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4-digit B-52 Strategic Wings

     Many of the 4-digit strategic wings were formed in the late 1950's as part of SAC's plan to disburse it's big bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.  All of the "Strat" Wings had one squadron of B-52s, containing 15 aircraft.  Half of the planes were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat.  The remaining planes were used for training in bombardment missions and air refueling operations.  Most of the "Strat Wings" also had a squadron of KC-135 tankers.  The Strategic Wing designation was phased out in early 1963.  In most cases, the aircraft and crews remained at the same base, but the wing (and its bomb squadron) were given new designations.
    The patches for these wings appears in the patch section.
Base Activated Flew Bombers Tankers From Deactivated B-52s assigned to
4038th SW Dow Feb 15, 1960 B-52G 341 BS 71ARS 97 BW Feb 1, 1963 596 BS, 397 BW
4039th SW Griffiss Aug 8, 1958 B-52G 75 BS 41 ARS 42 BW Feb 1, 1963 668 BS. 416th BW
4042nd SW K. I. Sawyer Aug 1, 1958 B-52H 526 BS 46 ARS 19 BW Feb 1, 1963 644 BS, 410th BW
4043rd SW Wright-Patterson Apr 1, 1959 B-52E 42 BS 922 ARS 11 BW Feb 1, 1963 34 BS, 17th BW
4047th SW McCoy Sep 1, 1961 B-52D 347 BS 306 ARS 99 BW Apr 1, 1963 367 BS, 306 BW
4123rd SW Clinton-Sherman Dec 10, 1957 B-52E 98 BS 902 ARS 7 BW Feb 1, 1963 6 BS, 70 BW
4126th SW Beale Feb 8, 1959 B-52G 31 BS 903 ARS 5 BW Feb 1, 1963 744 BS, 456th SAW
4128th SW Amarillo 1958 B-52D 718 BS 909 ARS 28th BW Feb 1, 1963 764 BS, 461 BW
4130th SW Bergstrom Oct 1, 1958 B-52D 335 BS 910 ARS 95 BW Sept 1, 1963 486 BS, 340 BW
4133rd SW Grand Forks Sep 1, 1958 B-52H 30 BS Unknown 19 BW Feb 1, 1963 46 BS, 319 BW
4134th SW Mather Apr 1, 1958 B-52G 72 BS 904 ARS 5 BW Feb 1, 1963 441 BS, 320 BW
4135th SW Eglin Dec 1, 1958 B-52G 301 BS none 72 BW Feb 1, 1963 62 BS, 39 BW
4136th SW Minot Sep 1, 1958 B-52H 525 BS 906 ARS 19 BW Feb 1, 1963 720 BS, 450th BW
4137th SW Robins Feb 1, 1959 B-52G 342 BS 912 ARS 97 BW Feb 1, 1963 781 BS, 465th SAW
4138th SW Turner 1958-59 B-52D 336 BS 919 ARS 95 BW Feb 1, 1963 828 BS, 484th BW
4141st SW Glascow 1958-59 B-52D 326 BS none 92 BW Feb 1, 1963 322 BS, 91 BW
4170th SW Larson  1958-59 B-52D 327 BS 43 ARS 92 BW Feb 1, 1963 768 BS, 462 SAW
4228th SW Columbus 1958-59 B-52F 492 BS 901 ARS 7 BW Feb 1, 1963 436 BS, 454 BW
4238th SW Barksdale  Mar 3, 1958 B-52F 436 BS 913 ARS 7 BW Apr 1, 1963 20 BS, 2nd BW
4239th SW Kincheloe  Feb. 2, 1959 B-52H 93 BS 908 ARS 19 BW Feb 1, 1963 716 BS, 449th BW
4241st SW Seymore-Johnson Oct 1, 1958 B-52G 73 BS none 72 BW Apr 15, 63 51 BS, 68 BW
4245th SW Sheppard Jan 5, 1959 B-52D 717 BS 900 ARS 28 BW Feb 1, 1963 864 BS, 494th BW