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The [[United States Air Force]]'s '''341st Missile Wing''' (341 MW) is an [[ICBM|intercontinental ballistic missile]] unit headquartered at [[Malmstrom AFB]], [[Montana]]. Until July 1, 2008, it was designated as the 341st Space Wing.
The [[United States Air Force]]'s '''341st Missile Wing''' (341 MW) is an [[ICBM|intercontinental ballistic missile]] unit headquartered at [[Malmstrom AFB]], [[Montana]]. Until July 1, 2008, it was designated as the 341st Space Wing.

Established as a [[World War II]] [[Tenth Air Force]] [[B-25 Mitchell]] bomb group in [[India]], the unit served as part of [[Strategic Air Command]] during the early part of the [[Cold War]] as a [[B-47 Stratojet]] wing, before becoming a [[Intercontinental ballistic missile]] unit in 1962. Today, the 341st is one of three remaining [[United States Air Force]] wings that maintain and operate the [[LGM-30 Minuteman|Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile]].


==Mission==
==Mission==
The 341 MW is one of three USAF wings that maintain and operate the [[LGM-30 Minuteman|Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile]]. The 341st Missile Wing reports directly to [[Twentieth Air Force]], [[F.E. Warren Air Force Base]], [[Wyoming]]., and is part of [[Air Force Global Strike Command]], headquartered at [[Peterson Air Force Base]], [[Colorado]].
The 341st Missile Wing reports directly to [[Twentieth Air Force]], [[F.E. Warren Air Force Base]], [[Wyoming]]., and is part of [[Air Force Global Strike Command]], headquartered at [[Peterson Air Force Base]], [[Colorado]].


The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.
The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.

Revision as of 18:36, 9 November 2009

341st Missile Wing
File:341st Missile Wing.jpeg
341st Missile Wing emblem
Active19xx–Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Part ofAir Force Global Strike Command
Garrison/HQMalmstrom Air Force Base
Motto(s)PAX ORBIS PER ARMA AERIA - World Peace Through Air Strength
Decorations DUC
AFOUA

The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing (341 MW) is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. Until July 1, 2008, it was designated as the 341st Space Wing.

Established as a World War II Tenth Air Force B-25 Mitchell bomb group in India, the unit served as part of Strategic Air Command during the early part of the Cold War as a B-47 Stratojet wing, before becoming a Intercontinental ballistic missile unit in 1962. Today, the 341st is one of three remaining United States Air Force wings that maintain and operate the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.

Mission

The 341st Missile Wing reports directly to Twentieth Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming., and is part of Air Force Global Strike Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.

Subordinate Units

History

Lineage

  • Constituted as 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) on August 14, 1942.
    • Activated in India on September 15, 1942
    • Inactivated on November 2, 1945.
  • Redesignated 341st Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to the reserve.
    • Activated on December 27, 1946
    • Inactivated June 27, 1949
  • Established as 341st Bombardment Wing (Medium) on March 23, 1953
    • Activated on September 1, 1955
    • Discontinued and inactivated, June 25, 1961
  • Redesignated 341st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated July 1, 1961
  • Redesignated 341st Missile Wing September 1, 1991
  • Redesignated 341st Space Wing October 1, 1997
  • Redesignated 341st Missile Wing July 1, 2008

Bases assigned

Major Command

Aircraft/Missiles assigned

Operational history

World War II

Constituted as 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) on August 14, 1942. Activated in India on September 15, 1942. Equipped with B-25's.

Entered combat early in 1943 and operated chiefly against enemy transportation in central Burma until 1944. Bombed bridges, locomotives, railroad yards, and other targets to delay movement of supplies to the Japanese troops fighting in northern Burma.

Moved to China in January 1944. Engaged primarily in sea sweeps and attacks against inland shipping. Also bombed and strafed such targets as trains, harbors, and railroads in French Indochina and the Canton-Hong Kong area of China. Received a DUC for developing and using a special (glip) bombing technique against enemy bridges in French Indochina.

The 341st Bomb Group usually functioned as if it were two groups and for a time as three. Soon after its activation in September 1942, 341st Bomb Group Headquarters and three of its squadrons the 22nd, 490th and 491st, and were stationed and operating in India under direction of the Tenth Air Force, while the 11th squadron was stationed and operating in China under direction of the "China Air Task Force", which was later reorganized and reinforced to become the Fourteenth Air Force. Fourteen months later the Group Headquarters along with 22nd and the 491st squadrons joined the 11th squadron under the command of the Fourteenth Air Force. However most of the 490th "Burma Bridge Busters" remained under the command of Major-General Howard Davidson's Tenth Air Force. Still later the 11th Squadron and a detachment of the 491st operated for a time under the East China Task Force.[1] The group moved to the US in October 1945. Inactivated on November 2, 1945.

Cold War

The 341st was formed as a Bombardment Wing in September 1955 at Abeline AFB (later Dyess AFB), Texas, with the B-47 and KC-97 until redesignated as the 341st Strategic Missile Wing in July 1961. The wing relocated to Malmstrom AFB with the LGM-30B Minuteman I assigned from July 1962 until 1969, when it was replaced by the LGM-30F Minuteman II. In 1975, the LGM-30G Minuteman III was added.

On September 1, 1991 the 341st SMW was redesignated simply a Missile Wing, part of Strategic Air Command's Twentieth Air Force. As such it apparently became the only formation designated a 'Missile Wing' ever assigned to SAC. In accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), on September 28, 1991, the 341st Missile Wing began taking its Minuteman IIs off alert and began deactivation of the missiles. The 341st Missile Wing was reassigned from SAC to the Eighth Air Force of Air Combat Command on May 31, 1992.

Inspection failure

In November 2008, the wing failed its nuclear surety inspection, given by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.[2]

References

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

Notes

  1. ^ Life and Times of the 341st Bomb Group: Forward)
  2. ^ Shane, Leo III, "Report: Wyo. Unit Fails Nuke Security Inspection", Stars and Stripes, December 17, 2008; Gertz, Bill, "Air Force Fails New Nuclear Reviews", Washington Times, February 4, 2009.

Bibliography

  • Claire, Thomas H. Looking' Eastward: A GI to Salaam to India. New York: 1945.
  • Hayward, David K. Eagles, Bulldogs & Tigers: History of the 22nd Bomb Squadron in China-Burma-India. Huntington Beach, California: 22nd Bomb Squadron Association, 1997. ISBN 0-96564-370-0.
  • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-91279-912-9.
  • Rogers, Brian. United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
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