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==References==
==References==

* Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
* Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
* Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/40aew.htm 40th Air Expeditionary Wing]


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 00:33, 13 October 2007

40th Air Expeditionary Wing
40th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem
Active22 November 1940 -Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Garrison/HQ[[]], [[]]

The United States Air Force's 40th Air Expeditionary Wing (40 AEW) is an Air Expeditionary unit located at Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean.

Mission

The 40 AEW's current mission is to suppport combat forces in Afghanistan and other combat areas supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing units present in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable.

Known Units

  • 60th Air Expeditionary Group
  • 462nd Air Expeditionary Group

History

Lineage

Bases stationed

Aircraft & Missiles Operated

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 40th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 22 Nov 1940. Activated in Puerto Rico on 1 Apr 1941. Redesignated 40th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1942. Trained and patrolled the Caribbean area, using B-17 and B-26 aircraft. Operated first from Puerto Rico and later from the Panama Canal Zone.

Moved to the US in Jun 1943. Redesignated 40th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Nov 1943. After training with B-29's, moved to India, via Africa, Mar-Jun 1944. Assigned to Twentieth AF in Jun 1944. Transported supplies over the Hump to staging bases in China before entering combat with a strike on railroad shops at Bangkok, Thailand, on 5 Jun 1944. On 15 Jun participated in the first AAF attack on Japan since the Doolittle raid in 1942. Operating from bases in India, and at times staging through fields in China, the group struck such targets as transportation centers, naval installations, iron works, and aircraft plants in Burma, Thailand, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Formosa, receiving a DUC for bombing iron and steel works at Yawata, Japan, on 20 Aug 1944. From a staging field in Ceylon, it mined waters near the port of Palembang, Sumatra, in Aug 1944.

Moved to Tinian, Feb-Apr 1945, for further operations against Japan. Made daylight attacks from high altitude on strategic targets, participated in incendiary raids on urban areas, and dropped mines in Japanese shipping lanes. Received a DUC for attacking naval aircraft factories at Kure, oil storage facilities at Oshima, and the industrial area of Nagoya, in May 1945. Raided light metal industries in Osaka in Jul 1945, being awarded another DUC for this mission. After V-J Day, dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, Korea, and Formosa, and took part in show-of-force missions. Returned to the US in Nov 1945. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 Mar 1946.

Inactivated on 1 Oct 1946

Cold War

Activated in May 1952 but not manned until early Feburary 1953 when the wing gained personnel and equipment from a previoulsly established provisional squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona as a holding unit for people and equipment surplus to another SAC wing. Recieved control and guidance from the 310th Bombardment Wing at Smoky Hill AFB, Kansas to 1 May 1953. By October 1953, all tactical squadrons were minimially operational.

Converted from B-29s to B-47s in 1954 and became combat-ready in April 1955. Deployed to RAF Lakenheath, England 9 June - 9 September 1955. Performed bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet SAC's global comittments, 1955-1964. Deployed to RAF Greenham Common, England, July - October 1957.

Gained an Atlas missile squadron in January 1964. Began phasing down for inactivation shortly thereafter. Non-Operational 15 August - 1 September 1964.

Inactivated 1 September 1964.

Global War On Terrorism

Reactivated 2001 as Air Expiditionary Wing to perform combat activities as part of the Global War On Terrorism.

See Also

References

  • Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
  • Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
  • Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983
  • 40th Air Expeditionary Wing

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=40th_Air_Expeditionary_Wing&oldid=164170760"