| 5th Bomb Wing | |
|---|---|
 5th Bomb Wing emblem |
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| Active | 1 July 1949 – Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Bomber |
| Part of | Air Force Global Strike Command Eighth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Minot Air Force Base |
| Nickname | the Warbirds |
| Motto | "Kiai o ka lewa" Hawaiian: Guardians of the Upper Realms |
| Equipment | B-52H Stratofortress |
| Engagements |
       
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| Decorations | see "Lineage and Honors" section below |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Cox |
| Notable commanders |
Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, Brigadier General Edwin B. Broadhurst, Brigadier General William R. Hodges, Brigadier General Ralph Pasini |
The United States Air Force 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW) is a B-52 Stratofortress unit based at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is one of only two B-52 wings in the US Air Force (the other being the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
The wing's 5th Operations Group is a successor organization of the 5th Group (Composite), one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.
Contents |
Components
The 5 BW is part of the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force and is the host unit at Minot Air Force Base. Its current Commander is Colonel Cox, with Colonel Julian Tolbert as Vice-Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Smith as Command Chief. The wing includes a total force of approximately 3,200 military members as well as 420 civilian employees.
The 5 BW consists of the following groups:
- 5th Operations Group: July 16, 1949 – June 16, 1952 (detached November 12, 1949 – February 10, 1951); September 1, 1991 – Present. (Colonel Charles "Moose" Patnaude, current Commander)
- 23d Bomb Squadron
- 69th Bomb Squadron (newly activated in 2009)
- 5th Operations Support Squadron
- 5th Maintenance Group (Colonel Cliff Stansell, current Commander)
- 5th Munitions Squadron
- 5th Maintenance Squadron
- 5th Maintenance Operations Squadron
- 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 5th Medical Group (Colonel Karlan Hoggan, current Commander)
- 5th Medical Operations Squadron
- 5th Medical Support Squadron
- 5th Mission Support Group (Colonel James M Gallagher, current Commander)
- 5th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 5th Communications Squadron
- 5th Force Support Squadron
- 5th Security Forces Squadron
- 5th Contracting Squadron
- 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron
As the host unit at Minot, the 5th BW also controls the special staff functions of the inspector general, wing plans, the chaplain, staff judge advocate, arms control, command post, public affairs, history and safety. The 5th Comptroller Squadron also reports directly to the 5th BW commander.
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 5th Operations Group
Heraldry
The group's emblem, approved in 1924, features a winged human skull on a black and green background.
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
- Redesignated: 5 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 1 Oct 1955
- Redesignated: 5 Wing on 1 Sep 1991
- Redesignated: 5 Bomb Wing on 1 Jun 1992
Assignments
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Components
Groups
- 5 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 5 Operations): 16 Jul 1949-16 Jun 1952 (detached 12 Nov 1949-10 Feb 1951); 1 Sep 1991-Present
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, Idaho, 16 Jul 1949
- Fairfield-Suisun (later, Travis) AFB, California, 12 Nov 1949
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 25 Jul 1968-Present
Major Aircraft Assigned
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Operations
Cold War
Strategic Reconnaissance
The wing was established on 1 July 1949. Until 1958, the wing underwent several name and assignment changes while continually upgrading its aircraft. Performed long-range strategic reconnaissance, July 1949 – October 1955, with some limited reconnaissance to September 1958. Operational squadrons were 23d, 31st and 72d Strategic Reconnaissance flying Boeing RB-17G/F-2/F-9/F-13 aircraft (1947–49) and beginning in 1948, Boeing RB-29 aircraft until 1951.
The wing performed operations to probe the eastern borders of the Soviet Union and China. Little was known about the air defence capability of the Soviet Union at this time and the most effective way of determining their capability was to probe the borders and see whether they would respond. Initially, the RB-17Gs and later aircraft (RB-29, RB-36D) mapped the perimeter of the Soviet Air Defences from the Baltic to the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Japan.
This mission, along with many others, found that west of the Bering Strait there was virtually no radar coverage. As a result of these missions, USAF war plans were drawn up which directed a massive bomber attack to hit Russia from this direction, flying on to land in the Middle East or Africa, or more likely bailing out as the aircraft ran out of fuel. Gradually, during the 1950s, the Soviets began filling in the gaps in their radar coverage over northern Siberia, but large gaps on the outer perimeter between Alaska and Murmansk were still wide open for many years to come.
The wing was fully integrated with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later, 9th Bomb Wing), November 12, 1949 – February 10, 1951; maintained a manned headquarters, but had no operational control over assigned units, and from February 1, 1950 to February 10, 1951 shared a commander in common with the 9th Wing.
In June 1951, the wing began converting to the Convair RB-36D Peacemaker, forming three squadrons (23d, 31st, 72d Bombardment Squadrons). Later, B-36J models were assigned to the wing and it began maintaining proficiency in strategic bombardment in July 1953 but the 5th was not redesignated as a bombardment wing until October 1955.
Strategic Bombardment
While stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., the 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) entered the jet age in on February 13, 1959 when Strategic Air Command assigned the wing its first Boeing B-52B Stratofortresses. Two operational bomb squadrons (23d and 31st) were formed. With that change, the wing also gained the 916th Air Refueling Squadron and its KC-135A air refueling aircraft. The wing's 23d Bombardment Squadron and its people saw combat over Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Its crews attacked targets in the region while supporting American and allied ground forces during Operation Arc Light between 1965 and 1968.
