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[[Image:020509-o-9999j-0073.jpg|thumb|The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group flew [[RF-4C]] Phantom IIs in 1990]]
[[Image:020509-o-9999j-0073.jpg|thumb|The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group flew [[RF-4C]] Phantom IIs in 1990]]
===World War II===
===World War II===
Constituted as '''451st Bombardment Group (Heavy)''' in May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Activated as a [[B-24 Liberator]] heavy bombardment unit; assigned to [[II Bomber Command]] for training. Primarily trained in [[New Mexico]] and [[Utah]]. Received deployment orders for the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] (MTO) in August 1943. Moved to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Virginia]] where the group flew coastal patrol missions over the Southeast, October 1943-January 1944 while station in Italy was being constructed.
During [[World War II]], the 460th was known as the '''460th Bombardment Group]] (Heavy)''' and was assigned to the [[55th Bombardment Wing (World War II)|55th Bombardment Wing]] of [[Fifteenth Air Force]]. The group trained for heavy bombardment operations overseas at bases in [[Alamogordo AAF]] in [[New Mexico]] from 1 July to 31 August 1943, at [[Kearns Army Air Base|Kearns AAB]] in [[Utah]], and [[Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport|Chatham AAF]] in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. The 460th moved to [[Spinazzola]], Italy in February 1944, and the entered combat on 19 March.<ref name="factsheet"/><ref name="history">{{cite web|title=History of the 460th| date= | author= | url=http://www.buckley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4420| accessdate = 13 October 2008}}</ref>


Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to [[Fifteenth Air Force]] [[55th Bombardment Wing (World War II)|55th Bombardment Wing]]. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], and [[Yugoslavia]], bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.
The 460th bombed enemy marshalling yards, oil refineries and storage facilities, aircraft factories, industrial areas and other objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, [[Czechoslovakia]], Hungary, Austria, [[Rumania]], [[Yugoslavia]] and Greece.


The group flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945, then moved to Waller Field in [[Trinidad]] and finally Paramirim Field, Natal, [[Brazil]] in June 1945 to assist in moving redeployed personnel from Europe to the United States. The 460th Bombardment Group was deactivated on 26 September 1945.<ref name="history"/>
The group flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After [[V-E Day]], was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. Was assigned to [[Air Transport Command]] at [[Waller Field]], [[Trinidad]] and to [[Natal, Brazil]]. Moved personnel from s[Dakar]] in [[French West Africa]] where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to [[Morrison Field]], [[Florida]] via Trinadad. Provided air transport until the end of September when the unit was inactivated.<ref name="history"/>


===460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing/Group===
===460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing/Group===

Revision as of 17:09, 11 August 2010

460th Space Wing
Official emblem of the 460th Space Wing
Active19 August 2004
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeSpace
RoleEarly warning and space defense
Size92,000 personnel
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Garrison/HQBuckley Air Force Base
EquipmentGround radar and satellite telecom
Decorations DUC
PUC
AFOUA w/ V Device
RVGC w/ Palm
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Clinton Crosier

The 460th Space Wing is located at Buckley Air Force Base, east of Aurora, Colorado.[1] Since the 460th was redesignated on 1 October 2004, the wing has delivered global infrared surveillance, provided worldwide missile warning and tracking for homeland defense purposes, and provided expeditionary warrior Airmen to combatant commanders worldwide.[2]

Organization

The 460th Space Wing is directed by Air Force Space Command.[1] The wing is divided into three groups: the 460th Operations Group, the 460th Mission Support Group, and the 460th Medical Group.

The 460th Operations Group provides missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence, satellite command and control, and robust aerospace communications. The Group operates the Defense Support Program satellites, providing continuous global surveillance, tracking, and targeting.[1]

The 460th Mission Support Group provides trained personnel to support the Air Expeditionary Forces and Homeland Defense. Specific capabilities include force protection, human resources management, contracting, an logistics. Since the 460th is the host unit at Buckley AFB, the 460th MSG also maintains the base's infrastructure and environmental controls.[1]

The 460th Medical Group supports military readiness to the Air Expeditionary Forces and Homeland Defense missions by ensuring base personnel are medically qualified for deployments. The medical group also provides quick-response services to the Air Expeditionary Forces and the Department Homeland Security, as well as more traditional health care services such as optometry, wellness services and dental care.[1]

History

The 460th Bomb Group flew B-24H Liberators with tails marked in yellow and black, affixed with a black square[3]
The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group flew RF-4C Phantom IIs in 1990

World War II

Constituted as 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1943. Activated on 1 July 1943. Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah. Received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in August 1943. Moved to Georgia and Virginia where the group flew coastal patrol missions over the Southeast, October 1943-January 1944 while station in Italy was being constructed.

Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in January 1944, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force 55th Bombardment Wing. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.

