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70th Strategic
Reconnaissance Wing
70th Bombardment Wing
Motto
"Strength Through Unity" |
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Based at: Lockbourne
AFB, Little Rock AFB,
Clinton-Sherman AFB
Aircraft: RB-47, B-47, B-52, KC-97, KC-135
Status: Inactivated Dec. 31, 1969
Squadrons: 6 BS, 26 BS, 61 BS, 70 ARS, 902 ARS |
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Activation
The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium was
established on March 23, 1953 and activated January 24, 1955. It was
Initially deployed at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, while it's permanent base underwent
construction. During this time, few wing components were actually
manned. .On October 19, 1955, it moved to it's new home, Little Rock, AFB,
Arkansas and began flying strategic reconnaissance missions using RB-47
Stratojets.
RB-47, B-47 Stratojets & KC-97 Tankers
It assumed an air refueling mission in 1955 with the
arrival of KC-97 Stratotankers. It was deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base in
Morocco from October 25, to December 17, 1956. In June 1958, it began
training other SAC crews in reconnaissance, resulting in a reduction of it's own
recon operations. The refueling squadron transferred in August 1961 and
the final RB-47 class graduated two months later. The wing was
redesignated the 70th Bombardment Wing Medium on October 25th and began
converting to B-47s, but it was inactivated prior to becoming combat
ready.
B-52 Stratofortress
At nearby Clinton-Sherman AFB, the 4123rd Strategic
Wing was winding down it's operations. The B-52s of its 98th Bomb Squadron
were transferred the 6th Bomb Squadron. In January 1962, the 70th moved to
Clinton-Sherman where it replaced the 4123rd and was redesignated the 70th
Bombardment Wing, Heavy on November 15, 1962. It operated the B-52C,
B-52D, and B-52E and KC-135. It conducted strategic bombardment training and air
refueling missions from February 1961 to December 1969.
For several months in both 1968 and 1969,
all wing aircraft, most of the aircrew and maintenance personnel and some of its
support people were loaned to other SAC units engaged in combat operations in
the Far East and Southeast Asia. It was one of eleven SAC bomb wings that
rotated such combat duty. The program was known as Arc Light.
Status
The 70th Bombardment Wing was inactivated December 31,
1969.
Components
Squadrons
6 BS: Assigned Jan. 24, 1955-June 25, 1962 (Not operational Jan 24-April 30,
1962;
Detached May 1 - Oct
1955); On Feb 1, 1963, it acquired the B-52Es previously used by
98 BS, 4123rd Strategic
Wing, which it flew until 1968, when re-equipped with B-52D, which it
flew for a year. Some
B-52C were also assigned in 1968-69. (Not operational Apr 15 - Oct 1, 1968
and Apr - Sept
1969.) Inactivated Dec. 31, 1969
26 BS (later the 581 BS) Assigned Jan 24, 1955 -June 25, 1962 (Not
operational Jan 24 - Oct 2, 1955)
61 BS Assigned Jan 1955 - June 25, 1962 (Not operational Jan 24 - July 10, 1955;
Detached July 15 - Oct
1955)
70 AR: Assigned Aug 1, 1955 - Aug 1,1961 (Not operational Aug 1 - Oct 14, 1955,
Detached Jan 27 - Aug 15,
1956; June 24 - Sept 124, 1947, Sept 3, 1958 - Jan 12, 1959
and Oct 5, 1960-Jan 11,
1961
902 AR: Assigned Feb. 19, 1953-Dec 31, 1959 (Not operational Apr 14 - Oct 1,
1958 and
Apr - Sept 1959
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