705th Strategic Missile Wing

The 705th Strategic Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Department of the Air Force, being stationed at South Ruislip Air Station, England. It was inactivated on 1 April 1960.

Headquarters Strategic Air Command activated the 705th SMW (IRBM-Thor) on 20 February 1958 at RAF Lakenheath, England, to monitor the PGM-17 Thor IRBM program in the United Kingdom and provide technical assistance to the four Royal Air Force Thor squadrons.

While the missiles were assigned to the RAF for control, SAC retained control over the squadron's nuclear warheads and assigned a detachment of the 705th to perform the following functions

• Retain custody and control over, and provide maintenance for, reentry vehicles and warheads
• Receive and initiate U. S. warhead release orders
• Operate USAF communications facilities
• Provide training to the Royal Air Force on the Thor missile operations

On 22 June 1959, 77(Strategic Missile) Squadron at RAF Feltwell became the first British-based Thor IRBM squadron to reach operational status. On 11 September and 22 December 1959, the second and third British-based Thor IRBM squadrons were declared operational and assigned to Royal Air Force personnel. When SAC turned over the fourth and final British-based Thor IRBM to the Royal Air Force on 22 April 1960, the deployment of the Thor IRBM weapon system in the United Kingdom was completed.

The wing was inactivated on 1 April 1960, its mission turned over to the SAC 7th Air Division.

History

Lineage

• Established as 705th Strategic Missile Wing on 6 February 1958

Activated on 20 February 1958

Redesignated 705th Strategic Missile Wing (IRBM¬Thor) on 1 April 1958

Discontinued on 1 April 1960.

Assignments

• 7th Air Division, 20 February 1958-1 April 1960
• Department of the Air Force, 1 April 1960

Components

• No. 77 Squadron RAF - RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom
• No. 97 Squadron RAF - RAF Hemswell, United Kingdom
• No. 98 Squadron RAF - RAF Driffield, United Kingdom
• 99th Munitions Maintenance Squadron - RAF Feltwell/RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
• No. 144 Squadron RAF - RAF North Luffenham, United Kingdom
• 672d Technical Training Squadron - RAF Feltwell/RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom

Stations

• RAF Lakenheath, England, 20 February 1958
• USAB South Ruislip (later, South Ruislip Air Station), England, 15 March 1958-1 April 1960

Missiles

• PGM-17 Thor

References

	United States Air Force portal
	Military of the United States portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Association of Air Force Missileers Newsletter March 2000

External links

• Strategic Air Command.com
• Association of Air Force Missileers

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