28th Bomb Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 28th Bomb Wing


caption= Official emblem of the 28th Bomb Wing
dates= 1947-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
Twelfth Air Force
garrison= Ellsworth Air Force Base
equipment= B-1B Lancer
equipment_label= Aircraft
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Guardian Of The North
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
decorations= see "Lineage and Honors" section below
anniversaries=
current_commander= Colonel Scott A. Vander Hamm
notable_commanders= Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth
Brigadier General Clinton H. Winne Jr.
Brigadier General Joseph C. Wilson Jr.

The 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW) is the United States Air Force home of the B-1B Lancer, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The 28 BW is the host unit, providing all essential base operating support services, and provides combat support services for an Air Expeditionary Wing. The 28 BW is part of the Twelfth Air Force, Air Combat Command.

The 28 BW current commander is Colonel Scott A. Vander Hamm, with Colonel Bruce C. Emig as Vice-Commander in chief Master Sergeant John R. Gillette as Command Chief.

History

Maintained proficiency in heavy bombardment, 1947-1948. Maintained proficiency in global bombardment, deploying tactical components or segments thereof as needed, 1948-1950. Performed global strategic reconnaissance, 1950-1955, with bombardment as a secondary mission, 1954-1955. Trained primarily as a bombardment wing from 1955, but retained a reconnaissance capability to Sep 1956. Deployed at Andersen AFB, Guam, Apr-Jul 1955. Added aerial refueling to mission in 1959 and began operating post-attack command and control system for Fifteenth Air Force in Jan 1965, maintaining this capability through a rear echelon during the absences of the remainder of the wing. Controlled a non-equipped Titan missile squadron, Dec 1960-Dec 1961. Except for a small rear echelon left at Ellsworth AFB, SD, the wing's headquarters staff, tactical aircraft and crews, and most support personnel were integrated into ARC LIGHT forces for combat in Southeast Asia, c. 9 Mar-c. 21 Sep 1966, c. 15 Jan-c. 19 Jul 1968, and c. 9 Sep 1969-c. 18 Mar 1970. From Apr 1972 to Oct 1973 the wing also had most of its tactical aircraft and crews on loan to SAC organizations involved in combat operations, and the wing continued supporting Pacific forces with planes and crews into 1975. Converted from B-52G to B-52H models in 1977. Performed airborne launch control functions for USAF Minuteman missile wings with EC-135 aircraft and provided logistic support to the 44th Missile Wing. Expanded B-52H mission in 1984 to include sea reconnaissance, surveillance, and conventional operations from forward bases overseas. Upgraded tanker force to KC-135R in 1985-1986 and replaced B-52H with B-1B bomber in 1987. Provided tanker support for restoration of democracy in Panama (Dec 1989-Jan 1990), and deployed tanker and airborne command post aircraft to Southwest Asia (Aug 1990- Mar 1991). Lost air refueling mission in Jun 1992 and airborne command post mission in Sep 1992. In Aug 1993, flew B-1s around the world for the first time. Elements deployed to various locations for training exercises, including occasionally to Egypt (Nov 1993; Aug-Dec 1999) and England (May-Jun 1996; Jun-Jul 1997). In Nov 1997, deployed four B-1s and crews to SW Asia for a show of force against Iraq, the first real-world contingency use of the B-1 bomber. A year later (Nov 1998), the wing deployed three B-1s and crews to Southwest Asia for punitive attacks against Iraqi targets, the first combat use of the B-1. After terrorist attacks against the United States in Sep 2001, the wing deployed B-1 aircraft and crews to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, for bombing missions against enemy targets in Afghanistan.

Background of Name

The motto "Guardian of the North" hails from the 28th Operations Group's World War Two service in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and the Kuril Islands. The 28th Bomb Wing carries on the traditions of the 28th Operations Group.

Myth: The motto "Guardian of the North" is not related in any way to the wing's Cold War service with B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Although this motto seems to dovetail nicely with the idea of guarding the north (whether spearheading an attack over the North Pole, or defending against one) from the Soviets, this is definitely not the case.

