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===Cold War===
===Cold War===
[[File:451st-strategicmissilewing-patch.png|125px|thumb|left|Emblem of the SAC 451st SMW]]
[[File:451st-strategicmissilewing-patch.png|125px|thumb|left|Emblem of the SAC 451st SMW]]
Established as the '''451st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan)''' at [[Lowry Air Force Base]], [[Colorado]] and activated on 26 April 1961. The 461st SMW was the first operational [[HGM-25A Titan I]] missile wing. Construction on all nine silos at the three launch complexes was completed by August 4, 1961. On 18 April 1962, Headquarters SAC declared the 724th SMS operational, and 2 days later the first Titan Is went on alert status. A month later, the sister 725th SMS (initially designated the 849th SMS) declared it had placed all nine of its Titan Is on alert status, which marked a SAC first.
Established as the '''451st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan)''' and activated on 26 April 1961. Organized on 1 July 1961 at [[Lowry AFB]], [[Colorado]].


The 451st replaced the [[703d Strategic Missile Wing]] in July 1961 with two [[Titan I]] missile squadrons (724th, 725th MS). The first wing missile complex was accepted on 18 April 1962. All wing missiles went off alert status on 26 March 1965 and the wing phased down for inactivation.
On November 19, 1964, Defense Secretary McNamara announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation [[SM-65 Atlas]] and Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. This objective was met. All wing missiles went off alert status on 26 March 1965 and the wing phased down for inactivation. On June 25, 1965, the 724th SMS and 725th SMS were inactivated. SAC removed the last missile from Lowry on April 14, 1965.

Discontinued and inactivated 25 June 1965.


===Global War on Terrorism===
===Global War on Terrorism===

Revision as of 15:39, 11 August 2010

451st Air Expeditionary Wing
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Emblem
Activesince 1943
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Part ofUnited States Air Forces Central
Garrison/HQKandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Engagements

  
  • World War II
European Campaign (1943–1945)
  • Global War on Terrorism
Afghanistan campaign (To Be Determined)
Commanders
Current
commander		Brig Gen Guy M. Walsh
Subduded combat emblem version
An MQ-1 Predator at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, taxis out for a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on Friday, 2 June 2006.
An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter lands as an Army UH-60 Blackhawk prepares to pick up a medivac patient 13 June. The 33d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is the first squadron to have a combat-search-and-rescue mission and a medevac mission, and is based at Kandahar

The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing (451 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is one of two AEWs in Afghanistan, presently assigned to Kandahar Airfield and is also the host unit at Kandahar.

The 451 AEW provides a persistent and powerful airpower presence in the Afghanistan area of operations. 451st AEW Airmen provide world-class Tactical Airlift, Close Air Support, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Command and Control, Airborne Datalink, Combat Search and Rescue, Casualty Evacuation and Aeromedical Evacuation capabilities whenever and wherever needed.

During the Cold War, the Strategic Air Command 451st Strategic Missile Wing was the first fully operational HGM-25A Titan I ICBM wing in 1962. During World War II, the wing's predecessor unit, the 451st Bombardment Group was a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment organization, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.

Units

Groups

Tenant Units

Assigned aircraft

History

World War II

Emblem of the 451st Bomb Group
451st Bomb Group Consolidated B-24H-30-CF Liberator AAF Ser. No. 42-50443 displaying 304th Wing markings c. 1945. The upper tail surface and circle were red in color.

Constituted as 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943. Activated on 1 May 1943. Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in the midwest. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in November 1943.

Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. Air echelon training in Algeria for several weeks before joining the remainder of the group in Italy. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia. Attacked such targets as oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, bridges, and airfields in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece.

Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for each of three missions: to an aircraft factory at Regensburg on 25 February 1944, to oil refineries and marshalling yards at Ploesti on 5 April 1944, and to an airdrome at Vienna on 23 August 1944; although encountering large numbers of enemy fighters and severe antiaircraft fire during each of these missions, the group fought its way through the opposition, destroyed many interceptors, and inflicted serious damage on the assigned targets.

At times the group also flew support and interdictory missions. Helped to prepare the way for and participated in the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. Transported supplies to troops in Italy during September 1944. Supported the final advances of Allied armies in northern Italy in April 1945.

Returned to the US in June 1945, forming at Dow Field, Maine. Unit personnel were demobilized thoughout the summer of 1945. Inactivated on 26 September 1945.

Cold War

Emblem of the SAC 451st SMW

Established as the 451st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan) at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado and activated on 26 April 1961. The 461st SMW was the first operational HGM-25A Titan I missile wing. Construction on all nine silos at the three launch complexes was completed by August 4, 1961. On 18 April 1962, Headquarters SAC declared the 724th SMS operational, and 2 days later the first Titan Is went on alert status. A month later, the sister 725th SMS (initially designated the 849th SMS) declared it had placed all nine of its Titan Is on alert status, which marked a SAC first.

On November 19, 1964, Defense Secretary McNamara announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation SM-65 Atlas and Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. This objective was met. All wing missiles went off alert status on 26 March 1965 and the wing phased down for inactivation. On June 25, 1965, the 724th SMS and 725th SMS were inactivated. SAC removed the last missile from Lowry on April 14, 1965.

Global War on Terrorism

The 451st Air Expeditionary Group was activated in 2002 as part of the Global War on Terrorism, conducting operations from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The group was responsible for air control of the southern region of Afghanistan, launch and recovery operations for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, the employment of combat search and rescue forces throughout the entire country and ground security and defense of the airfield. Included in the group are safety, logistics, communications, civil engineer.

Due to the growth in size and requirements of the USAF mission at Kandahar, the 451 AEG was enlarged to a wing-level organization, redesignated as the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing (451 AEW) and activated as such on 2 July 2009.[1]

Lineage

  • Constituted as 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943.
Activated on 1 May 1943
Inactivated on 26 September 1945
  • Established as the 451st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan) 26 April 1961
Activated on 26 April 1961
Bestowed history, honors, and heraldry of 451st Bombardment Group passed to wing by HQ USAF upon activation.
Organized 1 July 1961, assuming missiles, personnel and equipment of the 703d Strategic Missile Wing (Inactivated)[2]
Discontinued and inactivated 25 June 1965
  • Converted to provisional status and allocated to Air Combat Command
  • Redesignated 451st Air Expeditionary Group 2002 (exact date uncertain)
Activated 2002 (exact date uncertain)
  • Redesignated 451st Air Expeditionary Wing 2 July 2009

Note: Reference for unit lineage.[3][4] As with most public information about Air Expeditionary Units activated during the Global War on Terrorism, the status of the bestowed Honors, and Heraldry of the unit is unclear.

Assignments

47th Bombardment Wing, 11 December 1943 – 6 April 1944
49th Bombardment Wing, 6 April 1944 – 19 June 1945
  • Continental Air Forces
First Air Force, 19 June – 16 September 1945
13th Air Division, 1 July 1961 – 25 June 1965
455th Air Expeditionary Wing,  ?? ??? 2002 – 2 July 2009
Ninth Air Force, since 2 July 2009

Components

Stations

Aircraft assigned

References

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

Notes

  1. ^ General takes to the sky in Afghanistan
  2. ^ USAFHRA document 00425998
  3. ^ Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-91279-912-9.
  4. ^ Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.

Bibliography

  • Hill, Michael. The 451st Bomb Group in World War II: A Pictorial History. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-76431-287-1.
  • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, 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 AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-91279-912-9.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=451st_Air_Expeditionary_Group&oldid=378376918"