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====100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing====
====100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing====
Following a brief nonoperational period (April–June 1966), the Air Force redesignated the wing as the '''100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing''', and moved it without personnel or equipment to [[Davis-Monthan AFB]], [[Arizona]], on 25 June 1966.
The 4080th SRW designation changed from 4080th SRW to 100th 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 11 February 1966, resulting in a renumbering of the U-2 squadron from 4028th SRS to 349th SRS and the 4025th SRS to the 350th SRS.


At Davis-Monthan the 100th SRW replaced the SAC '''4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing'''. After its move, the 100th SRW performed strategic reconnaissance with the [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]] and drone aircraft. It used one overseas-based squadron (99th SRS), and deployed operating locations as needed, 1972–1976, earning the P.T. Cullen Award as the reconnaissance unit that contributed most to the photo and signal intelligence efforts of SAC in 1972.<ref>Battermix publishing material</ref> On 1 July 1976 the wing changed missions again when it transferred its drone operations and associated [[C-130|DC-130 Hercules]] launch aircraft and [[CH-3 Jolly Green Giant]] recovery helicopters to the [[Tactical Air Command]] [[432d Tactical Drone Group]], and its U-2s to the [[9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]] (9 SRW) at [[Beale AFB]], California.
After its move, the 100th SRW performed strategic reconnaissance with the [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]] and drone aircraft. On 11 July 1970 the force was moved from Bien Hoa to [[U-Tapao RTAFB]] (OL-RU) Thailand. Just prior to the move, OL-20 was upgraded to full squadron status and designated the 99th SRS. The 99th SRS deployed operating locations as needed, 1972–1976, earning the P.T. Cullen Award as the reconnaissance unit that contributed most to the photo and signal intelligence efforts of SAC in 1972. In January 1973, the U-2s of the 99th SRS flew more than 500 combat hours. That was the first time any U-2 outfit flew 500 hours in a single month. That was topped in December 1974 when they logged more than 600 hours.<ref>Battermix publishing material</ref>

The 100th SRW, 99th SRS U-2 assets was amalgamated with the [[9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]] (9 SRW) on 1 July 1976 and it brought all the reconnaissance assets under one command at [[Beale AFB]], California. It already controlled the 1st SRS, SR-71 Blackbird Operations and the 349th SRS and the 350th SRS became AREFS Tanker units of the 100th Air Refuelling Wing in support of the SR-71 Blackbird. Drone operations and associated [[C-130|DC-130 Hercules]] launch aircraft and [[CH-3 Jolly Green Giant]] recovery helicopters were reassigned to the [[Tactical Air Command]].


====100th Air Refueling Wing====
====100th Air Refueling Wing====

Revision as of 22:56, 2 September 2011

100th Air Refueling Wing
100th ARW Emblem
Active28 January 1942 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchAir Force
TypeAir Refueling
Part ofUnited States Air Forces Europe
Garrison/HQRAF Mildenhall
Nickname(s)Bloody 100th
Motto(s)Peace Through Strength
Engagements
 
  • World War II
European Campaign (1943–1945)
Decorations DUCtation
AFOUA
FCdG w/ Palm
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Eden Murrie
100 ARW KC-135s lined up on the taxiway at RAF Mildenhall
Tail of a 100ARW Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker, Serial 58-0100, displaying the crest of RAF Mildenhall and the historic "Square D" badge as used by the unit during the second world war

The 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It is stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England. It is also the host wing at RAF Mildenhall.

The 100 ARW is the only permanent U.S. air refueling wing in the European theater. The wing provides the critical air refueling "bridge" that allows the Expeditionary Air Force to deploy around the globe on a moment's notice.

During World War II, its predecessor unit, the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress unit in England, stationed at RAF Thorpe Abbotts. Flying over 300 combat missions, the group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations (Regensburg, 17 August 1943; Berlin, 4/6/8 March 1944). The group suffered tremendous losses in combat, with 177 Aircraft MIA, flying its last mission on 20 April 1945.

