99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
99th Bombardment Wing
99th Strategic Weapons Wing
99th Wing

Motto: "Let Aggressors Beware"
PRIMARY WINGS

 

Based at: Fairchild AFBEllsworth AFBWestover AFBNellis AFB
Aircraft: RB-29, RB-36, GRB-36, B-52, KC-135, EC-135
Status: Inactivated March 31, 1974.  Reactivated 1991.  Now the 99th Air Base Wing
Squadrons: 346BS, 347BS, 348BS, 416BS, 99ARS, 25STS
Links:

Activation 
     The 99th Bomb Group activated in the Reserve at Birmingham, Alabama on May 29, 1947 and inactivated on Jun 27th the following year.  Activated as the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on January 1, 1953 at Fairchild AFB, Washington, where it replaced the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. The wing was initially equipped with RB–29 aircraft, and then with RB–36 aircraft, beginning in 1954.
Reconnaissance Mission
  It performed worldwide photographic, electronic, and visual day and night strategic reconnaissance as its primary mission until late 1954, and as a secondary mission until September,1956. 
From January 1955 to February 1956, it participated in Project FICON, in which one squadron’s GRB–36D bombers were modified to carry RF–84K reconnaissance fighters on long-range flights. Strategic bombing became the Wing’s primary mission in late 1954, but it was not redesignated a bombardment wing until October 1, 1955. Deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, from January to April of 1956.  The Wing continued to use fly RB–36s until Aug 1956.
B-52 and Beyond
     On September 4, 1956, the wing moved to Westover AFB, Massachusetts, and was redesignated the 99th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on October 1st.  It soon began receiving the new B-52C. I
n the latter half of the 1960s their B-52Cs were redistributed among a number of different B-52D units and operated primarily as crew trainers until 1971.
     In 1956, the 99th received the new KC-135 Stratotanker and began it's refueling mission.   The tanker squadron also operated EC–135s in a Post-Attack Command Control System role until 1970.
     Beginning in 1967, all wing tactical and maintenance assets, and some support resources, were rotated for various periods to USAF units engaged in Southeast Asian combat operations; these deployments continued until the Wing inactivated.   
Status
    Inactivated March 31, 1974.  Redesignated the 99th Strategic Weapons Wing and activated at Ellsworth AFB, SD, in Aug 1989.  Redesignated the 99th Tactics and Training Wing on September 1, 1991.  Moved to Nellis AFB and redesignated the 99th Wing on June 15, 1993. 
Components
Squadrons:
        The first three squadrons listed below were reconnaissance squadrons from Jan 1, 1953
        until October 1956.  During this time they flew the RB-29 and RB-36.  In 1956, they were 
        redesignated Bombardment Squadrons and began flying B-52s. 
346 RS / BS: Assigned Jan 1, 1953 - March 31, 1974 (Not operational Sept 4 - Dec 7, 1956; 
        Oct 1967-April 1, 1968; Sept 22, 1968 - March 21, 1969; March 15 - June 22, 1970 and 
        Apr 30, 1972 - March 31,1974.  Received the B-52C in December 1956 and flew in varying
        quantities until 1971.  Flew B-52D 1957 - 1961 and 1965 -1972, as well as some B-52Bs
         in 1958-59.  Non-operational from April 30, 1972 until inactivated March 31, 1974.
347 RS / BS: Assigned Jan 1, 1953 - Sept 1, 1961 (Detached Jan 1 - Sept 12, 1953; (Not operational 
        Aug 20 -  Oct 13, 1953 and Sep 4 - Dec 9, 1956; Detached Aug 15 - 31, 1961).  Flew B-52C from
        Dec 1957 until 1961.  Also flew B-52B in 1958 - 1959 and B-52D from 1957 to Jan 9, 1961, when
        the squadron was reassigned to the 4047th Strategic Wing at McCoy AFB, Florida.  
348 RS / BS: Assigned Jan 1, 1953 - Sept 30, 1973 (Not operational July 31, Dec 11, 1956; Oct 1, 1967 - 
        April 1, 1968; Sept 22, 1968 - March 21, 1969; March 15 - June 22, 1970 and Apr 30, 1972 - 
        Sept 30, 1973.  Flew B-52C from Dec 1956 until 1961.  Also flew B-52D in 1957- 1961 and 
        1966 - 1972 and B-2B in 1958 - 1959.  Non operational from April 30, 1972 until inactivated
         on Sept. 30, 1972
99 AR: Assigned Jan 1, 1966 - Sept 30, 1973 (Not operational Oct 1, 1967 - April 1, 1968, 
       Sept 22, 1968 - March 21, 1969; March 15 - June 22, 1970; Aug 1972 - Feb 1973
       and July 30 - Sept 1973

Contributed by visitor
There is an addition to the 99th Bomb Wing Unit History in the Strategic-Air-Command section.
The 346th Bomb Squadron has been reactivated as the
346th Test Squadron; Test Operations Flight; 318th Information Operations Group; Air Force Information Center: Air Intelligence Agency; Air Combat Command; Lackland AFB, Texas; (Unknown Zip Code)
Contact is:  Kirkwood S. Hawthorne; 301 Highview Dr.; San Antonio,Texas; 78228-1846; Phone  (210) 434-2174
Email  KSA572@aol.com
from
James S. Peters M/Sgt USAF (Retired)
99 BG 348 BS Italy (B17) Dec 44-May 45
372 FTR GP )P51) Jul 45-Oct 45
Alaska 1948-1950 (Air Depot)
92BG 325 BS (B29) Korea
92BW 92 OMS (B36) Nov 51 Dec 52
99 SRW 99 OMS (RB/GRB36) Jan 53-Jul 57
99 BW 99 OMS (B52) Sep 57 Jun 63
92 BW 92OMS (B52 ) Jul 63-Jul 65
99th Bomb Wing Crest contributed by William R. Butman Jr.