Misplaced Pages

512th Rescue Squadron
HH-60 Pave Hawk as flown by the squadron
Active	1942–1946; 1947–1948; 1949–1951; 1951–1965; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Search and rescue training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Kirtland Air Force Base
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
512th Rescue Squadron emblem
512th Bombardment Squadron emblem

The 512th Rescue Squadron is part of the 58th Special Operations Wing based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It formerly operated the Bell UH-1N Twin Huey and currently operates the Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk and the new HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters training aircrew conducting search and rescue missions.

The squadron was formed during World War II as the 512th Bombardment Squadron in the Middle East in 1942 to reinforce the Royal Air Force in North Africa with personnel and aircraft diverted from delivery to the China Burma India Theater. The squadron moved forward, eventually being stationed in Italy, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, and was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it converted to Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers, but was inactivated in March 1946.

The squadron was redesignated the 512th Reconnaissance Squadron and activated in 1947 as a weather reconnaissance unit. Except for a brief period of inactivation in the winter of 1948–1949, it continued the reconnaissance mission until February 1951, when it was inactivated and its assets transferred to another squadron.

The squadron returned to the bombardment mission later that year, and upgraded to jet Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombers in 1954. It continued to fly the Stratojet until they were phased out of the Air Force inventory, and the squadron was inactivated in 1965.

The squadron was activated as the 512th Special Operations Squadron in April 1994 and assumed its mission of training helicopter aircrews.

Mission

The squadron mission is to provide trained Bell UH-1N Twin Huey and Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk crewmembers to United States Air Force helicopter units worldwide.

History

World War II

Background

In early 1942, the Afrika Corps was threatening British forces in Egypt. In response, two contingents of American heavy bombers were diverted to support the British. A flight of Consolidated B-24 Liberators being ferried to India was halted from their travel in June and some Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses from the 9th and 436th Bombardment Squadrons were flown to the Middle East from India. On 20 July 1942, these elements were organized into the 1st Provisional Group at RAF Lydda, Palestine.

North African operations

On 31 October 1942, the 1st Group was dissolved and replaced by a formal Army Air Forces unit, the 376th Bombardment Group. The 512th Bombardment Squadron was activated as one of its four component squadrons. The squadron was originally equipped with a mix of Liberators and Flying Fortresses, but by the end of the year, the B-17s were transferred to Twelfth Air Force and the squadron became an all B-24 unit.

Moving forward to bases in Egypt and Libya, the squadron attacked shipping in the Mediterranean and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy to cut enemy supply lines to North Africa. After the fall of Tunisia in May 1943, the squadron focused on attacks on airdromes, marshalling yards, and other objectives in Sicily and Italy, moving forward to Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia in late September. Its actions during these attacks on enemy targets from its activation through August 1943 earned the squadron its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).

On 1 August 1943, operating from Benina Airport, Libya, the squadron participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the low level attack on oil refineries near Ploesti, with the squadron's parent group leading the attack formation. As it approached its assigned targets, the lead aircraft realized that an order from the group commander, who had misidentified the initial point, put the group off course. The group attempted an attack on the Romana Americana refinery, its assigned objective from a different direction. By this time, enemy air defenses had been alerted and intense flak forced the unit to attack targets of opportunity. The squadron was awarded its second DUC for this operation.

Strategic bombing campaign

The squadron moved to San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy in November 1943, where it became part of Fifteenth Air Force and would remain until April 1945. Upon its move to San Pancrazio in November, it was joined by the newly-formed Royal Yugoslav Air Force Detachment, which crewed four B-24 Liberators and would remain attached to the squadron until August 1945. The squadron primarily flew long range strategic bombardment missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, airdromes, bridges, harbors, and other objectives. On 16 June 1944, it received a third DUC for an attack on oil industry targets in Bratislava. The squadron also provided air support for Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, and flew interdiction missions to support the Battle of Monte Cassino between February and March 1944. In the fall of 1944, it assisted the Red Army in its advance through the Balkans, and in early 1945, supported Operation Grapeshot, the spring offensive in Northern Italy. The squadron was withdrawn from combat in April 1945 and left Italy for the United States to re-equip for a role in the Pacific.