The 100th Air Refueling Wing has been bestowed with the lineage, honors, and history of the 100th Bombardment Group. One of these honors is that it is the only modern USAF operational wing allowed to display on its assigned aircraft the tail code (Square-D) of its World War II predecessor.

Units

USAFE's only KC-135 air refueling wing composed of 15 permanently assigned aircraft, and is responsible for U.S. aerial refueling operations conducted throughout the European theater. The unit supports some 16,000 personnel, including Third Air Force, four geographically separated units, and 15 associated units.

100th Operations Group (100 OG)

100th Maintenance Group (100 MXG)

  • 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (100 AMXS)
  • 100th Maintenance Squadron (100 MXS)
  • 100th Maintenance Operations Squadron (100 MOS)

100th Mission Support Group (100 MSG)

  • 100th Civil Engineer Squadron (100 CES)
  • 100th Communications Squadron (100 CS)
  • 100th Contracting Squadron (100 CONS)
  • 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron (100 LRS)
  • 100th Mission Support Squadron (100 MSS)
  • 100th Security Forces Squadron (100 SFS)
  • 100th Services Squadron (100 SVS)

History

World War II

Emblem of the 100th Bombardment Group
Boeing B-17G-70-BO Fortress 43-37812 (EP-A) 351st BS lost 23 March 1945
Boeing B-17F-110-BO Fortress 42-30604 (LN-T) 350th BS, *Badger's Beauty V*. Crashed landed in Normandy near Villers, France 4 October 1943. All crew survived, 5 POW, 5 evaded.

On 1 June 1942, the Army Air Forces activated the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (100th BG) as an unmanned paper unit assigned to III Bomber Command. The group remained unmanned until 27 October 1942, when a small number of men transferred from the 29th Bombardment Group to Gowen Field, Idaho, to serve as the group's initial cadre. Within four days, on 1 November, the small cadre forming the 100 BG moved the unit to Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, where it received its first four aircrews and four B-17Fs from the Boeing factory in Seattle. Following receipt of crews and aircraft, the 100th BG relocated to Wendover Field, Utah, on 30 November where it added additional personnel, aircraft, crews, and began operational training (bombing, gunnery, and navigation).

With the first day of 1943, members of the fledgling group again transferred operations to two separate bases, with the aircraft and aircrews moving to Sioux City AAB, Iowa, while the ground echelon went to Kearney Field, Nebraska. In both instances, members of the 100th BG assisted in air and ground training for other groups bound for overseas. In mid-April, the aircrew element joined its ground echelon at Kearney Field, and received new B-17s. After additional training, the group's aircrews departed Kearney on 25 May 1943, flying the North Atlantic route to England and into the war in Europe. Prior to the departure of aircraft and aircrews from Kearney, the 100 BG's ground echelon departed for the East Coast on 2 May. On 27 May 1943, the ground personnel set sail aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth bound for Podington, England from New York. At Podington the ground crews rendezvoused with the air echelon, and together moved to Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, where they remained throughout World War II, operating as a strategic bombardment organization.

On 25 June 1943, the 100 BG flew its first Eighth Air Force combat mission in a bombing of the Bremen U-boat yards – the beginning of the "Bloody Hundredth"'s legacy. The group inherited the "Bloody Hundredth" nickname from other bomb groups due to the amount of losses it took. In the early summer of 1943, 100 BG became a "marked outfit" by Luftwaffe fighters after a B-17 pilot first lowered his landing gear to surrender to three Messerschmitt Bf 109s, started to descend after the fighters stopped shooting, then changed his mind and the B-17 gunners shot the three fighter aircraft (one Bf 109 pilot bailed out and presumably reported the event).[1]: 94  The group experienced several instances where it lost a dozen or more aircraft on a single mission, and for the next six months, the group focused its bombing attacks against German airfields, industries, and naval facilities in France and Germany. One such raid on 10 October 1943, that the 100th BG made on Münster, ended up with the only surviving 100th BG B-17, the Rosie's Riveters (B-17F 42-30758) commanded by Robert Rosenthal, returning safely to Thorpe Abbots.


