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This is a list of missile wings activated by the United States Air Force during and after the Cold War. Although most of these wings included the word "missile" in their designations, the majority of units operating Convair SM-65 Atlas and Martin SM-68A Titan I intercontinental ballistic missiles were strategic wings or strategic aerospace wings, which combined missile, bomber and air refueling units. The dates for these wings are the dates that they had missile squadrons assigned, rather than their activation and inactivation dates.

The list is organized numerically by weapons system designation, using the Air Force system in use until the tri-service aircraft designation system came into effect for missiles with such designation. Within missile types, wings are ordered numerically by wing designation.

Martin TM-61 (MGM-1) Matador and TM-61B (TM-76, MGM-13B, CGM-13C) Mace

The Martin MGM-1 Matador was the first operational surface-to-surface cruise missile designed and built by the United States. The Matador included a radio command that allowed in-flight course corrections. The Matador was armed with the W5 warhead.

The Martin TM-76 Mace was originally the TM-61B, a tactical cruise missile developed as an improved TM-61 Matador. The MGM-13B was launched from a transporter erector launcher and the CGM-13C was launched from an underground bunker. While the MGM-13B was equipped with terrain-matching radar navigation, the CGM-13C used an inertial navigation system.

Wings operating the TM-61 Matador and TM-76 Mace

Northrop SM-62 Snark

The Northrop SM-62 Snark was an early-model intercontinental cruise missile that could carry a W39 nuclear warhead. The Snark was deployed from 1958 through 1961. It represented an important step in weapons technology during the Cold War.

Wings operating the SM-62 Snark

Convair SM-65 (CGM-16D, CGM-16E, HGM-16F) Atlas

The Convair SM-65 Atlas was the United States' first successful ICBM, flown in 1957, and taken out of active service in 1965. Strategic Air Command deployed Atlas model D, Atlas model E, and Atlas model F. The Atlas used liquid fuel and it took 15 minutes to pump 249,000 pounds of propellant aboard the "quick firing" Atlas F. However, it was dangerous, as four Atlas silos were destroyed when propellant-loading exercises went awry.

Wings operating the SM-65 Atlas

Martin SM-68A (HGM-25A) Titan I

The Martin HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage intercontinental ballistic missile. It required liquid fuel. Originally designed as a backup in case SM-65 Atlas missile development ran into problems, the Titan was ultimately beaten into service by Atlas. Deployment went ahead anyway to more rapidly increase the number of missiles on alert and because the Titan's missile silo basing was more survivable than Atlas.

Wings operating the SM 68A (HGM-25A) Titan I

Martin SM-68C (LGM-25C) Titan II

The Martin LGM-25C Titan II carried a payload twice as heavy as the Titan I. It also used storable propellants, which reduced the time to launch and permitted it to be launched from its silo. Titan II carried the W53 warhead, making it the most powerful ICBM in the US arsenal.

Wings operating the SM 68C (HGM-25C) Titan II

Douglas SM-75 (PGM-17) Thor

The Douglas SM-75 Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the United States Air Force (USAF). Named after the Norse god of thunder, it was deployed in the United Kingdom between 1959 and September 1963.

Wings operating the SM-75 Thor

Boeing IM-99 (CIM-10) BOMARC

The Boeing IM-99 BOMARC (Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center) was a supersonic ramjet powered long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) used during the Cold War for the air defense of North America. In addition to being the first operational long-range SAM and the first operational pulse doppler aviation radar, it was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force.

Wings operating the IM-99 BOMARC

LGM-30 Minuteman

The LGM-30 Minuteman, first flown in 1961 was developed to replace the hazards inherent in the caustic, volatile liquid-fuel systems of the Atlas and Titan ICBMs. Two innovations gave the Minuteman a long practical service life: a solid rocket booster making the Minuteman faster to launch than other ICBMs, and a digital flight computer, one of the first recognizably modern embedded systems.

Wings operating LGM-30 Minuteman

General Dynamics BGM-109 Gryphon

The General Dynamics BGM-109G Gryphon was a ground-launched cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War with a W80 warhead.It was developed as a counter to the mobile nuclear missiles deployed by the Soviet Union in Eastern Bloc European countries. It was removed from service under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Wings operating BGM-109 Gryphon

LGM-118 Peacekeeper

The LGM-118 Peacekeeper, initially known as the MX (for Missile-eXperimental), was a land-based ICBM. A total of 50 missiles were deployed. They were withdrawn from service by 2005 to comply with the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Armed with up to 10 re-entry vehicles, each carrying a W87 warhead, the Peacekeeper was the most powerful ICBM deployed by the United States.

