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68th
Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
68th Bombardment Wing
Motto:
"Follow Me" |
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Based
at: Chennault
AFB, Seymore-Johnson
AFB
Aircraft: B-29, B-47, B-52, KC-97, KC-135
Status: Inactivated Sept 30, 1982
Squadrons: 24 BS, 51 BS, 52 BS, 656 BS, 657 BS, 68 ARS, 911 ARS
Links: Seymour Johnson AFB, North
Carolina
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Activation
The 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium was
established on October 4, 1951 and activated on October 10, 1951 at Lake
Charles AFB, later renamed Chennault AFB. It received it's initial
cadre of 16 people from the 44th Bomb Wing and began reconnaissance
training using borrowed B-29s. It received it's own B-29 s in May
1952, then began training as a bombardment wing.
B-47 Stratojet & KC-97 tankers
On June 16, 1952, it was redesignated the 68th
Bombardment Wing, Medium and flew B-29s. Late the next year, the
Superfortress was replaced with the new all-jet B-47 Stratojet.
The wing also received KC-97 tankers and added a refueling mission.. It
conducted strategic bombardment training from May 1954 to June 1963 and
air refueling operations from May 1954 to September 1957. It was
deployed at Fairford RAF Station from June 14 to August 7, 1954 and at
Brize Norton AB, England from Sept 27, 1957 to January 8,1958.
B-52 Stratofortress
The 68th Moved without personnel or equipment
to North Carolina on April 15, 1963, where it replaced the 4241st
Strategic Wing at Seymore-Johnson AFB. It was officially redesignated
the 68th Bombardment Wing, Heavy. It conducted
strategic bombardment training with B-52s and air refueling operations
with KC-135s.
Vietnam
Deployed at Loring AFB, Maine from July 28 to
August of 1965 and from May 27, 1972 to July 15, 1972. During this
time, all wing aircraft, most aircrew and maintenance personnel and
about half of the wing's support people were loaned to other SAC
units for combat operations in Vietnam.
Status
Inactivated Sept 30, 1982
Components
Groups
68 BG: Assigned Oct 10, 1951 - June 16, 1952 (Not operational)
Squadrons
The Bomb Squadrons flew
B-29s until replaced by B-47s in 1952. In 1963, the B-47
was completing it's phase out
and three of the four active squdrons were deactived.
The remaining active squadron
received B-52s.
24 BS: Attached Oct 10, 1951 - Jan 16, 1952. Assigned
June 16, 1952 - Jan 16,
1953
51 BS:: Attached Oct 10, 1951-June 15, 1952. Assigned
June 15, 1952 - Sep 30, 1982
(Not operational
March 20 - April 14, 1963 and May 27, 1972 - July 1973)
Acquired B-52Es previously used by the
98 BS, 4241st
Strategic Wing.
Operated B-52G until inactivated in 1982
52 BS: Attached Oct 10, 1951- June 15, 1952. Assigned June
15, 1952 - Apr 15, 1963
(Not operational
March 20 -April 15, 1963)
656 BS: Assigned Jan 15, 1953 - April 15, 1963. (Not operational March
20 -April 15, 1963)
657 BS: Assigned Dec 1, 1958 - Jan 1, 1962 (Not operational Oct 1,
1961-Jan 1 19562)
68 AR: Attached Apr 8 - May 28, 1952 (Not operational) Assigned
Nov 25, 1953-Sept 3, 1957
(Detached Jun 4 -
Aug 7, 1954)
911 AR: Assigned April 15, 1953 (Not operational May 27, 1972-July 972)
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