460th Space Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 460th Space Wing


caption= Official emblem of the 460th Space Wing
dates= 19 August 2004
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Space
role= Early warning and space defense
size=
command_structure= Air Force Space Command
equipment= Ground radar and satellite telecom
current_commander=Col. David W. Ziegler
garrison=Buckley AFB
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= The 460th Space Wingis located at Buckley Air Force Base, east of Aurora, Colorado.cite web|title=460th Space Wing Factsheet| date= | author= | url=http://www.buckley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4422| accessdate=2008-10-08]

Since the 460th was reactivated on 1 October, 2001, the wing has provided delivered global infrared surveillance to combatant commanders, provided worldwide missile warning and tracking for homeland defense purposes, provided expeditionary warrior Airmencite web|title=Welcome to Buckley Air Force Base| date= | author= | url=http://www.buckley.af.mil/main/welcome.asp| accessdate=2008-10-08]

Organization

The 460th Space Wing is directed by Air Force Space Command. 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.

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.

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 Deptartment Homeland Security, as well as more traditional health care services such as optometry, wellness services and dental care.

History

During World War II, the 460th was known as the 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and was assigned to the 55th Bombardment Wing of Fifteenth Air Force.The group trained for heavy bombardment operations overseas at bases in Alamogordo AAF in New Mexico from July 1 to August 31 1943, at Kearns AAB in Utah, and Chatham AAF in Georgia. The 460th moved to Spinazzola, Italy in February 1944, and the entered combat on 19 March.

The 460th 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 Jul 1944. The group also flew some interdiction and support missions and supported the invasion of southern France in Aug 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.

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 September 26, 1945.

Vietnam War

The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated 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 Aug. 31 that year.

1989 and 1990

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

2001 - present

Buckley remained an Air National Guard base until Oct. 1, 2000 when the 821st Space Group became host and the base was renamed Buckley Air Force Base. The 460th Air Base Wing was activated Oct. 1, 2001, and assumed full control of the support mission in the Denver area. On Aug. 19, 2004, it as designated as the 460th Space Wing and added an operational space mission to its responsibilities.

The Base has always been the home of the Colorado Air National Guard 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 140th Wing, along with the Colorado Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility and special missions the Army CH-47 Chinook, UH-1 Huey, and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, and the Air Reserve Personnel Center for continental USA.

Contact Information

460th Space Wing Public Affairs
510 S. Aspen St. (Stop 88)
Buckley AFB, CO 80011
Ph: 720-847-9431

References

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* [http://www.buckley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4422 460th Space Wing Fact Sheet]
* [http://www.buckley.af.mil/ Buckley Air Force Base]
* [http://www.cobuck.ang.af.mil/ Colorado Air National Guard Buckley]
* [http://www.airpower.at/news03/0813_luftkrieg_ostmark/15USAF.htm The 15th US Army Air Force in July 1944]
* [http://aerosud.chez-alice.fr/forceaer/usaaf/b24gp/460bg/460thbgeng.htm 460th Bomb Group "Black Panthers"]

See Also

* Buckley AFB