55th Wing
Encyclopedia
The 55th Wing is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to Air Combat Command
. The unit is stationed at Offutt Air Force Base
, Nebraska
.
The 55 WG is the only Air Force wing with continuous operations, maintenance, and aircraft presence in the United States Central Command
area of responsibility since Operation Desert Storm.
, operates 46 aircraft, including 13 models of seven different types.
The "Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth" has made significant contributions to the defense of the United States of America for more than 50 years. Having won honor and distinction for its combat record since World War II with two Distinguished Unit Citations, the wing has since compiled an admirable record of achievements. Since its inception, the unit has operated around the world, flying a wide variety of aircraft.
at Ramey Air Force Base
, Puerto Rico. From 1950 to 1954 the Wing's task was to perform strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, precise electronic geodetic mapping, and electronic reconnaissance missions. In 1952, the wing returned to Forbes AFB
, Kansas and converted to RB-50
s. The wing formally assumed a global strategic reconnaissance mission in 1954 and transited to the RB-47E "Stratojet." The Wing was deployed at Ben Guerir Air Base
, in what was then French Morocco, between May and August 1955.
When the mapping and charting functions originally assigned to the 55th Reconnaissance Group were transferred on May 1, 1954, the wing assumed the mission of global strategic reconnaissance, including electronic reconnaissance. It also carried out weather reconnaissance operations until June 1963, and photographic reconnaissance missions until May 1964.
The 55 SRW moved to Offutt AFB, Nebraska, in August 1966. That same year the 55th’s 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
assumed responsibility for SAC’s airborne command and control system. The 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron
inherited this mission after activation on April 1, 1970. The 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron
, flying E-4A
aircraft, transferred to the 55th on November 1, 1975, bringing with it the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, now called the National Airborne Operations Center. The Wing flew reconnaissance operations during the U.S. military operations in Grenada in 1983 and Libya in 1986. On March 1, 1986, the 55 SRW became the host unit at Offutt after the inactivation of the 3902d Air Base Wing.
The Wing ended nearly twenty-five years of continuous Airborne Command Post ('Looking Glass') operations in 1990, assumed a modified alert posture, and continued worldwide reconnaissance. In October 1998, the wing transferred control of the EC-135 LOOKING GLASS mission to the United States Navy's TACAMO aircraft and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which flew the EC-135 LOOKING GLASS aircraft, inactivated.
The wing deployed to the Persian Gulf on August 8, 1990, and began 24-hour-a-day reconnaissance of the region for Central Command Commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, under Operation DESERT SHIELD. At the start of Operation DESERT STORM, January 18, 1991, the wing continued to provide real-time information to theater commanders and remains there yet today.
(ACC) established, the wing transferred to ACC and gained its fifth operational location.
The 55th SRW and the 55th Wing has been awarded the USAF's P. T. Cullen Award five times since 1971 for its contributions to photo and signal intelligence collection.
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 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 ....
. The unit is stationed at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska 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....
.
The 55 WG is the only Air Force wing with continuous operations, maintenance, and aircraft presence in the United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
area of responsibility since Operation Desert Storm.
Overview
The 55 WG mission is to provide worldwide reconnaissance, real-time intelligence, command and control, information warfare and combat support to U.S. leaders and commanders. One of the wing's units, the 55th Operations Group55th Operations Group
The 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
, operates 46 aircraft, including 13 models of seven different types.
Units
- 55th Communications Group
- Provides worldwide command, control, communications and computer (C4) systems, information management and combat support to warfighting and national leadership. It also provides communications technology and support to the 55th Wing and 44 tenant units.
- 55th Electronic Combat Group55th Electronic Combat GroupThe 55th Electronic Combat Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, provides combat-ready EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, crews, maintenance and operational support to combatant commanders. The group is a geographically separated unit that falls under the command of the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, NE...
- Provides combat-ready EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, crews, maintenance and operational support to combatant commanders. Stationed at: Davis Monthan Air Force Base, 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...
- 55th Maintenance Group
- Provides centralized direction of all maintenance staff functions providing support to world-wide aircraft reconnaissance missions.
- 55th Medical Group
- Serves 50K beneficiaries with extensive outpatient clinic capabilities, in-patient wards, and ancillary support.
- 55th Mission Support Group
- Provides vital mission support for Offutt Air Force Base through engineering, security, mission support, services, supply, transportation, contracting and deployment readiness programs.
- 55th Operations Group55th Operations GroupThe 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
- ACC's largest group, has operational control over 12 squadrons and two detachments worldwide. It employs 46 aircraft, including 13 models of seven different types.
