42d Air Base Wing
Encyclopedia
The 42nd Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command
Air University. It is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama
. The wing is also the host unit at Maxwell-Gunter.
Its primary mission is to support all activities of Air University, which is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter.
Its World War II
predecessor, the 42nd Bombardment Group was a medium bomber unit, which saw combat in the Central and Southwest Pacific areas as part of Thirteenth Air Force
. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan
, 23–30 June 1945. Active for over 50 years, the 42nd Bombardment Wing was a component wing of Strategic Air Command
's deterrent force during the Cold War
, flying the B-36 Peacemaker and later B-52 Stratofortress
.
The 42nd Air Base Wing is commanded by Colonel Kris D. Beasley. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Mark Repp http://www.maxwell.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=11747.
Coast and trained B-25 combat crews for the Alaskan Defense Command. It transferred to New Caledonia
in April 1943 and entered combat in June of that year, operating from Guadalcanal
, and later from other bases in the Solomon Islands
. The 42nd attacked Japanese airfields, personnel areas, gun positions, and shipping. From January–July 1944, the group engaged primarily in the neutralization of enemy airfields and harbor facilities on New Britain
, but also supported ground forces on Bougainville Island
and attacked shipping in the northern Solomons and the Bismarck Archipelago
. From August 1944 – January 1945, it bombed airfields and installations on New Guinea
, Celebes
, and Halmahera
, and flew reconnaissance
missions.
The group moved to the Philippines
in February and March 1945. From there is attacked shipping along the China coast, struck targets in French Indochina
, bombed airfields and installations in the Philippines, and supported ground operations on Mindanao
. The 42nd also supported Australian forces on Borneo
during May and June 1945. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan
, 23–30 June 1945. The group's final combat action of World War II was attacking isolated Japanese units on Luzon
, July–August 1945. The 42nd Bombardment Group was inactivated on 10 May 1946.
, the Strategic Air Command
42nd Bombardment Wing was assigned the same three squadrons that had belonged to the old World War II group: the 69th, 70th, and 75th Bombardment Squadrons. The new SAC wing came under the direction of Eighth Air Force.
At first the wing had no aircraft to fly. As a result, B-36 aircraft were rotated in and out of the base so pilots could keep their flying skills sharp. However, by August all operational squadrons were flying.
The 42nd continued to expand over the next few years. On 18 January 1955, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron joined the wing. It flew propeller-driven KC-97G tankers. Further, the first Boeing B-52C Stratofortress assigned to the wing arrived at Loring on 16 June 1956. By the end of the year, the wing had completely replaced the older B-36 fleet. The wing was the first B-36 unit in SAC to convert to B-52s. When KC-135A tankers were assigned to the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron in 1957, the wing became an all-jet force.
In the late 1950s, Strategic Air Command began a series of aircraft moves designed to disperse the fleet to enhance survivability in case of an attack. One result of this was the reassignment of the 75th Bombardment Squadron to the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss AFB, New York, on 25 June 1956. In July 1958, wing aircrews were placed on alert because of tensions in Lebanon. Although tensions subsided, the wing continued to upgrade its capabilities. For example, the more versatile B-52Gs replaced the B-52Ds and increased the range and payload capabilities of the wing in May 1959.
In January 1962, the wing began to participate in the airborne alert operation nicknamed Chrome Dome. This realistic training mission was designed to deter enemy forces from a surprise attack on the United States because it demonstrated Strategic Air Command’s nearly immediate retaliatory capability. The 42nd flew fully combat-configured bombers along a route that covered parts of Western Europe and North Africa. Under the name Hard Head VI, the wing flew similar airborne alert operations which were designed to monitor the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System located at Thule, Greenland. The wing launched two combat-ready B-52s every 20–23 hours for the duration of the 30–60 day operation. To keep the B-52s airborne for long periods, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron also performed a number of air refueling missions. In support of these annual operations, which lasted for five years, the wing amassed thousands of hours in the air and covered several million miles.