The squadron arrived at Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska in May 1945 and began conversion to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. However, the war in the Pacific ended before the squadron was fully trained. After it moved to Fort Worth Army Air Field, Texas on 10 November, the squadron was not fully manned or equipped. It was inactivated on 28 March 1946, and most of its resources at Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico were absorbed by the 509th Bombardment Group.

Weather reconnaissance

The squadron was redesignated the 512th Reconnaissance Squadron and activated at Gravelly Point, Virginia in May 1947. Although the squadron was reassigned to Air Weather Service in September, and to the 308th Reconnaissance Group in October, it was not manned before inactivating on 20 September 1948.

The squadron was reactivated at Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California in February 1949. After drawing its cadre and training with the 2078th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on various models of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the squadron moved to Yokota Air Base, Japan in January 1950. Air Weather Service reorganized its weather reconnaissance assets at this time, inactivating the 308th Reconnaissance Group, and reassigning its squadrons to its regional headquarters. This resulted in the assignment of the squadron to the 2143d Air Weather Wing.

The squadron was located at Yokota when the Korean War began in June. It began to perform daily weather reconnaissance missions over the combat zone. It conducted shipping surveillance and visual reconnaissance, and also performed electronic countermeasures reconnaissance. In the early days of the conflict, the squadron also dropped leaflets. Initially unarmed, and later only lightly armed with two .50-caliber machine guns in the tail turret, unit WB-29s flew daily missions over enemy-held territory.

From 27 June through 27 December 1950, the squadron flew over 200 combat missions, making over 5,000 weather observations. These missions were "exceptionally hazardous" because of varying weather conditions and exposure to attack over enemy territory. One of the squadron's WB-29s served as an aerial command post and weather station, giving on-the-spot weather data and directions to incoming bombers on the first B-29 strike against North Korean installations. On this and several later such missions, the WB-29 carried Major General Emmett O'Donnell, Jr., Commander of Far East Air Forces Bomber Command. These actions earned the squadron one of the first Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards awarded. The squadron was inactivated and replaced by the 56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in February 1951.

Strategic Air Command

The squadron was redesignated the 512th Bombardment Squadron and reactivated at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas in June 1951. The squadron was again equipped with Superfortress bombers and assigned to the 376th Group. It began training in strategic bombardment in August. However, SAC’s mobilization for the Korean War highlighted that SAC wing commanders focused too much on running the base organization and did not spend enough time on overseeing actual combat preparations. To allow wing commanders the ability to focus on combat operations, the air base group commander became responsible for managing the base housekeeping functions. Under the plan implemented in February 1951 and finalized in June 1952, the wing commander focused primarily on the combat units and the maintenance necessary to support combat aircraft by having the combat and maintenance squadrons report directly to the wing and eliminating the intermediate group structures. As a result of this "dual deputy" reorganization, the 376th Group was inactivated and the squadron was assigned directly to the 376th Bombardment Wing in June 1952.

The squadron moved to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in October. By November 1952, electronic countermeasures (ECM) training began to predominate over bombardment, and by September 1953, ECM had become the unit's primary mission. In 1954, the squadron converted to Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet medium bombers. From July to October 1955, the squadron deployed to RAF Upper Heyford, England as part of Operation Reflex, maintaining bombers on alert at the advanced station. Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90-day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments However, after 1958, Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 units began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases and the squadron did not deploy again as a unit. It moved again in 1957, this time to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio.

During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, SAC dispersed its B-47s on 22 October. Most dispersal bases were civilian airfields with Reserve or Air National Guard units. B-47s were configured for execution of the Emergency War Order as soon as possible after dispersal. On 24 October SAC went to DEFCON 2, placing all aircraft on alert. On 15 November 1/6 of the dispersed B-47s were recalled to their home bases. The remaining dispersed B-47s and supporting tankers were recalled on 24 November. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture. The squadron continued to train in electronic warfare techniques until beginning to phase down for inactivation in March 1965 with the retirement of the Stratojet from SAC's inventory.

