11th Wing
Encyclopedia
The 11th Wing is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington
. It is stationed at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland
. It is the host unit at Joint Base Andrews.
The 11 WG is one of the largest and most ceremonial wings in the Air Force. It is the single manager for all Air Force activities supporting Headquarters Air Force and other Air Force units in the National Capital Region as well as 108 countries throughout the world. As a direct reporting unit to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, it combines resources from the Pentagon
and Bolling AFB.
The unit was founded as the 11 Bombardment Group (Medium), activated in 1940. Assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force
, the group fought in combat in the South Pacific as a heavy bomb group equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and later B-24 Liberator
s. The 11th BG earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions in the South Pacific, 31 July-30 November 1942. It participated in the Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Guadalcanal; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus and the China Offensive before its inactivation in 1948.
As part of Strategic Air Command
during the Cold War
, the 11th was a heavy bomb wing, flying both the B-36 Peacemaker and B-52 Stratofortress
. It also was a SM-65 Atlas ICBM missile wing in the early 1960s before being inactivated in 1965.
The commander of the 11th Wing is Colonel Kenneth Rizer. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Anthony Brinkley.
The 11th Wing operates out of several locations around the National Capital Region, including Arlington National Cemetery
, Bolling Air Force Base
, and The Pentagon
.
Consolidated (31 March 1982) with the 11th Bombardment Wing, Heavy
11th Wing
Consolidated Unit
11th Wing
Consolidated Unit
References for commands and major units assigned, components and stations:
The 11th Bomb Group was assigned to the Seventh Air Force
in February 1942 and trained with the B-18 Bolo
. For operations it then received the B-17 Flying Fortress. Its aircraft flew patrols and search missions off Hawaii after the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor
on 7 December 1941.
The Group then moved to the New Hebrides
in July 1942 and became part of Thirteenth Air Force
. From July to November 1942 it struck airfields, supply dumps, ships, docks, troop positions, and other objectives in the South Pacific
, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for those operations. Operations were continued, attacking Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomon Islands
, until late in March 1943.
The 11th BG then returned to Hawaii, was reassigned to the Seventh Air Force
, and trained with B-24 Liberator
s. Combat operations resumed in November 1943 with the participation in the Allied offensive through the Gilberts, Marshalls, and Marianas, while operating from Funafuti, Tarawa, and Kwajalein
. In October 1944 the Group moved to Guam
and attacked shipping and airfields in the Volcano and Bonin Islands. In July 1945 the 11th BG then moved to Okinawa to take part in the final phases of the air offensive against Japan, bombing railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on Kyushu and striking airfields in China.
After the war, reconnaissance and surveillance missions were flown over China and the aircraft also ferried liberated prisoners of war from Okinawa to Luzon. The Group remained in the theater as part of Far East Air Forces but had no personnel assigned after mid-December 1945 when the group was transferred to the Philippines.
It was redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in April 1946 and transferred to Guam in May 1946, remanned, and equipped with the B-29 Superfortress
. Training and operations were terminated in October 1946 before inactivation on Guam on 20 October 1948.
, 4 May to 2 July 1955. The Wing won the SAC Bombing Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1954, 1956 and 1960.
7–11 must have been considered a lucky combination, because the two wings continued to share Carswell Air Force base until 13 December 1957, when the 11th moved to Altus AFB, Oklahoma
and began receiving B-52 Stratofortress
es.
The Wing gained the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 June 1961 and one on 1 April 1962, when its new Atlas missiles became fully operational, the wing was redesigned the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing, the new designation carried by all SAC wings that had both bombers and missiles. It phased out the Atlas missiles in January 1965.
Added air refueling to its mission in December 1957. Its 96th Air Refueling Squadrons flew the KC-97 Stratotanker
s during 1957 and 1958. They were soon replaced by KC-135 jet tankers. The 921st Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the wing from 1 October to December 1960. The central location of Altus AFB led to the expansion of the wing's refueling capability. On 25 June 1965, the 11h Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the wing. In 1968, the wing began phasing out its B-52s. This was completed by mid year. On 2 July 1968, the wing was redesignated the 11th Air Refueling Wing.
