List of USAF Strategic Wings Assigned To The Strategic Air Command - Redesignation To AFCON Status

Redesignation To AFCON Status

When the B-52 dispersal began in the fifties, the new units created to support this program were named strategic wings and given four-digit designations, for example, the 4137th Strategic Wing. Under the USAF organization and lineage system, these four-digit units fell into the MAJCOM (major air command controlled) category and their lineage (histories, awards, and battle honors) ended with their discontinuance and could never be revived. In sharp contrast, AFCON (Headquarters USAF controlled) units, which were readily distinguished by having one, two or three digit designations, could go through a series of inactivations and activations and still retain their lineage.

Headquarters SAC was well aware of the historical significance of records and accomplishments of the strategic wings and the need to perpetuate this lineage as well as the lineage of many illustrious unit that were no longer active.

In order to retain the lineage of the combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activated AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time.

The reorganization process, which extended from 1 January through 1 September, was applied to 22 B-52 strategic wings, three air-refueling wings, and the 4321st Strategic Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. These units were discontinued and two and three-digit AFCON units were activated. In most cases, the bombardment squadron that had been assigned to the strategic wings were inactivated and bombardment squadrons that had previously been assigned to the newly-activated wings were activated. While these actions were almost tantamount to redesignation, they were not official redesignation. Therefore, the records, awards and achievements of the strategic wing could not be inherited by the bomb wings.”

6th Strategic Wing

• Redesignated on: 25 March 1967.
• At: Eielson AFB, AK.
• Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 18th Strategic Aerospace Division.
• Equipment: KC-135A/Q's, RC-135D's, RC-135E, & RC135S's.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 12th Strategic Aerospace Division on 2 July 1968.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Strategic Aerospace Division on 30 June 1971.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Air Division on 1 October 1976.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division on 1 October 1985.
• Changed equipment in: 1985 to KC-135s, RC-135s, TC-135s.
• Redesignated as: 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 April 1988.

• • Detachment 1 Designated on 25 March 1967.
  • Located at: Shemya Air Force Base

43d Strategic Wing

• Redesignated on: 4 February 1970.
• Activated on: 1 April 1970.
• At: Andersen AFB, Guam.
• Assigned to: Eighth Air Force. (Attached to the Air Division, Provisional, 57 from 1 June 1972 to 1 November 1973).
• Equipment: B-52s, KC-135s
• Reassigned to: Strategic Air Command, 3rd Air Division on 1 January 1975.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 3rd Air Division on 31 January 1982.
• Redesignated on: 4 November 1986 as 43rd Bombardment Wing.

It activated again in Apr 1970, replacing the 3960 Strategic Wing at Andersen AFB, Guam. On 1 July 1970, the 43d also assumed tasks formerly handled by the Bombardment Wing, Provisional, 4133, including a combat mission. Employed attached aircraft and aircrews of other Strategic Air Command units to participate in "Arc Light" combat missions in Southeast Asia from 1 July to mid-Aug 1970, and again from Feb 1972 to Aug 1973. Following the end of combat operations, provided routing training and ground alert with B-52 and KC-135 aircraft, the latter provided by other Strategic Air Command units on loan. During 1975, provided logistical and medical support to thousands of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from their homeland and located temporarily at Guam awaiting resettlement in the United States. Trained to remain proficient in strategic and conventional warfare capabilities. Beginning in 1974, controlled TDY tankers and crews participating in the Pacific (formerly Andersen) Tanker Task Force that supported Strategic Air Command operations in the western Pacific. In Jul 1986, activated the 65 Strategic Squadron to control the TDY air refueling forces.