486th Air Expeditionary Wing
Encyclopedia
The 486th Air Expeditionary Wing (486 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Air Combat Command
. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.
The unit was last known to be active during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003
During World War II
, its predecessor unit, the 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a Eighth Air Force
heavy bombardment unit in England, stationed at RAF Sudbury
. The group operated chiefly against strategic objectives in Germany until May 1945, flying 188 missions and losing 33 aircraft.
Constituted as 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943 and activated on 20 September Moved to England in March 1944 and assigned to Eighth AF.
The 486th was assigned to the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code initially was a "Square-O". When the group converted from B-24s to B-17s during the summer of 1944, the Group ID was changed to "Square-W", perhaps to avoid confusion with the Square-D on B-17s of the 100th Bomb Group. The 486th was the only group to change its ID.
The group flew both the B-24 Liberator
and the B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and operated chiefly against strategic objectives in Germany until May 1945. Targets included marshalling yards in Stuttgart
, Cologne
, and Mainz
; airfields in Kassel
and Münster
; oil refineries and storage plants in Merseburg
, Dollbergen, and Hamburg
; harbours in Bremen and Kiel
; and factories in Mannheim
and Weimar
.
Other missions included bombing airfields, gun positions, V-weapon sites (total of nine "No Ball
" missions beginning 20 June), and railway bridges in France in preparation for or in support of the invasion of Normandy
in June 1944; striking road junctions and troop concentrations in support of ground forces pushing across France, July–August 1944; hitting gun emplacements near Arnheim
to minimize transport and glider losses during the airborne invasion of Holland in September 1944; and bombing enemy installations in support of ground troops during the Battle of the Bulge
(December 1944 – January 1945) and the assault across the Rhine
(March–April 1945).
The 468th Bomb Group returned to the Drew AAF
Florida during August 1945 and was deactivated on 7 November.
The 69th PBS was renamed to 69th Tactical Missile Squadron 15 April 1956. The unit manned the TM-61A Matador, which was later replaced by the TM-61C Matador. On 3 August 1956, the 69th Tactical Missile Squadron became part of the 701st Tactical Missile Wing, headquartered at Hahn AB with the deactivation of the 7382d Tactical Missile Group.
On 18 June 1958, the 69th TMS was inactivated and replaced at Hahn by the 405th Tactical Missile Squadron
when the 701st Tactical Missile Wing was inactivated and replaced with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing. The TM-76 A Mace replaced the TM-61C.
The 586th Tactical Missile Group was activated at Hahn Air Base as part of the new 38th TMW and became the headquarters for the 405th TMS, the 586th MMS, and the 586th SS. The 405th TMS operated the The TM-76A Mace missile. The group trained and remained prepared for tactical missile operations.
The 586th Tactical Missile Group was inactivated 25 September 1962, and a new launch squadron, the 89th Tactical Missile Squadron
was created to share duties with the 405th TMS. All missile units of the former 586th TMG at Hahn then reported directly to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing at Sembach AB.
On 25 September 1966 all TM-76A, then renumbered to MGM-13A, Mace tactical missile operations at Sembach AB and Hahn AB were inactivated.
In the 1980s, the 486th Tactical Missile Wing was the final GLCM (Ground Launch Cruise Missile) wing to activate in Europe and the first to inactivate (27 August 1987) following the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. 64 missiles supposed to be assigned, however wing did not receive any missiles before beginning to phase down on 20 September 1988.
, Kuwait.
Matador/Mace dispersed missile locations
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 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 ....
. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.
The unit was last known to be active during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003
During 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...
, its predecessor unit, the 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The 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....
heavy bombardment unit in England, stationed at RAF Sudbury
RAF Sudbury
RAF Sudbury is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located between the villages Acton, Great Waldingfield and Chilton, around 2 miles east of Sudbury in Suffolk.-USAAF use:...
. The group operated chiefly against strategic objectives in Germany until May 1945, flying 188 missions and losing 33 aircraft.
World War II
Constituted as 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943 and activated on 20 September Moved to England in March 1944 and assigned to Eighth AF.
The 486th was assigned to the 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code initially was a "Square-O". When the group converted from B-24s to B-17s during the summer of 1944, the Group ID was changed to "Square-W", perhaps to avoid confusion with the Square-D on B-17s of the 100th Bomb Group. The 486th was the only group to change its ID.
The group flew both the 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...
and the B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and operated chiefly against strategic objectives in Germany until May 1945. Targets included marshalling yards in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, and Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
; airfields in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
and Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
; oil refineries and storage plants in Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
, Dollbergen, and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
; harbours in Bremen and Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
; and factories in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
and Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
.