The 11th Air Refueling Wing was short lived. It was inactivated on 25 March 1969 and the numeric designation remained dormant for the next nine years. Then on 15 November 1978 it was reactivated, not as a wing, but as the 11th Strategic Group at RAF Fairford
, England. It was not manned until the following February, but did not start receiving aircraft until September 1978. It soon began aerial refueling support for all USAF operations, deployments and redeployments, as well as participating in NATO exercises.
Operations staff and maintenance personnel were permanently assigned, but aircraft, aircrews and crew chiefs were assigned on a temporary duty basis to the 11th Strategic Group for the European Tanker Task Force on a rotational basis. Aircraft and Crews operated out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Keflavik, Iceland; Zaragosa, Spain; Lajes Field, Azores; Sigonella NAS, Italy; and Hellenikon, Greece. The unit retained the 11th Strategic Group designation, but was inactivated on 7 August 1990.
, Washington, DC. It was redesignated the 11th Wing on 1 March 1995. It was again deactivated on 30 September 2010, and reactivated 01 October 2010, at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Maryland
, where it became the host unit for the installation.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington
Air Force District of Washington
Air Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
. It is stationed at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It is the host unit at Joint Base Andrews.
The 11 WG is one of the largest and most ceremonial wings in the Air Force. It is the single manager for all Air Force activities supporting Headquarters Air Force and other Air Force units in the National Capital Region as well as 108 countries throughout the world. As a direct reporting unit to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, it combines resources from the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and Bolling AFB.
The unit was founded as the 11 Bombardment Group (Medium), activated in 1940. Assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, the group fought in combat in the South Pacific as a heavy bomb group equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses and later B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s. The 11th BG earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions in the South Pacific, 31 July-30 November 1942. It participated in the Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Guadalcanal; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus and the China Offensive before its inactivation in 1948.
As part of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the 11th was a heavy bomb wing, flying both the B-36 Peacemaker and B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
. It also was a SM-65 Atlas ICBM missile wing in the early 1960s before being inactivated in 1965.
The commander of the 11th Wing is Colonel Kenneth Rizer. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Anthony Brinkley.
Overview
The Chief's Own provides base operating and logistical support in the National Capital Region; ceremonial, musical, protocol and funeral support for our multi-state region; selected administrative major command support for Headquarters Air Force and Air Force element activities worldwide; and primary medical care to the Andrews, Bolling and Pentagon communities. The 11th Wing provides a multitude of support to nearly 40,000 Air Force military and civilian members in 250 locations and 108 countries.Subordinate units
The 11th Wing comprises the following units:- 11th Comptroller Squadron
- 11th Mission Support Group
- 11th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 11th Contracting Squadron
- 11th Force Support Squadron
- 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 11th Security Forces Squadron
- 11th Operations Group
- The United States Air Force Band
- The United States Air Force Honor Guard
- Arlington Chaplaincy
- 811th Operations Group
- 1st Helicopter Squadron1st Helicopter SquadronThe 1st Helicopter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland assigned to the 316th Wing that supports Washington D.C. capital area airlift for the Executive Branch, high-ranking dignitaries, high ranking military leaders and other VIPs. The squadron is...
- 811 Operations Support Squadron
- 11th Security Forces Group
- 811th Security Forces Squadron
- 11th Wing Staff
- Public Affairs
- Inspector General
- Safety
- Chaplain
- History
- Plans
- Staff Judge Advocate
- Military Equal Opportunity
- Command Post
The 11th Wing operates out of several locations around the National Capital Region, including Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, Bolling Air Force Base
Bolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
, and The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
Lineage
- Established as 11th Observation Group on 1 October 1933
- Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 1 January 1938
- Activated on 1 February 1940
- Redesignated: 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 1 December 1940
- Redesignated: 11th Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 3 August 1944
- Redesignated: 11th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 30 April 1946
- Inactivated on 20 October 1948
- Redesignated 11th Bombardment Group, Heavy, and activated, on 1 December 1948
- Inactivated on 16 June 1952
- Redesignated 11th Strategic Group on 25 October 1978
- Activated on 15 November 1978
Consolidated (31 March 1982) with the 11th Bombardment Wing, Heavy
- Established on 18 November 1948.