Helicopter training

The squadron was activated at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico as the 512th Special Operations Squadron in April 1994, when the 58th Special Operations Wing replaced the 542d Crew Training Wing at Kirtland. The squadron retained its mission of training helicopter aircrew and participation in special operations contingencies, exercises, and humanitarian rescue helicopter training despite a change to its current name in October 2000.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 512th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 October 1942

Activated on 31 October 1942

Redesignated 512th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 3 May 1944

Redesignated 512th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 23 May 1945

Inactivated on 26 March 1946

• Redesignated 512th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long-Range, Weather on 6 May 1947

Activated on 23 May 1947

Inactivated on 20 September 1948

• Activated on 13 February 1949

Inactivated on 20 February 1951

• Redesignated 512th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 25 May 1951

Activated on 1 June 1951

Inactivated on 15 March 1965

• Redesignated 512th Special Operations Squadron on 25 March 1994

Activated on 1 April 1994

Redesignated 512th Rescue Squadron on 6 October 2000

Assignments

• 376th Bombardment Group, 31 October 1942
• 468th Bombardment Group, 10 November 1945 – 26 March 1946
• 376th Reconnaissance Group, 23 May 1947
• Air Weather Service, 16 September 1947
• 308th Reconnaissance Group, 14 October 1947 – 20 September 1948
• 308th Reconnaissance Group, 1 February 1949
• 2143d Air Weather Wing, 14 November 1949 – 20 February 1951
• 376th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1951
• 376th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 15 March 1965
• 58th Operations Group, 1 April 1994 – present

Stations

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1942)
• Convair B-24 Liberator (1942–1945)
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1945, 1949–1951, 1951–1954)
• Boeing RB-29 Superfortress (1949–1951)
• Boeing WB-29 Superfortress (1949–1951)
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1949–1950)
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster (1950–1951)
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet (1954–1961)
• Boeing E-47 (later EB-470 Stratojet (1961–1965)
• Bell UH-1N Twin Huey (1994–present)
• Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk (1994–present)

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	November 1942 – 17 August 1943	North Africa and Sicily, 512th Bombardment Squadron
	Distinguished Unit Citation	1 August 1943	Ploesti, Romania, 512th Bombardment Squadron
	Distinguished Unit Citation	16 June 1944	Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, 512th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	27 June 1950 – 27 December 1950	512th Reconnaissance Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1994 – 30 June 1995	512th Special Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1998 – 30 June 2000	512th Special Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2001 – 30 June 2002	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2002 – 30 June 2003	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2003 – 30 June 2004	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2009 – 30 June 2011	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2011 – 30 June 2013	512th Rescue Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 2016 – 30 June 2018	512th Rescue Squadron

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	31 October 1942 – 5 June 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	31 October 1942 – 11 May 1945	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Egypt-Libya	31 October 1942 – 12 February 1943	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Tunisia	12 November 1942 – 13 May 1943	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Sicily	14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Naples-Foggia	18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Anzio	22 January 1944 – 24 May 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Rome-Arno	22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Central Europe	22 March 1944 – 18 April 1945	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Southern France	15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944	512th Bombardment Squadron
	North Apennines	10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	512th Bombardment Squadron
	Po Valley	3 April 1945 – 18 April 1945	512th Bombardment Squadron
	UN Defensive	27 June 1950 – 15 September 1950	512th Reconnaissance Squadron
	UN Offensive	16 September 1950 – 2 November 1950	512th Reconnaissance Squadron
	CCF Intervention	3 November 1950 – 24 January 1951	512th Reconnaissance Squadron
	1st UN Counteroffensive	25 January 1951 – 20 February 1951	512th Reconnaissance Squadron

See also

• List of United States Air Force rescue squadrons
• List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
• List of B-29 Superfortress operators
• List of Douglas C-47 Skytrain operators
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
• B-24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Aapproved 13 April 1995.
2. Approved 6 January 1944. Description: On a white disc, a black skull and crossbones surmounting a black three-bladed propeller, one blade to base, within border formed by red counter-clockwise stylized rotation lines from tips of propeller blades.
3. The aircraft displayed is Consolidated B-24J-30-CO Liberator, serial 42-73278, parked at Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia in October 1943.
4. Both Maurer and Robertson refer to this station as "Tarrant Field". Robertson, Factsheet, 512th Rescue Squadron; Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 616. However, Mueller states that the field was renamed Fort Worth Army Air Field on 29 July 1942 and retained this name until 1948. Mueller, p. 63. Also, elsewhere Maurer gives the station of the parent 468th Group as "Fort Worth AAF." Maurer, Combat Units, p. 344.

