42d Air Base Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 42d Air Base Wing


caption= 42d Air Base Wing emblem
dates= 20 November 1940-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Air Base
role= Combat support
size=
command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
current_commander= Colonel [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/bios/42_ABW_CC_McGillicuddy.pdf Paul McGillicuddy]
garrison= Maxwell Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Aethera Nobis - "The Skies for Us"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The United States Air Force's 42d Air Base Wing is an administrative support unit for Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. The USAF's Air University is headquartered there and the 42d Air Base Wing is the host wing for all Air Force activities supporting Air University.

Mission

Provide the foundation upon which the Air and Space Expeditionary Force, Air University and the Maxwell/Gunter Community build success.

History

World War II

The 42d began training in B-26s from, October 1941-January 1942. The group patrolled the Northwest Pacific Coast and trained B-25 combat crews for the Alaskan Defense Command. It transferred to New Caledonia in April 1943 and entered combat in June of that year, operating from Guadalcanal, and later from other bases in the Solomon Islands. The 42d attacked Japanese airfields, personnel areas, gun positions, and shipping. From January-July 1944, the group engaged primarily in the neutralization of enemy airfields and harbor facilities on New Britain, but also supported ground forces on Bougainville Island and attacked shipping in the northern Solomons and the Bismarck Archipelago. From August 1944-January 1945, it bombed airfields and installations on New Guinea, Celebes, and Halmahera, and flew reconnaissance missions.

The group moved to the Philippines in February and March 1945. From there is attacked shipping along the China coast, struck targets in French Indochina, bombed airfields and installations in the Philippines, and supported ground operations on Mindanao. The 42d also supported Australian forces on Borneo during May and June 1945. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan, 23-30 June 1945. The group's final combat action of World War II was attacking isolated Japanese units on Luzon, July-August 1945. The 42d Bombardment Group was inactivated on 10 May 1946.

Cold War

The 42nd Bombardment Wing activated at Limestone Air Force Base in 1953 and began operational training in April. All squadrons were flying by Aug. In 1954 and 1955, portions of the wing twice deployed to RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Burtonwood, England, and the entire wing deployed to RAF Upper Heyford, 18 October-18 November 1955. The wing gained an air refueling mission in 1955 and B-52 bombers in 1956. It operated out of Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico (bombers), and Goose Air Base, Labrador (tankers), while runway repairs were made at Loring, 10 July 1959 – 5 October 1959.

It supported Strategic Air Command's bombardment and air refueling operations in Southeast Asia from the mid-1960s to mid-1975, furnishing aircraft, aircrews, and at times support personnel to other units. The wing also participated in strategic and tactical exercises worldwide and supported USAF needs for air refueling after 1975. The 42d won the Omaha Trophy as "the outstanding wing in SAC for 1977."

Post-Cold War

The 42d deployed personnel, aircraft and equipment to Southwest Asia from, 7 August 1990 - c. 12 April 1991. It began preparations for closure of Loring Air Force Base in October 1991 and lost its air refueling mission in June 1992. The last wing B-52 departed Loring on 18 November 1993.

On 1 October 1994 the 42d took over operations of Maxwell Air Force Base.

Operations

*World War II
*Operation Desert Shield
*Operation Desert Storm

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

*42d Bombardment Group (Medium) (1940 – 1953)
*42d Bombardment Wing, Heavy (1953 – 1991)
*42d Wing (1991 – 1992)
*42d Bomb Wing (1992 – 1994)
*42d Air Base Wing (1994 – Present)

Assignments

Major Command

*Strategic Air Command (1953-1992)
*Air Combat Command (1992-1994)
*Air Education and Training Command (1994-Present)

Numbered Air Force

*2nd Air Force (1941-1945)
*5th Air Force (1945-1946)
*8th Air Force (1953-1954, 1958, 1989 - 1992)
*9th Air Force (1992-1994)
*Air University (1994-Present)

Air Division

*45th Air Division (1954-1989)

ubordinate Organizations

42d Mission Support Group (42 MSG)
*42d Communications Squadron (42 CS)
*42d Contracting Squadron (42 CONS)
*42d Logistics Readiness Flight (42 LRF)
*42d Mission Support Squadron (42 MSS)
*42d Operations Support Flight (42 OSF)
*42d Security Forces Squadron (42 SFS)
*42d Services Division (42 SVS)

42d Maxwell Support Division

42d Medical Group (42 MDG)

Combat Squadrons assigned

*42nd Air Refueling Squadron (1955-1994)
*69th Bombardment Squadron (1952-1961)
*70th Bombardment Squadron (1953-1966)
*75th Bombardment Squadron (1953-1956)
*407th Air Refueling Squadron (1962-1991)

Bases stationed

*Ft Douglas, Utah (1941)
*Gowen Field, Idaho (1941-1942)
*McChord Field, Washington (1942-1943)
*Fiji Islands (1943)
*Guadalcanal (1943)
*Russell Islands (1943-1944)
*Stirling Island (1944)
*Dutch New Guinea (1944-1945)
*Philippines (1945)
*Palawan Island (1945)
*Itami Air Base (1945-1946)
*Inactivated (1946-1953)
*Loring Air Force Base, Maine (1953-1994)
*Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (1994-Present)

Aircraft OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

*B-18 Bolo (1941-1942)
*B-26 Marauder (1941-1943)
*A-29 Hudson (1942-1943)
*B-25 Mitchell (1942-1945)
*A-26 Invader (1946)
*A-20 Havoc (1946)
*B-36 Peacemaker (1953-1956)
*KC-97 Stratotanker (1955-1957)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1956-1993)
*KC-135 Stratotanker (1957-1992)

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/42abw/ 42d Air Base Wing Website]
* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil Maxwell AFB Official Website]