- 55th Wing Staff
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 55th Operations Group55th Operations GroupThe 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
The "Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth" has made significant contributions to the defense of the United States of America for more than 50 years. Having won honor and distinction for its combat record since World War II with two Distinguished Unit Citations, the wing has since compiled an admirable record of achievements. Since its inception, the unit has operated around the world, flying a wide variety of aircraft.
Cold War
On November 1, 1950, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (55 SRW) activated and was bestowed with the awards and honors of the 55th Reconnaissance Group55th Operations Group
The 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
at Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base
Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. In addition to a small on-site Air Force detachment, and occasional operations by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, a portion of the former Air Force Base is operated by the United States Coast Guard as Coast...
, Puerto Rico. From 1950 to 1954 the Wing's task was to perform strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, precise electronic geodetic mapping, and electronic reconnaissance missions. In 1952, the wing returned to Forbes AFB
Forbes Air Force Base
Forbes Field, previously Forbes Air Force Base, is a joint-use civil-military airport operated by the Topeka Airport Authority located approximately south of Topeka, Kansas....
, Kansas and converted to RB-50
B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
s. The wing formally assumed a global strategic reconnaissance mission in 1954 and transited to the RB-47E "Stratojet." The Wing was deployed at Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Morocco, later operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which served as a Transatlantic Abort Landing site for the Space Shuttle...
, in what was then French Morocco, between May and August 1955.
When the mapping and charting functions originally assigned to the 55th Reconnaissance Group were transferred on May 1, 1954, the wing assumed the mission of global strategic reconnaissance, including electronic reconnaissance. It also carried out weather reconnaissance operations until June 1963, and photographic reconnaissance missions until May 1964.
The 55 SRW moved to Offutt AFB, Nebraska, in August 1966. That same year the 55th’s 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
38th Reconnaissance Squadron
The 38th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the RC-135 aircraft conducting reconnaissance missions.-Mission:...
assumed responsibility for SAC’s airborne command and control system. The 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron
2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron
The United States Air Force's 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron was an airborne command and control unit located at Offutt AFB, Nebraska...
inherited this mission after activation on April 1, 1970. The 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron
1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron
The 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the E-4 aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.-History:...
, flying E-4A
Boeing E-4
The Boeing E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post, with a project name of "Nightwatch", is an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force...
aircraft, transferred to the 55th on November 1, 1975, bringing with it the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, now called the National Airborne Operations Center. The Wing flew reconnaissance operations during the U.S. military operations in Grenada in 1983 and Libya in 1986. On March 1, 1986, the 55 SRW became the host unit at Offutt after the inactivation of the 3902d Air Base Wing.
The Wing ended nearly twenty-five years of continuous Airborne Command Post ('Looking Glass') operations in 1990, assumed a modified alert posture, and continued worldwide reconnaissance. In October 1998, the wing transferred control of the EC-135 LOOKING GLASS mission to the United States Navy's TACAMO aircraft and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which flew the EC-135 LOOKING GLASS aircraft, inactivated.
The wing deployed to the Persian Gulf on August 8, 1990, and began 24-hour-a-day reconnaissance of the region for Central Command Commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, under Operation DESERT SHIELD. At the start of Operation DESERT STORM, January 18, 1991, the wing continued to provide real-time information to theater commanders and remains there yet today.
Modern era
The 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing became the 55th Wing on September 1, 1991, to reflect the wing’s performance of a diversity of missions. When SAC disestablished and Air Combat CommandAir 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 ....
(ACC) established, the wing transferred to ACC and gained its fifth operational location.
The 55th SRW and the 55th Wing has been awarded the USAF's P. T. Cullen Award five times since 1971 for its contributions to photo and signal intelligence collection.
Lineage
- Established as 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 29 June 1948
- Activated on 19 July 1948
- Inactivated on 14 October 1949
- Redesignated 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium, on 27 October 1950
- Activated on 1 November 1950
- Redesignated: 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 16 August 1966
- Redesignated: 55th Wing on 1 September 1991.
Assignments
- 311th Air Division311th Air DivisionThe 311th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, being stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas...
, 19 July 1948-14 October 1949 - Second Air ForceSecond 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....
, 1 November 1950 - 21 Air (later, 21 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 October 1952
- Attached to 5th Air Division, 18 May-16 August 1955
- 810th Strategic Aerospace Division810th Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 810th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota...
, 1 September 1964 - 12th Strategic Aerospace Division, 2 July 1966
- 14 Strategic Aerospace (later, 14 Air) Division, 30 June 1971
- 810th Strategic Aerospace Division
- 4th Air Division, 1 October 1976
- 57th Air Division, 1 April 1980
- 12th Air Division, 1 October 1982
- 14th Air Division, 1 October 1985
- Second Air ForceSecond 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....
