340th Bomb Wing - SAC - Whitman AFB, B-47, B-52

Based at: Dyess AFB, Malmstrom AFB
Aircraft: B-47, KC-97, Minuteman Missiles
Status: Active Missile Wing?
Squadrons: 10 BS, 12 BS, 490 BS, 491 BS, 10 MS, 12 MS, 464 MS, 490 MS, 11 AR
Links: Malmstrom AFB?

Activation
     Established as the 341st Bombardment Wing, Medium, on March 23, 1953. Activated Sept 1, 1955 at Abilene (later, Dyess) AFB, Texas.
B-47 Stratojets and KC-97 tankers
     Performed strategic bombardment training operations on a global scale January 1956 to May 1961 and air refueling February 956 to May 1960. Deployed at Anderson AFB, Guam January - April 1958. It's B-47s were being phased out so the wing was ordered to phase down for inactivation during April - June 1961. Discontinued and inactivated as a bomb wing on June 25, 1961.
Minuteman Missiles
     Redesignated 341st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM - Minuteman) and activated on July 1, 1961 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana on July 15, 1961.
     The 341st became the USAF's first Minuteman ICBM Wing . It supervised missile training and coordinated silo construction July 1961 - July 1963 and Oct 1964 - May 1967. The first missile squadron was formed in December, 1961. First Minuteman I missile arrived at Malmstrom on July 23, 1962. First missile emplaced in it's silo on Aug 17, 1962. First missile on alert Oct 26, 1962 and three squadrons became operational by early July 1963. A fourth squadron was added later, becoming combat ready in May 1967. Selected as SAC's outstanding missile wing in 1969. Received Minuteman II in 1967 and
Minuteman III in 1975
Status
"We are now the only remaining "Deuce" or REACT-B ICBM unit in existence; i.e., squadron interconnectivity is by both cable lines and radio signals (more survivable supposedly after a NUDET) where all other ICBM squadrons have only a spider web of cables within the squadron." Received Feb. 2002 from Capt. Jody Addison; Flight Commander, 564 Missile Squadron; Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
Components
       The four bombardment squadrons flew B-47s
10 BS: Assigned Sept 1, 1955 - June 25, 1961
12 BS: Assigned Sept 1, 1955 - June 25, 1961
490 BS: Assigned Sept 1, 1955 - June 25,1961
491 BS: Assigned Nov 1, 1958 - June 25, 1961
        Three of the bomb squadrons were redesignated missile squadrons. A fourth was added in 1966.
10 MS: Assigned Dec 1, 1961 -
12 MS: Assigned March 1, 1962 -       (Not operational March 1 - June 15, 1962
464 MS: Assigned April 1, 1966            (Not operational Apr 1 - Oct 1966)
490 MS: Assigned May 1, 1962 -          (Not operational May 1 - Sept 15, 1962)
11 AR: Assigned Dec 1 1955 - June 1, 1960 (Detached Dec 19, 1956 - April 10, 1957,
       Jan 9 - April 4, 1958 and July10 - Sept 26, 1958
Status as of April 2003
Information from website: http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/
10th Strategic Missile Squadron
     Active, but no information on website
12th Strategic Missile Squadron
    In 1961, the 12th Bombardment Squadron was inactivated. Three months alter it was reactivated as the 12th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS).At the same time, it was assigned to the Strategic Air Command for organization at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Upon organization, it became the second Minuteman ICBM squadron in the Air Force.
     During the mid-1960s the 12th replaced it. its 50 Minuteman I missiles with Minuteman IIs. The 12th SMS was the first squadron at Malmstrom to undergo weapon system upgrade to Minuteman Mod; and on April 22, 1967, it was the first squadron to become fully operational with the new Minuteman II missiles under this program. The 12th SMS was also the first squadron in the wing to undergo silo upgrade. By 1978, the Improved Launch Control System (ILCS) had replaced the Minuteman Mod system and the 12th SMS once again had the state-of-the-art weapon system. The 12th Missile Squadron (MS) led the way in removing Minuteman II missiles and replacing them with Minuteman III's. The new missile enhances capability, increases flexibility, and marks yet another system upgrade In 1994, the 12 MS reorganized under the objective squadron concept. This reorganization took the three combat disciplines, ICBM Operations, Security Police, and Electro- mechanical Maintenance, and combined them under the "one hat" of the missile squadron commander. The squadron recently underwent conversion of its five launch control centers to the Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) modification integrating digital communications and weapon system operations into a single war-fighting console. This unique upgrade provided increased reliability, supportability, and operability to our ICBM launch control centers
490th Strategic Missile Squadron
     The 490th is unique in that it is the only Missile Squadron to have deployed both "A" and "B" model missiles. The first major upgrade to the weapon system at Malmstrom began in 1967 with the implementation of the Force Modernization Program. During this modification, the 490th’s 42 Minuteman I "A" models and 8 Minuteman I "B" models were replaced by 50 Minuteman II "F" models. The 490th had the distinction of possessing the last "A" model on strategic alert until it was removed from its LF on 12 February 1969. The Force Modernization Program was completed at Malmstrom when Kilo flight was returned to the wing on 27 May 1969.
    The second major upgrade commenced in April 1977. Known as the Improved Launch Control System (ILCS) Program, this project enhanced the effectiveness and survivability of the weapon system by incorporating electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection to various system hardware and software. This program was completed on 1 March 1979 at a cost of 365 million dollars.
    On 28 September 1991, the end of an era was marked as President George Bush ordered all Minuteman II missiles and strategic bombers removed from strategic alert. This was to be the end of service for the Minuteman II missile but marked the beginning of another major modernization effort for the 490th. In 1992, Malmstrom began its conversion to Minuteman III missiles. Since this process was scheduled to take several years, the primary mission of the 490th was to deposture the Minuteman IIs. In March 1995, the 490th became the first squadron at Malmstrom AFB to begin the deployment of the Rapid Execution And Combat Targeting (REACT) system. With REACT, Missile Combat Crews have a dramatically improved command
564th Strategic Missile Squadron
     On 14 December 1965, the 564th was reactivated in its current role as an ICBM squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Equipped with the then-new Minuteman II missile, the unit was declared fully operational on 3 May 1967. In 1975, the squadron received the state-of-the-art Minuteman III missile and in the following year the first squadron to receive remote targeting capability with the Command Data Buffer (CDB) system. In September 1978, the Guidance Improvement Program (GIP) enhanced the accuracy of the squadron’s missiles. The most recent modification named Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT), enables the squadron to respond to NCA targeting directives in near real time.
      Today the 564th is a vital contributor to the 341 Missile Wing’s nuclear deterrent mission; operating, supporting, maintaining, and securing 5 Missile Alert Facilities (MAFs) and 50 Minuteman III missiles. Its greatest asset, however, has nothing to do with hardware. Since its inception in World War II, this squadron has been blessed with the finest personnel in the US Air Force. Our Medal of Honor winner, 2Lt Lloyd Hughes, is a testament to the ideal of service before self. That proud tradition continues today as we boast of the finest missileers, chefs, facility managers, and security forces in the world!