While the wing was busy supporting airborne alert missions, Cold War tensions between the United States and Russia came to a head. In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy informed the American public of offensive nuclear-capable missile sites in Cuba. As a result, Strategic Air Command canceled normal flying activity and increased the size of its airborne alert forces. The 42nd Bombardment Wing launched four B-52s on Chrome Dome and Hard Head VI missions, established the Loring Tanker Task Force, and placed all aircraft on full combat-alert status. To support this effort, the wing ended all military education courses, canceled leave for those not already off the base, delayed temporary duty assignments to other bases, and placed many on 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Both the command and the wing maintained this posture until late November when tensions began to ease. During the 40-day crisis, wing bomber crews flew 132 airborne alert missions. Tanker crews from the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron flew 214 air refueling missions, transferring almost 24 million pounds of fuel to the B-52s.
In February 1965, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron began support for Young Tiger operations in Southeast Asia. From then on, aircrews deployed for Young Tiger missions regularly.
The wing lost a second bombardment squadron in 1966 when the 70th was inactivated, and its aircraft were dispersed throughout the command. However, in July 1968, the wing was back up to three tactical squadrons when the 407th Air Refueling Squadron transferred to Loring from Homestead AFB, Florida. The 407th also supported Young Tiger missions. In the same year, the wing deployed periodically in support of Arc Light operations.
The 42nd Bomb Wing at Loring AFB deployed Detachment 1 to McGuire AFB from 1 January 1970 through early 1975 [possibly only with KC-135s].
In 1972 the demand for the wing’s aircraft, crews, and support personnel increased significantly for Bullet Shot, Young Tiger, and Linebacker II operations. In December enemy fire brought down a B-52 and its crew. The aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile while over North Vietnam. Crew members managed to maneuver the crippled aircraft over Thailand before bailing out. All of the crew members were successfully recovered within a short period. This was the only time the wing suffered such a loss during the war. Wing personnel and equipment remained active in Southeast Asia operations until late 1973.
Following the Vietnam War, the wing participated in a number of strategic and tactical exercises worldwide. In addition, the 42nd continued to provide tankers to support USAF air refueling needs. The 42nd also continued its 24-hour nuclear alert status until October 1988 when, after 30 years, the requirement ended.
Effective 31 January 1984, the history of the 42nd Bombardment Wing underwent a significant change. On this date, the Air Force combined the history and honors of the old 42nd Bombardment Group (World War II-era) with that of the 42nd Bombardment Wing. The newly consolidated organization retained the 42nd Bombardment Wing designation, but the wing’s history now went back to the early 1940s, when the War Department first established the 42nd Bombardment Group.
On 1 September 1991, the 42nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) was redesignated as the 42nd Wing. Two of its squadrons, the 69th Bombardment and 42nd Air Refueling Squadrons, inactivated at the same time. Then, on 1 June 1992, HQ USAF inactivated Strategic Air Command and reassigned resources such as the 42nd Wing to the newly activated Air Combat Command (ACC). On the same day, ACC redesignated the 42nd Wing as the 42nd Bomb Wing. The following year, the wing began to prepare for the closure of Loring AFB. The last B-52G assigned to the 42nd departed the base on 16 November 1993. Likewise, the final KC-135R left on 2 March 1994. Loring closed on 30 September 1994, and the 42nd Wing was inactivated the same day.
On 1 October 1994 the unit was activated and redesignated as the 42nd Air Base Wing and took over as the host unit at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama
. This activation was part of a service-wide effort to preserve the lineage of the Air Force’s most honored wings.
Squadrons
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 Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
Air University. It is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The wing is also the host unit at Maxwell-Gunter.
Its primary mission is to support all activities of Air University, which is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter.
Its World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
predecessor, the 42nd Bombardment Group was a medium bomber unit, which saw combat in the Central and Southwest Pacific areas as 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...
. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, 23–30 June 1945. Active for over 50 years, the 42nd Bombardment Wing was a component wing 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...
's deterrent force 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...
, flying the B-36 Peacemaker and later 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...
.
The 42nd Air Base Wing is commanded by Colonel Kris D. Beasley. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Mark Repp http://www.maxwell.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=11747.
Mission
The 42nd ABW ensures Airmen are ready to deploy in support of U.S. military operations worldwide and takes a proactive approach to promoting their professional and personal growth. The Wing is also responsible for the safety and security of the base, which it accomplishes through force protection, maintaining and modernizing facilities and infrastructure, and seeking efficient new ways of conducting operations.Units
- 42nd Mission Support Group
- Provides contracting, security, civil engineering, operations/airfield support, personnel, communications, transportation, supply, fuels and services for 45,000 personnel
- 42nd Medical Group
- Provides quality, prevention-based healthcare anytime, anyplace.
