509th Bomb Wing

The 509th Bomb Wing (509th BW, 509e Squadron of bombardment), is the only unit of bombardment of the Air Fights Command United States Air Force equipped with furtive bombers B-2A. The wing is based with Whiteman Air Force Bases in the Missouri.

History

Second world war

The 509th Bomb Wing finds its roots in the Second world war. In 1943, the Project Manhattan request with USAAF to prepare with the use of the atomic bomb. Army Air Force retains the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as the best possible vector for this new weapon and request with the colonel Paul Tibbets to form and involve Group dedicated exclusively to the use of the atomic bombs. The colonel chooses the 393rd BS to be the core of this new unit and begins the drive with Wendover Army Air Field (in the Utah). The 509th Composite Group , integrating 393rd BS, is created on December 9th, 1944, follow-up of the 509th Composite Wing on December 17th. From November 1944 in June 1945, the unit is involved ardently for the dropping of the first atomic bomb. Colonel Tibbets declares his unit operational on April 26th, 1945 and makes him make movement towards the base of Tinian in the Mariannes.
August 6th, 1945, B-29 of the 509th Composite Group called Enola Gay and controlled by colonel Tibbets takes off since the base of Tinian and releases the bomb Little Boy (P' tit guy) on Hiroshima. Three days later, on August 9th, another B-29 of the 509th CG, Bock' S Because releases the second atomic bomb Fat Man (Large Guy) on Nagasaki. The Japan announces its capitulation later five days.

Cold war

Transferred to the United States on November 6th, 1945, the group is installed on the base of Roswell Army Air Field (fame Walker Air Force Bases in June 1947) in the New Mexico where it forms the heart of new the Strategic Air Command. The 509th Bombardment Wing is created in Roswell on November 17th, 1947 and is seen adding the 509th Air refueling Squadron on KB-29M on July 19th of the following year.

The 509th passes on B-50 in June 1950 and KC-97 in January 1954.

In August 1958, the 509th settles with Pease Air Force Bases in the New Hampshire. It must wait March 1966 to be equipped with modern B-52 and KC-135. Wing deploys for six months its apparatuses on the basis of Guam in April 1968 and 1969 for missions in Southeast Asia.

The 509th changes mounting in December 1970, with the arrival of new FB-111A. It will continue to fly on this superb supersonic bomber until the closing of Pease AFB in 1988.

On B-2

September 30th, 1990, the 509th makes movement towards the base of Whiteman AFB, without apparatuses and personnel, to become first Wing on B-2. It takes its current denomination of 509th Bomb Wing. Because of the dissolution of the SAC, 509th BW is attached to the Air Fights Command on June 1st, 1992. The first apparatus, a T-38 Heel, joined the 509th on July 20th, 1993, follow-up of first B-2 " Spirit off Missouri" , on December 17th, 1993.

Organization in November 2006

509th Operations Group

13th Bomb Squadron
393d Bomb Squadron
394th Combat Training Squadron
509th Operations Support Squadron

509th Maintenance Group

509th Ammunition Squadron
509th Maintenance Operations Squadron
509th Maintenance Squadron
509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

509th Mission Support Group

509th Mission Support Squadron
509th Services Squadron
509th Civil Engineering Squadron
509th Logistics Readiness Squadron
509th Security Forces Squadron
509th Contracting Squadron
509th Communications Squadron

509th Medical Medical Group

509th Operations Squadron
509th Medical Support Squadron

External bonds

Official site of Whiteman AFB
509th Bomb Wing on Globar Security
509th Composite Group, 509th Bombardment Wing on Stategic Air Command

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