire threatened to engulf the entire plane, but hit a swell, causing the aircraft to break up almost at once.

Bradley Field, Connecticut, while the ground echelon sailed once more on the Queen Elizabeth.[5] The squadron was reunited at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 28 August 1945.[1]

Air Force Reserve

The 95th Bombardment Group was reactivated in the

516th Troop Carrier Wing.[21]

Bombardment Operations at Biggs Air Force Base

The 95th Bombardment Wing was established on 4 June 1952, and activated on 16 June 1952 at

810th Air Division until July 1953, and then minimally manned until September 1953, when it began strategic bombardment training with Convair B-36 Peacemakers.[3] It operated in support of Strategic Air Command
(SAC)'s global commitments from April 1954 until February 1966.

Former 95th Bomb Wing Convair B-36J Peacemaker at the Pima Air Museum

The wing deployed to

3d Air Division from July to November 1955.[3]

95th Bomb Wing Boeing B-52B

On 12 February 1959, the last B-36J in SAC's inventory departed the wing and Biggs for

Fort Worth, Texas, where it became a display aircraft.[22]

The wing received Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses to replace the B-36s. In May 1959, it added the 917th Air Refueling Squadron with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, which became operational in August.

In the late 1950s, SAC established Strategic Wings to disperse its B-52s over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.

4138th Strategic Wing there.[9] The 334th Bombardment Squadron remained at Biggs with the 95th Bomb Wing.[7][3]

Starting in 1960, one-third of the wing's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[24] The 95th continued to maintain an alert commitment until shortly before inactivation on 25 June 1966 with the transfer of Biggs to the United States Army.[7][3] Its commitment included periodic airborne alert as part of Operation Chrome Dome.[25]

On 7 April 1961, one of the wing's B-52Bs was participating in an air intercept training mission with a pair of

GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles, which were wired so that only the heat seeking head of the missile was operational. On the sixth pass by the fighters, a Sidewinder launched and struck one of the engine pods on the bomber's left wing. Four on board the B-52 escaped by parachute, but three crewmembers died in the crash. The misfire was blamed on moisture in the connection of the missile to the F-100.[26]

Tanker Operations at Goose Air Base

Patch with 4082d Strategic Wing emblem

Goose Air Base

In August 1966 the wing was redesignated as the 95th Strategic Wing and moved to

Goose Air Base, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where it replaced the 4082d Strategic Wing. The 4082d was organized by SAC on 1 April 1957 as a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing[note 6] and assigned to the 45th Air Division[27] when SAC took over Goose from Northeast Air Command. The 4082d controlled forward deployed bombers and tankers. As the host USAF organization for Goose Bay it was assigned the 4082d Air Base Group (later 4082d Combat Support Group) and the 4082d USAF Hospital.[note 7]

In order to retain the lineage of its MAJCON 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCON strategic wings and to activate Air Force Controlled (AFCON) units, which could carry a lineage and history.

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for fighting a forest fire which threatened to spread to the station's fuel storage tanks.[29]

Goose Air Base was transferred to the

Canadian Department of National Defense as CFB Goose Bay. The Government of Canada had previously shared responsibility for the operation of the airport with the United States Air Force.[30] In 1975 the Canadian government informed the United States that the Air Force's lease on Goose Bay Airport would not be renewed when it expired on 30 June 1976.[31] The wing phased down for inactivation, closing most USAF operations at Goose AFB between January and September 1976.[3]

Base Support at Edwards Air Force Base

The wing was reactivated as the 95th Air Base Wing on 1 October 1994, when it replaced the 650th Air Base Wing as the host unit for Edwards Air Force Base, California.[32] It was responsible for operating Edwards, including the infrastructure, communication systems, security, fire protection, transportation, supply, finance, contracting, legal services, personnel and manpower support, housing, education, chapel and quality of life programs on a 301,000-acre (1,220 km2) base in the middle of the Mojave Desert, the second largest base in the USAF.[33]

The wing oversaw base day-to-day operations and provided support for over 12,000 military, federal civilian and contract personnel.

Air Force Flight Test Center and the 412th Test Wing. The wing was inactivated on 13 July 2012 and its mission transferred to elements of the 412th wing, primarily to the 412th Mission Support Group.[34] The wing's last commander was Col. Amy V. Arwood, who commanded the wing for its last two weeks.[33]

Lineage

95th Bombardment Group

  • Constituted as the 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
  • Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943
  • Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947

95th Air Base Wing

  • Constituted as the 95th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 4 June 1952
  • Activated on 16 June 1952
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 8 November 1952
  • Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1966
Redesignated 95th Strategic Wing on 8 August 1966
Activated on 8 August 1966 (not organized)
  • Organized on 2 August 1966
  • Inactivated on 30 September 1976
  • Consolidated on 31 January 1984 with the 95th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy
Redesignated 95 Air Base Wing on 16 September 1994
  • Activated on 1 October 1994[2]
  • Inactivated on 13 July 2012[34]

Assignments

Components

Groups

  • 95th Civil Engineer Group: 1 October 1994 – 15 June 2002[36]
  • 95th Combat Support Group (later 95th Support Group, Mission Support Group): 1 January 1959 – 25 June 1966, 2 October 1966 – 30 September 1976, 1 October 1994 – 13 July 2012[37]
  • 95th Communications Group: 6 July 2005 – 30 June 2010[38]
  • 95th Medical Group (later 95th Tactical Hospital, 95th Medical Group): 16 June 1952 – 1 January 1959, 1 October 1994 – 13 July 2012
  • 828th Medical Group, 1 January 1959 – 25 June 1966
  • 868th Medical Group (later USAF Hospital, Goose), 2 October 1966 – 30 September 1976