Wings operating LGM-118 Peacekeeper

Multiple missile systems

Wings operating multiple missile systems

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Replaced 701st Tactical Missile Wing. Ravenstein, p. 67
2. Replaced by 38th Tactical Missile Wing. Ravenstein, p. 67
3. The squadron was located at Patrick AFB until July 1959. When it moved to Presque Isle, it was inactivated and the missiles were assigned directly to the wing.
4. Predecessor to 4320th Strategic Wing
5. In 1964, the 40th Strategic Aerospace Wing was inactivated and SAC transferred Forbes to Tactical Air Command. For the seven months until the 548th Squadron was inactivated, it was transferred to the 55th Wing.
6. The wing replaced the 4321st Strategic Wing
7. The wing replaced the 706th Strategic Missile Wing
8. The wing was replaced by the 389th Strategic Missile Wing
9. Predecessor to 706th Strategic Missile Wing
10. Replaced 703rd Strategic Missile Wing.
11. Replaced 4129th Strategic Wing.
12. Replaced 4170th Strategic Wing.
13. Replaced by 451st Strategic Missile Wing.
14. Replaced by 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing.
15. Replaced by 462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing.
16. Replaced 455th Strategic Missile Wing.
17. It continued to operate missiles until 1998 as a group
18. Replaced by 91st Strategic Missile Wing.
19. Was 2754th Experimental Wing, redesignated Holloman Air Development Test Center.

Citations

1. Lanning, p. 11, 12-13
2. Lanning pp. 20-21
3. Ravenstein, pp. 66-67
4. Ravenstein, pp. 291-292
5. "Northrop SM-62 Snark". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
6. Ravenstein, p. 292
7. Ravenstein, pp. 16-17
8. Ravenstein, pp. 26-27
9. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 128-130
10. Ravenstein, pp. 88-90
11. Ravenstein, pp. 138-141
12. Ravenstein, p. 158-159
13. ^ Ravenstein, p. 211
14. Ravenstein, p. 294
15. Mueller, p. 184
16. Greene, pp. 11, 13
17. Ravenstein, pp. 23-24
18. Maurer, p. 781
19. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 73-74
20. Ravenstein, p. 247
21. Ravenstein, pp. 251-252
22. Ravenstein, p. 256
23. Ravenstein, pp. 292-293
24. Maurer, pp. 781-782
25. Maurer, pp. 665-666
26. Information through September 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 156-158
27. ^ Information through September 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 206-207
28. Ravenstein, p. 294; Maurer, pp. 700-701
29. Baugher, Joe. "Boeing/MARC F-99". JoeBaugher.com. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
30. Mueller, p. 130
31. Mueller, p. 243
32. Bailey, Carl E. (2 August 2006). "Factsheet 303 Aeronautical Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
33. Bailey, Carl E. (3 March 2003). "Lineage and Honors History of the 485th Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
34. Endicott, Judy G. (26 March 2003). "Lineage and Honors History of the 486 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
35. Stephens, Maj Tonia (14 June 2017). "Factsheet 501 Combat Support Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
36. ^ "The Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM". The Nuclear Weapon Archive. 10 October 1997. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
37. Ravenstein, pp. 212-213
38. Ravenstein, p. 139
39. Ravenstein, pp. 293-294
40. ^ Mueller, p. 465
41. ^ Mueller, p. 249

Bibliography

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

• Green, Warren E. (1962). The Development of the SM-68 Titan (Secret-NOFORN) (declassified) (Report). AFSC Historical Publications 62-23-1. Andrews AFB, MD: Air Force Systems Command. Retrieved 12 June 2022. (Homeland Security Digital Library link to .pdf)
• Lanning, Lt Col Randall L. (1992). United States Air Force Ground Launched Cruise Missiles: A Study in Technology, Concepts and Deterrence (pdf) (Report). Maxwell AFB, AL: Air War College. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
• 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.
• 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.
• SAC Missile Chronology 1939-1988 (PDF). Offutt AFB, NE: Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command. 1990. ISBN 978-1521159439. Retrieved 29 January 2018.

Further reading

• Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. I, 1945–1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-43792-131-1.
• Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-43792-131-1.
• Mindling, George; Bolton, Robert (2008). U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969: The Pioneers. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-557-00029-6. LCCN 2008908364. (link to Google Books partial text)

• Missile wings of the United States Air Force
• Lists of United States Air Force units and formations