5th Bomb Wing

5th Bomb Wing
5th Bomb Wing emblem
Active	August 15, 1919 – Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Bomber
Part of	Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Minot Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	the Warbirds
Motto(s)	"Kiai o ka lewa" Hawaiian: Guardians of the Upper Realms
Equipment	B-52H Stratofortress
Engagements	World War II Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1941–1945) Vietnam Service (1965–1968) Southwest Asia (1990–1991) Expeditionary Service (1990s) Kosovo Campaign 1999 Global War on Terrorism (2001-TBD) Afghanistan Campaign (TBD)
Decorations	see "Lineage and Honors" section below
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Joel S. Westa
Notable commanders	Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, Brigadier General Edwin B. Broadhurst, Brigadier General William R. Hodges, Brigadier General Ralph Pasini

A B-52 with the 5th Bomb Wing taxis past the Minot AFB tower

The United States Air Force 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW) is a B-52 Stratofortress unit based at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is one of only two B-52 wings in the US Air Force (the other being the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

The 5th Bomb Wing is a descendant organization of the 5th Group (Composite), one of the 13 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.

Components

The 5 BW is part of the Air Combat Command's Eighth Air Force and is the host unit at Minot Air Force Base. Its current Commander is Colonel Joel S. Westa, with Colonel Paul G. Bell as Vice-Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Mark Clark as Command Chief. The wing includes a total force of approximately 3,200 military members as well as 420 civilian employees.

The 5 BW consists of the following groups:

• 5th Operations Group: July 16, 1949 – June 16, 1952 (detached November 12, 1949 – February 10, 1951); September 1, 1991 – . (Colonel Tom Gilbert, current Commander)
  • 23d Bomb Squadron
  • 69th Bomb Squadron (newly activated in 2009)
  • 5th Operations Support Squadron
• 5th Maintenance Group (Colonel Gary Lane, current Commander)
  • 5th Munitions Squadron
  • 5th Maintenance Squadron
  • 5th Maintenance Ops Squadron
  • 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
• 5th Medical Group (Colonel (Dr.) Jim Hougas, current Commander)
  • 5th Medical Operations Squadron
  • 5th Medical Support Squadron
• 5th Mission Support Group (Colonel James M Gallagher, current Commander)
  • 5th Civil Engineer Squadron
  • 5th Communications Squadron
  • 5th Force Support Squadron
  • 5th Security Forces Squadron
  • 5th Contracting Squadron
  • 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron

As the host unit at Minot, the 5th BW also controls the special staff functions of the inspector general, wing plans, the chaplain, staff judge advocate, arms control, command post, public affairs, history and safety. The 5th Comptroller Squadron also reports directly to the 5th BW commander.

History

Overview: Organized in Hawaii in 1919 as the 2nd Group (Observation), it was redesignated the 5th Group (Composite) in 1922 and the 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in 1940. The group deployed in 1942 to the Southwest Pacific, where its B-17s and B-24s conducted long-range missions against Japanese forces. In 1949, the group joined the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, then moved to Travis AFB, California. It became the 5th Bombardment Wing in 1955. This wing, which converted from B-36s to B-52s in 1958, has been at Minot AFB, North Dakota, since 1968. Its KC-135 tankers participated in the Persian Gulf war.

Heraldry

The group's emblem, approved in 1924, features a winged death's head as an uncompromising symbol of its combat mission.

Lineage

• Authorized (established) as 2d Group (Observation), and organized, on August 15, 1919.
• Redesignated 5th Group (Observation) on March 14, 1921.
• Redesignated 5th Group (Pursuit and Bombardment), c. June 9, 1922.
• Redesignated 5th Group (Composite) on July 11, 1922
• Redesignated 5th Composite Group on unkn date; 5 Bombardment Group on March 9, 1938
• Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group (Medium) on December 6, 1939
• Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on November 20, 1940
• Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group, Heavy on September 12, 1944
• Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on April 30, 1946
• Redesignated 5th Reconnaissance Group, Very Long Range, Photographic on March 11, 1947
• Established as 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on July 1, 1949
• Redesignated 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Heavy on November 14, 1950
• Redesignated 5th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on October 1, 1955
• Redesignated 5th Wing on September 1, 1991
• Redesignated 5th Bomb Wing on June 1, 1992.

Bestowed Honors: Authorized to display honors earned by the 5th Operations Group prior to July 16, 1949 (italicized).

