55th Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 55th Wing


caption= 55th Wing Insignia
dates= June 29, 1948
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Reconnaissance, Electronic Combat
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
current_commander=
garrison= Offutt Air Force Base
nickname=
patron=
motto= "Videmus Omnia" - "We See All"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 55th Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force and the host wing at Offutt Air Force Base. It is the only Air Force wing with continuous operations, maintenance, and aircraft presence in the United States Central Command area of responsibility since the first Gulf War. [http://www.offutt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123034015]

History

The "Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth" has made significant contributions to the defense of the United States of America for more than 50 years. Having won honor and distinction for its combat record since World War II with two Distinguished Unit Citations, the wing has since compiled an admirable record of achievements. Since its inception, the unit has operated around the world, flying a wide variety of aircraft.

55th Wing

On 1 November 1950, the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (55 SRW) activated and was bestowed with the awards and honors of the 55th Reconnaissance Group at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico. From 1950 to 1954 the Wing's task was to perform strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, precise electronic geodetic mapping, and electronic reconnaissance missions. In 1952, the wing returned to Forbes AFB, Kansas and converted to RB-50s. The wing formally assumed a global strategic reconnaissance mission in 1954 and transited to the RB-47E "Stratojet." The Wing was deployed at Ben Guerir Air Base, in what was then French Morocco, between May and August 1955.

When the mapping and charting functions originally assigned to the 55th Reconnaissance Group were transferred on 1 May 1954, the wing assumed the mission of global strategic reconnaissance, including electronic reconnaissance. It also carried out weather reconnaissance operations until June 1963, and photographic reconnaissance missions until May 1964.

The 55 SRW moved to Offutt AFB, Nebraska, in August 1966. That same year the 55th’s 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron assumed responsibility for SAC’s airborne command and control system. The 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron inherited this mission after activation on April 1, 1970. The 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron, flying E-4A aircraft, transferred to the 55th on November 1, 1975, bringing with it the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, now called the National Airborne Operations Center. The Wing flew reconnaissance operations during the U.S. military operations in Grenada in 1983 and Libya in 1986. On March 1, 1986, the 55 SRW became the host unit at Offutt after the inactivation of the 3902d Air Base Wing.

The Wing ended nearly twenty-five years of continuous Airborne Command Post ('Looking Glass'?) operations in 1990, assumed a modified alert posture, and continued worldwide reconnaissance.

The wing deployed to the Persian Gulf on August 8, 1990, and began 24-hour-a-day reconnaissance of the region for Central Command Commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, under Operation DESERT SHIELD. At the start of Operation DESERT STORM, January 18, 1991, the wing continued to provide real-time information to theater commanders and remains there yet today.

The 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing became the 55th Wing on September 1, 1991, to reflect the wing’s performance of a diversity of missions. When SAC disestablished and Air Combat Command (ACC) established, the wing transferred to ACC and gained its fifth operational location. The 24th Reconnaissance Squadron at Eareckson AFB, Shemya, Alaska, joined the wing with its Cobra Eye and Cobra Ball missions. On April 1, 1993, the 55th Wing took operational control of the 11th Airlift Flight. The 11 ALF flew operational airlift missions in support of the commander of the United States Strategic Command and transported high-ranking military, Department of Defense officials, and members of Congress. This unit has since inactivated and the mission has reverted back to Air Mobility Command. The 2 ACCS also inactivated in 1994 with its mission transferring to the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron. Likewise, the 24 RS inactivated in 1994 and its mission transferred to the newly activated 45th Reconnaissance Squadron. Also in 1994, the 1 ACCS National Emergency Airborne Command Post was renamed the National Airborne Operations Center to reflect the addition of a support role to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In October 1998, the 55th Wing transferred control of the Boeing EC-135 Looking Glass mission to the United States Navy’s E-6B Mercury TACAMO aircraft and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which flew the Looking Glass aircraft, inactivated. In September 1999, the 338th Combat Training Squadron was activated and assigned to the 55th Operations Group. Additionally, in March 2000, the wing received its 16 RIVET JOINT aircraft. The wing conducts operations from Offutt AFB, Nebraska; Kadena AB, Japan; RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom; Souda Bay Naval Support Activity, Crete; and other locations around the world. The 55th Wing is the largest wing in Air Combat Command and the second largest in the Air Force.

The 55th SRW and the 55th Wing has been awarded the USAF's P. T. Cullen Award five times since 1971 for its contributions to photo and signal intelligence collection.

Current Composition

*1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron
*25th Information Operations Squadron
*38th Reconnaissance Squadron
*45th Reconnaissance Squadron
*55th Operations Support Squadron
*82d Reconnaissance Squadron
*95th Reconnaissance Squadron
*97th Intelligence Squadron
*338th Combat Training Squadron
*343d Reconnaissance Squadron
*390th Intelligence Squadron
*488th Intelligence Squadron

Previous Components

*Groups.
** 55th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 55th Operations): 19 Jul 1948- 14 Oct 1949; 1 Nov 1950-16 Jun 1952; 1 Sep 1991-.
** 55th Electronic Combat Group: ??-.
** 55th Mission Support Group: ??-.
** 55th Communications Group: ??-.
** 55th Medical Group: ??-.

*Squadrons.
** 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 Nov 1975-1 Sep 1991.
** 1st Strategic Reconnaissance (Provisional) Squadron: attached 1 Sep-9 Oct 1948.
** 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 10-26 Oct 1948; attached 14 Jan-1 Jun 1949.
** 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 Apr 1970-1 Sep 1991.
** 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 Sep 1991- October 1998.
** 23d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 1-17 Jun 1949.
** 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 6 Jan 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1970; assigned 1 Apr 1979-1 Sep 1991.
** 55th Air Refueling Squadron: attached 8 Jan 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-18 Feb 1954; assigned 1 Oct 1955-15 Mar 1963 (detached 31 Oct-27 Dec 1956).
** 82d Reconnaissance Squadron: 2 Oct 1991-1 Jul 1992.
** 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 19 Sep-10 Oct 1949.
** 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 25 Nov 1950-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-15 Jun 1963; assigned 25 Mar-25 Dec 1967.
** 343d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 19 Jul-26 Oct 1948; attached 4 Jan 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Sep 1991.
** 548th Strategic Missile Squadron: attached 1-31 Aug 1964, assigned 1 Sep 1964-25 Mar 1965.
** 922d Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 Jun-1 Jul 1992.

References

* [http://www.offutt.af.mil/55thWing/mission_history.htm Offutt Air Force Base's 55th Wing History]

External Links