4083d Strategic Wing
Encyclopedia
The 4083d Strategic Wing (4083d SW) is an inactive United States Air Force
unit, being inactivated on 1 July 1959.
The 4083d SW was a non-flying ground service support element for the for the Strategic Air Command
Eighth Air Force
, based at Thule Air Base
, Greenland
. It was established on 1 April 1957 and inactivated on 1 July 1959. When activated, the wing assumed the resources (Manpower, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 6607th Air Base Wing, which had originally been established on 1 January 1956. Throughout its existence it was in provisional status, controlled by Strategic Air Command
. Eighth Air Force
which provided intermediate command and control from its establishment until its inactivation, being assigned to Thule AB during its entire existence.
The wing controlled operations at Thule when SAC took control of base from Northeast Air Command
. The 4083d primarily providing support for aerial refueling KC-135s and transient alert for aircraft being sent to Thule on 90-day rotational deployments. Also operated base host facilities. Operated NORAD early warning RADAR network for United States and Canada. Redesignated 4083d Air Base Wing 1 July 1959, unit inactivated on 1 July 1960 when Air Defense Command 4683d Air Base group took over host responsibility at Thule.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit, being inactivated on 1 July 1959.
The 4083d SW was a non-flying ground service support element for the for the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, based at Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base or Thule Air Base/Pituffik Airport , is the United States Air Force's northernmost base, located north of the Arctic Circle and from the North Pole on the northwest side of the island of Greenland. It is approximately east of the North Magnetic Pole.-Overview:Thule Air Base is the...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. It was established on 1 April 1957 and inactivated on 1 July 1959. When activated, the wing assumed the resources (Manpower, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 6607th Air Base Wing, which had originally been established on 1 January 1956. Throughout its existence it was in provisional status, controlled by Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
. Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
which provided intermediate command and control from its establishment until its inactivation, being assigned to Thule AB during its entire existence.
The wing controlled operations at Thule when SAC took control of base from Northeast Air Command
Northeast Air Command
The Northeast Air Command was a short-lived organization in the United States Air Force tasked with the operation and defense of air bases in Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. It was formed in 1950 from the facilities of the United States established during World War II in Northeast Canada,...
. The 4083d primarily providing support for aerial refueling KC-135s and transient alert for aircraft being sent to Thule on 90-day rotational deployments. Also operated base host facilities. Operated NORAD early warning RADAR network for United States and Canada. Redesignated 4083d Air Base Wing 1 July 1959, unit inactivated on 1 July 1960 when Air Defense Command 4683d Air Base group took over host responsibility at Thule.