43rd Bomb Wing - SAC - Andersen AFB

Based at: Davis-Monthan AFB, Carswell AFB, Andersen AFB, Guam
Status: deactivated on September 30, 1990.
Squadrons: 63 BS, 63 BS (P), 64 BS, 65 BS, 2 AR, 43 AR, 70 AR, 4182
Links:

Activation
     Established as the 43rd Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on Nov. 3, 1947. Organized Nov. 17, 1947 at Davis Monthan Field (later AFB), Arizona
B-29 and B-50 Superfortress, KB-29 Tankers
     The newly formed wing's first task was to get the B-29s out of mothballs, make them serviceable and train crews to fly them. Wing personnel established a flight record when they flew two B-29s around the world in in fifteen days. The giant B-36 Peacemaker had entered SAC's inventory, so B-29 wings received new designations. On August 1, 1948, the 43rd became the 43rd Bombardment Wing, medium.
       By January 1, 1949, the wing was fully operational to meet SAC's global commitments. It began receiving the new B-50, a greatly improved version of the B-29 and KC-29s, the tanker version of the B-29. Aerial refueling was added to the mission.   The 43rd's Lucky Lady II, a B-50, set another record, completing a non-stop around the world flight in 94 hours and 40 seconds, dramatically demonstrating the advantages of aerial refueling.
B-47 Stratojet and KC-97 Tankers
       The Wing received KC-97 Tankers in 1953 and B-47 Stratojet Bombers in 1954. It soon set a jet endurance record by keeping one of it's B-47s airborne for almost forty-eight hours.
The Hot Shots of Carswell AFB
       With it's propensity for setting records, SAC rewarding the wing with a new plane, one whose name characterized wing management: the supersonic B-58 Hustler. The wing moved to Carswell AFB, Texas on March 15, 1960 and soon took delivery on the new supersonic bombers and it's new KC-135 jet tankers.    One of its first duties was Category II and III evaluation of the hot new plane, which was made possible by the wing being assigned F-102 fighters, the only one that could even try to keep up the Hustler. It received TB-58s, the training version of the bomber and operating a combat crew training school to train SAC aircrews in the plane. Then YRB-58 reconnaissance version soon followed and the wing took on still another important mission. They had a full plate.
      The B-58 was the first supersonic bomber, but 43rd crews soon mastered it and then began showing off it's capabilities, establishing one flight record. On January 12, 1961, they flew a B-58 over a 2,000 kilometer course at an average speed of 1,061.68 mph and over a 1,000 kilometer course at an average speed of 1,200 mph. Two days later another wing B-58 averaged 1,284 mph over a 1,000 kilometer course. In May 1961, a wing B-58 flew a course of 669 miles at an average speed of 1,302 mph. Not to be outdone, another crew their B-58 from New York City to Paris, France in 3 hours and 14 minutes, establishing a new trans-Atlantic speed record of 1,089 mph.   During a race in 1962, a wing B-58 flew from Los Angeles to New York City at an average speed of 1,214 mph, then turned around and flew back to Los Angeles at an average speed of 1,081 mps, then to really top things off, he made another round trip flight between the two cities in only 4 hours and 41 minutes. These flights received extensive press coverage, but even more important, they let the Soviet Union know that SAC an incredible new addition to it's deterrent force.
      The 43rd moved to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas on September 1, 1964. It remained there until January 31, 1970, when it's B-58 were phased out and the wing was inactivated.
Vietnam
      The men of the 43rd had set many records and successfully accomplished many missions, but they had never seen combat. That was to come to an end.   In April 1970, the wing was moved to Anderson AFB, Guam, where it took over the B-52s and KC-135 of the 3960th Strategic Wing. It also assumed the tasks of the 4133rd Bombardment Wing, Provisional. It employed attached aircraft and aircrews of other SAC units to participate in SAC's "Arc Light" combat missions in Southeast Asia from July 1 to mid August 1970 and again from February 1972 to August 1973.
     Once combat operations ceased, the 43rd provided routine training and ground alert with B-52 and KC-135 aircraft, the later provided by other SAC units on loan. Between 1970 and 1975, it also flew C97s and C118 and evacuated thousands of Vietnam refuges from their homeland and flew them to Guam to await resettlement. It's humanitarian efforts included logistical and medical support.
Status
     The 43d was deactivated on September 30, 1990.
Components
Wing:
2nd Bombardment: Attached Nov. 17, 1947 - Aug. 1 1948 (not operational)
     Aug 1 - Dec. 31, 1948 (not operational)
Groups
2nd : Attached Nov. 17, 1947 - Aug 1, 1948; Aug 1-10, 1948 , and Nov. 9 - Dec 31, 1948
43rd: Attached Nov. 17, 1947- Aug 1 1948: Aug 1, 1948 - June 15, 1952
     (Detached Aug 15 - Nov 16,1949; not operational Feb. 10, 1951 - June 16, 1952)
459th Attached June 27, 1949-June 16, 1952
Squadrons
60 BS: July 1 , 1971 - (not operational Jul 1, 1971-Feb. 1972)
63 BS: Attached Feb. 10, 1951 - June 15, 1952. Assigned June 16, 1952 - Jan 31, 1970
63 BS provisional: Attached June 15, 1972 - June 30, 1975 (not operational Nov. 1973 - June, 1975)
64 BS: Attached Feb 10, 1951 -June 15, 1952. Assigned June 16, 1952 - Jan 31, 1970
               (not operational Mar 15 - Aug 1960
65 BS: Attached Feb. 10 1951 - June 15, 1952. Assigned June 16, 1952 - Jan 31, 1970
               (not operational March 15-Aug 1960)
403 BS: Assigned Dec. 1, 1958 - March 15, 1960; May 15, 1960 - Jan 1, 1961 (not operational)
    2 AR: Attached Apr 30, 1949 - Sept 16, 1950 (not operational Apr 30 - June 30, 1949
               Further attached to 43rd bomb Group July 1, 1949 - Sept 16, 1950
    9AR Attached Aug 1, 1951 - Jan 15, 1952 and Oct 6 - Nov 14, 1952
43 AR Attached Feb. 10, 1951- June 15, 1952. Assigned June 15, 1952- March 15, 1960
              (detached Oct 18 - Dec. 28, 1955)
70 AR attached Aug 19 - 31, 1964. Assigned Sept 1, 1964 - Jan 1, 1970
307 AR: Attached Sept. 16, 1950 - Aug 1, 1951.
         Further attached to 43rd Bomb Group Sept 16, 1950 - Feb. 9, 1950
4182: April 1, 1970 - Jan 1, 1971 (not operational).