917th Wing
Encyclopedia
The 917th Wing is an inactive wing
of the United States Air Force
. It was last based at Barksdale Air Force Base
, Louisiana. It operated both the A-10 Thunderbolt II
and the B-52 Stratofortress
.
The units of this Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC) wing was composed of the 45th
and 47th Fighter Squadron
s with their A-10s, and the 93d Bomb Squadron
in the B-52H Formal Training Unit (FTU) mission and the 343d Bomb Squadron
flying combat missions as an associate unit to the 2d Bomb Wing
in the B-52H. The 917th's mission was to train pilots and crews to fly the A-10 and B-52H and perform strategic
heavy bombardment
and maritime operations with the B-52s. The Wing had approximately 1,600 Air Force Reserve personnel.
On 8 January 2011, Air Force Reserve Command
inactivated the 917th Wing, transferring its B-52 units to the newly-activated 307th Bomb Wing
and transferring organizational control of its A-10 units to the 442d Fighter Wing
, Whiteman Air Force Base
, Missouri.
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of 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...
. It was last based at Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
, Louisiana. It operated both the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
and the 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 units of this Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
(AFRC) wing was composed of the 45th
47th Fighter Squadron
The 47th Fighter Squadron is part of the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and falls under the operational control of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.-World War II:...
and 47th Fighter Squadron
47th Fighter Squadron
The 47th Fighter Squadron is part of the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and falls under the operational control of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.-World War II:...
s with their A-10s, and the 93d Bomb Squadron
93d Bomb Squadron
The 93d Bomb Squadron is part of the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operates B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing strategic bombing capability. It is one of two reserve bomber units in the United States Air Force.-History:Established as the 93d Aero Squadron in the...
in the B-52H Formal Training Unit (FTU) mission and the 343d Bomb Squadron
343d Bomb Squadron
The 343d Bomb Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 307th Operations Group. It is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.-History:...
flying combat missions as an associate unit to the 2d Bomb Wing
2d Bomb Wing
The 2d Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command and Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The wing is also the host unit at Barksdale...
in the B-52H. The 917th's mission was to train pilots and crews to fly the A-10 and B-52H and perform strategic
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
heavy bombardment
Bombardment
A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire directed against fortifications, troops or towns and buildings.Prior to World War I the term term was only applied to the bombardment of defenceless or undefended objects, houses, public buildings, it was only loosely employed to describe artillery...
and maritime operations with the B-52s. The Wing had approximately 1,600 Air Force Reserve personnel.
On 8 January 2011, Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
inactivated the 917th Wing, transferring its B-52 units to the newly-activated 307th Bomb Wing
307th Bomb Wing
The 307th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.The 307th Bomb Wing is the only reserve unit that operates the B-52H Stratofortress...
and transferring organizational control of its A-10 units to the 442d Fighter Wing
442d Fighter Wing
The 442d Fighter Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command fighter wing, operationally-gained by Air Combat Command . It is based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri...
, Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
, Missouri.