44th Missile Wing
Encyclopedia
The 44th Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with Twentieth Air Force
, being assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
. It was deactivated on 4 July 1994.
For over 40 years the 44th was a front-line Strategic Air Command
wing, initially as a B-47 Stratojet
medium bomber unit in the 1950s. With the phaseout of the B-47, the wing became a LGM-30 Minuteman
ICBM unit in the 1960s, being deactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of U.S. strategic forces after the end of the Cold War
.
During World War II
, its predecessor unit, the 44th Bombardment Group was the first VIII Bomber Command
B-24 Liberator
heavy bombardment group stationed in England
. Colonel
Leon W. Johnson
, while commander of the 44th Bombardment Group, was awarded the Medal of Honor
for his actions during the Polesti Raid on 1 August 1943.
in 1947 was assigned as it's combat group. The new wing was organized at March AFB, California
where it received B-29 Superfortress
es along with some TB-29s. Depended on 22d Bombardment Wing for initial cadre and help in becoming organized.
The wing was reassigned to Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana
, on 1 August 1951 in August 1951; its mission was to train B-29 and RB-29 aircrews and mechanics for combat duty with SAC units engaged in Korean War
combat duty with Far East Air Forces. From 10 October 1951 to 15 May 1952, trained all elements of the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union
. Deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
, French Morocco
, 19 January – 22 February 1953 and 19 April – 17 June 1954.
In the late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal as improved Soviet air defenses made the aircraft vulnerable. Began sending aircraft to other B-47 wings as replacements in late 1959, being phased down for inactivation. The 44th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 15 June 1960; some aircraft and many personnel were reassigned to the 68th Bombardment Wing which remained at Lake Charles AFB flying B-47s until 1963.
on December 1, 1960. Assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
, the 850th SMS operated the first-generation HGM-25A Titan I ICBM at three dispersed sites near Wicksville, Hermosa, and Sturgis SD. However the Titan I's life span was short in western South Dakota.
About the same time, work began on installations for the second-generation Minuteman missile. On August 21, 1961, construction began on the LGM-30B Minuteman I facilities. For more than a year this squadron prepared for the emplacement of the Minuteman which finally arrived in 1962, shortly after the activation of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) in January. At that time Headquarters SAC also named the 44 SMW as host wing at Ellsworth. With its activation, the 850th SMS was reassigned to the 44th SMW, making the 28th Bombardment Wing a fully B-52 Stratofortress
organization.
During 1962, three new strategic missile squadrons, the 66th, 67th, and 68th, were activated to support the new Minuteman I system. The 67th Strategic Missile Squadron joined the 44th in August, followed by the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron in September 1962. A 44th Missile Maintenance Squadron was established at the same time. Each strategic missile squadron supported five flights of Minuteman missiles with 50 missiles per squadron. A total of 150 launch facilities were constructed to house the missiles. The first Minuteman missile was positioned near Wall, SD in April 1963. All Minuteman I missiles were in place by the end of 1963.
On November 19, 1964, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. Consequently, the Titan Is of the 850th SMS were removed from alert status on January 4, 1965. The last missile was shipped out on February 12. The Air Force subsequently deactivated the squadron on 25 March.
Ellsworth was slated to host a unique series of operational tests. Approved by the Secretary of Defense in November 1964, “Project Long Life” called for the short-range operational base launch of three modified Minuteman IB ICBMs to provide a realistic test for this system. Each missile would contain enough propellant for a 7-second flight and have inert upper stages and reentry vehicles. On 1 March 1965, “Operation Long Life” took place. This was the first of three scheduled launches of the Minuteman system. A missile with seven seconds of fuel was launched.
With the test proving successful, the additional two launches were canceled. This was the only test launch in US ICBM history to be fired from an operational site. It successfully demonstrated the ability of a SAC missile crew to launch an ICBM.
The 44 SMW played a key role in establishing the Airborne Launch Control System in the late 1960s. On 1 January 1970, the 44 SMW assumed airborne launch responsibility for Minot Air Force Base, ND, and Malstrom AFB, MT. Four months later, the ALCS joined the Post Attack Command and Control System forming the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, SD.