In August 1943, the group received its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) after attacking the German aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 August 1943, resulting in serious disruption to German fighter production. From January–May 1944, the 100th BG regularly bombed airfields, industries, marshaling yards, and missile sites in Western Europe. The group participated in the Allied campaign against German aircraft factories, Operation Argument, during "Big Week" in the last week of February 1944. In March 1944, aircrews completed a succession of attacks on Berlin and received its second DUC of the war.

While bombing during the Oil Campaign of World War II as the summer of 1944 approached, the group also conducted interdictory missions such as the June bombing of bridges and gun positions to support the Invasion of Normandy. The next month aircrews bombed enemy positions at Saint-Lô, followed by similar campaigns at Brest in August and September. In October 1944, the 100th BG attacked enemy and ground defenses in the allied drive on the Siegfried Line, then bombed marshaling yards, German occupied villages, and communication targets in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945. For its extraordinary efforts in attacking heavily defended German installations in Germany and dropping supplies to the French Forces of the Interior from June through December 1944, the 100 BG received the French Croix de guerre with Palm.

The 100 BG flew its last combat mission of World War II on 20 April 1945. The following month the unit's aircrews dropped food to the people in the west of the Netherlands, and in June transported French Allied former prisoners of war from Austria to France. In December 1945, the group returned to the U.S., where it inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 21 December 1945.

Cold War

Emblem used by the 100th Wing
Emblem of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

On 29 May 1947, Headquarters Army Air Force reactivated the 100 BG at Miami Army Air Field. From the time of its activation the group trained and operated as a reserve B-29 Superfortress unit being attached to the 49th Bombardment Wing (Later Air Division). It is not clear whether or not the unit was fully manned or equipped. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949 due to budget reductions.

100th Bombardment Wing

The 100th Bombardment Wing, Medium was established on 23 March 1953 as part of Strategic Air Command, but the wing was not activated until 1 January 1956. The delay was due to construction at the units programmed base, Portsmouth Air Force Base, New Hampshire. Construction was completed in late 1955 and when activated, the 100th BW was assigned to the Eighth Air Force 817th Air Division.

Was assigned the new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1954, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. For the next ten years the wing performed global strategic bombardment training, and global air refueling with the Stratojet. In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending the wings aircraft to Davis-Monthan AFB in 1965. The wing was inactivated on 30 April 1966 when the last of the aircraft were retired.

4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Light) was activated on 1st April 1956 at Turner AFB, Georgia It was activated simultaneously with the deactivation of the 508th Strategic Fighter Wing. Personnel from the 31st and 508th Strategic Fighter Squadrons being deactivated and combined with the 4025th SRS which arrived from Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.

The new 4080th SRW (Light) was comprised of 3 units: 4025th SRS (Light), 4028th SRS and the 4029th SRS (Light) although this unit was never assigned aircraft or personnel. The 4029th SRS was never assigned personnel or aircraft.- Later reactivated (Aug 1981) as the 4029th S.R.T.S. to train U-2 pilots

The 4080th SRW then moved to Laughlin AFB on the 1st April 1957 and was designated the 4080th Strategic Wing on 15th June 1960. By June of this year the 4028th and the 4029th were re-designated Strategic Reconnaissance Weather Squadron (SRWS) and delivery of the Lockheed U-2 aircraft started in June 1957 to the 4028th SRS. At this time all other U-2 flying was at this time was being performed by the CIA and the 4080th SRW became the first USAF unit to fly the U-2.