The group flew its last World War II combat mission on 26 April 1945. After V-E Day, was assigned to Green Project which was the movement of troops from Europe to the United States via the South Atlantic Transport Route. B-24s were modified with sealed bomb bays, removal of all defensive armament and internal fuselage equipped with seating to carry approximately 30 personnel. Was assigned to Air Transport Command at Waller Field, Trinidad and to Natal, Brazil. Moved personnel from s[Dakar]] in French West Africa where personnel were transported across the South Atlantic to Brazil and eventually to Morrison Field, Florida via Trinadad. Provided air transport until the end of September when the unit was inactivated.[4]

460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing/Group

460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Shield

The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was reactivated at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam on 2 February 1966 to control and administer tactical reconnaissance resources in Southeast Asia. Assigned and attached tactical reconnaissance and tactical electronic warfare squadrons and squadron-sized detachments flew day and night visual, photographic, radar, thermographic, and electronic reconnaissance missions to meet the combat needs of the 2nd Air Division until April 1966 and for the 7th Air Force thereafter. It then divided reconnaissance in Southeast Asia with another wing in September 1966.

In October 1966, it assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility for all U.S. Air Force organizations using Tan Son Nhut AB. It continued its reconnaissance operations through August 1971 and was inactivated 31 August. that year.[4]

The 460th was redesignated as the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 19 September 1989 and was activated on 1 October 1989. The 460th spent a year operating RF-4s out of Taegu AB, South Korea in support of the Seventh Air Force.[4]

Modern era

Main article: Buckley Air Force Base

On 1 October 2001, the 460th Air Base Wing was reactivated to assume full control of Buckley AFB in Aurora, Colorado.

Buckley AFB was established as Buckley Field in 1942 by the Department of the Army to train armorers and bombardiers for B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses. After World War II, the field briefly became an auxiliary field of Lowry AFB before being transferred to the Colorado Air National Guard in 1946. In 1947, the field fell under control of the Department of the Navy for twelve years as Naval Air Station Denver before returning the base to the Colorado Air National Guard in 1959. The Colorado ANG would operate fighters at the base for the next 60 years. However, on 1 October 2000, the United States Air Force took control of the base and it was assigned the 821st Space Group to oversee its operations.[5]

A year later, control of Buckley AFB was transferred to the newly reactivated 460th Air Base Wing. Under the 460th's command, the base underwent an extensive modernization program to improve the base's support facilities. The 460th oversaw construction of one of the largest DeCA base commissary and AAFES base exchange complexes in the Air Force, as well as a fitness center, dorms, and other housing areas for Buckley Airmen.[4][5]

On 19 August. 2004, the wing was redesignated as the 460th Space Wing. The 460th SW, while retaining control of Buckley AFB, assumed command for several squdrons from the 21st Space Wing, which was also located at Buckley.[4] Today, the 460th delivers global infrared surveillance, tracking and missile warning for theater and homeland defense and provides combatant commanders with expeditionary warrior Airmen.[1]

Lineage

  • Established as 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943
Activated on 1 July 1943
Redesignated 460th Bombardment Group, Heavy c. 3 September 1944
Inactivated on 26 September 1945
  • Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which was established, and activated, on 2 February 1966.
Organized on 18 February 1966
Inactivated on 31 August 1971
  • Redesignated 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 19 September 1989
Activated on 1 October 1989
Inactivated on 1 October 1990
  • Redesignated 460th Air Base Wing on 26 April 2001
Activated on 1 October 2001
Redesignated 460th Space Wing on 19 August 2004

Assignments

Components

Groups

  • 460th Operations: 19 August 2004–present

Squadrons

Stations

Unit Decorations

During its relatively short active-duty time, the 460th has been awarded numerous times for its effort. The 460th has received the Distinguished Unit Citation, four Presidential Unit Citations, five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (2 with Combat "V" device). These esteemed decorations came from direct service in twenty-two different campaigns during WWII, Vietnam, the Cold War, and during operations in the support of the Global War on Terror.[4]

  • The 460th Heavy Bombardment Group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for leading the 55th Bomb Wing through adverse weather and heavy enemy fire to attack an airfield and aircraft facilities in Zwolfaxing, Austria, on 26 July 1944. The group also flew some interdiction and support missions and supported the invasion of southern France in August 1944 by raiding submarine pens, marshalling yards and gun positions in the assault area. It struck bridges, viaducts, ammunition dumps, railroads and other targets to aid the advance of Allied forces in northern Italy.

References

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f "460th Space Wing Factsheet". Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Buckley Air Force Base". Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  3. ^ Martin Rosenkranz. "The 15th US Army Air Force in July 1944". Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "History of Buckley Air Force Base". Retrieved 13 October 2008.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=460th_Space_Wing&oldid=378389748"