In Popular Culture

Lineage and Honors

28th Bomb Wing

*Established on: 28 July 1947
*Organized on: 15 August 1947
*At: Rapid City AAFld, South Dakota
*Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force
*Equipment: B-29s
*Changed equipment in: 1949 B-29s, B-36s
*Changed equipment in: 1950 to B-29s, RB-29s, B-36s, RB-36s
*Redesignated as: 28th Strategic Recon. Wing on 1 April 1950

*Redesignated on: 1 October 1955
*At: Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
*Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force
*Equipment: RB-36s
*Changed equipment in: 1957 to RB-36s, B-52s
*Changed equipment in: 1958 to B-52s
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 821st Air Division on 1 January 1959
*Changed equipment in: 1959 to B-52s, KC-135s
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 821st Strategic Aerospace Division on15 February 1962
*Changed equipment in: 1962 to B-52s, KC-97s, KC-135s
*Changed equipment in: 1965 to B-52s, EC-135s, KC-135s
*Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 47th Air Division on 30 June 1971
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Air Division on 1 July 1971
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 4th Strategic Missile Division on 15 January 1973
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 4th Air Division on 1 March 1973
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 57th Air Division on 1 May 1982
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 4th Air Division on 23 January 1987
*Changed equipment in: 1987 to EC-135s, KC-135s
*Changed equipment in: 1987 to B-1s, EC-135s, KC-135s
*Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 12th Air Division on 15 July 1988
*Reassigned to: Strategic Warfare Center on 31 July 1990

28th Wing

*Redesignated on: 1 September 1991.
*At: Ellsworth AFB, SD.
*Assigned to: Eighth Air Force.
*Equipment: B-1s, EC-135s, KC-135s.
*Reassigned to: Air Combat Command, Eighth Air Force on 31 May 1992.

Bestowed Honors: Authorized to display honors earned by the 28th Operations Group prior to 15 Aug 1947 ("italicized").

= Service Streamers =

none

= Campaign Streamers =

* "World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Aleutian Islands"

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

none

Decorations

* "Distinguished Unit Citation: Kuril Islands, 1 Apr 1944-13 Aug 1945"
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003; 20 Sep 2001-17 Jan 2002 (conferred)
* Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Sep 1957-30 Jun 1958; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1966; 1 Jan-1 Mar 1968; 2 Mar-1 Jul 1968; 9 Jun-10 Jul 1972; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1988-30 Jun 1990; 1 Jun-30 Nov 1994; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999

Awards

In 1989, won the Fairchild Trophy for excellence in bombing and navigation and the Omaha Trophy, presented to the outstanding wing in SAC.

Emblem

Approved for 28th Group on 14 Nov 1941 and for 28th Wing on 11 Jun 1952

Assignments

Fifteenth Air Force, 15 Aug 1947;
Eighth Air Force, 1 Apr 1950;Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1955 (attached to 3d Air Division, 14 Apr-24 Jul 1955);821st Air (later, 821st Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 Jan 1959;
47th Air Division, 30 Jun 1971;4th Strategic Missile (later, 4th Air) Division, 15 Jan 1973;
57th Air Division, 1 May 1982;
4th Air Division, 23 Jan 1987;
12th Air Division, 15 Jul 1988;Strategic Warfare Center, 31 Jul 1990;Eighth Air Force, 1 Sep 1991;
Twelfth Air Force, 1 Oct 2002

Components

Historical

*Groups.
** 28th Bombardment (later, 28th Strategic Reconnaissance; 28th Operations): 15 Aug 1947-16 Jun 1952 (detached 19 Jul-18 Oct 1948); 1 Sep 1991-.
*Squadrons.
**4th Airborne Command and Control: 1 Apr 1970-1 Sep 1991.
**28th Air Refueling: 1 Oct 1960-1 Sep 1991 (detached c. 9 Mar-c. 21 Sep 1966, c. 15 Jan-c. 19 Jul 1968, c. 19 Aug 1969-c. 23 Mar 1970).
**37th Bombardment: 1 Jul 1977-1 Oct 1982; 1 Jan 1987-1 Sep 1991.
**77th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 77th Bombardment) attached 10 Feb 1951- 15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Sep 1991 (detached c. 9 Mar-c. 21 Sep 1966, c. 15 Jan-c. 19 Jul 1968, c. 19 Aug 1969-c. 23 Mar 1970).
** 97th Air Refueling: 1 Jul 1962-15 Mar 1964.
** 717th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 717th Bombardment): attached 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1960.
** 718th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 718th Bombardment): attached 10 Feb 1951- 15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952-20 Feb 1960.
** 850th Strategic Missile: 1 Dec 1960-1 Jan 1962.
** 928th Air Refueling: 1 Feb 1959-1 Oct 1960.

