The 3973d Strategic Wing (3973d SW) is an inactive 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...

 unit, being inactivated on 15 April 1966

The 3973d SW was a ground service support element for the 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...

 65th Air Division, stationed at Moron Air Base

Morón Air Base

Morón Air Base is located at in southern Spain, approximately southeast of the city of Seville and northeast of Naval Station Rota. The base gets its name from the nearby town of Morón de la Frontera - although its is actually located in the municipality of Arahal.Morón's massive flight line,...

, Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. It was established on 1 February 1964 and inactivated on 15 April 1966. When activated, the wing assumed the resources (Manpower, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of 3973d Combat Support Group, which elements originated as the 7605th Air Base Squadron on 1 January 1957. Throughout its existence it was in provisional status, controlled by 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...

. Throughout its existence also it was subordinate to the 65th Air Division and stationed at Moron AB

A non-flying wing that provided host station support functions primarily for SAC B-47 Stratojet

B-47 Stratojet

The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...

 wing and support elements deployed to Moron AB during REFLEX deployments from United States bases.

The wing originated as the 7605th Air Base Squadron on 1 January 1957; redesignated 3973d Air Base Squadron on 1 July 1957; 3973d Air Base Group 1 July 1959; redesignated 3973d Combat Support Group on 1 May 1969. 3973d Combat Support Group (CSG) redesignated as 3973d Strategic Wing (SW) effected 1 February 1964. The wing trained and equipped personnel at Moron as well as supported Chrome Dome operations with KC-135 Stratotanker

KC-135 Stratotanker

The 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...

 refueling 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...

 aircraft. B-58 Hustler

B-58 Hustler

The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The aircraft was designed by Convair engineer Robert H. Widmer and developed for the United States Air Force for service in the Strategic Air Command during the 1960s...

 aircraft deployed from 43d Bombardment Wing at Carswell AFB, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 arrived at Moron 22 July 1964 for ALARM BELL operational training, remaining on station until September.

Wing inactivated on 15 April 1966 when Moron AB transferred from SAC to United States Air Forces in Europe

United States Air Forces in Europe

The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...

. Unit redesignated as 7473d Combat Support Group under USAFE, retaining refueling mission with deployed SAC KC-135s from CONUS bases.