- Team ITT
- Professionally supports Air Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
, Air University and the 42nd Air Base Wing
World War II
The 42nd began training in B-26s from, October 1941 – January 1942. The group patrolled the Northwest PacificPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
Coast and trained B-25 combat crews for the Alaskan Defense Command. It transferred to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
in April 1943 and entered combat in June of that year, operating from Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, and later from other bases 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...
. The 42nd attacked Japanese airfields, personnel areas, gun positions, and shipping. From January–July 1944, the group engaged primarily in the neutralization of enemy airfields and harbor facilities on New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, but also supported ground forces on Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
and attacked shipping in the northern Solomons and the Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago
The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.-History:...
. From August 1944 – January 1945, it bombed airfields and installations on New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, Celebes
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
, and Halmahera
Halmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
, and flew reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
missions.
The group moved to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in February and March 1945. From there is attacked shipping along the China coast, struck targets in French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
, bombed airfields and installations in the Philippines, and supported ground operations on Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. The 42nd also supported Australian forces on Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
during May and June 1945. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, 23–30 June 1945. The group's final combat action of World War II was attacking isolated Japanese units on Luzon
Luzon
Luzon 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...
, July–August 1945. The 42nd Bombardment Group was inactivated on 10 May 1946.
Cold War
Established on 19 February 1953 at Limestone Air Force Base, MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, 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...
42nd Bombardment Wing was assigned the same three squadrons that had belonged to the old World War II group: the 69th, 70th, and 75th Bombardment Squadrons. The new SAC wing came under the direction of Eighth Air Force.
At first the wing had no aircraft to fly. As a result, B-36 aircraft were rotated in and out of the base so pilots could keep their flying skills sharp. However, by August all operational squadrons were flying.
The 42nd continued to expand over the next few years. On 18 January 1955, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron joined the wing. It flew propeller-driven KC-97G tankers. Further, the first Boeing B-52C Stratofortress assigned to the wing arrived at Loring on 16 June 1956. By the end of the year, the wing had completely replaced the older B-36 fleet. The wing was the first B-36 unit in SAC to convert to B-52s. When KC-135A tankers were assigned to the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron in 1957, the wing became an all-jet force.
In the late 1950s, Strategic Air Command began a series of aircraft moves designed to disperse the fleet to enhance survivability in case of an attack. One result of this was the reassignment of the 75th Bombardment Squadron to the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss AFB, New York, on 25 June 1956. In July 1958, wing aircrews were placed on alert because of tensions in Lebanon. Although tensions subsided, the wing continued to upgrade its capabilities. For example, the more versatile B-52Gs replaced the B-52Ds and increased the range and payload capabilities of the wing in May 1959.
In January 1962, the wing began to participate in the airborne alert operation nicknamed Chrome Dome. This realistic training mission was designed to deter enemy forces from a surprise attack on the United States because it demonstrated Strategic Air Command’s nearly immediate retaliatory capability. The 42nd flew fully combat-configured bombers along a route that covered parts of Western Europe and North Africa. Under the name Hard Head VI, the wing flew similar airborne alert operations which were designed to monitor the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System located at Thule, Greenland. The wing launched two combat-ready B-52s every 20–23 hours for the duration of the 30–60 day operation. To keep the B-52s airborne for long periods, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron also performed a number of air refueling missions. In support of these annual operations, which lasted for five years, the wing amassed thousands of hours in the air and covered several million miles.
While the wing was busy supporting airborne alert missions, Cold War tensions between the United States and Russia came to a head. In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy informed the American public of offensive nuclear-capable missile sites in Cuba. As a result, Strategic Air Command canceled normal flying activity and increased the size of its airborne alert forces. The 42nd Bombardment Wing launched four B-52s on Chrome Dome and Hard Head VI missions, established the Loring Tanker Task Force, and placed all aircraft on full combat-alert status. To support this effort, the wing ended all military education courses, canceled leave for those not already off the base, delayed temporary duty assignments to other bases, and placed many on 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Both the command and the wing maintained this posture until late November when tensions began to ease. During the 40-day crisis, wing bomber crews flew 132 airborne alert missions. Tanker crews from the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron flew 214 air refueling missions, transferring almost 24 million pounds of fuel to the B-52s.
