Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
91st OPERATIONS GROUP (AFSPC)
Lineage. Established as 91 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Apr 1942. Redesignated as 91 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 91 Reconnaissance Group on 11 Jun 1947. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated as: 91 Strategic Reconnaissance Group on 10 Nov 1948; 91 Strategic Reconnaissance Group, Medium on 6 Jul 1950. Inactivated on 28 May 1952. Redesignated as 91 Operations Group on 29 Aug 1991. Activated on 1 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1994. Activated on 1 Feb 1996.
Assignments. III Bomber Command, 15 Apr 1942; II Bomber Command, c. 28 Jun 1942; Eighth Air Force, c. 12 Sep 1942; 1 Bombardment (later, 1 Combat Bombardment) Wing, Sep 1942 (attached to 101 Provisional Heavy Bombardment Combat Wing, 22 May-13 Sep 1943); 1 Bombardment (later, 1 Air) Division, 13 Sep 1943-Jun 1945 (under operational control of 1 Combat Bombardment [later, 1 Bombardment] Wing, for entire period); Third Air Force, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945. Strategic Air Command, 1 Jul 1947; 311 Reconnaissance Wing (later, 311 Air Division), 1 Oct 1947; 91 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 10 Nov 1948-28 May 1952. 91 Missile Wing, 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994. 91 Missile (later, 91 Space; 91 Missile) Wing, 1 Feb 1996-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 16 Photographic Reconnaissance: attached 20 Aug-9 Nov 1948. 91 Strategic Reconnaissance: 25 Mar 1949-16 Nov 1950. 91 Air Refueling: 16 Apr 1950-28 May 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-28 May 1952). 322 Bombardment (later, 322 Strategic Reconnaissance): 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945; 6 Jul 1950-28 May 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-28 May 1952). 323 Bombardment (later, 323 Reconnaissance; 323 Strategic Reconnaissance): 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945; 1 Jul 1947-10 Nov 1948; 1 Jun 1949-28 May 1952 (detached 19 Sep-10 Oct 1949 and 10 Feb 1951-28 May 1952). 324 Bombardment (later, 324 Reconnaissance; 324 Strategic Reconnaissance): 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945; 1 Jul 1947-28 May 1952 (detached 10 Feb 1951-28 May 1952). 401 Reconnaissance (later, 401 Bombardment): 15 Apr 1942-7 Nov 1945. 740 Missile: 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994; 1 Feb 1996-. 741 Missile: 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994; 1 Feb 1996-. 742 Missile: 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994; 1 Feb 1996-. Flights. 54 Rescue (later, 54 Helicopter; 54 Helicopter Squadron): 1 May 1993-1 Jul 1994; 1 Feb 1996-.
Stations. Harding Field, LA, 15 Apr 1942; MacDill Field, FL, 16 May 1942; Walla Walla, WA, c. 28 Jun-24 Aug 1942; Kimbolton, England, 13 Sep 1942 (ground echelon), early Oct 1942 (air echelon); Bassingbourne, England, 14 Oct 1942-23 Jun 1945; Drew Field, FL, 3 Jul-7 Nov 1945. Andrews Field (later, AFB), MD, 1 Jul 1947; McGuire AFB, NJ, 20 Jul 1948; Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Oct 1949; Lockbourne AFB, OH, 11 Sep 1951-28 May 1952. Minot AFB, ND, 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994. Minot AFB, ND, 1 Feb 1996-.
Aircraft/Missiles. B-17, 1942-1945. B/RB-17, 1949; B/RB-29, 1949-1950; B-50, 1949-1950; B/RB-45, 1950-1952; KB-29, 1950-1952. Minuteman III, 1991-1994; HH-1, 1993-1994. Minuteman III, 1996-; UH-1, 1996-.
Operations. Trained with B-17s before moving to England, Aug-Oct 1942. Entered combat in Nov 1942, bombing such targets as submarine pens, airdromes, factories, communication targets, ship-building yards, harbors, and dock facilities until mid-1943. When Eighth Air Force heavy bombers first penetrated Germany on 27 Jan 1943, the group attacked the navy yard at Wilhelmshaven. Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for bombing marshalling yards at Hamm on 4 Mar 1943, despite adverse weather and heavy opposition. From the middle of 1943 until the war ended, attacked aircraft factories, airfields, oil facilities, chemical industries and ball-bearing factories. Earned a second DUC for attacking vital aircraft factories in central Germany on 11 Jan 1944 despite inadequate fighter cover, heavy enemy opposition, and bad weather. In Jun 1944, contributed to the Allied invasion of Normandy by bombing gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the beachhead area. Supported the St. Lo breakthrough by attacking enemy troop positions, 24-25 Jul 1944. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge by attacking enemy communication targets in Dec 1944-Jan 1945. The group supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine River in the spring of 1945 by striking airfields, bridges, and railroads near the front lines. Evacuated prisoners from German camps after the war ended. Returned to the United States, Jun-Jul 1945. Activated as a long-range photographic reconnaissance group under Strategic Air Command in Jul 1947, but was not fully manned until after Jul 1948. Trained other units in electronics countermeasures. In Feb 1951, lost most of its personnel, and inactivated in May 1952. Maintained intercontinental ballistic missiles on alert at Minot AFB, ND, Sep 1991-Jul 1994, and Feb 1996-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Hamm, Germany, 4 Mar 1943; Germany, 11 Jan 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Sep 1993-[1 Jul 1994]; 1 Feb 1996-31 Aug 1997; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; 1 Oct 2000-1 Oct 2001; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2002.
Emblem. Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.