Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch-77mm
5th BOMB WING
Lineage. Established as 5 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 Jul 1949. Activated on 16 Jul 1949. Redesignated: 5 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Heavy on 14 Nov 1950; 5 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 1 Oct 1955; 5 Wing on 1 Sep 1991; 5 Bomb Wing on 1 Jun 1992.
Assignments. 311 Air Division, 16 Jul 1949; Second Air Force, 1 Nov 1949 (attached to 9 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 12 Nov 1949-); Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1950 (remained attached to 9 Bombardment Wing to 10 Feb 1951); 14 Air (later, 14 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 10 Feb 1951 (attached to 3 Air Division, 14 Jan-12 Apr 1955); 810 Strategic Aerospace Division, 25 Jul 1968; 47 Air Division, 30 Jun 1971; Fifteenth Air Force, 30 Nov 1972 (attached to Air Division Provisional, 810, 30 Nov 1972-14 Jan 1973); 47 Air Division, 15 Jan 1973; 57 Air Division, 22 Jan 1975; Fifteenth Air Force, 14 Jun 1991; Eighth Air Force, 1 Sep 1991-.
Components. Groups. 5 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 5 Operations): 16 Jul 1949- 16 Jun 1952 (detached 12 Nov 1949-10 Feb 1951); 1 Sep 1991-.
Squadrons. 23 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 23 Bombardment): attached 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Sep 1991. 31 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 31 Bombardment): attached 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Oct 1959, attached 2 Oct 1959-18 Jan 1960. 72 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 72 Bombardment): attached 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Jul 1958. 129 Strategic Reconnaissance: attached 14 Oct 1952-1 Jan 1953. 347 Strategic Reconnaissance: attached 1 Jan-12 Sep 1953. 906 Air Refueling: 25 Jul 1968-1 Sep 1991. 916 Air Refueling: 1 Sep 1959-25 Jul 1968.
Stations. Mountain Home AFB, ID, 16 Jul 1949; Fairfield-Suisun (later, Travis) AFB, CA, 12 Nov 1949; Minot AFB, ND, 25 Jul 1968-.
Aircraft. B-29, 1949; RB-29, 1949, 1951; RB-36, 1951-1958; B-36, 1955-1958; B-52, 1959-1968, 1968-; KC-135, 1959-1968, 1968-1992; EC-135, 1968-1969; T-38, 1994-1995.
Operations. Performed long-range strategic reconnaissance, Jul 1949-Oct 1955, with some limited reconnaissance to Sep 1958. Fully integrated with the 9 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 9 Bombardment) Wing, 12 Nov 1949-10 Feb 1951; maintained a manned headquarters, but had no operational control over assigned units, and from 1 Feb 1950 to 10 Feb 1951 shared a commander in common with the 9 Wing. Began maintaining proficiency in strategic bombardment in Jul 1953 but was not redesignated as a bombardment wing until Oct 1955. Added air refueling to other missions in Dec 1959. Phased down at Travis AFB, CA, in 1968 and moved without personnel or equipment to Minot AFB, ND, absorbing resources of the 450 Bombardment Wing. Supported the post-attack command and control system (PACCS), Jul 1968-Dec 1969. Continued global strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations, including loan of KC-135 aircraft and crews and B-52 crews to SAC organizations involved in combat operations in Southeast Asia, 1968-1975. Won the Omaha Trophy as the outstanding wing in SAC for 1985. Won the SAC Bombing and Navigation Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1988. Personnel and KC-135 aircraft deployed in support of operations in Southwest Asia, 1990-1991. In 1991, the wing’s B-52 bombers were taken off alert status for the first time in 25 years. The wing was relieved of its air refueling mission in Jun 1992. In the late 1990s, the wing deployed B-52s and aircrews to Southwest Asia to support enforcement of the no-fly zones over Iraq. In 1999, aircraft and crews deployed to England in support of NATO operations over Serbia. Received the Omaha Trophy from U.S. Strategic Command as the best strategic aircraft unit for 2000. After 11 Sep 2001, involved in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the fight against terrorism. Provided full-spectrum, expeditionary, bomber global strike and combat support to Combatant Commanders and mission support to 91 Space Wing, 2006-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1983-30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 5 Operations Group prior to 16 Jul 1949. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Central Pacific; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Woleai Island, 18 Apr-15 May 1944; Borneo, 30 Sep 1944. Presidential Unit Citation (Navy): South Pacific, [1-9 Dec] 1942. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Emblem. Approved for 5 Group on 21 Jun 1924 and for 5 Wing on 12 Aug 1954.