The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been operational with the United States Air Force since 5 June 1955. This list is of the units it's assigned to, and bases they're stationed at.
Strategic Air Command (1955–1992)
Air Combat Command (1992–2010)
Air Force Global Strike Command (2010–present)
In addition to the USAF, A single RB-52B (52-008) was flown by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) until it was retired on 17 December 2004. It now is on static display at the west gate of Edwards AFB, California. One other B-52H (61-0025) was flown for many years by the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards, and was transferred to NASA on 30 July 2001 as a replacement for the RB-52B. On 9 May 2008, that aircraft was flown for the last time to Sheppard AFB, Texas where it became a GB-52H maintenance trainer, never to fly again.
Current USAF B-52 units
editThe only active operational model of the B-52 is the B-52H. It is currently stationed at three USAF bases, flown by four wings:[1]
- 2nd Bomb Wing (AFGSC) – Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- 11th Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: LA, Gold Tail Stripe)
- 20th Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: LA, Blue Tail Stripe)
- 96th Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: LA, Red Tail Stripe)
- 5th Bomb Wing (AFGSC) – Minot AFB, North Dakota
- 23rd Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: MT, Red Tail Stripe)
- 69th Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: MT, Yellow Tail Stripe)
- 307th Bomb Wing (AFRC) – Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- 93rd Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: BD, Blue/Gold Chex Tail Stripe)
- 343rd Bomb Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: BD, Red/Gray Chex Tail Stripe)
- 412th Test Wing (AFMC) – Edwards AFB, California
- 419th Flight Test Squadron (B-52H, Tail Code: ED)
Historical USAF B-52 units
edit
|
|
Historical Strategic Air Command MAJCOM B-52 units
editStrategic Wings were established by Strategic Air Command in the late 1950s to disburse its B-52 bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. A 4-Digit MAJCOM wing, they were considered as temporary, provisional units.
Beginning in 1962, in order to retain the lineage of the Strategic Wings as combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history. Component units were also redesignated to historically linked units of the newly established wing. Therefore, the history, lineage and honors of the World War II historical units were bestowed upon the newly established wing upon activation.
|
|
Provisional B-52 units
edit- 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional), Andersen AFB, Guam
- Provisional SAC MAJCOM unit, June 1972 – November 1973
- 4133rd Bombardment Wing (Provisional), Andersen AFB, Guam
- Provisional SAC MAJCOM unit, February 1966 – July 1970 (Replaced by 43d Strategic Wing)
- 4525th Strategic Wing Kadena AB, Okinawa
- SAC MAJCOM unit, April 1967 – April 1970 (Replaced by 376th Strategic Wing) Note: The 376th Strategic Wing operated B-52Ds until Aug 1970.
- 4258th Strategic Wing, U-Tapao RTNAF, Thailand
- SAC MAJCOM unit, April 1967 – April 1970 (Replaced by 307th Strategic Wing)
Andersen AFB & Kadena AB started primarily with B-52Fs and later B-52Ds aircraft; aircrew and support personnel deployed from CONUS B-52 wings on a rotational basis / U-TAPAO AB started operation after the B-52D became the primary mission aircraft; SW(P)72 at Andersen AFB was only equipped with B-52Gs
- 801st Provisional Bombardment Wing, Moron AFB, Spain
- Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991.
- Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel
- 806th Provisional Bombardment Wing, RAF Fairford, England
- Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991.
- Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 62d, 340th, 524th, and 668th Bombardment Squadrons
- 1701st Provisional Air Refueling Wing, Prince Abdulla AB, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991.
- Air refueling wing of KC-10s, KC-135s. Had 6 B-52Gs from 60th Bombardment Squadron (January–March 1991)
- 1703rd Provisional Air Refueling Wing, King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia
- Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991.
- Air refueling wing of KC-135s. Had 7 B-52Gs from 69th Bombardment Squadron (October 1990 – March 1991)
- 1708th Provisional Bombardment Wing, Prince Abdulla AB, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Activated in August 1990. Inactivated March 1991.
- Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th and 524th Bombardment Squadrons (August 1990 – March 1991)
- Additional B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th, 524th, 596th, 328th and 668th Bombardment Squadrons (December 1990 – March 1991)
- 4300th Provisional Bombardment Wing, Diego Garcia AB, British Indian Ocean Territories
- Activated in January 1991. Inactivated March 1991
- Composed of B-52G aircraft and personnel from the 69th and 328th Bombardment Squadrons. Also Air Force personnel from other B-52 units across the SAC bases in the United States.
References
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to B-52 Stratofortress Unit Emblems.
- ^ Mehuron, Tamar A., Assoc. Editor. 2009 USAF Almanac, Fact and Figures, Air Force Magazine, May 2009.
- Strategic Air Command.com article source.
- Donald, David, Ed. US Air Force Air Power Directory, AIRtime Publishing Inc., Westport, CT, 1992