The wing moved to Minot AFB, North Dakota on July 25, 1968 with the 23d Bomb Squadron absorbing the resources of the 450th Bombardment Wing/720th Bomb Squadron and ended its Southeast Asia deployments. At Minot, the wing transitioned to the B-52H, which brought added vigor to its strategic deterrence mission. It also supported the post-attack command and control system (PACCS), July 1968 – December 1969.
In the summer of 1975, the wing gained the Boeing AGM-69A Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM), which enhanced the ability of the B-52H to penetrate and survive in this hostile environment. Armed with a nuclear warhead and equipped with a simple inertial guidance system, the AGM-69A was propelled to its range of 20 to 50 nautical miles (93 km) by a solid-propellant rocket motor. Each B-52 could carry up to 20 SRAMs, six on each of two wing pylons and eight on a rotary launcher located in the bomb bay.
Entering the 1990s, the 5th BW continued to set the standard as it deployed troops to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. During the war’s air campaign, the wing joined U.S. and coalition bombers and fighters to defeat Iraq’s air and ground forces.
In September 1991, the wing marked a historic moment in the final days of the Cold War when it pulled its aircraft from continuous alert status – a job it performed for 35 years. The wing was relieved of its air refueling mission in June 1992 On June 1, 1992, the 5th Wing became the 5th Bomb Wing following the activation of Air Combat Command.
Modern era
The bomb wing saw combat again in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. Months later, three Minot B-52s and crews joined the 2d Air Expeditionary Group at RAF Fairford, England, in support of Operation Allied Force over the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Budgetary cuts in 1996 led to a need for further force reductions which reduced the 5th's B-52H fleet. The 72d BS was inactivated late in the year and their 12 aircraft were retired.
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, the 5th BW deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Flying from a forward operating location, bomber crews attacked strategic targets in Afghanistan to topple the Taliban regime.
In 2003, the wing deployed approximately 550 people and 14 B-52s to the U.S. European Command region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the war, the wing’s B-52s flew more than 120 combat missions and logged more than 1,600 combat flying hours. The bombers dropped more than 3 million pounds of weaponry, including conventional air-launched cruise missiles, joint direct attack munitions, gravity weapons, laser-guided bombs and leaflet dispensers. For the first time in combat history, a 5th BW crew employed a Litening II targeting pod to strike targets at an Iraqi airfield April 11, 2003.
In March 2004, the wing sent six B-52s and over 300 support personnel to Andersen AFB, Guam. The aircraft and crews supported U.S. Pacific Command operations to provide a stabilizing military force in the region.
In April 2005, the wing forward deployed aircraft and personnel to the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of U.S. Central Command combat operations in Afghanistan. Flying a mix of close air support and strike missions, 5th BW crews ensured success of ground combat units in meeting their objectives.
Today, the 5th's B-52Hs are a major component of the USAF's strategic bombing force, alongside the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and the Northrop B-2A Spirit. The USAF is currently considering converting some of its B-52Hs to EB-52Hs to act as a stand-off electronic warfare platform. During Operation Allied Force (the bombing of Serbia undertaken in an attempt to halt the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo), the USAF found that additional jamming aircraft were needed to supplement the current fleet of Grumman EA-6A/B Prowler. With modern technology and advanced weapons like the JDAM and JASSM, the 5th's B-52 are expected to remain operational until the year 2040.
In 2007 the Wing lost its commanding officer after Colonel Bruce Emig was removed in connection with the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident, when negligent handling of nuclear weapons breached safety and security procedures. Emig was replaced by Joel S. Westa. Following that incident, the wing failed a nuclear surety inspection conducted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in May 2008. The wing, however, kept its certification to perform missions and training with nuclear weapons.[1]
On October 30, 2009 Westa was relieved as commander of the 5th Bomb Wing by Major General Floyd L. Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force. Carpenter stated that Westa was relived due to his "inability to foster a culture of excellence, a lack of focus on the strategic mission … and substandard performance during several nuclear surety inspections, including the newly activated 69th Bomb Squadron." Colonel Douglas Cox was appointed new wing commander.[2]
Honors
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, April 18, 1944 – May 15, 1944; Borneo, September 30, 1944
- Presidential Unit Citation (Navy): South Pacific, December 1, 1942 – December 9, 1942
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII)
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: June 1, 1999 – May 31, 2001
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (3): July 1, 1983 – June 30, 1984; July 1, 1985 – June 30, 1986; July 1, 1991 – June 30, 1993.
Awards
- 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.
- Received the Omaha Trophy from U.S. Strategic Command as the best strategic aircraft unit for 2000.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Much of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the Minot Air Force Base website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource.
Notes
- ^ Associated Press, "Air Force wing in nuclear goof has more trouble", Hoffman, "Minot’s 5th Bomb Wing flunks nuclear inspection"
- ^ Rolfsen, Bruce, "5th Bomb Wing CO relieved of command", Military Times, November 1, 2009.
Bibliography
- Davis, Major Fred. (ed). History of the Fifth Bomb Group (Heavy): History of the Bomber Barons of the 13th "Jungle" Air Force. Raleigh, North Carolina: Hillsbourough House, 1946.
- Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984.
- Rogers, Brian. United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
External links
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