501 Combat Support Wing (USAFE)

Lineage.  Established as 501 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 25 May 1944.  Activated on 1 Jun 1944.  Inactivated on 10 Jun 1946.  Consolidated (11 Jan 1982) with 701 Tactical Missile Wing, which was established on 3 Aug 1956.  Activated on 15 Sep 1956.  Inactivated on 18 Jun 1958.  Redesignated 501 Tactical Missile Wing on 11 Jan 1982.  Activated on 1 Jul 1982.  Inactivated on 31 May 1991.  Redesignated 501 Combat Support Wing on 22 Mar 2005.  Activated on 12 May 2005.       

Assignments.  Second Air Force, 1 Jun 1944; XXI Bomber Command, 14 Apr 1945 (attached to 315 Bombardment Wing, 15 Apr-18 Jun 1945); 315 Bombardment Wing, (later, 315 Composite Wing), 19 Jun 1945; Twentieth Air Force, 15 May-10 Jun 1946.  Twelfth Air Force, 15 Sep 1956; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Jan-18 Jun 1958.  Third Air Force, 1 Jul 1982-31 May 1991.  Third Air Force, 12 May 2005; United State Air Forces in Europe, 1 Nov 2005; Air Command Europe, 18 Nov 2005; Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 Dec 2006-.       

 

Components.  Groups.  585 Tactical Missile: 15 Sep 1956-18 Jun 1958.  586 Tactical Missile: 15 Sep 1956-18 Jun 1958.  587 Tactical Missile: 15 Sep 1956-18 Jun 1958.  Squadrons.  11 Tactical Missile: 1 Oct 1982-31 May 1991.  21 Bombardment: 1 Jun 1944-10 Jun 1946 (not operational, c. 21 May-10 Jun 1946).  41 Bombardment: 1 Jun 1944-10 Jun 1946 (not operational, c. 21 May-10 Jun 1946).  485 Bombardment: 1 Jun 1944-10 Jun 1946 (not operational, c. 21 May-10 Jun 1946). 

 

Stations.  Dalhart AAFld, TX, 1 Jun 1944; Harvard AAFld, NE, 22 Aug 1944; Fort Lawton, WA, 10-17 Mar 1945; Territory of Hawaii, 25-30 Mar 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, 14 Apr 1945-10 Jun 1946.  Hahn AB, Germany, 15 Sep 1956-18 Jun 1958.  RAF Greenham Common, England, 1 Jul 1982-31 May 1991.  RAF Mildenhall, England, 12 May 2005; RAF Alconbury, England, 30 Sep 2007-.       

 

Commanders.  Unkn, 1-26 Jun 1944; Capt Harry L. Young, c. 27 Jun 1944; Lt Col Arch G. Campbell Jr., 6 Jul 1944; Col Boyd Hubbard Jr., 11 Aug 1944; Col Vincent M. Miles Jr., 15 Apr-20 May 1946; none (not manned), 21 May-10 Jun 1946.  Lt Col Robert F. Zachmann, 15 Sep 1956; Col Theodore H. Runyon, 7 Jan 1957-18 Jun 1958.  Col Robert M. Thompson, 1 Jul 1982; Col John Bacs, 25 Jan 1985; Col William E. Jones, 2 Jun 1987; Col Richard R. Riddick, 21 Jun 1988; Col Wendell S. Brande, 7 Jan-31 May 1991.  Col Blake F. Lindner, 12 May 2005-. 

 

Aircraft and Missiles.  B-29, 1944-1946.  Matador, 1956-1958.  BGM-109, 1982-1990.

 

Operations.  Trained in the U.S. for heavy bombardment operations overseas, Jun 1944-Mar 1945.  Combat in the Pacific, 19 Jun-14 Aug 1945.  Flew first mission against Japanese fortifications on Truk Island, 19 Jun 1945.  Began raiding Japan on 27 Jun and subsequently operated primarily against the enemy’s petroleum industry on Honshu.  Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacks on the Maruzen Oil Refinery at Shimotsu, the Utsubo Oil Refinery at Yokkaichi, and the petroleum center at Kawasaki, in Jul 1945.  Following the end of hostilities, dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners in Japan, China, Korea, and Manchuria.  Not operational, c. 21 May-10 Jun 1946.  Between Sep 1956 and Jun 1958, served in Germany as the first tactical missile wing in the U.S. Air Force.  Between Jul 1982 and 1991, maintained readiness to strike enemy targets in Europe as first ground-launched cruise missile wing in Europe.  Implementation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union eliminated the wing’s mission and weapon system.         

 

Service Streamers.  None.   

 

Campaign Streamers.  World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific.

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.    

 

Decorations.  Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 6-13 Jul 1945.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Sep 1956-30 Apr 1958; 1 Jul 1982-30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1987-31 May 1989; 1 Jun 1989-31 May 1991; 1 Jan 2006-31 Dec 2007.      

 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 14 Jun 2017.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 12 May 2005. 

Emblem.  Emblem approved on 20 Jun 1957, modified on 27 Jul 2005.

 

 

Supersedes statement prepared on 31 Dec 2007

 

Prepared by Major Tonia Stephens.

 

Reviewed by Carl E. Bailey.