In February 1965, the 42nd Air Refueling Squadron began support for Young Tiger operations in Southeast Asia. From then on, aircrews deployed for Young Tiger missions regularly.
The wing lost a second bombardment squadron in 1966 when the 70th was inactivated, and its aircraft were dispersed throughout the command. However, in July 1968, the wing was back up to three tactical squadrons when the 407th Air Refueling Squadron transferred to Loring from Homestead AFB, Florida. The 407th also supported Young Tiger missions. In the same year, the wing deployed periodically in support of Arc Light operations.
The 42nd Bomb Wing at Loring AFB deployed Detachment 1 to McGuire AFB from 1 January 1970 through early 1975 [possibly only with KC-135s].
In 1972 the demand for the wing’s aircraft, crews, and support personnel increased significantly for Bullet Shot, Young Tiger, and Linebacker II operations. In December enemy fire brought down a B-52 and its crew. The aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile while over North Vietnam. Crew members managed to maneuver the crippled aircraft over Thailand before bailing out. All of the crew members were successfully recovered within a short period. This was the only time the wing suffered such a loss during the war. Wing personnel and equipment remained active in Southeast Asia operations until late 1973.
Following the Vietnam War, the wing participated in a number of strategic and tactical exercises worldwide. In addition, the 42nd continued to provide tankers to support USAF air refueling needs. The 42nd also continued its 24-hour nuclear alert status until October 1988 when, after 30 years, the requirement ended.
Effective 31 January 1984, the history of the 42nd Bombardment Wing underwent a significant change. On this date, the Air Force combined the history and honors of the old 42nd Bombardment Group (World War II-era) with that of the 42nd Bombardment Wing. The newly consolidated organization retained the 42nd Bombardment Wing designation, but the wing’s history now went back to the early 1940s, when the War Department first established the 42nd Bombardment Group.
Desert Storm
Adding to its illustrious history, on 7 August 1990, the wing began to deploy aircraft, personnel, and equipment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the wing sent bombers to Diego Garcia. The B-52 aircrews flew 960 missions (485 combat) in 44 days and dropped 12,588,766 pounds of bombs on enemy targets. In addition, tankers from the 42nd and from other units deployed to Diego Garcia and off-loaded 31,802,500 pounds of fuel to 648 receivers. Seven months after the start of the deployment, the 42nd began returning its people and equipment to Loring AFB. The allies had forced Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.Modern era
Several organizational changes affected the wing during the early to mid-1990s. For example, on 1 October 1990, the 407th Air Refueling Squadron was inactivated, and two days later, President George Bush ordered alert crews to stand down for the first time in Loring’s history. That December, Strategic Air Command stood down all of its alert forces. At the same time, the wing’s home station, Loring AFB, prepared for closure.On 1 September 1991, the 42nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) was redesignated as the 42nd Wing. Two of its squadrons, the 69th Bombardment and 42nd Air Refueling Squadrons, inactivated at the same time. Then, on 1 June 1992, HQ USAF inactivated Strategic Air Command and reassigned resources such as the 42nd Wing to the newly activated Air Combat Command (ACC). On the same day, ACC redesignated the 42nd Wing as the 42nd Bomb Wing. The following year, the wing began to prepare for the closure of Loring AFB. The last B-52G assigned to the 42nd departed the base on 16 November 1993. Likewise, the final KC-135R left on 2 March 1994. Loring closed on 30 September 1994, and the 42nd Wing was inactivated the same day.
On 1 October 1994 the unit was activated and redesignated as the 42nd Air Base Wing and took over as the host unit at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. This activation was part of a service-wide effort to preserve the lineage of the Air Force’s most honored wings.
Lineage
- Established as 42nd Bombardment Group (Medium) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated 42nd Bombardment Group, Medium, on 6 September 1944
- Inactivated on 10 May 1946
- Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 42nd Bombardment Wing, Heavy, which was established on 19 February 1953.
- Activated on 25 February 1953
- Redesignated: 42nd Wing on 1 September 1991
- Redesignated: 42nd Bomb Wing on 1 June 1992
- Inactivated on 30 September 1994
- Redesignated 42nd Air Base Wing, and activated, on 1 October 1994.