Other missions included bombing airfields, gun positions, V-weapon sites (total of nine "No Ball
Operation Crossbow
Crossbow was the code name of the World War II campaign of Anglo-American "operations against all phases of the German long-range weapons programme—operations against research and development of the weapons, their manufacture, transportation and their launching sites, and against missiles in flight"...
" missions beginning 20 June), and railway bridges in France in preparation for or in support of the invasion of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
in June 1944; striking road junctions and troop concentrations in support of ground forces pushing across France, July–August 1944; hitting gun emplacements near Arnheim
Arnheim
Arnheim may refer to:* Edith Arnheim , Swedish tennis player* Fritz Arnheim , German historian* Gus Arnheim , American band leader* Rudolf Arnheim , German American author...
to minimize transport and glider losses during the airborne invasion of Holland in September 1944; and bombing enemy installations in support of ground troops during the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
(December 1944 – January 1945) and the assault across the Rhine
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
(March–April 1945).
The 468th Bomb Group returned to the Drew AAF
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
Florida during August 1945 and was deactivated on 7 November.
Cold War
On 30 September 1954 the 69th Pilotless Bomber Squadron was assigned to Hahn AB, West Germany, assigned to the 50th Fighter Bomber Wing. The 69th was attached to the renamed 50th Fighter Day Wing on 14 March 1955. The 69th PBS was assigned to the 7382d Guided Missile Group, which became the 7382d Tactical Missile Group in January 1956.The 69th PBS was renamed to 69th Tactical Missile Squadron 15 April 1956. The unit manned the TM-61A Matador, which was later replaced by the TM-61C Matador. On 3 August 1956, the 69th Tactical Missile Squadron became part of the 701st Tactical Missile Wing, headquartered at Hahn AB with the deactivation of the 7382d Tactical Missile Group.
On 18 June 1958, the 69th TMS was inactivated and replaced at Hahn by the 405th Tactical Missile Squadron
405th Tactical Missile Squadron
The 405th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.-History:...
when the 701st Tactical Missile Wing was inactivated and replaced with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing. The TM-76 A Mace replaced the TM-61C.
The 586th Tactical Missile Group was activated at Hahn Air Base as part of the new 38th TMW and became the headquarters for the 405th TMS, the 586th MMS, and the 586th SS. The 405th TMS operated the The TM-76A Mace missile. The group trained and remained prepared for tactical missile operations.
The 586th Tactical Missile Group was inactivated 25 September 1962, and a new launch squadron, the 89th Tactical Missile Squadron
89th Tactical Missile Squadron
The 89th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Wueschheim Air Station, West Germany. It was inactivated on 22 August 1990.-History:...
was created to share duties with the 405th TMS. All missile units of the former 586th TMG at Hahn then reported directly to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing at Sembach AB.
On 25 September 1966 all TM-76A, then renumbered to MGM-13A, Mace tactical missile operations at Sembach AB and Hahn AB were inactivated.
In the 1980s, the 486th Tactical Missile Wing was the final GLCM (Ground Launch Cruise Missile) wing to activate in Europe and the first to inactivate (27 August 1987) following the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. 64 missiles supposed to be assigned, however wing did not receive any missiles before beginning to phase down on 20 September 1988.
Global War On Terrorism
The 486th Air Expeditionary Wing was activated as part of the GWOT. It was most recently located at Ahmed Al Jaber Air BaseAhmed Al Jaber Air Base
Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base is a Kuwait Air Force installation with part designated for operations by the U.S. Air Force and its allies.Sitting 75 miles south of the Iraqi border, the base has supported active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve A-10 and F-16 fighter units, along...
, Kuwait.
Lineage
- Established as 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
- Activated on 20 September 1943
- Redesignated 486th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 25 January 1944
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945
- Consolidated (10 October 1984) with the 586th Tactical Missile Group, which was established on 3 August 1956
- Activated on 15 September 1956
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 September 1962
- Consolidated establishment redesignated 486th Tactical Missile Wing on 10 October 1984
- Activated on 27 August 1987
- Inactivated on 30 September 1988
- Redesignated 486th Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 30 January 2003
Assignments
- 16th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, 20 September 1943
- 21st Bombardment Wing, 9 March 1944
- 92d Combat Bombardment Wing, 4 April 1944
- Attached to: 4th Combat Bombardment Wing (Provisional), 15 November 1944-c. February 1945
- 4th Combat Bombardment Wing, 16 February 1945
- 14th Combat Bombardment (later, 14 Bombardment) Wing, 16 June 1945
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, c. 3 September-7 November 1945 - 701st Tactical Missile Wing, 15 September 1956
- 38th Tactical Missile Wing, 18 June 1958 – 25 September 1962
- Seventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
, 27 August 1987 – 30 September 1988 - Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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 ....
to activate or inactivate at any time after 30 January 2003.