- Activated on 16 February 1951
- Redesignated: 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing on 1 April 1962
- Redesignated: 11th Air Refueling Wing on 2 July 1968
- Inactivated on 25 March 1969
- Consolidated unit retained designation 11th Strategic Group and inactivated on 7 August 1990
- Redesignated 11th Support Wing on 2 June 1994
- Activated on 15 July 1994
- Redesignated 11th Wing on 1 March 1995.
- Relocated to Andrews Air Force Base 1 October 2010
Assignments
11th Group- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
- 18th (later, 18th Bombardment) Wing, 1 February 1940
- VII Bomber Command, 29 January 1942
- Thirteenth Air ForceThirteenth Air ForceThe Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
- Thirteenth Air Force
- XIII Bomber Command, c. 5 January 1943
- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
- Seventh Air Force
- VII Bomber Command, 8 April 1943
- Far East Air Forces, 23 November 1945
- Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
, 15 May 1946 – 20 October 1948 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 1 December 1948
- Attached to 7th Bombardment Wing7th Bomb WingThe 7th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, where it is also the host unit....
, 1 December 1948 – 15 February 1951 - 11 Bombardment Wing, 16 February 1951 – 16 June 1952
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
- Strategic Air Command
- 7th Air Division, 15 November 1978 to consolidation
11th Wing
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
- 19th Air Division, 16 February 1951
- Attached to 5th Air Division, 4 May – 2 July 1955
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 13 December 1957
- Second Air Force
- Attached to 5th Air Division, 4 May – 2 July 1955
- 816th Air (later, 816th Strategic Aerospace) Division816th Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 816th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma...
, 1 July 1958 - 819th Strategic Aerospace Division819th Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 819th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas...
, 1 July 1965 - 19th Air Division, 2 July 1966 – 25 March 1969.
Consolidated Unit
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
- 7th Air Division, from consolidation in 1982 to 7 August 1990
- HQ United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, 15 July 1994 - Air Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of WashingtonAir Force District of Washington is composed of two wings and one group, the 11th Wing, the 79th Medical Wing and the 844th Communication Group at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility...
, 7 July 2005–present
- HQ United States Air Force
- 7th Air Division, from consolidation in 1982 to 7 August 1990
Components
11th Group- Squadrons
- 14th Bombardment14th Bombardment SquadronThe 14th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The 14th Bomb Squadron fought in the Battle of the Philippines , much of its aircraft being destroyed in combat against the Japanese...
: 1 February 1940 – 2 December 1941 (detached c. 16 September – 2 December 1941) - 26th Bombardment26th Space Aggressor SquadronThe 26th Space Aggressor Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. It is part of the 926th Group and is the Reserve Associate of the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron....
: 1 February 1940 – 20 October 1948; 1 December 1948 – 16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951 – 16 June 1952) - 42d Bombardment42d Attack SquadronThe 42d Attack Squadron of the United States Air Force flies MQ-9 Reaper UAVs and is currently based out of Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 42d will oversee the training and combat deployment of aerial vehicle and sensor operators assigned to the new MQ-9 Reaper...
: 1 February 1940 – 20 October 1948; 1 December 1948 – 16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951 – 16 June 1952) - 50th Reconnaissance (later, 431st Bombardment): attached 1 February 1940 – 24 February 1942
- Assigned 25 February 1942 – 29 April 1946
- 98th Bombardment: 16 December 1941 – 20 October 1948; 1 December 1948 – 16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951 – 16 June 1952)
- 373d Bombardment373d Strategic Missile SquadronThe 373d Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 308th Strategic Missile Wing, based at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. It was inactivated on August 18, 1987. -History:...
: 11 October 1945 – 7 January 1946
11th Wing
- Group
- 11th Bombardment Group: 16 February 1951 – 16 June 1952
- Squadrons
- 11th Air Refueling Squadron11th Air Refueling SquadronThe 11th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma...
: 25 June 1965 – 25 March 1969 - 26th Bombardment Squadron: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 2 July 1968
- 42d Bombardment Squadron: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 1 June 1960
- 96th Air Refueling Squadron96th Air Refueling SquadronThe 96th Air Refueling Squadron is an associate unit of the 15th Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawaii and partners with the 203th ARS of the Hawaii Air National Guard-Mission:...
: 3 December 1957 – 1 October 1960; 15 December 1960 – 25 June 1965 - 98th Bombardment Squadron: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 10 December 1957
- 577th Strategic Missile Squadron577th Strategic Missile SquadronThe 577th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965-World War II:...
