90th Operations Group
| 90th Operations Group | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 90th Operations Group | |
| Active | 1942–1946; 1947–1948; 1951–1952; 1991–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
The 90th Operations Group (90 OG) is the operational component of the United States Air Force 90th Missile Wing. It is stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Twentieth Air Force.
The group is responsible for maintaining and operating on alert the wing's assigned Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missiles, including training missile crew members.
The unit's World War II predecessor unit, the 90th Bombardment Group, operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as an B-24 Liberator heavy bomber unit assigned to Fifth Air Force. It was awarded two United States Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its combat service in China; Netherlands East Indies; New Guinea; the Bismarck Archipelago; the Western Pacific; Leyte, and Luzon.
During the early years of the Cold War, the unit operated as a Strategic Air Command B-29 Superfortress Operational Training Unit for aircrews being assigned to combat duties during the Korean War.
Overview
The 90th OG has command and control of 15 Missile Alert Facilities and 150 LGM-30G Minuteman-III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in a 9,600-square-mile (25,000 km2) area covering three states. More than 1,500 missileers, pilots, maintainers, chefs and facility managers work together to accomplish the mission to provide safe, secure ICBMs, ready to immediately put bombs on target.
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 90th Missile Wing
Established in early 1942 as a medium bomb group; assigned to III Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in the southeastern United States with B-26 Marauders, later B-25 Mitchells.
Redesignated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb group in August 1942 and reassigned to Willow Run Airport, Michigan for conversion training on newly manufactured Ford Liberators. Assigned to VII Bomber Command with B-24Ds, the unit was reassigned to the Honolulu modification center at Hickam Field, Hawaii in September where the aircraft were prepared for duty in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). During the next two months the group trained on long overwater navigation training and other necessities for operating in the Pacific.
Arrived initially in Northern Queensland, Australia in November 1942 and began long-range strategic bombardment operations almost immediately on arrival. Attacked enemy airfields, troop concentrations, ground installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Palau, and the southern Philippines. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for operations in Papua, July 1942 – January 1943, participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and earned another DUC for strikes through heavy flak and fighter opposition on enemy airfields at Wewak, New Guinea, in September 1943. During 1944, supported the New Guinea Campaign for first six months, then made long-range raids on oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, in Sep and Oct.
From January 1945, supported ground forces on Luzon, attacked industries on Formosa, and bombed railways, airfields, and harbor facilities on the Asiatic mainland. After the war, flew reconnaissance missions over Japan and ferried Allied prisoners of war from Okinawa to Manila. Ceased operations by November 1945. Unit was demobilized in the Philippines; personnel returning to the United States via any available transport with B-24s being sent to reclamation in the Philippines.
Reactivated by Strategic Air Command in 1947, however not equipped or manned until 1951. During the early years of the Cold War, served as operational training unit for B-29 Superfortress aircrews and mechanics of the 376th, 308th, and 310th Bombardment Wings, in turn, 1951–1952; as replacement training unit for B-29 and RB-29 aircrews for Far East Air Forces (1951–1952) prior to the crews being assigned to combat duties during the Korean War. Inactivated June 1952 when operational squadrons assigned directly to parent wing.
Reactivated in September 1991 as the operational component of the 90th Missile Wing as part of the wing's conversion to the Objective Organization. Was assigned operational control of the 90th MW LGM-30G Minuteman III and LGM-118A Peacekeeper ICBM squadrons, responsible for maintaining and operating on alert the wing's assigned missiles, including training missile crew members. Began retiring Peacekeeper missiles in 2001; squadron inactivated in 2005. Maintains Minuteman III squadrons on nuclear alert.
Lineage
- Established as 90 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 15 April 1942
- Redesignated 90 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 27 January 1946
- Redesignated 90 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 11 June 1947
- Activated on 1 July 1947
- Inactivated on 6 September 1948
- Redesignated 90 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 20 December 1950
- Activated on 2 January 1951.
- Inactivated on 16 June 1952
- Redesignated 90 Operations Group on 29 August 1991
- Activated on 1 September 1991.
Assignments
- III Bomber Command, 15 April 1942
- VII Bomber Command, 12 September 1942
- V Bomber Command, November 1942
- Attached to: 310th Bombardment Wing, 31 May – 3 September 1944; 15 January – 23 November 1945
- Far East Air Forces, 23 November 1945 – 27 January 1946
- Strategic Air Command, 1 July 1947 – 6 September 1948
- 90 Bombardment Wing, Medium, 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952
- 90 Missile (later, 90 Space, 90 Missile) Wing, 1 September 1991–present
Components
- 10th Reconnaissance (later, 400 Bombardment; 400 Missile) Squadron, 15 April 1942 – 27 January 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952; 1 September 1991–19 September 2005
- 319th Bombardment (later, 319 Missile) Squadron, 15 April 1942 – 27 January 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952; 1 September 1991–present
- 320th Bombardment (later, 320 Missile) Squadron, 15 April 1942 – 27 January 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952; 1 September 1991–present
- 321st Bombardment (later, 321 Missile) Squadron, 15 April 1942 – 27 January 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951 – 16 June 1952; 1 September 1991–present
Stations
Aircraft and missiles
- B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
- LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1991–present
- LGM-118A Peacekeeper, 1991–2005
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- 90th Operations Group Factsheet
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Army Air Forces 90th Bombardment Group. |
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