5th Bomb Wing

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5th Bomb Wing

Official emblem of the 5th Bomb Wing
Active July 1, 1949 -
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 the Warbirds
Motto "Kiai o ka lewa"
Hawaiian: Guardians of the Upper Realms
Equipment B-52 Stratofortress
Decorations see "Lineage and Honors" section below
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Eldon A. Woodie
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
A B-52 with the 5th Bomb Wing taxis past the Minot AFB tower

In the United States Air Force, the 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW) is a B-52 Stratofortress unit based at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing, 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), is a part of the Eighth Air Force, which in turn is under Air Combat Command. The 5th Bomb wing is the host unit at Minot Air Force Base; the other major unit is the 91st Space Wing.

The 5 BW current Commander is Colonel Eldon A. Woodie, with Colonel Paul G. Bell as Vice-Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant David A. Goldie as Command Chief.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

[edit] 5th Bomb Wing

[edit] 5th Wing

Performed long-range strategic reconnaissance, July 1949-October 1955, with some limited reconnaissance to September 1958. Fully integrated with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (later, 9th Bomb Wing), 12 November 1949-10 February 1951; maintained a manned headquarters, but had no operational control over assigned units, and from 1 February 1950 to 10 February 1951 shared a commander in common with the 9th Wing. Began maintaining proficiency in strategic bombardment in July 1953 but was not redesignated as a bombardment wing until October 1955. Added air refueling to other missions in December 1959. Phased down at Travis Air Force Base, California, in 1968 and moved without personnel or equipment to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, absorbing resources of the 450th Bombardment Wing. Supported the post-attack command and control system (PACCS), July 1968-December 1969. Continued global strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations, including loan of KC-135 aircraft and crews and B-52 crews to SAC organizations involved in combat operations in Southeast Asia, 1968-1975. Personnel and KC-135 aircraft deployed in support of operations in Southwest Asia, 1990-1991. The wing was relieved of its air refueling mission in June 1992. In the late 1990s, the wing deployed B-52s and aircrews to Southwest Asia to support enforcement of the no-fly zones over Iraq. In 1999, aircraft and crews deployed to England in support of NATO operations over Serbia.


[edit] In Popular Culture

In 1991, the wing's B-52 bombers were taken off of alert status for the first time in 25 years.

[edit] Lineage and Honors

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

[edit] Service Streamers

  • none

[edit] Campaign Streamers

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

[edit] Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

  • none

[edit] Decorations

[edit] 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.

[edit] Emblem

Approved for 5th Group on 21 June 1924 and for 5th Wing on 12 August 1954.

[edit] Components

  • 5th Operations Group: 16 July 1949-16 June 1952 (detached 12 November 1949-10 February 1951); 1 September 1991-. (Colonel Tom Gilbert, current Commander)
  • 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 Glenn Lang, current Commander)
    • 5th Civil Engineer Squadron
    • 5th Communications Squadron
    • 5th Mission Support Squadron
    • 5th Services Squadron
    • 5th Security Forces Squadron
    • 5th Contracting Squadron
    • 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron

[edit] Commanders

Colonel Waldine W. Messmore, 16 Jul 1949; Colonel Horace M. Wade, 12 Nov 1949; Colonel John H. Davis, 26 Nov 1949; Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, 1 Feb 1950; Colonel Carlos J. Cochrane, 6 Aug 1950; Colonel Joe W. Kelly, 10 Aug 1950; Colonel Walter E. Arnold, 10 Feb 1951; Colonel Willis E. Beightol, 27 Sep 1953; Brigadier General Edwin B. Broadhurst, 1 Oct 1953; Colonel Albert F. Fahy Jr., 14 Jan 1955; Colonel Edwin G. Simenson, 9 Mar 1955; Colonel Albert F. Fahy Jr., 3 Mar 1956; Colonel Lucion N. Powell, 23 Mar 1956; Colonel Charles J. Beck, 17 Apr 1960; Colonel Martin E. Plocher, 2 Jun 1962; Colonel William R. Smith, 4 Jun 1962; Colonel Robert E. Blauw, 21 Apr 1964; Colonel Rodger L. Howard, 7 Jul 1964; Colonel Richard M. Hoban, 27 Jun 1966; Colonel Robert E. Blauw, 10 Jun 1967; Colonel George E. Burch, 2 Jul 1968; Colonel William W. Culbertson, 25 Jul 1968; Colonel Bob M. Garner, 18 Jul 1970; Colonel William G. MacLaren Jr., 10 May 1972; Colonel William A. Eveland, 24 Jul 1974; Colonel Kenneth L. Peek Jr., 28 Jul 1975; Colonel James D. Gormley, 31 Jan 1977; Colonel Pintard M. Dyer III, c. 8 Oct 1978; Colonel Alfred D. Herring, 5 May 1980; Colonel Fredrick B. Jaicks, 12 Feb 1981; Colonel Allan C. Blaisdell, 5 Mar 1982; Colonel Alan V. Rogers, 2 Feb 1983; Colonel Robert M. Marquette, Jr., 13 Jun 1984; Colonel Benard W. Gann, 23 May 1986; Colonel John Wiley III, 16 March 1988; Colonel Kenneth S. Boykin, 24 April 1989; Colonel David L. Young, 25 May 1989; Brigadier General William R. Hodges, 31 October 1991; Brigadier General Ralph Pasini, 23 August 1993; Colonel Regner C. Rider, 8 August 1995; Colonel Robert J. Elder Jr., 1 August 1996; Colonel Gregory H. Power, 15 July 1998; Colonel Richard Y. Newton III, 1 February 2000; Colonel Kevin J. Kennedy, 10 December 2001; Colonel Greg Biscone; Colonel Eldon A. Woodie;

[edit] Aircraft / Missiles / Space Vehicles

[edit] References

    [edit] External links

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