389th Strategic Missile Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 389th Strategic Missile Wing


caption= 389th Strategic Missile Wing Insignia
dates= 1942 - 1965
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Strategic
role= ICBM Operations
size=
command_structure= Strategic Air Command
current_commander=
garrison= Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The 389th Strategic Missile Wing was a Cold War United States Air Force organization. It served with Strategic Air Command.

Operational Units

* 564th Strategic Missile Squadron
* 565th Strategic Missile Squadron
* 566th Strategic Missile Squadron

History

Lineage

* 389th Bombardment Group (1942-1945)
* 389th Strategic Missile Wing (1961-1965)

Aircraft Flown

* General Dynamics SM-65 Atlas Missile
* Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Stations Assigned

* Davis-Monthan Field, AZ 24 Dec 1942
* Biggs Field, TX 1 Feb 1943
* Lowry Field, CO 19 Apr-8 Jun 1943
* RAF Hethel, England 11 Jun 1943-30 May 1945 114
* Charleston AAFld, SC 12 Jun-13 Sep 1945
* Warren AFB, Wyoming 1961-1965

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Dec 1942 and activated on 24 Dec. Prepared for duty overseas with B-24's. Moved to RAF Hethel England, Jun-Jul 1943, and assigned to Eighth Air Force. The 389th was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, and the group tail code was a "Circle-C". It's operational squadrons were:

* 564th Bomb Squadron (YO)
* 565th Bomb Squadron (EE)
* 566th Bomb Squadron (RR)
* 567th Bomb Squadron (HP)

Upon its arrival at Hethel, almost immediately a detachment was sent to Libya, where it began operations on 9 July 1943. The detachment flew missions to Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria, and Romania. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the detachment's participation in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943.

For his action during the same operation, Second Lieutenant Lloyd Herbert Hughes was awarded the Medal of Honor. Refusing to turn back although gasoline was streaming from his flak-damaged plane, Lt Hughes flew at low altitude over the blazing target area and bombed the objective. The plane crashed before Hughes could make the forced landing that he attempted after the bomb run.

The detachment returned to England in August and the group flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland.

The unit deployed again temporarily to Tunisia during September and October 1943 with the group supporting Allied operations at Salerno and hit targets in Corsica, Italy, and Austria.

Resumed operations from England in October 1943 the group concentrated primarily on strategic objectives in France, the Low Countries, and Germany. Targets included shipbuilding yards at Vegesack, industrial areas of Berlin, oil facilities at Merseburg, factories at Munster, railroad yards at Sangerhausen, and V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais. The group participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944. Also flew support and interdictory missions on several occasions, bombing gun batteries and airfields in support of the Normandy invasion in June 1944, striking enemy positions to aid the breakthrough at St Lo in July 1944, hitting storage depots and communications centers during the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945), and dropping food, ammunition, gasoline, and other supplies to troops participating in the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

The 389th Bomb Group flew its last combat mission late in April 1945. It returned to Charleston AAF South Carolina on 30 May 1945 and was deactivated on 13 September 1945.

Cold War

Conducted Strategic Missile training operations as directed by SAC. The Wing was placed in readiness during the Cuban missile crisis in November 1962. In May 1964, as the Atlas D missiles were being phased out, the 389th Strategic Missile Wing received SAC’s last operational readiness inspection for this system. In September 1965, SAC deactivated the 389th SMW, completing the phaseout of the Atlas E at Warren.

See also

* Strategic Air Command
* Eighth Air Force

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.

External links