On 30 June 1971, the 44 SMW was named host unit at Ellsworth AFB when the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division
was inactivated. The wing was reassigned under the 4th Air Division headquartered at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
. The wing was later assigned as part of the 57th Air Division headquartered at Minot AFB, North Dakota
.
In October 1971, the transition from Minuteman I to LGM-30F Minuteman II began. The transition, known as “Force Modernization”, was complete in March 1973. With these new missiles in place, Ellsworth was selected to host “Giant Pace Test 74-1,” the first Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman SELM) exercise. During this test, 11 SELM-configured Minuteman II ICBMs underwent successful simulated launch on command from both underground launch-control centers and the Airborne Launch Control System.
During February 1991, the Secretary of Defense announced that the Air Force would begin retirement of older weapon systems in response to the end of the Cold War
and a declining defense budget. The deactivation of the Minuteman II missile system was announced on 15 April 1991. The schedule for Ellsworth included a one squadron per year draw-down beginning with the 67 SMS, followed by the 66 SMS, and finally the 68 SMS.
On 1 September 1991 under the "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force. The wing was renamed the 44th Missile Wing. The ICBM squadrons were reassigned to the newly established 44th Operations Group
, along with the lineage, honors and history of the 44th Bombardment Group.
On 28 September 1991, in response to President Bush’s directive to stand down the Minuteman II, personnel of the 44 OG worked around the clock to dissipate launch codes and pin safety control switches at 15 launch control facilities. Removal of the first Minuteman II missile assigned to the 44 OG occurred at G-02, near Red Owl, South Dakota, on 3 December 1991. On 6 April 1992, the first launch control center shut down.
On 1 June 1992, the 44th Missile Wing was relieved of its emergency war order mission and its primary focus was deactivation of the Minuteman II weapon system. This day also marked the end of SAC and the beginning of Air Combat Command
(ACC)
The 67th Missile Squadron (MS) was inactivated on 15 August 1992, and the 66 MS was inactivated on 1 September 1993. On 1 July 1993 the 44 Missile Wing changed hands from ACC to Air Force Space Command
along with all other ICBM wings. Deactivation of the entire missile complex ended in April 1994.
With its mission complete, the 44th Missile Wing formally inactivated on 4 July 1994.
Squadrons
LGM-30F Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities (MAF) (each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
References for commands and major units assigned, components and stations:
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. Its last assignment was with Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
, being assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. It was deactivated on 4 July 1994.
For over 40 years the 44th was a front-line 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...
wing, initially as a B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
medium bomber unit in the 1950s. With the phaseout of the B-47, the wing became a LGM-30 Minuteman
LGM-30 Minuteman
The LGM-30 Minuteman is a U.S. nuclear missile, a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile . As of 2010, the version LGM-30G Minuteman-III is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States...
ICBM unit in the 1960s, being deactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of U.S. strategic forces after the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, its predecessor unit, the 44th Bombardment Group was the first VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bombardment group stationed in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Leon W. Johnson
Leon W. Johnson
General Leon William Johnson was a United States Air Force 4-star general and World War II Medal of Honor recipient.-Early life:...
, while commander of the 44th Bombardment Group, was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions during the Polesti Raid on 1 August 1943.
Bombardment Wing
The 44th Bombardment Wing, Medium was established in late December 1950 as part of the postwar Hobson Organization Plan. The 90th Bombardment Group, reactivated by Strategic Air CommandStrategic 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...
in 1947 was assigned as it's combat group. The new wing was organized at March AFB, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where it received B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
es along with some TB-29s. Depended on 22d Bombardment Wing for initial cadre and help in becoming organized.
The wing was reassigned to Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on 1 August 1951 in August 1951; its mission was to train B-29 and RB-29 aircrews and mechanics for combat duty with SAC units engaged in Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
combat duty with Far East Air Forces. From 10 October 1951 to 15 May 1952, trained all elements of the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base is a military air base in Sidi Slimane, a city in the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region in Morocco. It is also known as the Fifth Royal Air Force Base, operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.-History:...
, French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 19 January – 22 February 1953 and 19 April – 17 June 1954.