Components
- 69th Tactical Missile Squadron69th Tactical Missile SquadronThe 69th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 586th Tactical Missile Group, stationed at Hahn Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 18 June 1958.-History:...
: 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958 - 405th Tactical Missile Squadron405th Tactical Missile SquadronThe 405th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, based at Sembach Air Base, West Germany. It was inactivated on 25 September 1966.-History:...
: 18 June 1958 – 25 September 1962 - 832d Bombardment Squadron832d Bombardment SquadronThe 832d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 486th Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.-History:...
: 20 September 1943 – 7 November 1945 - 833d Bombardment Squadron833d Bombardment SquadronThe 835th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 486th Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.-History:...
: 20 September 1943 – 7 November 1945 - 834th Bombardment Squadron834th Bombardment SquadronThe 834th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 486th Bombardment Group, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.-History:...
: 20 September 1943 – 7 November 1945 - 835th Bombardment Squadron835th Bombardment SquadronThe 835th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 486th Bombardment Group, based at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945.-History:...
: 20 September 1943 – 7 November 1945
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 20 September 1943 - McCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army AirfieldMcCook Army Airfield was activated on 1 April 1943. It is located nine miles northwest of McCook, a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska, United States and is southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. It was constructed in 1943...
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 26 October 1943 - Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 9 November 1943 – March 1944 - England (flight echelon), 19 March 1944
- RAF SudburyRAF SudburyRAF Sudbury is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located between the villages Acton, Great Waldingfield and Chilton, around 2 miles east of Sudbury in Suffolk.-USAAF use:...
(AAF-174), England, 5 April 1944 – 26 August 1945 - Drew Field, Florida, 3 September-7 November 1945
- Hahn AB, West Germany, 15 September 1956 – 25 September 1962
- Woensdrecht Air BaseWoensdrecht Air BaseWoensdrecht Air Base is a military airport near the town of Woensdrecht, about 10 km south of the city of Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands. It is located near highway A58 and the border with Belgium....
, Netherlands, 27 August 1987 – 30 September 1988
- BGM-109G Missile site located at: 51°26′21"N 004°21′09"E
- Ahmed Al Jaber Air BaseAhmed Al Jaber Air BaseAhmed Al Jaber Air Base is a Kuwait Air Force installation with part designated for operations by the U.S. Air Force and its allies.Sitting 75 miles south of the Iraqi border, the base has supported active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve A-10 and F-16 fighter units, along...
, Kuwait, 2003
- Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base
Matador/Mace dispersed missile locations
- Site IV "Veronica" - 7 miles (11.3 km) ENE of Hahn AB (89th TMS) 49°59′58"N 007°23′58"E
- Closed since 1967. Missile shelters torn down, in very dilapidated state, appears to be used as a storage yard.
- Site V "Pot Fuse" - 7 miles (11.3 km) ESE of Hahn AB (405th TMS) 49°54′48"N 007°24′46"E
- Abandoned since 1961. Shelters torn down, site very obscured by trees and other vegetation in thick woodland area.
- Site VI "Heroin" - 9.7 miles (15.6 km) NE of Hahn AB (405th TMS) 50°02′37"N 007°25′32"E
- After 405th TMS left this site was transferred to US Army and converted into a Nike-Hercules Air Defense missile site; operational 1970-1979. The area was transferred back to USAF in 1982 and was converted again; this time into a Cruise missile Ground Alert Maintenance Area. The 38th Tactical Missile Wing became operational with its BGM-109 Gryphon cruise missiles at this location 1985 and was deactivated 1991 after the signing of the INF treaty.
Aircraft and missiles
- 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...
, 1943–1944 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1944–1945
- MGM-1 MatadorMGM-1 MatadorThe Martin MGM-1 Matador was the first operational surface-to-surface cruise missile built by the United States. It was similar in concept to the German V-1, but the Matador included a radio link that allowed in-flight course corrections. This allowed accuracy to be maintained over greatly extended...
, 1956–1960
- T-33 Shooting StarT-33 Shooting StarThe Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
, 1956–1958 - MGM-13 MaceMGM-13 Mace-See also:-External links:* * * * * * *...
, 1960–1962 - None, 1987–1988
See also
- List of BGM-109G GLCM Units