Citations

1. ^ Robertson, Patsy (9 October 2009). "Factsheet 512 Rescue Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 616
3. ^ "Factsheet 512th Rescue Squadron". Air Education and Training Command. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
4. Rust, pp. 11–12
5. Rust, p. 18
6. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 264–265
7. Rust, p. 20
8. Cruickshank, p. 81
9. Cruickshank, p. 86
10. Cruickshank, Target Table, p. 40
11. Thomas, Nigel; Babac, Dusan (2022). Yugoslav Armies 1941–45. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 1472842014.
12. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 182–184
13. ^ Endicott, pp. 82–83
14. Deaile, pp. 175–176
15. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 200–202
16. Narducci, p. 2
17. Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
18. Kipp, et al., p. 49
19. Kipp, et al., p. 35
20. Kipp, et al., pp. 53, 61
21. Haulman, Daniel L. (2 March 2009). "Factsheet 542 Combat Sustainment Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
22. Bailey, Carl E. (27 March 2018). "Factsheet 58 Special Operations Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
23. ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 26 January 2020. (search)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Cruickshank, Earl (June 1944). "The Ploesti Mission of 1 August 1943, USAF Historical Study No. 103" (PDF). Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence, Historical Division. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
• Deaile, Melvin G. (2007). The SAC Mentality: The Origins of Organizational Culture in Strategic Air Command 1946–1962. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
• Endicott, Judy G., ed. (2001). The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950–1953 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. ISBN 0-16-050901-7. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Futrell, Robert F. (1983). The United States Air Forces in Korea 1950-1953. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-71-4. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
• Kipp, Robert; Peake, Lynn; Wolk, Herman. "Strategic Air Command Operations in the Cuban Crisis of 1962, SAC Historical Study No. 90 (Top Secret NOFORN, FRD, redacted and declassified)". Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Narducci, Henry M. (1988). Strategic Air Command and the Alert Program: A Brief History. Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Rust, Kenn C. (1967). The 9th Air Force in World War II. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc. LCCN 67-16454.
• Schake, Col Kurt W. (1998). Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950–1960 (PDF). Trondheim, Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ISBN 978-8277650241. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

v t e Air Education and Training Command (AETC)
Air Forces	Second Nineteenth Air University
Bases	Altus Columbus Goodfellow Gunter Annex Holloman Keesler Lackland Laughlin Luke Maxwell Randolph Sheppard Tyndall Vance
Wings	12th Flying Training 14th Flying Training 17th Training 33d Fighter 37th Training 42d Air Base 47th Flying Training 49th Wing 56th Fighter 58th Special Operations 59th Medical 71st Flying Training 80th Flying Training 81st Training 82d Training 97th Air Mobility 314th Airlift 502d Air Base
Groups	336th Training Group 381st Training Group