The 4080th SRW was moved Laughlin AFB, Texas 1st April 1957 and both the 4025th and the 4028th were involved with the High Altitude Sampling Program (HASP) that was designed to sample the radioactive debris in the upper atmosphere following the detonation of Russian, Chinese and French Nuclear weapons. Unofficially this program was called "Crowflight", and missions were initially flown from Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico (Det 3), and Plattsburgh AFB, New York (Det 4).

On December 31st 1963 President Johnson issued the order for the 4080th SRW to support the RF-101 Voodoo reconnaissance effort in South Vietnam and by 5th March 1964 they had moved a detachment of 3 U-2E aircraft ( 347, 370 & 374) to Bien Hoa AB near Saigon.

The wing was transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB on 1 July 1963 and during this move they had a small group of people assigned/attached to the 4028th SRS, a group who had been working on the classified programme "Lightning Bug" which were photo reconnaissance drones. The HASP program had been terminated as an agreement had been reached where above ground nuclear testing was stopped, so all WU-2A aircraft had the HASP air sampling equipment removed and were refitted with photo and electronic (PHOTINT & ELINT) collection gear.

The Detachment had been at Davis Monthan for less than a year when ordered to deploy both its U-2 and DC-130/Drone operations to South Vietnam. They moved Bien Hoa Operating Location-20 (OL-20), under the code names "Lucky Dragon" for the 4028th SRS's, U-2E Dragon Lady, and for the DC-130/Ryan AQM-34 drone detachment operation the name "Blue Springs" was used. The DC-130/Drone operation originally deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa before being re-positioned at Bien Hoa AB.

In July 1965 this drone detachment of the 4028th SRS became the 4025th RS as the squadron number was reactivated. The 4025th originally being the RB-57D unit. As the war progressed the U-2's had to move to operating at higher altitudes as first the Mig 17 and then Mig 21's were introduced making flights at medium altitude a risky business. Also the introduction of SAM 2's missiles by the North Vietnamese necessitated the careful planning of flight routes to bypass these hot spots.

The 4080th was a SAC MAJCOM provisional wing, and in order to retain the lineage of its MAJCOM 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.

100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

The 4080th SRW designation changed from 4080th SRW to 100th 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 11 February 1966, resulting in a renumbering of the U-2 squadron from 4028th SRS to 349th SRS and the 4025th SRS to the 350th SRS.

After its move, the 100th SRW performed strategic reconnaissance with the U-2 and drone aircraft. On 11 July 1970 the force was moved from Bien Hoa to U-Tapao RTAFB (OL-RU) Thailand. Just prior to the move, OL-20 was upgraded to full squadron status and designated the 99th SRS. The 99th SRS deployed operating locations as needed, 1972–1976, earning the P.T. Cullen Award as the reconnaissance unit that contributed most to the photo and signal intelligence efforts of SAC in 1972. In January 1973, the U-2s of the 99th SRS flew more than 500 combat hours. That was the first time any U-2 outfit flew 500 hours in a single month. That was topped in December 1974 when they logged more than 600 hours.[2]

The 100th SRW, 99th SRS U-2 assets was amalgamated with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) on 1 July 1976 and it brought all the reconnaissance assets under one command at Beale AFB, California. It already controlled the 1st SRS, SR-71 Blackbird Operations and the 349th SRS and the 350th SRS became AREFS Tanker units of the 100th Air Refuelling Wing in support of the SR-71 Blackbird. Drone operations and associated DC-130 Hercules launch aircraft and CH-3 Jolly Green Giant recovery helicopters were reassigned to the Tactical Air Command.

100th Air Refueling Wing

After completing the transfer of its aircraft in September 1976, while simultaneously phasing down operations at Davis-Monthan, the Air Force redesignated the wing as the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and relocated it to Beale AFB, California without personnel or equipment, where on 30 September 1976 it absorbed the KC-135 Stratotanker resources of the 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy. While at Beale, the 100 ARW assumed responsibility for providing worldwide air refueling support from 30 September 1976 until its inactivation on 15 March 1983 when it was absorbed by the host 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale, which became a composite wing under the one-base, one-wing concept.