Assignments
- Northwest Air District (later, Second Air Force)Second 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....
, 16 January 1941
- Attached to 20 Bombardment Wing20th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 20th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force, based at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 10 November 1946.-History:...
, 16 January – 1 September 1941- 2 (later, II) Bomber CommandII Bomber CommandThe II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
, 5 September 1941 - IV Bomber CommandIV Bomber CommandThe IV Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at San Francisco, California. It was inactivated on 31 March 1944.-Lineage:...
, 25 January 1942 - XIII Bomber CommandXIII Bomber CommandThe XIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Thirteenth Air Force, based at Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 March 1946....
, 14 March 1943
- 2 (later, II) Bomber Command
- Attached to: 308 Bombardment Wing, Heavy308th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 308th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Far East Air Forces, based at Nagoya, Japan. It was inactivated on 30 June 1948....
, c. 24 August – 2 September 1944 - Attached to: 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium310th Air DivisionThe 310th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma...
, 3-c. 14 September 1944 - Attached to: Thirteenth Air Task Force, c. 15–30 September 1944
- Attached to: XIII Fighter CommandXIII Fighter CommandThe XIII Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Thirteenth Air Force, based at Manila, Luzon, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 March 1946....
, 1 October 1944 – 8 January 1945 - Attached to: XIII Bomber Command Rear Echelon, 9 January – 21 February 1945
- Attached to: XIII Fighter CommandXIII Fighter CommandThe XIII Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Thirteenth Air Force, based at Manila, Luzon, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 March 1946....
, c. 22 March – c. September 1945
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, 25 December 1945 - 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium310th Air DivisionThe 310th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma...
, 31 January 1946 - V Fighter CommandV Fighter CommandThe V Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fifth Air Force, based at Fukuoka AB, Japan. It was inactivated on 31 May 1946....
, 25 March – 10 May 1946 - 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....
, 25 February 1953 - 45th Air Division45th Air DivisionThe 45th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Eighth Air Force, stationed at Pease AFB, New Hampshire. It was inactivated on 14 June 1989.-History:...
, 8 October 1954
- Attached to: 7th Air Division, 18 October – 18 November 1955
- 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....
, 18 January 1958 - 45th Air Division45th Air DivisionThe 45th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Eighth Air Force, stationed at Pease AFB, New Hampshire. It was inactivated on 14 June 1989.-History:...
, 1 December 1958 - 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....
, 29 March 1989 - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 1 June 1992 – 30 September 1994 - Air University, 1 October 1994–present
- Eighth Air Force
Components
Group- 42nd Operations: 1 September 1991 – 31 January 1994.
Squadrons
- 16 Reconnaissance (later, 406 Bombardment) Squadron906th Air Refueling SquadronThe 906th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.-Mission:The 906 ARS operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...
: attached 15 January 1941 – 2 March 1942, assigned 3 March 1942 – 25 February 1943 (air echelon detached 3 June 1942 – 25 February 1943; ground echelon detached 10 November 1942 – 25 February 1943) - 42d Air Refueling Squadron42d Air Refueling SquadronThe 42d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 42d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Loring AFB, Maine...
: 18 January 1955 – 1 September 1991 - 69th Bombardment Squadron: 26 February 1943 – 10 May 1946 (detached 26 February-c. 15 April 1943); 25 February 1953 – 1 September 1991
- 70th Bombardment Squadron: 26 February 1943 – 10 May 1946 (detached 26 February-c. 15 April 1943); 25 February 1953 – 25 June 1966
- 75th Bombardment Squadron75th Bombardment SquadronThe 75th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 4039th Strategic Wing, stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on 1 February 1963.-History:...
: 15 January 1941 – 10 May 1946; 25 February 1953-15 October 1959 - 76 Bombardment Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 12 February 1943 (air echelon detached c. 21 May 1942 – 12 February 1943)
- 77 Bombardment Squadron77th Weapons SquadronThe 77th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas....
: 15 January 1941 – 2 February 1942 - 106 Reconnaissance (later, 100 Bombardment) Squadron106th Air Refueling SquadronThe United States Air Force's 106th Air Refueling Squadron is an Air National Guard aerial refueling unit flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama.-History:...
