351st Missile Wing
Encyclopedia
The 351st Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force
unit, which was last based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri
. Assigned to Strategic Air Command
for most of its existence, the wing supported LGM-30F Minuteman ICBMs. It was inactivated in 1995.
During the Cold War
, the United States Air Force
Strategic Air Command
351st Strategic Missile Wing stood alert with Minuteman I and later, Minuteman II ICBMs starting in 1963 at Whiteman AFB Missouri
. The wing was bestowed the lineage, honors and history of the World War II USAAF 351st Bomb Wing upon activation.
The 351st supervised missile training operations and coordinated construction of SM-30B (later, LGM-30B) Minuteman I missile facilities from 1 February 1963, to 29 June 1964. The first missile arrived 14 January 1964 and was placed its silo two days later. The 508th SMS became combat ready on 5 June and the 509th on 10 June 1964. The last flight of the fifteen missiles was accepted 29 June 1964, making the 410th operational. The wing then had 150 fully operational missiles. Meanwhile the 340th Bombardment Wing phased down for inactivation and 351st Strategic Missile Wing gradually assumed host-wing responsibilities at Whiteman AFB, between 1 July and 1 September 1963. Later, the Wing converted to LGM-30F Minuteman II missiles between 7 May 1966, and 3 October 1967.
The wing won the Colonel Lee R. Williams Memorial Missile Trophy for Calendar Years 1965, 1967 and 1973, as well as the SAC missile combat competition and Blanchard Trophy in 1967, 1971, 1977, 1981 and 1993. It was named SAC's "Best Minuteman Wing" in 1972.
On 1 September 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 351st Missile Wing and implemented the objective wing organization. It was relieved from SAC and reassigned to Eighth Air Force in the new Air Combat Command
on 1 June 1992. It was again reassigned on 1 July 1993 to Air Force Space Command
and assigned to the new Twentieth Air Force.
The wing and its three squadrons of Minuteman II ICBMs were deactivated on 31 July 1995 as a result of planned phaseout of the Minuteman II.
LGM-30F Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities (MAF) (each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows: (Please Note, the adjacent map incorrectly indicates the flights in the 509th and 510th Squadrons. The list below is correct.)
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, which was last based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Assigned to 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...
for most of its existence, the wing supported LGM-30F Minuteman ICBMs. It was inactivated in 1995.
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 351st Operations Group
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 United States Air Force
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...
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...
351st Strategic Missile Wing stood alert with Minuteman I and later, Minuteman II ICBMs starting in 1963 at Whiteman AFB Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The wing was bestowed the lineage, honors and history of the World War II USAAF 351st Bomb Wing upon activation.
The 351st supervised missile training operations and coordinated construction of SM-30B (later, LGM-30B) Minuteman I missile facilities from 1 February 1963, to 29 June 1964. The first missile arrived 14 January 1964 and was placed its silo two days later. The 508th SMS became combat ready on 5 June and the 509th on 10 June 1964. The last flight of the fifteen missiles was accepted 29 June 1964, making the 410th operational. The wing then had 150 fully operational missiles. Meanwhile the 340th Bombardment Wing phased down for inactivation and 351st Strategic Missile Wing gradually assumed host-wing responsibilities at Whiteman AFB, between 1 July and 1 September 1963. Later, the Wing converted to LGM-30F Minuteman II missiles between 7 May 1966, and 3 October 1967.
The wing won the Colonel Lee R. Williams Memorial Missile Trophy for Calendar Years 1965, 1967 and 1973, as well as the SAC missile combat competition and Blanchard Trophy in 1967, 1971, 1977, 1981 and 1993. It was named SAC's "Best Minuteman Wing" in 1972.
On 1 September 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 351st Missile Wing and implemented the objective wing organization. It was relieved from SAC and reassigned to Eighth Air Force in the new Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
on 1 June 1992. It was again reassigned on 1 July 1993 to Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
and assigned to the new Twentieth Air Force.
The wing and its three squadrons of Minuteman II ICBMs were deactivated on 31 July 1995 as a result of planned phaseout of the Minuteman II.
Lineage
- Established as 351st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM—Minuteman), and activated, on 9 August 1962
- Organized on 1 February 1963
- Redesignated as 351st Missile Wing, 1 September 1991
- Inactivated on 31 July 1995
Assignments
- 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...
, 9 August 1962 - 17th Strategic Aerospace (later, 17th Strategic Missile; 17th Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 February 1963
- 4th Strategic Missile (later, 4th Air) Division, 30 June 1971
- 40th Air Division40th Air DivisionThe 40th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
, 1 July 1973 - 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...
, 1 December 1982 - 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 June 1992 - 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...
, 1 July 1993-31 July 1995
Units
- 508th Missile Squadron508th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 508th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 508 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Activated in late 1942 as a B-17...
, 1 May 1963 - 1 September 1991 - 509th Missile Squadron509th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 509th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 509 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Activated in late 1942 as a B-17...
, 1 June 1963 - 1 September 1991 - 510th Missile Squadron510th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 510th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 510 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles...
, 1 June 1963 - 1 September 1991
Missiles
- LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963–1967
- LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1966–1995
LGM-30F Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities (MAF) (each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows: (Please Note, the adjacent map incorrectly indicates the flights in the 509th and 510th Squadrons. The list below is correct.)
- 508th Missile Squadron508th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 508th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 508 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Activated in late 1942 as a B-17...
- A-01 3.5 mi SE of Blackburn MO, 39°04′05"N 093°26′20"W
- B-01 38.1 mi ExNE of Houstonia MO, 38°55′38"N 093°12′41"W
- C-01 5.6 mi SxSW of Pilot Grove MO, 38°47′59"N 092°57′05"W
- D-01 6.1 mi SE of Syracuse MO, 38°36′45"N 092°47′15"W
- E-01 7.3 mi WxSW of Florence MO, 38°33′46"N 093°06′33"W
- 509th Missile Squadron509th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 509th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 509 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Activated in late 1942 as a B-17...
- G-01 7.4 mi WxNW of Lowry City MO, 38°11′00"N 093°51′07"W
- H-01 2.8 mi WxSW of Eldorado Springs MO 37°51′36"N 094°03′59"W
- J-01 4.7 mi NxNW of Rockville MO, 38°08′10"N 094°06′27"W
- K-01 6.3 mi WxSW of Adrian MO, 38°21′16"N 094°27′16"W
- L-01 8.8 mi NE of Adrian MO, 38°29′55"N 094°15′10"W
- 510th Missile Squadron510th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 510th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 510 MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles...
- F-01 6.0 mi SE of Windsor MO, 38°28′48"N 093°26′00"W
- I-01 6.7 mi W of Calhoun MO, 38°28′48"N 093°44′55"W
- M-01 32.6 mi ExNE of Holden MO, 38°43′30"N 093°56′40"W
- N-01 3.9 mi ExSE of Odessa MO, 38°58′14"N 093°53′32"W
- *O-01 On Whiteman AFB, MO 38°43′14"N 093°33′56"W
- *Preserved, but not open to the public.