379th Air Expeditionary Wing

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379th Air Expeditionary Wing

379th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem
Active 2003-Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Air Expeditionary
Role Various
Garrison/HQ Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia
Airmen from the honor guard and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group perform a retreat ceremony
Airmen from the honor guard and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group perform a retreat ceremony

The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (379 AEW) is an Air Expeditionary wing of the United States Air Force, located at Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

Contents

[edit] History

The 379th Bombardment Wing got its start in the Army Air Force on November 3, 1942 at Geiger Field, Washington.

The wing was designated as 379th Bombardment Group(Heavy), and trained on B-17 Flying Fortress operations, after which it moved to England and flew its first combat mission on May 29, 1943. The unit was deactivated on July 25, 1945.

The wing was reactivated as the 379th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on November 1, 1955 at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida (replacing the 4276th Air Base Squadron). In April 1956, training for air refueling and strategic bombardment operations was performed using the B-47E and KC-97G.

From November 1, 1955 to May 31, 1956 the unit was attached to the 813th Air Division at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida.

It was an assigned unit to the 823d Air Division at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, from June 1, 1956 to January 9, 1961. During this time, the wing was attached to Sidi Slimane, 5th Air Division, French Morocco, from March 6 to May 12 of 1957.

In October 1960, the wing had its B-47s transferred out in preparation for receipt of the new B-52H and KC-135 aircraft. When the unit was reassigned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, 40th Air Division, on January 9, 1961, the unit resumed its air refueling operations in January and strategic bombardment training in May.

The 379th was the first unit to receive the new Boeing B-52H operational bomber in 1961, and along with the KC-135 supported combat operations throughout southeast Asia from 1965-1975.

As the B-52H aircraft, the unit began a gradual transition to the B-52G, culminating in 1980.

40th Air Division Assigned Unit: January 9, 1961 to June 8, 1988

Redesignated the 379th Wing in October 1991.

Inactivated on June 30, 1993 with the closure of Wurtsmith Air Force Base.

[edit] Assignments

[edit] Major Command

[edit] Numbered Air Force

[edit] Air Division

[edit] Previous Designations

  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (???-Present)
  • 379th Bomb Wing (????-30 Jun 1993)
  • 379th Wing (Oct 1991-???)
  • 379th Bombardment Wing, Heavy (????-????)
  • 379th Bombardment Wing, Medium (????-????)

[edit] Groups Assigned

[edit] Squadrons Assigned

  • 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (???-Present)
  • 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (???-Present)
  • 524th Bombardment Squadron (???-???)
  • 525th Bombardment Squadron (???-???)
  • 526th Bombardment Squadron (???-???)
  • 527th Bombardment Squadron (???-???)
  • 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (???-Present)
  • 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (???-Present)
  • 920th Air Refueling Squadron (???-???)

[edit] Bases Stationed

[edit] Aircraft & Missiles Operated

[edit] Awards

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (for the period July 1, 1970 to June 30, 1971)
  • Omaha Trophy for the best aircraft or missile organization in the Strategic Air Command
  • Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, Flying Wing of the Year Award (1971)
  • SAC Charles D. Trail Materiel Award
  • Second Air Force Sweeney Award
  • Second Air Force Martensen Award
  • Fairchild Trophy for the best strategic bombardment wing in SAC (1987)
  • SAC Proud Shield bombing and navigation competition (1987)

[edit] Major Operations

[edit] External links

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