100th Air Division

After an inactive status for over seven years, SAC again reactivated the 100th, but this time as the 100th Air Division at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, on 1 July 1990, an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command. It assumed host unit responsibilities at Whiteman. In addition, the division controlled the 509th Bombardment Wing, which was not operational while waiting for production B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to arrive and appropriate facilities for the B-2s to be constructed. It also controlled the 351st Missile Wing, an LGM-30F Minuteman II ICBM wing at Whiteman.

Air Force reorganizations in 1991 put the 351st MW under the reactivated Twentieth Air Force on 29 March 1991, and the 509th Bomb Wing took over host duties at Whiteman. As a result, SAC inactivated the 100th AD again on 1 August 1991.

Modern era

Six months after its inactivation as an Air Division, and over 46 years after departing England at the end of World War II, the Air Force activated the 100 ARW, stationed at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, on 1 February 1992. It was assigned to Strategic Air Command, Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division. It was then reassigned to Third Air Force on 1 February 1992. From the time of its reactivation, the 100 ARW has served as the United States Air Forces Europe's lone air refueling wing. It also serves as the host unit at RAF Mildenhall where it deployed aircraft and managed the European Tanker Task Force.

Lineage

  • Established as 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942.
Activated on 1 June 1942.
Inactivated on 21 December 1945.
  • Re-designated100th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 13 May 1947.
Activated in the Reserve on 29 May 1947.
Inactivated on 27 June 1949.
  • Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 100th Bombardment Wing, Medium, which was established on 23 March 1953.
Activated on 1 January 1956.
Inactivated on 30 April 1966
  • Activated as 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1st April 1956
Re-designated: 4080th Strategic Wing, 1st September 1959
Re-designated: 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 25 June 1966, replacing 4080th Strategic Wing.
Activated on 25 June 1966 assuming the resources (Manpower, Aircraft, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 4080th Strategic Wing
Re-designated: 100th Air Refueling Wing, Heavy on 30 September 1976.
Inactivated on 15 March 1983.
  • Re-designated: 100th Air Division on 15 June 1990.
Activated on 1 July 1990.
Inactivated on 26 July 1991.
  • Re-designated100th Air Refueling Wing, and activated, on 1 February 1992.
  • Personnel designated 100th Air Expeditionary Wing when supporting Operation Allied Force effective 24 March 1999

Assignments

Components

Wings

Groups

  • 100th Operations Group: 1 February 1992–present

Squadrons

100 AEW Components

  • 100th Expeditionary Operations Group, RAF Mildenhall, England (34 KC-135)
351st Air Refueling Squadron (various ANG resources), 24 Mar-8 Apr 1999
100th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 9 Apr-20 Jun 1999
106th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 24 Mar 1999 – present
  • 2nd Air Expeditionary Group, RAF Fairford, England (5 KC-135)
22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 24 Mar 1999 – present

Stations

Aircraft/Missiles assigned

See also

The 100th in print

  • Harry H. Crosby, a navigator in the 100th BG ("Bloody Hundredth") during World War II, wrote A Wing and a Prayer: The Bloody 100th Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action over Europe in World War II [1] (Harpercollins 1993 / Hdcvr ISBN 0-06-016941-9 / Ppbk ISBN 0-595-16703-9). The account is an insightful look into the life of a typical air officer assigned to one of the 8th Air Force's most revered units.
  • Ray Bowden, Plane Names & Bloody Noses – 100th Bomb Group. Nose art and named planes of the 100BG with brief histories and 400 black/white photos. See www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk for fuller details.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 100th Air Refueling Wing.

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

  1. ^ Richards, Mark. The Luftwaffe vs. the Century Heavy Bombardment Group. A Belmont Documentary (L92-558). New York City: Belmont Books. pp. 91–113. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Battermix publishing material

External links

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