In the late 1950s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal as improved Soviet air defenses made the aircraft vulnerable. Began sending aircraft to other B-47 wings as replacements in late 1959, being phased down for inactivation. The 44th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 15 June 1960; some aircraft and many personnel were reassigned to the 68th Bombardment Wing which remained at Lake Charles AFB flying B-47s until 1963.
Missile Wing
The history of the 44th Missile Wing begins two years before its activation; with the establishment of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron850th Strategic Missile Squadron
The 850th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 44th Missile Wing, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965.-History:...
on December 1, 1960. Assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, the 850th SMS operated the first-generation HGM-25A Titan I ICBM at three dispersed sites near Wicksville, Hermosa, and Sturgis SD. However the Titan I's life span was short in western South Dakota.
About the same time, work began on installations for the second-generation Minuteman missile. On August 21, 1961, construction began on the LGM-30B Minuteman I facilities. For more than a year this squadron prepared for the emplacement of the Minuteman which finally arrived in 1962, shortly after the activation of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) in January. At that time Headquarters SAC also named the 44 SMW as host wing at Ellsworth. With its activation, the 850th SMS was reassigned to the 44th SMW, making the 28th Bombardment Wing a fully B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
organization.
During 1962, three new strategic missile squadrons, the 66th, 67th, and 68th, were activated to support the new Minuteman I system. The 67th Strategic Missile Squadron joined the 44th in August, followed by the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron in September 1962. A 44th Missile Maintenance Squadron was established at the same time. Each strategic missile squadron supported five flights of Minuteman missiles with 50 missiles per squadron. A total of 150 launch facilities were constructed to house the missiles. The first Minuteman missile was positioned near Wall, SD in April 1963. All Minuteman I missiles were in place by the end of 1963.
On November 19, 1964, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
Robert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War...
announced the phase-out of remaining first-generation Titan I missiles by the end of June 1965. Consequently, the Titan Is of the 850th SMS were removed from alert status on January 4, 1965. The last missile was shipped out on February 12. The Air Force subsequently deactivated the squadron on 25 March.
Ellsworth was slated to host a unique series of operational tests. Approved by the Secretary of Defense in November 1964, “Project Long Life” called for the short-range operational base launch of three modified Minuteman IB ICBMs to provide a realistic test for this system. Each missile would contain enough propellant for a 7-second flight and have inert upper stages and reentry vehicles. On 1 March 1965, “Operation Long Life” took place. This was the first of three scheduled launches of the Minuteman system. A missile with seven seconds of fuel was launched.
With the test proving successful, the additional two launches were canceled. This was the only test launch in US ICBM history to be fired from an operational site. It successfully demonstrated the ability of a SAC missile crew to launch an ICBM.
The 44 SMW played a key role in establishing the Airborne Launch Control System in the late 1960s. On 1 January 1970, the 44 SMW assumed airborne launch responsibility for Minot Air Force Base, ND, and Malstrom AFB, MT. Four months later, the ALCS joined the Post Attack Command and Control System forming the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, which was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, SD.
On 30 June 1971, the 44 SMW was named host unit at Ellsworth AFB when the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division
821st Strategic Aerospace Division
The 821st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota...
was inactivated. The wing was reassigned under the 4th Air Division headquartered at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. The wing was later assigned as part of the 57th Air Division headquartered at Minot AFB, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
In October 1971, the transition from Minuteman I to LGM-30F Minuteman II began. The transition, known as “Force Modernization”, was complete in March 1973. With these new missiles in place, Ellsworth was selected to host “Giant Pace Test 74-1,” the first Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman SELM) exercise. During this test, 11 SELM-configured Minuteman II ICBMs underwent successful simulated launch on command from both underground launch-control centers and the Airborne Launch Control System.
During February 1991, the Secretary of Defense announced that the Air Force would begin retirement of older weapon systems in response to the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and a declining defense budget. The deactivation of the Minuteman II missile system was announced on 15 April 1991. The schedule for Ellsworth included a one squadron per year draw-down beginning with the 67 SMS, followed by the 66 SMS, and finally the 68 SMS.