v t e Strategic Air Command (SAC)
Bases	active (MAJCOM) CONUS Altus (AETC) Andersen (PACAF) Andrews (AMC) Barksdale (ACC) Beale (ACC) Bolling (AFDW) Cannon (AFSOC) Cape Cod (USSF) Columbus (AETC) Davis-Monthan (ACC) Dyess (ACC) Eielson (PACAF) Ellsworth (ACC) Eglin (AFMC) F. E. Warren (AFGSC) Fairchild (AMC) Forbes (ANG) Grand Forks (AMC) Grissom (AFRC) Homestead (AFRC) Lincoln (ANG) Little Rock (AETC) MacDill (AMC) Malmstrom (AFGSC) March (AFRC) McChord (AMC) McConnell (AMC) McGuire (AMC) Minot (ACC) Mountain Home (ACC) Nellis (ACC) Offutt (ACC) Patrick (USSF) Pease (ANG) Rickenbacker (ANG) Robins (AFMC) Seymour Johnson (ACC) Sheppard (AETC) Selfridge (ANG) Travis (AMC) Vandenberg (USSF) Westover (AFRC) Whiteman (ACC) Wright-Patterson (AFMC) overseas RAF Alconbury (USAFE) Diego Garcia (USN) Kadena (PACAF) RAF Fairford (USAFE) RAF Lakenheath (USAFE) RAF Mildenhall (USAFE) Thule (USSF) former / inactive CONUS Amarillo Bergstrom Biggs Calumet Air Force Station Carswell Castle Chennault Clinton-Sherman Dow Eaker Glasgow Grand Island (AAF) Griffiss Hunter K. I. Sawyer Kearney Kincheloe Larson Loring Lowry Mather McCoy Plattsburgh Presque Isle Ramey R.I. Bong (unbuilt) Schilling Stead Turner Walker Wurtsmith overseas Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom RAF Bassingbourn Ben Guerir Boulhaut RAF Brize Norton RAF Bruntingthorpe RAF Burtonwood RAF Chelveston RAF Greenham Common Goose Ernest Harmon RAF High Wycombe RAF Upper Heyford Torrejón RAF Manston Morón Nouasseur Rabat-Salé RAF Scampton RAF Sculthorpe Sidi Slimane RAF South Ruislip U-Tapao RAF Waddington RAF Woodbridge RAF Wyton Zaragoza
Units	Air Forces Second Air Force Eighth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force Sixteenth Air Force Twentieth Air Force Divisions Air 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 12th 14th 17th 19th 21st 36th 40th 42d 45th 47th 57th 100th 311th 801st 802d 806th 817th 822d 823d 4310th Strategic aerospace 1st 18th 22d 810th 813th 816th 818th 819th 820th 821st 825th Strategic missile 13th Wings Bombardment 2d 5th 7th 9th 17th 19th 22d 28th 39th 40th 42d 43d 68th 70th 72d 92d 93d 96th 97th 99th 303d 319th 320th 340th 379th 380th 397th 410th 416th 449th 450th 454th 456th 461st 465th 484th 494th 509th Fighter 1st 4th 12th 27th 31st 33d 56th 71st Strategic Reconnaissance (Fighter) 82d 407th 506th 508th Missile 44th 90th 91st 308th 321st 341st 351st 381st 389th 390th 392d 451st 455th 702d 703d 704th 705th 706th 4320th Strategic Wing (Missile) Reconnaissance 6th Strategic Reconnaissance 26th Strategic Reconnaissance 55th Strategic Reconnaissance 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Refueling 11th 100th 301st 305th 384th 452d 497th 499th 500th Strategic Aerospace 310th 385th 462d AFCON 95th 98th 306th 307th 376th MAJCOM 3918th 3920th 3960th 3970th 3973d 4026th 4038th 4039th 4042d 4043d 4047th 4080th 4081st 4082d 4083d 4123d 4126th 4128th 4130th 4133d 4134th 4135th 4136th 4137th 4138th 4141st 4157th 4158th 4170th 4228th 4238th 4239th 4241st 4245th 4252nd 4258th 4321st USAAF Groups *= initial assigned unit upon SAC's activation Bombardment 2d (7/47) 7th (10/46) 28th (8/46) 40th (3/46*) 43rd (10/46) 44th (3/46*) 92nd (10/46) 93d (3/46*) 97th (8/46) 98th (7/47) 301st (8/46) 307th (8/46) 444th (3/46*) 448th (3/46*) 449th (3/46*) 467th (3/46*) 485th (3/46*) 498th (3/46*) 509th Composite (3/46*) Fighter 27th (6/47) 55th (2/47) Reconnaissance 91st Strategic Reconnaissance (1/47)
Major weapon systems	Bombers Rockwell B-1 Lancer Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Boeing B-29 Superfortress Convair B-36 Peacemaker North American B-45 Tornado Boeing B-47 Stratojet Boeing B-50 Superfortress Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Convair B-58 Hustler General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark Command & Control Lockheed DC-130 Boeing E-4 Boeing EC-135 Boeing RC-135 Fighters North American F-2 Mustang North American F-82 Twin Mustang Republic F-84F Thunderstreak North American F-86 Sabre Convair F-102 Delta Dagger General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark Missiles ADM-20 AGM-28 AGM-69 AGM-84 AGM-86 AGM-129 HGM-16 LGM-30A/B LGM-30F LGM-30G LGM-118A SM-62 PGM-17A PGM-19A Reconnaissance Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Lockheed TR-1 Lockheed U-2 Martin RB-57D Canberra Boeing RB-17 Boeing RB-29 Tankers Boeing KB-29 Superfortress Boeing KB-50 McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter Lockheed HC-130 Lockheed Martin KC-130 Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker Transport Beechcraft C-45 Douglas C-47 Skytrain Douglas C-54 Skymaster Fairchild C-82 Packet Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter Douglas C-118 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar Douglas C-124 Globemaster II Convair C-131 Samaritan Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
Commanders	George Kenney Curtis LeMay Power Ryan Joseph J. Nazzaro Bruce K. Holloway John C. Meyer Russell E. Dougherty Richard H. Ellis Bennie L. Davis Larry D. Welch John T. Chain, Jr, George Lee Butler
Emblems	Strategic Air Command Emblem Gallery
United States military aircraft designation systems