Squadrons

Operational Squadrons

  • 334th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966
  • 335th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 17 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 15 January 1959
  • 336th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 16 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 1 July 1959
  • 412th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 16 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 917th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 May 1959 – 15 January 1965[35]

Support Squadrons

  • 35th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 25 June 1966[39]
  • 95th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron, 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966[40]
  • 95th Comptroller Squadron: 23 January 2007 – 13 July 2012
  • 95th Field Maintenance Squadron (later 95th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron), 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966, 2 October 1966 – 30 June 1971[40]
  • 95th Periodic Maintenance Squadron (later 95th Organizational Maintenance Squadron), 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966[40]
  • 95th Supply Squadron: 1 October 1961 – 1 July 1963

Stations

Aircraft

  • B-17 Flying Fortress
    , 1942–1945
  • Unknown, 1947–1949
  • B-36 Peacemaker
    , 1953–1959
  • B-52 Stratofortress
    , 1959–1966
  • KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959–1965; 1966–1975[35]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation, Regensburg, Germany 17 August 1943 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation, Münster, Germany 10 October 1943 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation, Berlin, Germany 4 March 1944 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971 95th Strategic Wing[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 27 June 1974 – 30 June 1974 95th Strategic Wing[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 May 2009 – 30 April 2011 95th Air Base Wing[42]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Air Offensive, Europe 11 May 1943 – 5 June 1944 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Normandy 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Northern France 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 95th Bombardment Group[1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater 11 May 1943 – 11 May 1945 95th Bombardment Group[1]

Notable members

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 11 October 1995
  2. ^ Approved 3 September 1957
  3. ^ Approved 25 February 1943
  4. ^ Boeing B-17G 43-38283 in the foreground was initially assigned to the 334th Bombardment Squadron. It later transferred to the 336th squadron. It crashed at Neustadt, Germany after suffering mechanical failure on 17 March 1945
  5. ^ Although the 95th Wing was newly activated, it continued, through temporary bestowal, the history, and honors of the World War II 95th Bombardment Group. This temporary bestowal ended in January 1984, when the wing and group were consolidated into a single unit.
  6. ^ Under the USAF organization and lineage system MAJCON units' lineages (histories, awards, and battle honors) ended with their discontinuance and could never be revived. Ravenstein, Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors, p. 12
  7. ^ On 1 April 1959 the 868th Medical Group replaced the hospital
  8. ^ The 95th Wing was entitled to retain the honors (but not the history or lineage) of the 4082d.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 163–165
  2. ^ a b c d e Robertson, Patsy (20 June 2010). "Factsheet 95 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ravenstein, pp. 133–134
  4. ^ Watkins, pp. 42–43
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Freeman, p. 245
  6. ^ "SAC Bases: Goose ir Base". strategic-air-command.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 411–412
  8. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 413–414
  9. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 415
  10. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 504
  11. ^ Freeman, p. 47
  12. ^ Freeman, p. 50
  13. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 203–204
  14. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 277–278
  15. ^ Freeman, pp. 51, 245
  16. ^ Freeman, p. 77
  17. ^ Freeman, p. 113
  18. ^ Freeman, pp. 175–176
  19. ^ Freeman, p. 174
  20. ^ a b Freeman, p. 230
  21. ^ a b See Ravenstein, pp. 283–284
  22. ^ Knaack, p. 52
  23. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  24. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  25. ^ "Abstract, History 4238 Strategic Wing Jul 1961". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  26. ^ Bossie, Clifford (24 February 2011). "Blue on blue: The accidental shootdown of B-52B 53-0380". Angelfire. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  27. ^ "Factsheet 45 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  28. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Strategic Wing Jul Jul–Sep 1974". Air Force History Index. 16 December 1974. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  29. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Strategic Wing Jul–Sep 1975". Air Force History Index. 17 December 1975. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  30. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Strategic Wing Apr–Jun 1974". Air Force History Index. 27 September 1974. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  31. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Strategic Wing Apr–Jun 1975". Air Force History Index. 8 October 1975. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  32. ^ "Abstract, History Air Force Flight Test Center Fiscal Year 1995". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  33. ^ a b c Mowry, Laura (5 July 2012). "Col. Arwood assumes command of the 95th Air Base Wing". Edwards Air Force Base public affairs. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  34. ^ a b c Mowry, Laura (13 July 2012). "New heritage for 95th ABW, same tradition of excellence". Edwards Air Force Base public affairs. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  35. ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments, operational units assigned, stations, and aircraft in Robertson, "AFHRA Factsheet".
  36. ^ See "Abstract, Volume 17 History AF Flight Test Center, Fiscal Years 1996 and 1997". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  37. ^ "Abstract, History 810 Air Division". Air Force History Index. 1 January 1959. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  38. ^ Robinson, Stephen K. (28 June 2010). "95th Communication's [sic] Group is inactivated". 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  39. ^ "Abstract, History 95 Bombardment Wing Jul–Aug 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  40. ^ a b c "Abstract, History 95 Bombardment Wing Nov 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  41. ^ a b Station number in Anderson
  42. ^ "Air Force Recognition Programs". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

Bibliography

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

Further reading

External links
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