: attached January 1944, assigned 1 February 1944 – 11 December 1945 - 390th Bombardment Squadron390th Bombardment SquadronThe 390th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 42d Bombardment Group, stationed at Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan, Philippines Commonwealth...
: 20 March 1942 – 27 January 1946 - 407th Air Refueling Squadron407th Air Refueling SquadronThe 407th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 42d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. It was inactivated on 1 October 1990-History:...
: 2 July 1968 – 1 October 1990.
Stations
- Ft DouglasFort Douglas, UtahCamp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, Utah, 15 January 1941 - Gowen Field, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
c. 3 June 1941 - McChord Field, Washington, c. 18 January 1942 – 15 March 1943
- Nandi AirfieldNadi International AirportNadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
, Viti LevuViti LevuViti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
, Fiji Islands, 22 April 1943 (air echelon) - Koli AirfieldKoli AirfieldAlso known as "Bomber 3 Field", Koli Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, located near Koli Point, fifteen miles east of Henderson Field, close to the Metapona River to the east and the Naumbu River to the west...
, GuadalcanalGuadalcanalGuadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, Solomon Islands, 11 May 1943 (ground echelon), 6 June 1943 (air echelon) - Plaine Des Gaiacs AirfieldPlaine Des Gaiacs AirfieldPlaine Des Gaiacs Airfield is a former World War II airfield on New Caledonia, Melanesia in the South Pacific. It is located at Plaine Des Gaiacs near the village of Pouembout...
, New CaledoniaNew CaledoniaNew Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, MelanesiaMelanesiaMelanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
, c. 21 October 1943 - Stirling AirfieldMono AirportMono Airport is an airport on Mono Island in the Solomon Islands .-History:Following the Allied invasion of the Northern Solomon Islands on October 25–27, 1943, an airstrip was built on Stirling Island by the United States Navy 87th Construction battalion...
, Stirling IslandStirling IslandStirling Island is the smaller island of the Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands, at . It is separated from the largest Mono Island by Blanche Harbor. Stirling Island is composed of coral which was once part of the barrier reef surrounding Mono Island....
, Solomon Islands, 20 January 1944
- Hollandia AirfieldSentani AirportSentani Airport is an airport serving Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. The name of this airport is taken from a lake nearby.-History:...
, Netherlands East Indies, 24 August 1944 (air echelon) - Sansapor (Mar) AirfieldSansapor AirfieldSansapor Airfield is a former World War II airfield located in the village of Mar, in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia. The airfield was abandoned after the war and today is almost totally returned to its natural state....
, Netherlands East Indies, 24 August 1944 (ground echelon), c. 15 September 1944 (air echelon) - Wama AirfieldPitu AirportPitu Airport is a private airport located on the southern coast of Morotai Island, North Maluku, Indonesia.-History:Moratai island was the final island invasion in Netherlands New Guinea before the liberation of the Philippines. The island was recaptured by the 31st Infantry Division on 15...
, MorotaiMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, Netherlands East Indies, 23 February 1945 (air echelon) - Puerto Princesa Airfield, PalawanPalawanPalawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
, Philippines, March 1945 - Itami Air BaseOsaka International Airportor Osaka-Itami International Airport is the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is classified as a first class airport....
, Japan, 31 January-10 May 1946 - Limestone (later, Loring) AFBLoring Air Force BaseLoring Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base that was under the operational control of the Strategic Air Command for most of its existence. In 1992, it was transferred to the newly-established Air Combat Command, and it was finally closed as an active Air Force installation in...
, MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, 25 February 1953 – 30 September 1994 - Maxwell (later Maxwell-Gunter) AFBMaxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 1 October 1994–present
Aircraft
- 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....
, 1941–1942 - B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
, 1941–1942, 1943 - A-29 HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
, 1942–1943 - B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1942, 1943–1945 - A-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
, 1946 - A-20 Havoc, 1946
- B-36 PeacemakerConvair B-36The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" was a strategic bomber built by Convair and operated solely by the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1959. The B-36 was the largest mass-produced piston engine aircraft ever made. It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built , although there have...
, 1953–1956 - 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:...
, 1955–1957 - B-52D Stratofortress, 1956–1959
- B-52G Stratofortress, 1959–1993
- 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...
, 1957–1992