| 416th Bombardment Wing | |
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Emblem of the 416th Bombardment Wing |
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| Active | 1963-1995 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Strategic Bombardment |
The 416th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Air Combat Command, being stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on 30 September 1995.
The wing's World War II predecessor unit, the 416th Bombardment Group was a A-20 Havoc light Bomb Group assigned to Ninth Air Force in Western Europe. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions in France when, in spite of intense resistance, the group bombed bridges, railways, rolling stock, and a radar station to disrupt the German retreat through the Falaise-Argentan gap, 6–9 August 1944.
The 416 BW was primarily a Strategic Air Command B-52 Stratofortress organization that conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations on a global scale to meet SAC commitments. 416th BW crews and aircraft were deployed to the Pacific during the Vietnam War era to support SAC operations during the conflict.
It was inactivated as part of the Post-Cold War drawdown of United States strategic forces in 1995 (BRAC 1993) and the closure of Griffiss AFB.
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The origins of the 416th Bombardment Wing begin on 5 August 1958 when Strategic Air Command established the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss AFB, New York as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 75th Bombardment Squadron, consisting of 15 B-52Gs, and the KC-135-equipped 41st Air Refueling Squadron. Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC Strategic Wings were considered a provisional unit by HQ, USAF and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.
In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its MAJCOM 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.
The 4039th SW was redesignated as the 416th Bombardment Wing (416th BW) on 1 February 1963 in a name-only redesigation and was assigned to SAC's Eighth Air Force, 6th Air Division. The 75th BS was also redesignated as the 668th Bombardment Squadron, one of the unit's World War II historical bomb squadrons. The 41st ARS designation was unchanged, and component support units were also redesignated to the 410th numerical designation of the newly-established wing. As under the Tri-Deputate organization, all flying components were directly assigned to the wing, no operational group element was activated. Therefore the history, lineage and honors of the 416th Bombardment Group were bestowed upon the newly established wing upon activation.
The 416th Bomb Wing continued to conduct strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet operational commitments of Strategic Air Command, including deployments to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War with tankers and crews, December 1964-December 1975, and with B-52 crews, June 1968-1975. The 416th BW assumed host wing responsibility at Griffiss AFB, NY, on 1 July 1970. Assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) after inactivation of SAC on 1 June 1992. Aircraft carried ACC Tail Code "GR". Inactivated in 1995 due to closure of Griffiss AFB. Transferred last two of the B-52Hs to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota on 15 November 1994 in preparation for inactivation.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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