Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
509th BOMB WING (ACC)
Lineage. Established as 509 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, on 3 Nov 1947. Organized on 17 Nov 1947. Redesignated: 509 Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 1 Aug 1948; 509 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 2 Apr 1966; 509 Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 1 Dec 1969; 509 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 30 Sep 1990; 509 Bomb Wing on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. Eighth Air Force, 17 Nov 1947 (attached to 3 Air Division, 1 Feb 1951- ); 47 Air Division, 10 Feb 1951 (remained attached to 3 Air Division to 4 May 1951; attached to 7 Air Division, 4 Jun-2 Sep 1952; 3 Air Division, 10 Jul-8 Oct 1954; 7 Air Division, 26 Jan-30 Apr 1956); 817 Air Division, 1 Jul 1958; 45 Air Division, 30 Jun 1971; Eighth Air Force, 29 Mar 1989; 100 Air Division, 30 Sep 1990; Eighth Air Force, 26 Jul 1991-.
Operational Components. Wing. 33 Fighter: attached 17 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948. Groups. 33 Fighter: attached 17 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948. 509 Bombardment (later, 509th Operations): 17 Nov 1947-16 Jun 1952; 15 Jul 1993-. Squadrons. 34 Air Refueling: 25 Jun 1966-31 Mar 1976. 393 Bombardment: attached 17 Nov 1947-14 Sep 1948; attached 1 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-30 Sep 1990 (detached 18 Jun-c. 18 Sep 1953). 509 Air Refueling: attached 19 Jul-14 Sep 1948; attached 1 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-5 Jan 1958 (detached 10 Jul-5 Nov 1954, 14 Jun- 5 Aug 1955, and 27 Feb-1 May 1957); assigned 8 Jul 1958-25 Jun 1965; assigned 2 Oct 1966-1 Jul 1990. 661 Bombardment: 1 Mar 1959-1 Jan 1962. 715 Bombardment: attached 17 Nov 1947-14 Sep 1948; attached 1 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1966; assigned 1 Jan 1970-30 Sep 1990. 830 Bombardment: attached 17 Nov 1947-14 Sep 1948; attached 1 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1966 (detached 15 Mar-19 Jun 1953). 900 Air Refueling: 2 Apr-25 Jun 1966.
Stations. Roswell AAFld (later, Walker AFB), NM, 17 Nov 1947; Pease AFB, NH, 1 Jul 1958; Whiteman AFB, MO, 30 Sep 1990-.
Aircraft. F-51, 1947-1948; F-84, 1948; B-29, 1947-1952; B-50, 1949-1951; KB-29, 1951-1954; KC-97, 1954-1958, 1958-1965; B-47, 1955-1965; B-52, 1966-1969; KC-135, 1966-1990; FB-111, 1970-1990. None, 1991-1992. B-2, 1993-; T-38, 1993-.
Operations. Maintained combat proficiency with B-29 bombers and F-51 and F-84 fighters, 1947-1948. Added air refueling capability in Sep 1948, initially with B-29M hose-type tankers and later with B/KB-29P boom-type tankers. Charged with strategic bombardment training and air refueling, 1949-1958. Deployed as a wing several times in the early 1950s, three times to England and once to Guam, and also deployed individual squadrons at other times. Temporarily had no refueling unit during 1958. Phased down for inactivation in late 1965, but was converted to a B-52/KC-135 wing in 1966. Supported SAC combat and contingency operations in Southeast Asia with KC-135 aircraft and crews, Nov 1966-Dec 1975, with B-52 aircraft and crews, Nov 1966-Sep 1969, and with B-52 crews, 1970. From 1 Apr to 1 Oct 1968 and 26 Mar to c. 20 Sep 1969, more than one-half of the wing was involved in SAC operations in Southeast Asia. From Nov 1969 to Dec 1970, the wing had no bombardment aircraft but continued refueling operations and performed FB-111 ground training. Resumed bombardment flying training in Dec 1970 and assumed FB-111 alert commitments from 1 Jul 1971 until Sep 1990. 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. Moved on paper to Whiteman AFB, MO on 30 Sep 1990, but not manned until Apr 1993. Received first B-2 aircraft on 17 Dec 1993. Participated in Operation Allied Force in 1999, Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Flew nonstop bombing missions from Whiteman AFB, MO to Kosovo and returned. Since 1993, furnished USAF’s only source of stealth heavy bomber capability. Maintained combat-ready resources to conduct conventional or nuclear operations.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr-1 Oct 1968; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1982; 1 Jul 1982-30 Jun 1984; 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2005.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 509 Composite Group prior to 17 Nov 1947. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific. Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jul-14 Aug 1945.
Emblem. Approved on 10 Jul 1952.