Stations

• Luke Field, Hawaii (Territory), August 15, 1919
• Hickam Field, Hawaii (Territory), January 1, 1939
• Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, December 1, 1942
• Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, August 19, 1943
• Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, February 4, 1944
• Momote Airfield, Los Negros Island, Admiralty Islands, April 7, 1944
• Wakde Airfield, Wakde, Netherlands East Indies, August 17, 1944
• Kornasoren (Yebrurro) Airfield Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Netherlands East Indies, September 22, 1944
• Wama Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, October 1944
• Guiuan Airfield, Samar, Phillipines, March 5, 1945
• Clark Field, Luzon, Phillipines, December 1945 – May 6, 1949
• Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, July 16, 1949
• Fairfield-Suisun (later, Travis) AFB, California, November 12, 1949
• Minot AFB, North Dakota, July 25, 1968 – Present

Major Aircraft Assigned

• Various (1921–1941)
  (DH-4, MB-2, B-12, LB-5, LB-6, PW-9, P-12, O-19, and other aircraft)
• Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1941
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1941–1943, 1947–1949 (RB-17s)
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1946
• B-29 Superfortress, 1946,-1947, 1949
• RB-29 Superfortress, 1949, 1951
• RB-36D Peacemaker, 1951–1958
• B-36J Peacemaker, 1953–1958
• B-52 Stratofortress, 1959–1968 (B-52G), 1968–Present (B-52H)
• KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959–1968, 1968–1992
• EC–135, 1968–1969
• T-38 Talon, 1994–1995.

Assignments

5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

• Established on: July 1, 1949.
• Activated on: July 16, 1949.
• At: Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
• Assigned to: Strategic Air Command, 311th Air Diviesion.
• Equipment: B-29s, RB-29s.
• Moved to: Fairfield Suisun AFB, California, on November 12, 1949.
• Reassigned to: Second Air Force on November 1, 1949. (Attached to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing from November 21, 1949 to April 1, 1950).
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force on April 1, 1950.(Attached to 9th Bomb Wing from April 1, 1950 to February 10, 1951).
• Equipment: B-29s, RB-29s.
• Changed equipment in: 1950 to RB-29s, RB-36s..
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division on February 10, 1951. (Attached to the 3d Air Division from January 14 to April 12, 1955).
• Changed equipment in: 1955 to B-36s, RB-36s.
• Redesignated on: October 1, 1955 as 5th Bomb Wing.

5th Bomb Wing

• Redesignated on: October 1, 1955
• At: Travis AFB, California.
• Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division.
• Equipment: B-36s, RB-36s.
• Changed equipment in: 1959 to B-52s, KC-135s.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Strategic Aerospace Division on March 1, 1962.
• Moved to: Minot AFB, North Dakota, on July 25, 1968.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 810th Strategic Aerospace Division on July 25, 1968.
• Changed equipment in: 1968 to B-52s, EC-135s, KC-135s.
• Changed equipment in: 1970 to B-52s, KC-135s.
• Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 47th Air Division on June 30, 1971.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Air Division on July 1, 1971.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force on November 30, 1972.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Air Division on February 15, 1973.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 57th Air Division on January 22, 1975.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force on June 14, 1991.
• Reassigned to: Eighth Air Force on September 1, 1991.
• Redesignated in: 1991 as 5th Wing.

5th Wing

• Redesignated on: September 1, 1991.
• At: Minot AFB, North Dakota.
• Assigned to: Eighth Air Force.
• Equipment: B-52s, KC-135s.
• Reassigned to: Air Combat Command, Eighth Air Force, on May 31, 1992.

Operational history

The 5th Bomb Wing’s history dates back more than eight decades to the infancy of military aviation. It originally activated as the 2d Group (Observation) August 15, 1919, at Luke Field in the Territory of Hawaii. In 1921, the group was redesignated the 5th Group (Observation). A year later, it became the 5th Group (Pursuit and Bombardment) with its crews flying DeHaviland DH-4 aircraft.

Activities included training, participating in Army-Navy maneuvers, staging aerial reviews and sowing seeds from the air for the Territorial Forestry Division. In 1935, the group helped save the city of Hilo, Hawaii, during the eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano. Ten Keystone B-3 and B-4 bombers from the group’s 23d and 72d Bombardment Squadrons dropped 20, 600-pound bombs around the volcano to divert molten lava away from the town. Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group in March 1938, 5th Bombardment Group (Medium) in December 1939, and 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in November 1940. Equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Douglas B-18 Bolos by December 1941.

World War II

The 5th Bombardment Group suffered devastating casualties and equipment damage during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field and other targets on the island of Oahu on December 7, 1941. However, the group’s aircrews went on to become the first U.S. military forces to take to the air following the attack.

Assigned to Seventh Air Force in February 1942. Engaged primarily in search and patrol missions off Hawaii from December 1941 to November 1942. In Hawaii, the B-17E-equipped 5th and 11th Bombardment Groups were used in the Battle of Midway to attack Japanese surface fleets. High-altitude bombing attacks against moving ships capable of evasive action proved to be completely unsuccessful at Midway. Although several attacks were made by the B-17s, none of their bombs actually hit a single Japanese ship. An attack against naval vessels at sea was found to be a job best done by low-altitude B-25 Mitchell/B-26 Marauder medium bombers or by Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers.