On 1 September 1991 under the "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force. The wing was renamed the 44th Missile Wing. The ICBM squadrons were reassigned to the newly established 44th Operations Group
44th Operations Group
The 44th Fighter Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit, assigned to Tenth Air Force. It is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was activated on 9 April 2010....
, along with the lineage, honors and history of the 44th Bombardment Group.
On 28 September 1991, in response to President Bush’s directive to stand down the Minuteman II, personnel of the 44 OG worked around the clock to dissipate launch codes and pin safety control switches at 15 launch control facilities. Removal of the first Minuteman II missile assigned to the 44 OG occurred at G-02, near Red Owl, South Dakota, on 3 December 1991. On 6 April 1992, the first launch control center shut down.
On 1 June 1992, the 44th Missile Wing was relieved of its emergency war order mission and its primary focus was deactivation of the Minuteman II weapon system. This day also marked the end of SAC and the beginning of Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC)
The 67th Missile Squadron (MS) was inactivated on 15 August 1992, and the 66 MS was inactivated on 1 September 1993. On 1 July 1993 the 44 Missile Wing changed hands from ACC to Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
along with all other ICBM wings. Deactivation of the entire missile complex ended in April 1994.
With its mission complete, the 44th Missile Wing formally inactivated on 4 July 1994.
Lineage
- Established as 44th Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 20 December 1950.
- Activated on 2 January 1951
- Discontinued on 15 June 1960
- Redesignated 44th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM—Minuteman) on 24 November 1961
- Organized on 1 January 1962.
- Redesignated: 44th Missile Wing 1 September 1991
- Inactivated 5 July 1994
Assignments
- Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, 20 December 1950 - 12th Air Division, 10 February 1951
- 21st Air Division, 4 August 1951
- 806th Air Division806th Air DivisionThe 806th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana...
, 16 June 1952
- Attached to: 5th Air Division from 19 January to 22 February 1953
- Attached to: 5th Air Division 9 April to 17 June 1954
- Department of the Air Force, 15 June 1960-23 November 1961
- 821st Strategic Aerospace Division821st Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 821st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota...
, 1 January 1962 - 4th Strategic Missile Division, 30 June 1971
- 57th Air Division, 1 May 1982
- 4th Air Division, 23 January 1987
- 12th Air Division, 15 July 1988
- Strategic Warfare Center, 31 July 1990
- Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
, 31 July 1991-July 5, 1994
Components
Group- 44th Bombardment (later Operations) Group44th Operations GroupThe 44th Fighter Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit, assigned to Tenth Air Force. It is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was activated on 9 April 2010....
: 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952 (not operational, 10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952), 1 September 1991-5 July 1994
Squadrons
- 44th Air Refueling Squadron44th Air Refueling SquadronThe 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, attached to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command...
: 20 April 1953 – 1 June 1960 (not operational, 20 April – c. 15 May 1953; detached 27 June – 11 October 1957). - 66th Bombardment (later, Strategic Missile, later Missile) Squadron66th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 66th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 66th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
: 16 Jun 1952-15 Jun 1960; 1 Sep 1962-1 Sep 1991 - 67th Bombardment (later, Strategic Missile, later Missile) Squadron67th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 67th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 67th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
: 16 Jun 1952-15 Jun 1960; 1 Sep 1962-1 Sep 1991 - 68th Bombardment (later, Strategic Missile, later Missile) Squadron68th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 68th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 68th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
: 16 Jun 1952-15 Jun 1960; 1 Sep 1962-1 Sep 1991 - 506th Bombardment Squadron506th Bombardment SquadronThe 506th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 44th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was inactivated on 15 June 1960-History:...
: 1 December 1958 – 15 June 1960 - 850th Strategic Missile Squadron850th Strategic Missile SquadronThe 850th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 44th Missile Wing, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965.-History:...
: 1 January 1962-25 March 1965
Bases Assigned
- March AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 2 January 1951 – 1 August 1951 - Lake Charles (later Chennault) AFBChennault International AirportChennault International Airport is a public use airport located four nautical miles east of the central business district of Lake Charles, a city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States...
, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
1 August 1951 – 15 June 1960
- Deployed at Sidi Slimane Air BaseSidi Slimane Air BaseSidi Slimane Air Base is a military air base in Sidi Slimane, a city in the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region in Morocco. It is also known as the Fifth Royal Air Force Base, operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.-History:...
, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 19 January – 22 February 1953 and 19 April – 17 June 1954.- Ellsworth AFB, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 24 November 1961 – 5 July 1994
- Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
Aircraft and missiles
- TB-29 Superfortress, 1951; B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1951–1953 - B-47 StratojetB-47 StratojetThe Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
, 1953–1960 - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1953–1957, 1957–1960 - HGM-25A Titan I, 1962–1965
- 850th Strategic Missile Squadron850th Strategic Missile SquadronThe 850th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 44th Missile Wing, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 25 March 1965.-History:...
- Operated three missile sites: (1 Dec 1960-25 Mar 1965)
- 850-A, 4 miles NNW of Wicksville, South Dakota 44°08′10"N 102°37′02"W
- 850-B, 5 miles SSE of Hermosa, South Dakota 43°46′34"N 103°08′46"W
- 850-C, 10 miles SE of Sturgis, South Dakota 44°23′51"N 103°18′48"W
- LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963–1973
- LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1971–1994
LGM-30F Minuteman III Missile Alert Facilities (MAF) (each controlling 10 missiles) are located as follows:
- 66th Missile Squadron66th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 66th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 66th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
- A-01 19.9 mi S of Howes, SD, 44°19′52"N 102°03′03"W
- B-01 7.5 mi NxNW of Wall SD, 44°05′56"N 102°17′01"W
- C-01 10.1 mi N of Philip SD, 44°11′01"N 101°42′09"W
- *D-01 6.7 mi SxSW of Cottonwood SD, 43°52′40"N 101°57′42"W
- *D-09 (Launch Facility) 4.4 mi SxSW of Quinn SD, 43°55′53"N 102°09′36"W
- *Designated as part of the Minuteman Missile National Historic SiteMinuteman Missile National Historic SiteMinuteman Missile National Historic Site was established in 1999 to illustrate the history and significance of the Cold War, the arms race, and intercontinental ballistic missile development. This National Historic Site preserves the last remaining Minuteman II ICBM system in the United States...
- E-01 6.3 mi NxNE of Kadoka SD, 43°55′12"N 101°28′52"W
- 67th Missile Squadron67th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 67th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 67th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
- F-01 61.0 mi NxNE of Ellsworth AFB, SD. 44°59′49"N 102°45′43"W
- G-01 11.3 mi N of Union Center SD, 44°43′25"N 102°39′00"W
- H-01 10.0 mi SW of Union Center SD, 44°27′43"N 102°48′55"W
- I-01 5.7 mi E of White Owl SD, 44°36′10"N 102°18′57"W
- J-01 13.8 mi SE of Maurine SD, 44°54′20"N 102°21′55"W
- 68th Missile Squadron68th Missile SquadronThe United States Air Force's 68th Missile Squadron was a missile unit located at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. After the end of the Cold War, and lessening of tensions with Russia, the 68th MS was deactivated along with its contingent of Minuteman II missiles.-History:Established in early 1941 as...
- K-01 5.6 mi N of Spearfish SD, 44°34′22"N 103°51′42"W
- L-01 6.2 mi SxSE of Vale SD, 44°32′29"N 103°20′42"W
- M-01 17.7 mi NxNW of Belle Fourche SD, 44°55′09"N 103°56′07"W
- N-01 6.7 mi NW of Newell SD, 44°47′41"N 103°30′09"W
- O-01 38.5 mi W of opal, SD, 44°55′29"N 103°14′13"W
References for commands and major units assigned, components and stations:
See also
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
- 44th Missile Wing LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Launch Sites44th Missile Wing LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Launch SitesThis is a list of the LGM-30 Minuteman missile Missile Alert Facilities and Launch Facilities of the 44th Missile Wing, 20th Air Force, assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.The 44th SMW executed the unique 'Long Life' test of a Minuteman ICBM...