v t e  United States Air Force In South Korea
United States Forces Korea Pacific Air Forces
Bases (current)	Kunsan Osan
Units (current)	Command Seventh Air Force Wings 8th Fighter Wing 51st Fighter Wing
Units (wartime)	Command Fifth Air Force 314th Air Division 315th Air Division Far East Air Forces Bomber Command Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command Far East Air Forces Materiel Command Fighter 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing 27th Fighter-Escort Wing 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing 116th Fighter-Bomber Wing (ANG) 136th Fighter-Bomber Wing (ANG) 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Bomber 3rd Bombardment Wing 17th Bombardment Wing 19th Bombardment Wing 22d Bombardment Group 92d Bombardment Wing 98th Bombardment Wing 307th Bombardment Wing 452d Bombardment Wing Recon 31st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 512th Reconnaissance Squadron 543d Tactical Support Group Transport 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional) 61st Troop Carrier Group 314th Troop Carrier Group 315th Troop Carrier Wing 374th Troop Carrier Wing 403d Troop Carrier Wing 437th Troop Carrier Wing 483rd Troop Carrier Wing TACC 502nd Tactical Control Group 6147th Tactical Control Group Other 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing 6167th Air Base Group
USAF units and aircraft of the Korean War

v t e USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in World War II
Stations	Tunisia Bizerte Depienne Enfidaville Massicault Oudna Pont du Fahs Sainte Marie du Zit Soliman Italy Amendola Bari Castelltuccio Cattolica Celone Cerignola Fano Foggia Gioia del Colle Grottaglie Giulia Lesina Lucera Madna Manduria Marcianise Mondolfo Pantanella Piagiolino Pisa Rimini Salsosa San Giovanni San Pancrazio San Severo Spinazzola Sterparone Tortorella Torremaggiore Torretto Triolo Venosa Vincenzo
Units	Wings 5th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 49th Bombardment 55th Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Fighter (P) 306th Fighter Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 463d Bombardment 464th Bombardment 465th Bombardment 483d Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment Fighter 1st Fighter 14th Fighter 31st Fighter 52d Fighter 82d Fighter 325th Fighter 332d Fighter
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Twelfth Air Force in World War II
Stations Morocco Berguent Casablanca Guercif Louis Gentil Marnia Médiouna Nouasser Port Lyautey Oujda Rabat Sale Ras el Ma Algeria Ain M'lila Berteaux Biskra Canrobert Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Constantine Es Sénia (Oran) Maison Blanche (Algiers) Matemore Montesquieu Nouvion Orleansville Philippeville Relizane Rerhaia Saint-Donat Saint-Leu Sedrata Sainte-Barbe du Tlélat Tafaraoui (Oran) Tébessa Telergma Thiersville Youks-les-Bains Tunisia Bizerte Dar el Koudia Depienne Djedeida Djilma Ebba Ksour El Djem El Bathan Enfidaville Goubrine Grombalia Hergla Kairouan Korba La Marsa La Sebala Le Sers Massicault Mateur Menzel Temime Monastir Oudna Pont du Fahs Protville Sainte Marie du Zit Souk-el-Arba Souk-el-Khemis Soliman Sousse Thelepte Italy Agrigento (Sicily) Bagnoli Barcelona LG (Sicily) Bari Boccadifalco (Sicily) Borizzo (Sicily) Capodichino (Naples) Castel Volturno Castelvetrano (Sicily) Cassibile (Sicily) Cattolica Catania (Sicily) Cercola Comiso (Sicily) Ciampino (Rome) Cesenatico Decimomannu (Sardinia) Elmas (Sardinia) Falconara Fano Florence Foggia Follonica Gaudo Gerbini (Sicily) Gioia Grosseto Grottaglie Iesi Le Banca Lecce Licata (Sicily) Manduria Marcianise Malignano Mazzara (Sicily) Milazzo (Sicily) Messina (Sicily) Montalto Di Castro Nettuno Montecorvino Ombrene Orbetello Paestum Pisa Pantelleria Pignataro Maggiore Piombino Pomigliano Ponte Galeria Pontedera Pompeii Ponte Olivo (Sicily) Reggio Calabria Rocca Bernardo Rosia San Pancrazio Santa Maria Scordia (Sicily) Sele Serretella Tarquinia Termini (Sicily) Tortorella Torrente Comunelli Tre Cancello Voltone Vesuvius France Aghione (Corsica) Amberieu (Y-5) Amiens (B-48) Clastres (A-71) Dijon (Y-9) Dôle-Tavaux (Y-7) Ghisonaccia (Corsica) Gisonochia (Corsica) Istres (Y-17) La Vallon (Y-18) Le Luc Luneville (Y-2) Loyettes (Y-25) Poretta (Corsica) Saint-Dizier (A-64) Salon de Provence (Y-16) Serragia (Corsica) Solonzara (Corsica) Tantonville (Y-1) Toul-Ochey (A-96)
