460th Space Wing
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| 460th Space Wing | |
|---|---|
 Official emblem of the 460th Space Wing |
|
| Active | 19 August 2004 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Space |
| Role | Early warning and space defense |
| Part of | Air Force Space Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Buckley AFB |
| Equipment | Ground radar and satellite telecom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col. David W. Ziegler |
The 460th Space Wing[1] is located at Buckley Air Force Base, east of Aurora, Colorado. Buckley is an Air Force Space Command base that serves more than 90,000 active duty, National Guard, Air Force Reserve and retired personnel throughout the metro Denver community. Buckley’s capabilities include air operations, space-based missile warning, space surveillance operations, space communications operations and necessary support functions.
The mission of the 460th SW is to provide superior global surveillance, worldwide missile warning, homeland defense and enhancements to USAF expeditionary forces.
The 90,000 plus people includes 2,700 active duty members (all services), 4,200 Colorado National Guard and USAF Reserve personnel, 5,700 civilians and contractors, 22,000 retirees and dependents, and over 55,000 veterans.
The base contributes an estimated $1.1 billion annually to the Colorado economy.
Contents |
[edit] Organization
The 460th SW is the primary host directed by Air Force Space Command.
The 460th Operations Group provides missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence, satellite command and control, and aerospace communications. The Group operates the Defense Support Program satellites providing global surveillance, tracking and targeting.
The 460th Mission Support Group provides trained personnel to support the Air Expeditionary Forces and Homeland Defense including force protection, human resources, contracting, logistics, base infrastructure and environmental controls.
The 460th Medical Group provides quick-response services to the Air Expeditionary Forces and Dept. Homeland Security missions including qualified personnel for deployments, health care services, family advocacy, aerospace medicine, public health, bio-environmental engineering, optometry, wellness services and dental care.
[edit] History
The 460th was known as the 460th Bomb Group (Heavy) 55th Bombardment Wing(B-24 Liberator), 15th Air Force; station in Spinazzola, Italy, during World War II. During the Korean War it was the 460th Strategic Reconnaissance Group.
[edit] Vietnam War
The 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam on 2 February 1966 to control and administer tactical reconnaissance resources in Southeast Asia. Assigned and attached tactical reconnaissance and tactical electronic warfare squadrons and squadron-sized detachments flew day and night visual, photographic, radar, thermographic, and electronic reconnaissance missions to meet the combat needs of the 2nd Air Division until April 1966 and for the 7th Air Force thereafter. It then divided reconnaissance in Southeast Asia with another wing in September 1966.
In October 1966, it assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility for all U.S. Air Force organizations using Tan Son Nhut AB. It continued its reconnaissance operations through August 1971 and was inactivated Aug. 31 that year.
[edit] 2001 - present
Buckley remained an Air National Guard base until Oct. 1, 2000 when the 821st Space Group became host and the base was renamed Buckley Air Force Base. The 460th Air Base Wing was activated Oct. 1, 2001, and assumed full control of the support mission in the Denver area. On Aug. 19, 2004, it as designated as the 460th Space Wing and added an operational space mission to its responsibilities.
The Base has always been the home of the Colorado Air National Guard 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 140th Wing, along with the Colorado Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility and special missions the Army CH-47 Chinook, UH-1 Huey, and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, and the Air Reserve Personnel Center for continental USA.
[edit] Contact Information
460th Space Wing Public Affairs
510 S. Aspen St. (Stop 88)
Buckley AFB, CO 80011
Ph: 720-847-9431
[edit] References
- 460th SWFact Sheet
- Buckley Air Force Base (official web site)
- Colorado Air National Guard Buckley
[edit] Related content
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