: 1 June 1961 – 25 March 1965 - 918th Air Refueling: 1 October – 15 December 1960
- 921st Air Refueling: 1 October – 15 December 1960.
Consolidated Unit
- Squadrons
- 34th Strategic: 1 October 1986 – 7 August 1990
- 42d Strategic: 1 January 1989 – 7 August 1990.
Aircraft and Missiles
- B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
, 1940–1942 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1941–1943
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1943–1945 - B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1946 - B-36 Peacemaker, 1949–1957
- KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1957–1958 - B-52 StratofortressB-52 StratofortressThe Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
, 1958–1968 - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1958–1969; 1979–1990 - SM-65 Atlas, 1961–1965
- KC-10 ExtenderKC-10 ExtenderThe McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military adaptation of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force . The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker...
, 1984–1990
Stations
- Hickam Field, Territory of HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, 1 February 1940 - Luganville AirfieldSanto-Pekoa International AirportSanto-Pekoa International Airport is an airport in Luganville on Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu . Airports Vanuatu Limited provides aviation services for the airport.-Airlines and destinations:-History:...
, Espiritu SantoEspiritu SantoEspiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
, New HebridesNew HebridesNew Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
, 22 July 1942 - Hickam Field, Territory of HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, 8 April 1943 - Funafuti AirfieldFunafuti International AirportFunafuti International Airport is an airport located in Funafuti, capital of the island nation of Tuvalu.-History:Funafuti Airport was built by United States Navy Seabee construction battalions in 1943 during World War II. The military airfield included an airstrip, control tower, facilities and...
, NanumeaNanumeaNanumea is the northwesternmost atoll in the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls and islands spread over about four hundred miles of Pacific Ocean just south of the equator and west of the International Date Line.-Geography:...
, Gilbert IslandsGilbert IslandsThe Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, 9 November 1943 - Tarawa, Gilbert IslandsGilbert IslandsThe Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
- Hawkins FieldHawkins Field (Tarawa)Hawkins Field is a former World War II airfield on Betio, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands of the Central Pacific.The airfield was named in honor of USMC 1st Lt. William Dean Hawkins who was killed in the battle to recapture Tarawa, and earned the Medal of Honor.-History:The airfield was built by the...
, 14–28 January 1944 - Bairiki (Mullinix) AirfieldBonriki International Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific...
, 28 January – 5 April 1944- Kwajalein AirfieldBucholz Army AirfieldBucholz Army Airfield is a United States Army airfield located on Kwajalein Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Its position is ideal for refueling during trans-Pacific flights, and the airport is available to civilians through Air Marshall Islands and Continental Airlines, and formerly...
, KwajaleinKwajaleinKwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
, Marshall IslandsMarshall IslandsThe Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, 5 April 1944 - Agana AirfieldAntonio B. Won Pat International AirportAntonio B. Won Pat International Airport , also known as Guam International Airport, is an airport located in Tamuning and Barrigada, three miles east of the capital city of Hagåtña in the U.S. territory of Guam. It is named for Antonio Borja Won Pat, the first delegate from Guam to the United...
, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Marianas Islands, 25 October 1944
- Kwajalein Airfield
- Okinawa, Ryukyu IslandsRyukyu IslandsThe , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
, July 1945 - Fort McKinleyFort McKinleySeveral places have been named Fort McKinley* Fort William McKinley * Fort McKinley, Maine* Fort McKinley, Ohio--------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippine Islands, 11 December 1945 - Northwest AAB (later, Harmon Field)Northwest Field (Guam)Northwest Field is a former World War II airfield on Guam in the Mariana Islands. It was closed in 1949 and is unused.-History:Northwest Field was constructed in 1944–45 near Ritidian Point on the northwest end of the island of Guam as a base for Twentieth Air Force B-29 Superfortresses to carry...
, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, 15 May 1946 – 20 October 1948 - Carswell AFB, Texas, 1 December 1948
- Altus AFB, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 13 December 1957 – 25 March 1969 - RAF FairfordRAF FairfordRAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
, England, 15 November 1978 – 7 August 1990 - Bolling AFB, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 15 July 1994 – 30 September 2010 - Andrews Air Force BaseAndrews Air Force BaseJoint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, 01 October 2010 – present
References for commands and major units assigned, components and stations:
World War II
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
in February 1942 and trained with the B-18 Bolo
B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
. For operations it then received the B-17 Flying Fortress. Its aircraft flew patrols and search missions off Hawaii after the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on 7 December 1941.