, 1 September 1991 - Twelfth Air Force, 1 July 1993
- 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 October 2002 - Twelfth Air Force, 1 October 2009–present
Components
Groups- 55th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 55th Operations)55th Operations GroupThe 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
: 19 July 1948- 14 October 1949; 1 November 1950-16 June 1952; 1 September 1991–present - 55th Electronic Combat Group55th Electronic Combat GroupThe 55th Electronic Combat Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, provides combat-ready EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, crews, maintenance and operational support to combatant commanders. The group is a geographically separated unit that falls under the command of the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, NE...
: 3 February 2003-present
Squadrons
- 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron1st Airborne Command and Control SquadronThe 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the E-4 aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.-History:...
: 1 November 1975-1 September 1991 - 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Provisional): attached 1 September-9 October 1948
- 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron1st Reconnaissance SquadronThe 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force reconnaissance training unit based at Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, California. It is the oldest squadron in the Air Force, and the first organization to be established as a U.S. military flying unit...
: attached 10-26 October 1948; attached 14 January-1 June 1949 - 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 April 1970-1 September 1991
- 23d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron23d Bomb SquadronThe 23d Bomb Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing. It is stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The mission of the 23BS is to fly the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress long range bomber...
: attached 1-17 June 1949 - 38th Reconnaissance38th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 38th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It operates the RC-135 aircraft conducting reconnaissance missions.-Mission:...
: attached 6 January 1951-15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952-1 April 1970; assigned 1 April 1979-1 September 1991. - 24th Reconnaissance Squadron, 7 July 1992 - 30 June 1994
- 45th Reconnaissance Squadron45th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 45th Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 55th Operations Group and stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.-Overview:...
, 1 July 1994 - Present - 55th Air Refueling Squadron55th Air Refueling SquadronThe 55th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It is one of two Air Force units that operates the formal Combat Crew Training School and Central Flight Instructor Course for KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew qualification training.-Mission:The...
: attached 8 January 1951-15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952-18 February 1954; assigned 1 October 1955-15 March 1963 (detached 31 October-27 December 1956) - 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron: 1984-29 September 2006
- 82d Reconnaissance Squadron82d Reconnaissance SquadronThe 82d Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It is geographically separated from the 55th, operating out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. The squadron operates RC-135 aircraft flying reconnaissance missions.-History:The 82d flew antisubmarine patrols off...
: 2 October 1991-1 July 1992 - 97th Intelligence Squadron97th Intelligence SquadronThe United States Air Force's 97th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.-Previous designations:* 97th Aero Squadron...
: ?-Present - 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron323d Strategic Reconnaissance SquadronThe 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio...
: attached 19 September-10 October 1949 - 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron338th Combat Training SquadronThe 338th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is currently assigned to the 55th Operations Group, stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska.-Mission:The 338th Combat Training Squadron is a flying organization...
: attached 25 November 1950-15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952-15 June 1963; assigned 25 March-25 December 1967 - 343d Reconnaissance Squadron343d Reconnaissance SquadronThe 343d Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.-History:The 343d flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from, 15 October 1943-21 April 1945. It conducted aerial photography from 1947–1949 and global strategic reconnaissance from...
: attached 19 July-26 October 1948; attached 4 January 1951-15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952-1 September 1991 - 390th Intelligence Squadron ?-Present
- 488th Intelligence Squadron?-Present
- 548th Strategic Missile Squadron548th Strategic Missile SquadronThe 548th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 40th Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on 1 September 1964-World War II:...
: attached 1-31 August 1964, assigned 1 September 1964-25 March 1965 - 922d Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 June-1 July 1992
Stations
- Topeka (later, Forbes) AFB, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 19 July 1948-14 October 1949 - Ramey AFB, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 1 November 1950 - Forbes AFB, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 5 October 1952 - Offutt AFB, 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....
, 16 August 1966–present
Aircraft and missiles
- B/RB-17, 1948–1949
- B/RB-29, 1948–1949
- RC-54, 1948
- B/RB-29, 1950–1951
- RB-50, 1950–1954
- EB/RB-47, 1954–1967
- KC-97, 1956-?
- Atlas, 1964–1965
- EC-135, 1966–present
- KC-135, 1966–present
- RC-135, 1967–present
- E-4, 1975–present
- C-135, 1977–1994
- NKC-135, 1983–1994
- TC-135, 1988–present
- T-38, 1992–1995
- WC-135, 1992–present
- C-21: 1993-1997
- OC-135: 1994–present
- EC-130, 2002–present
See also
- List of B-50 units of the United States Air Force
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force