99th AIR BASE WING

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Computer made/mounted on velcro   3.0 inch-77mm

 

99th AIR BASE WING (ACC)

Lineage. Established as 99 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Jun 1942. Redesignated as 99 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 30 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 8 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 99 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 29 May 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 99 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Heavy, which was established, and activated, on 1 Jan 1953. Redesignated as 99 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 1 Oct 1955. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1974. Redesignated as 99 Strategic Weapons Wing on 22 Jun 1989. Activated on 10 Aug 1989. Redesignated as: 99 Tactics and Training Wing on 1 Sep 1991; 99 Wing on 15 Jun 1993; 99 Air Base Wing on 1 Oct 1995.

Assignments. Third Air Force, 1 Jun 1942; Second Air Force, c. 29 Jun 1942; 5 Bombardment Wing (later, 5 Bombardment Wing, Heavy), c. 22 Feb 1943; Army Air Forces Service Command, 2-8 Nov 1945. 19 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy (later, 19 Air Division, Bombardment), 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949. 57 Air Division, 1 Jan 1953 (attached to 3 Air Division, 29 Jan-25 Apr 1956); 817 Air Division, 2 Jul 1969; 45 Air Division, 30 Jun 1971-31 Mar 1974. 12 Air Division, 10 Aug 1989; Strategic Warfare Center, 31 Jul 1990; Strategic Air Command, 1 Sep 1991; USAF Fighter Weapons (later, USAF Weapons and Tactics, Air Warfare) Center, 1 Jun 1992-.

Operational Components. Groups. 99 Operations and Maintenance (later, 99 Operations): 1 Sep 1991-21 Sep 1995.

Squadrons. 25 Strategic Training: 10 Aug 1989-1 Sep 1991. 99 Air Refueling: 1 Jan 1966-30 Sep 1973. 346 Bombardment (later, 346 Strategic Reconnaissance; 346 Bombardment) 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945; 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949; 1 Jan 1953-31 Mar 1974. 347 Bombardment (later, 347 Strategic Reconnaissance; 347 Bombardment): 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945; 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949; 1 Jan 1953-1 Sep 1961 (detached 1 Jan-12 Sep 1953 and 15-31 Aug 1961). 348 Bombardment (later, 348 Strategic Reconnaissance; 348 Bombardment): 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945; 17 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949; 1 Jan 1953-30 Sep 1973. 416 Bombardment: 1 Jun 1942-8 Nov 1945; 17 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949.

Stations. Orlando AAB, FL, 1 Jun 1942; MacDill Field, FL, 1 Jun 1942; Pendleton Field, OR, 29 Jun 1942; Gowen Field, ID, 28 Aug 1942; Walla Walla, WA, 30 Sep 1942; Sioux City AAB, IA, 18 Nov 1942-3 Jan 1943; Oran, Algeria, 22 Feb 1943; Navarin, Algeria, c. 25 Mar 1943; Oudna, Tunisia, 4 Aug 1943; Tortorella Airfield, Italy, 11 Dec 1943; Marcianise, Italy, c. 27 Oct-8 Nov 1945. Birmingham Muni Aprt, AL, 29 May 1947-27 Jun 1949. Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Jan 1953; Westover AFB, MA, 4 Sep 1956-31 Mar 1974. Ellsworth AFB, SD, 10 Aug 1989; Nellis AFB, NV, 1 Oct 1995-.

Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1945. AT-6, AT-7, AT-11, 1947-1949. RB-29, 1953; RB-36, 1953-1956; GRB-36, 1955-1956; B-52, 1956-1967, 1968, 1969-1970, 1970-1972; KC-135, 1966-1967, 1968, 1969-1970, 1970-1972, 1973; EC-135, 1966-1970.

Operations. After completion of training in Jan 1943, the Group deployed to North Africa and was assigned to Twelfth Air Force. The 99th flew its first combat mission on 31 Mar against an enemy airdrome at Villacidro, Sardinia. Thereafter, it bombed Axis ports, airfields, viaducts and bridges, and land and water transportation networks throughout Tunisia, Sardinia, Sicily, Pantelleria, and Italy. The group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for performance on 5 Jul 1943 when it helped neutralize fighter opposition prior to the invasion of Sicily by bombing key enemy airfield facilities at Gerbini. It attacked strategic and tactical objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece; assisted Allied ground forces at Anzio and Cassino, Feb-Mar 1944; and earned a second DUC for withstanding severe fighter assaults while bombing vital aircraft production plants at Weiner Neustadt, Austria, on 23 Apr 1944. The 99th led the first bombing-shuttle mission into Russia (Operation FRANTIC) in Jun 1944; participated in the pre-invasion bombing of southern France, Aug 1944; and supported the Allied offensive in the Po Valley, Apr 1945. The 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in Jan 1953, replaced the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Fairchild AFB, WA. It performed worldwide photographic, electronic, and visual day and night strategic reconnaissance as its primary mission until late 1954, and until Sep 1956 as a secondary mission. From Jan 1955 to Feb 1956, the wing participated in Project FICON, in which one squadron’s GRB-36D bombers were modified to carry RF-84K reconnaissance fighters on long-range flights. Strategic bombing became the Wing’s primary mission in late 1954. The wing deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, Jan-Apr 1956. In Jan 1966, it added air refueling capability to its mission. The KC-135 tanker squadron also operated EC-135s in a Post-Attack Command Control System role until 1970. From 1967 until 1974, all wing tactical and maintenance assets, and some support resources, were rotated for various periods to USAF units engaged in Southeast Asian combat operations. From Aug 1989, the 99th conducted tactics and development evaluation and trained combat crews in strategic bombing and electronic warfare. Then in Oct 1995, it became the host wing at Nellis AFB, NV.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 5 Jul 1943; Austria, 23 Apr 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1967-1 Mar 1968; 2 Mar-l Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun 1972; 10 Aug 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1991-15 Apr 1993; 1 Oct 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 2000; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2007 – 31 May 2009.

Emblem. Approved on 7 Feb 1958.

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