Units Commands XII Bomber XII Tactical Air XXII Tactical Air XII Troop Carrier (Provisional) Wings 5th Bombardment 42d Bombardment 47th Bombardment (7th Fighter) 51st Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 57th Bombardment 62d Fighter 63d Fighter 64th Fighter 87th Fighter 90th Photographic Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 12th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 310th Bombardment 319th Bombardment 320th Bombardment 321st Bombardment 340th Bombardment 376th Bombardment Fighter 1st Fighter 14th Fighter 27th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 81st Fighter 82d Fighter 86th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 332d Fighter 350th Fighter Reconnaissance 3d Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 68th Reconnaissance Troop carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier Squadrons 15th Bombardment 414th Night Fighter 415th Night Fighter 416th Night Fighter 417th Night Fighter 427th Night Fighter
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Second Air Force in World War II
Airfields	Airfields
Units	Commands II Air Support Command II Bomber Command II Fighter Command IV Air Support Command XX Bomber Command XXI Bomber Command XXII Bomber Command Wings 5th Bombardment 15th Bombardment Training 16th Bombardment Operational Training 17th Bombardment Training 18th Replacement 21st Bombardment 46th Bombardment Operational Training 58th Bombardment 73rd Bombardment 315th Bombardment 316th Bombardment Groups Bombardment 2nd Bombardment 6th Bombardment 7th Bombardment 9th Bombardment 12th Bombardment 16th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 25th Bombardment 29th Bombardment 34th Bombardment 39th Bombardment 40th Bombardment 42nd Bombardment 46th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 48th Bombardment 85th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 88th Bombardment 94th Bombardment 95th Bombardment 96th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 100th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302nd Bombardment 303rd Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Bombardment 306th Bombardment 307th Bombardment 308th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 330th Bombardment 331st Bombardment 333rd Bombardment 346th Bombardment 351st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 379th Bombardment 381st Bombardment 382nd Bombardment 383rd Bombardment 384th Bombardment 385th Bombardment 388th Bombardment 390th Bombardment 393rd Bombardment 395th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 398th Bombardment 399th Bombardment 400th Bombardment 401st Bombardment 407th Bombardment 415th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 444th Bombardment 445th Bombardment 446th Bombardment 447th Bombardment 448th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 452nd Bombardment 453rd Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 457th Bombardment 458th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 462nd Bombardment 464th Bombardment 467th Bombardment 468th Bombardment 469th Bombardment 470th Bombardment 471st Bombardment 472nd Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment 486th Bombardment 487th Bombardment 488th Bombardment 489th Bombardment 490th Bombardment 491st Bombardment 493rd Bombardment 494th Bombardment 497th Bombardment 498th Bombardment 499th Bombardment 500th Bombardment 501st Bombardment 502nd Bombardment 504th Bombardment 505th Bombardment 509th Composite Fighter 20th Fighter 54th Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 507th Fighter 508th Fighter Reconnaissance 2nd Reconnaissance 3rd Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 7th Reconnaissance 8th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 443nd Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Military units and formations in New Mexico
• Rescue squadrons of the United States Air Force