History
The wing's lineage and honors can be traced not just through its own history, but through the history of three earlier organizations:
- The 501st Bombardment Group (501st BG) (1944–1946)
- The 701st Tactical Missile Wing (701st TMW) (1956–1958)
- The 501st Tactical Missile Wing (501st TMW) (1982–1991)
The 501st BG was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization serving primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. The 501st BG was part of Twentieth Air Force and engaged in very heavy bombardment B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan. Its aircraft were identified by a "Y" inside a diamond painted on the tail.
The 701st TMW served in West Germany during the Cold War in the 1950s. The 501st TMW operated Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) at RAF Greenham Common, England during the Cold War in the 1980s.
Read more about this topic: 501st Combat Support Wing
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