History
Headquarters Strategic Air Command (SAC) activated the wing as the 705th SMW on 20 February 1958 at RAF Lakenheath, England, to monitor the PGM-17 Thor IRBM program in the United Kingdom and provide technical assistance to the four Royal Air Force Thor squadrons. The wing never became operational, and its only manning was by additional duty personnel of the 7th Air Division Directorate of Ballistic Missiles through 1960. Even its commanding officer, Col. William R. Yancy acted in that capacity as an additional duty from March to November 1958,
While the missiles were assigned to the RAF for control, SAC retained control over the squadron's nuclear warheads and assigned a detachment of the 705th to perform the following functions:
- Retain custody and control over, and provide maintenance for, reentry vehicles and warheads
- Receive and initiate U. S. warhead release orders
- Operate USAF communications facilities
- Provide training to the Royal Air Force on the Thor missile operations
On 22 June 1959, No. 77 (Strategic Missile) Squadron at RAF Feltwell became the first British-based Thor IRBM squadron to reach operational status. On 11 September and 22 December 1959, the second and third British-based Thor IRBM squadrons were declared operational and assigned to Royal Air Force personnel. When SAC turned over the fourth and final British-based Thor IRBM to the Royal Air Force on 22 April 1960, the deployment of the Thor IRBM weapon system in the United Kingdom was completed. The wing was inactivated on 1 April 1960, followed shortly by the elimination of 7th Air Division's Directorate of Ballistic Missiles.
Read more about this topic: 705th Strategic Missile Wing
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