Current

* 28th Operations Group (Colonel Karl J. Shawhan, current Commander)
** 28th Operations Support Squadron
** 34th Bomb Squadron
** 37th Bomb Squadron
* 28th Mission Support Group (Colonel Renita D. Alexander, current Commander)
** 28th Civil Engineering Squadron
** 28th Communications Squadron
** 28th Contracting Squadron
** 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron
** 28th Mission Support Squadron
** 28th Security Forces Squadron
** 28th Services Squadron
* 28th Maintenance Group (Colonel Debra A. Shattuck, current Commander)
** 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
** 28th Maintenance Squadron
** 28th Munitions Squadron
** 28th Maintenance Operations Squadron
* 28th Medical Group (Colonel Ronald S. Dornin, current Commander)
** 28th Medical Operations Squadron
** 28th Medical Support Squadron

Stations

Rapid City AAFld (later, Rapid City AFB; Ellsworth AFB), SD, 15 Aug 1947-

Commanders

*Colonel Thomas J. Gent Jr., 15 Aug 1947;
*Colonel Raymond L. Curtice, 17 Sep 1947;
*Lieutenant Colonel Everett W. Holstrom, 28 Sep 1947;
*Colonel Raymond L. Curtice, 9 Oct 1947;
*Colonel Thomas J. Gent Jr., 15 Oct 1947;
*Colonel William W. Jones, c. 10 Jul 1948;
*Colonel Albert T. Wilson Jr., 19 Aug 1948
*Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth, 15 Nov 1950;
*Colonel Howard W. Moore, 18 Mar 1953;
*Colonel Ariel W. Nielsen, 30 Apr 1953;
*Colonel Neil D. Van Sickle, 15 Jun 1955;
*Colonel Loran D. Briggs, 20 Apr 1957;
*Colonel Francis W. Nye, 6 Jul 1959;
*Colonel Allen B. Rowlett, Jun 1962;
*Colonel Leo C. Lewis, c. 1 Jul 1962;
*Colonel Albert H. Schneider, 10 Jul 1965;
*Colonel Edgar S. Harris Jr., 27 Dec 1966;
*Colonel Albert H. Schneider, 4 May 1967;
*Colonel Edgar S. Harris Jr., 2 Jun 1967;
*Colonel James Wagner, 24 Jul 1968;
*Colonel Richard L. Lawson, 1 Feb 1970;
*Colonel Junior B. Reed, 18 Jun 1971;
*Colonel Harold B. Coffee, 30 May 1973;
*Colonel James E. Light Jr., 8 Apr 1974;
*Colonel Harold J. M. Williams, 21 Apr 1976;
*Brigadier General Clinton H. Winne Jr., 11 May 1976;
*Colonel Clarence R. Autery, 24 Apr 1978;
*Colonel Alan B. Renshaw, 5 Mar 1979;
*Colonel Wayne W. Lambert, 18 Aug 1980;
*Colonel Robert F. Durkin, 26 Oct 1981;
*Colonel Carl B. Kreuger, 20 May 1983;
*Colonel Steve W. Nielson, 28 Aug 1984;
*Colonel Harold B. Adams, 21 Mar 1986;
*Colonel Thomas A. Twomey, 15 Apr 1988;
*Colonel Charles R. Henderson, 4 Apr 1990;
*Colonel Edgar A. Ott, 25 Nov 1991 (acting);
*Brigadier General Joseph C. Wilson Jr., 22 Jan 1992;
*Colonel Robert C. Hinson, 1 Dec 1994;
*Colonel Leroy Barnidge Jr., 22 Aug 1995;
*Colonel William M. Fraser III, 19 Feb 1997;
*Colonel Anthony F. Przybyslawski, 27 May 1998;
*Colonel Edward A. Rice, 30 May 2000;
*Colonel James M. Kowalski, 29 Apr 2002

Aircraft Operated

*B-1 Lancer, 1987-Present
*Boeing EC-135, 1965-1992
*KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959-1966, 1966-1968, 1968-1969, 1970-1992
*KC-97 Stratotanker, 1962-1964
*B-52 Stratofortress, 1957-1966, 1966-1968, 1968-1969, 1970-1986
*RB-36 Peacemaker, 1950-1957
*RB-29 Superfortress, 1950
*B-36 Peacemaker, 1949-1950
*B-29 Superfortress, 1947-1950

References

External links

* [http://www.ellsworth.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3734 28th Bomb Wing fact sheet]
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/wings_groups_pages/0028bw.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 28th Bomb Wing]