30th Space Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=30th Space Wing


caption=
dates= 15 January 1941 — 1946
1964 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Satellite Launch
role=
size=
command_structure=Air Force Space Command
current_commander=Colonel David "Dave" Buck
garrison=Vandenberg Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= C. Robert Kehler
Lance W. Lord
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 30th Space Wing (30 SW) is an air force wing forming a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force of the Air Force Space Command of the United States Air Force. The 30th Space Wing is based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The 30th includes numerous subordinate groups, with their own subordinate squadrons.

Mission

To defend the United States through Launch, Range, and Expeditionary Operations.

History

During the first part of the Second World War the 30th Bombardment Group, a unit of the 7th Air Force, patrolled the west coast while training crews for other units. The group began operations in the Pacific in November 1943. It attacked enemy installations on the Gilbert Islands in support of the U.S. invasion; raided enemy airfields in the Marshalls to prevent Japanese airplanes launching against Tarawa. From December 1943 - March 1944, the group bombed installations in the Marshalls in preparation for their occupation. During April, June, and July, the 30th raided airfields and navy facilities in the Truk Islands to keep them neutralized during the U.S. attack on the Marianas. It also bombed Wake, Guam, and Saipan. From August 1944 until the U.S. took Iwo Jima in early 1945, the group attacked airfields and shipping in the Bonin and Volcano islands and hit bypassed islands in the Carolines and Marianas until March 1945, when it returned to Hawaii for routine patrols and training until inactivated in 1946.

Upon reactivation in 1964 the future 30th SW operated and maintained the Western Test Range. The 30th conducted strategic missile test programs, including Minuteman force reliability assessment and Peacekeeper flight development efforts. The Wing maintained launch and support facilities for the Space Transportation System from 1984 – 1987. It conducted other aerospace systems launching and tracking operations at the California launch site and at several fixed and mobile instrumentation sites in the Pacific. The 30th also provided support personnel to USAF units deployed to Southwest Asia from August 1990 – April 1991, and to Saudi Arabia on a rotational basis thereafter. Most recently it has also deployed personnel in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*30th Bombardment Group (1940 - 1964)
*Air Force Western Test Range (1964 - 1979)
*Western Space and Missile Center (1979 - 1991)
*30th Space Wing (1997 - Present)

Assignments

Major command

*Air Force Space Command

Numbered Air Force

*7th Air Force (1943 – 1946)
*14th Air Force (1993 – Present)

ubordinate organizations

30th Operations Group (30 OG)
*30th Space Communications Squadron (30 SCS)
*2d Range Operations Squadron (2 ROPS)
*30th Range Management Squadron (30 RMS)
*30th Weather Squadron (30 WS)
*30th Helicopter Squadron (30 HS)
*30th Operations Support Squadron (30 OSS)

30th Launch Group (30 LCG)
*1st Air and Space Test Squadron (1 ASTS)
*4th Space Launch Squadron (4 SLCS)
*30th Launch Support Squadron (30 LCSS)

30th Mission Support Group (30 MSG)
*30th Contracting Squadron (30 CONS)
*30th Security Forces Squadron (30 SFS)
*30th Services Division
*30th Logistics Readiness Squadron (30 LRS)
*30th Mission Support Squadron (30 MSS)
*30th Civil Engineering Squadron (30 CES)

30th Medical Group (30 MDG)
*30th Medical Operations Squadron (30 MDOS)
*30th Medical Support Squadron (30 MDSS)

Additionally, the 30th Comptroller Squadron (30 CPTS) reports directly to the wing staff.

Bases stationed

*March Field, California (1941)
*New Orleans, Louisiana (1941)
*Muroc, California (1941 – 1942)
*March Field, California (1942 – 1943)
*Hickam Field, Hawaii (1943)
*Nanumea, Ellice Islands (1943 – 1944)
*Abemama, Gilbert Islands (1944)
*Kwajalein, Marshall Islands (1944)
*Saipan, Mariana Islands (1944 – 1945)
*Wheeler Field, Hawaii (1945 – 1946)
*Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (1964 – Present)

Aircraft and Launch Vehicles Operated

*A-29 Hudson (1941 – 1942)
*YB-17 (1941)
*B-18 Bolo (1941 – 1942)
*B-24 Liberator (1942 – 1946)
*B-25 Mitchell (1942)
*UH-1 Iroquois (1991 – Present)
*Minotaur I
* Taurus
*Pegasus
*Delta II
*Delta IV
*Atlas V
*Titan IV
*Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle

Unit shields

References

* [http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/ Vandenberg AFB Home Page]

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