Left Hawaii in November 1942 and, operating primarily from Espírito Santo in the Solomon Islands with a mix of B-17 and B-24 aircraft, served in combat with Thirteenth Air Force during the Allied drive from the Solomons to the Philippines. Flew long patrol and photographic missions over the Solomon Islands and the Coral Sea, attacked Japanese shipping off Guadalcanal, and raided airfields in the northern Solomons until August 1943. Then struck enemy bases and installations on Bougainville, New Britain, and New Ireland.

The group moved between various bases in the Southwest Pacific and by mid-1943, most B-17s were withthdrawn in favor of the longer-ranged Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The B-24 was better suited for operations in the Pacific, having a higher speed and a larger bombload at medium altitudes. In addition, the losses in Europe were reaching such magnitudes that the entire B-17 production was urgently needed for replacements and training in that theatre.

Raided the heavily defended Japanese base on Woleai during April and May 1944 and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the action. Helped to neutralize enemy bases on Yap and in the Truk and Palau Islands, June–August 1944, preparatory to the invasion of Peleliu and Leyte. Flew missions to the Netherlands Indies, receiving a DUC for an attack, conducted through heavy flak and fighter defenses, on oil installations at Balikpapan, Borneo, on September 30, 1944. Completed a variety of missions from October 1944 until the end of the war, these operations including raids on enemy bases and installations on Luzon, Ceram, Halmahera, and Formosa; support for ground forces in the Philippines and Borneo; and patrols off the China coast. Moved to the Philippines in 1945 till the end of the war.

During the nearly four years of war, the group participated in 10 major campaigns, flew more than 1,000 combat missions and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. During the time, its members accumulated more than 13,300 medals and decorations.

Cold War

Strategic Reconnaissance

Remained in the theater as part of Far East Air Forces after the war, but all personnel evidently had been withdrawn by early in 1946. Redesignated 5th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in April 1946, and 5th Reconnaissance Group in February 1947.

Between 1947 and 1958, the group underwent several name and assignment changes while continually upgrading its aircraft. Performed long-range strategic reconnaissance, July 1949 – October 1955, with some limited reconnaissance to September 1958. Operational squadrons were 23d, 31st and 72d Strategic Reconnaissance flying Boeing RB-17G/F-2/F-9/F-13 aircraft (1947–49) and beginning in 1948, Boeing RB-29 aircraft until 1951.

The wing performed operations to probe the eastern borders of the Soviet Union and China. Little was known about the air defence capability of the Soviet Union at this time and the most effective way of determining their capability was to probe the borders and see whether they would respond. Initially, the RB-17Gs and later aircraft (RB-29, RB-36D) mapped the perimeter of the Soviet Air Defences from the Baltic to the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Japan.

This mission, along with many others, found that west of the Bering Strait there was virtually no radar coverage. As a result of these missions, USAF war plans were drawn up which directed a massive bomber attack to hit Russia from this direction, flying on to land in the Middle East or Africa, or more likely bailing out as the aircraft ran out of fuel. Gradually, during the 1950s, the Soviets began filling in the gaps in their radar coverage over northern Siberia, but large gaps on the outer perimeter between Alaska and Murmansk were still wide open for many years to come.

The wing was fully integrated with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later, 9th Bomb Wing), November 12, 1949 – February 10, 1951; maintained a manned headquarters, but had no operational control over assigned units, and from February 1, 1950 to February 10, 1951 shared a commander in common with the 9th Wing.

In June 1951, the wing began converting to the Convair RB-36D Peacemaker, forming three squadrons (23d, 31st, 72d Bombardment Squadrons). Later, B-36J models were assigned to the wing and it began maintaining proficiency in strategic bombardment in July 1953 but the 5th was not redesignated as a bombardment wing until October 1955.

Strategic Bombardment

While stationed at Travis AFB, Calif., the 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) entered the jet age in on February 13, 1959 when Strategic Air Command assigned the wing its first Boeing B-52B Stratofortresses. Two operational bomb squadrons (23d and 31st) were formed. With that change, the wing also gained the 916th Air Refueling Squadron and its KC-135A air refueling aircraft. The wing's 23d Bombardment Squadron and its people saw combat over Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Its crews attacked targets in the region while supporting American and allied ground forces during Operation Arc Light between 1965 and 1968.

The wing moved to Minot AFB, North Dakota on July 25, 1968 with the 23d Bomb Squadron absorbing the resources of the 450th Bombardment Wing/720th Bomb Squadron and ended its Southeast Asia deployments. At Minot, the wing transitioned to the B-52H, which brought added vigor to its strategic deterrence mission. It also supported the post-attack command and control system (PACCS), July 1968 – December 1969.