The Group then moved to the New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
in July 1942 and became part of Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
. From July to November 1942 it struck airfields, supply dumps, ships, docks, troop positions, and other objectives in the South Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for those operations. Operations were continued, attacking Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, until late in March 1943.
The 11th BG then returned to Hawaii, was reassigned to the Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, and trained with B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s. Combat operations resumed in November 1943 with the participation in the Allied offensive through the Gilberts, Marshalls, and Marianas, while operating from Funafuti, Tarawa, and Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
. In October 1944 the Group moved to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
and attacked shipping and airfields in the Volcano and Bonin Islands. In July 1945 the 11th BG then moved to Okinawa to take part in the final phases of the air offensive against Japan, bombing railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on Kyushu and striking airfields in China.
After the war, reconnaissance and surveillance missions were flown over China and the aircraft also ferried liberated prisoners of war from Okinawa to Luzon. The Group remained in the theater as part of Far East Air Forces but had no personnel assigned after mid-December 1945 when the group was transferred to the Philippines.
It was redesignated 11th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in April 1946 and transferred to Guam in May 1946, remanned, and equipped with the B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
. Training and operations were terminated in October 1946 before inactivation on Guam on 20 October 1948.
Strategic Air Command
On 1 December 1948 the 11th Bomb Group was reactivated at Carswell AFB and assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing. Carswell shared flight line facilities with the Convair Aircraft Company. The 7th was the first bomb wing to receive the B-36 Peacemaker. Its personnel began training the new 11th group people in the new aircraft and the 11th soon began receiving them. On 16 February 1951 the 11th became an independent wing, obtaining its resources from the group, which was inactivated in June 1952. It was deployed at Nouasseur AB, French MoroccoFrench Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 4 May to 2 July 1955. The Wing won the SAC Bombing Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1954, 1956 and 1960.
7–11 must have been considered a lucky combination, because the two wings continued to share Carswell Air Force base until 13 December 1957, when the 11th moved to Altus AFB, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and began receiving B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
es.
The Wing gained the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron on 1 June 1961 and one on 1 April 1962, when its new Atlas missiles became fully operational, the wing was redesigned the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing, the new designation carried by all SAC wings that had both bombers and missiles. It phased out the Atlas missiles in January 1965.
Added air refueling to its mission in December 1957. Its 96th Air Refueling Squadrons flew the KC-97 Stratotanker
KC-97 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
s during 1957 and 1958. They were soon replaced by KC-135 jet tankers. The 921st Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the wing from 1 October to December 1960. The central location of Altus AFB led to the expansion of the wing's refueling capability. On 25 June 1965, the 11h Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the wing. In 1968, the wing began phasing out its B-52s. This was completed by mid year. On 2 July 1968, the wing was redesignated the 11th Air Refueling Wing.
The 11th Air Refueling Wing was short lived. It was inactivated on 25 March 1969 and the numeric designation remained dormant for the next nine years. Then on 15 November 1978 it was reactivated, not as a wing, but as the 11th Strategic Group at RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
, England. It was not manned until the following February, but did not start receiving aircraft until September 1978. It soon began aerial refueling support for all USAF operations, deployments and redeployments, as well as participating in NATO exercises.
Operations staff and maintenance personnel were permanently assigned, but aircraft, aircrews and crew chiefs were assigned on a temporary duty basis to the 11th Strategic Group for the European Tanker Task Force on a rotational basis. Aircraft and Crews operated out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Keflavik, Iceland; Zaragosa, Spain; Lajes Field, Azores; Sigonella NAS, Italy; and Hellenikon, Greece. The unit retained the 11th Strategic Group designation, but was inactivated on 7 August 1990.
Modern era
The 11th was pulled out of retirement a second time on 2 June 1994, when it was redesignated the 11th Support Wing. It was activated on 15 July 1994 at Bolling Air Force BaseBolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
, Washington, DC. It was redesignated the 11th Wing on 1 March 1995. It was again deactivated on 30 September 2010, and reactivated 01 October 2010, at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, where it became the host unit for the installation.