91st Space Wing

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91st Space Wing

Official Emblem of the 91st Space Wing
Active 1968-Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Missile Wing
Role Strategic Deterrence
Size approximately 290 officers, 1,500 enlisted members and 25 civilian employees
Part of Twentieth Air Force
Air Force Space Command
United States Strategic Command
Garrison/HQ Minot Air Force Base
Nickname Rough Riders
Motto Poised For Peace
Mascot Theodore Roosevelt
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Martin Whelan

The 91st Space Wing (91 SW) is a Minuteman III unit of the United States Air Force, based at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

Contents

[edit] History

Previously the wing was a strategic reconnaissance wing (1948-1957) and a B-52 bomb wing (1963-1968). It is also bestowed with the lineage, honors, and history of the World War II 91st Bomb Group.

The 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was established October 11, 1948 and activated November 10 at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It moved to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in 1949. Although bombers were assigned to the wing, it's primary mission was global strategic reconnaissance. In 1950 it began receiving aerial refueling aircraft, first the KB-29, then the KC-97. On July 6, 1950, it was redesignated the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium. At Barksdale, its wing headquarters was integrated with that of the 301st Bomb Wing. Although each wing conducted independent tactical operations, both were commanded by the same headquarters. The wing detached components for up to three months, primarily to England, and maintained detachments from other units, to provide ongoing reconnaissance of overseas areas.

On September 11, 1951, the 91st SRW moved to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, with detachments operating from Japan, providing photo intelligence of North Korea. In April 1953 the wing received the photo-reconnaissance version of the B-47 Stratojet, the RB-47. Units were detached to England, 1952-1954, to North Africa and Newfoundland in 1956, and to Greenland in 1957. The 91st SRW was inactivated on November 8, 1957.

It was redesignated the 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy on November 15, 1962, and activated at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana on February 1, 1963 operating B-52 and KC-135 aircraft. On September 11, 1966, the entire wing, except for a small rear echelon, was integrated into the Arc Light Force at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for combat in Southeast Asia, and returned on March 31, 1967. From February 5 to April 15, 1968, it was deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in response to the Pueblo Incident. A month after returning home, it became non-operational. It's aircraft departed and it's primary job was closing Glasgow AFB.

On June 25, 1968, the wing was officially moved to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. There it was redesignated the 91st Strategic Missile Wing and absorbed the personnel and Minuteman III missiles of the inactivated 455th SMW. On 1 October 1997, it was redesignated as the 91st Space Wing.

[edit] Major Command

[edit] Numbered Air Force

[edit] Air Division

[edit] Previous designations

  • 91st Space Wing (1996-Present)
  • (Downgraded to group status 1994-1996)
  • 91st Missile Wing (1991-1994)
  • 91st Strategic Missile Wing (1968-1991)
  • 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy (1962-1968)
  • 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium (1950-1957)
  • 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1948-1950)

[edit] Subordinate Units

  • 91st Operations Group (Colonel Gregory S. Tims, current Commander)
    • 740th Missile Squadron
    • 741st Missile Squadron
    • 742nd Missile Squadron
    • 91st Operations Support Squadron
    • 54th Helicopter Squadron
  • 91st Maintenance Group (Colonel Ray Scott, current Commander)
    • 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron
    • 91st Maintenance Operations Squadron
  • 91st Security Forces Group (Colonel John M. McBrien, current Commander)
    • 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron
    • 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron
    • 91st Security Support Squadron

[edit] Locations

[edit] Aircraft and Missiles Operated


[edit] Recognition

[edit] Trophies

  • Blanchard Trophy: 1978, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2004
  • Lee R. Williams Memorial Missile Trophy: 1978, 1980

[edit] Medals/Ribbons

  • Image:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon.png Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
    • 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (8/8/1953 - 11/8/1957)
    • 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy (7/1/1965 - 6/30/1966)
    • 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy (7/1/1966 - 6/30/1967)
    • 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy (2/1/1968 - 3/1/1968)
    • 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy (2/2/1968 - 4/15/1968)
    • 91st Strategic Missile Wing (7/1/1972 - 6/30/1973)
    • 91st Strategic Missile Wing (7/1/1976 - 6/30/1978)
    • 91st Strategic Missile Wing (7/1/1978 - 6/30/1980)
    • 91st Missile Group (9/1/1993 - 8/31/1995)
    • 91st Space Wing (9/1/1995 - 8/31/1997)
    • 91st Space Wing (10/1/1998 - 9/30/2000)
    • 91st Space Wing (10/1/2000 - 10/1/2001)
    • 91st Space Wing (1/1/2002 - 12/31/2002)

[edit] External link

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