In the summer of 1975, the wing gained the Boeing AGM-69A Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM), which enhanced the ability of the B-52H to penetrate and survive in this hostile environment. Armed with a nuclear warhead and equipped with a simple inertial guidance system, the AGM-69A was propelled to its range of 20 to 50 nautical miles (93 km) by a solid-propellant rocket motor. Each B-52 could carry up to 20 SRAMs, six on each of two wing pylons and eight on a rotary launcher located in the bomb bay.

Entering the 1990s, the 5th BW continued to set the standard as it deployed troops to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. During the war’s air campaign, the wing joined U.S. and coalition bombers and fighters to defeat Iraq’s air and ground forces.

In September 1991, the wing marked a historic moment in the final days of the Cold War when it pulled its aircraft from continuous alert status – a job it performed for 35 years. The wing was relieved of its air refueling mission in June 1992 On June 1, 1992, the 5th Wing became the 5th Bomb Wing following the activation of Air Combat Command.

Post-Cold War

The bomb wing saw combat again in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. Months later, three Minot B-52s and crews joined the 2d Air Expeditionary Group at RAF Fairford, England, in support of Operation Allied Force over the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Budgetary cuts in 1996 led to a need for further force reductions which reduced the 5th's B-52H fleet. The 72d BS was inactivated late in the year and their 12 aircraft were retired.

In the weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks|terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, the 5th BW deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Flying from a forward operating location, bomber crews attacked strategic targets in Afghanistan to topple the Taliban regime.

In 2003, the wing deployed approximately 550 people and 14 B-52s to the U.S. European Command region in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the war, the wing’s B-52s flew more than 120 combat missions and logged more than 1,600 combat flying hours. The bombers dropped more than 3 million pounds of weaponry, including conventional air-launched cruise missiles, joint direct attack munitions, gravity weapons, laser-guided bombs and leaflet dispensers. For the first time in combat history, a 5th BW crew employed a Litening II targeting pod to strike targets at an Iraqi airfield April 11, 2003.

In March 2004, the wing sent six B-52s and over 300 support personnel to Andersen AFB, Guam. The aircraft and crews supported U.S. Pacific Command operations to provide a stabilizing military force in the region.

In April 2005, the wing forward deployed aircraft and personnel to the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of U.S. Central Command combat operations in Afghanistan. Flying a mix of close air support and strike missions, 5th BW crews ensured success of ground combat units in meeting their objectives.

Today, the 5th's B-52Hs are a major component of the USAF's strategic bombing force, alongside the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and the Northrop B-2A Spirit. The USAF is currently considering converting some of its B-52Hs to EB-52Hs to act as a stand-off electronic warfare platform. During Operation Allied Force (the bombing of Serbia undertaken in an attempt to halt the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo), the USAF found that additional jamming aircraft were needed to supplement the current fleet of Grumman EA-6A/B Prowler. With modern technology and advanced weapons like the JDAM and JASSM, the 5th's B-52 are expected to remain operational until the year 2040.

In 2007 the Wing lost its commanding officer after Colonel Bruce Emig was removed in connection with the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident, when negligent handling of nuclear weapons breached safety and security procedures. Following that incident, the wing failed a nuclear surety inspection conducted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in May 2008. The wing, however, kept its certification to perform missions and training with nuclear weapons.

Honors

Campaign Streamers

• World War II: Central Pacific; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines

Decorations

• Distinguished Unit Citations: Woleai Island, April 18, 1944 – May 15, 1944; Borneo, September 30, 1944
• Presidential Unit Citation (Navy): South Pacific, December 1, 1942 – December 9, 1942
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII)
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: June 1, 1999 – May 31, 2001
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (3): July 1, 1983 – June 30, 1984; July 1, 1985 – June 30, 1986; July 1, 1991 – June 30, 1993.

Awards

• Won the Omaha Trophy as the outstanding wing in SAC for 1985.
• Won the SAC Bombing and Navigation Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1988.
• Received the Omaha Trophy from U.S. Strategic Command as the best strategic aircraft unit for 2000.

See also

• 313th Air Division

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Much of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the Minot Air Force Base website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource.

Bibliography

• Davis, Major Fred. (ed). History of the Fifth Bomb Group (Heavy): History of the Bomber Barons of the 13th "Jungle" Air Force. Raleigh, North Carolina: Hillsbourough House, 1946.
• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984.
• Rogers, Brian. United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

External links

• Associated Press (May 30, 2008). "Air Force wing in nuclear goof has more trouble". CNN. Retrieved 2008-06-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Michael, Hoffman (May 30, 2008). "Minot's 5th Bomb Wing flunks nuclear inspection". Military Times. Retrieved 2008-06-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 2d Bomb Wing
• Minot Air Force Base official website
• Biography of recently relieved Col. Bruce Emig (link no longer visible on Minot AFB official site)