Lineage. Established as 461 Bombardment Wing, Light, on 11 Dec 1953. Activated on 23 Dec 1953. Redesignated as 461 Bombardment Wing, Tactical, on 1 Oct 1955. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1958. Redesignated as 461 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on 15 Nov 1962. Organized on 1 Feb 1963. Discontinued, and inactivated on 25 Mar 1968. Redesignated as 461 Air Control Wing on 1 Sep 2011. Activated on 1 Oct 2011.
Assignments. Ninth Air Force, 23 Dec 1953-1 Apr 1958 (attached to Nineteenth Air Force, 15 Apr 1956-1 Apr 1958). Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962; 22 Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 Feb 1963; 819 Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 Jul 1964; Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1965; 19 Air Division, 2 Jul 1966-25 Mar 1968. Ninth Air Force, 1 Oct 2011-19 Aug 2020; Fifteenth Air Force, 20 Aug 2020-.
Operational Components. Groups: 461 Bombardment (later, 461 Operations): 23 Dec 1953-8 Jan 1958; 1 Oct 2011-. Squadrons: 764 Bombardment, 1 Feb 1963-25 Mar 1968. 909 Air Refueling: 1 Apr 1963-25 Jun 1966.
Stations. Hill AFB, UT, 23 Dec 1953; Blytheville AFB, AR, 8 Apr 1956-1 Apr 1958. Amarillo AFB, TX, 1 Feb 1963-25 Mar 1968. Robins AFB, GA, 1 Oct 2011-.
Commanders. Lt Col Gus Weiser, 23 Dec 1953; Lt Col Thomas R. Ford, 29 Jan 1954-1 Apr 1958. None (not manned), 15 Nov 1962-31 Jan 1963; Col William R. Calhoun Jr., 1 Feb 1963; Col John B. Paine, 11 Jun 1965; Col Charles D. Lewis, 2 Jul 1965; Col John B. Paine, 21 Jul 1967; Col William H. Hill, 19 Jan-25 Mar 1968. Col L. Dean Worley Jr., 1 Oct 2011; Col Henry L. Cyr, 23 Jul 2013; Col John T. Cooper, 22 Jun 2015; Col Curtis R. Bass, 12 Jul 2017; Col Edward G. Goebel Jr., 2 Jul 2019-.
Aircraft. B-26, 1953-1956; C-47, 1954-1956; B-57, 1955-1958. B-52, 1963-1968; KC-135, 1963-1966. E-8, 2011-.
Operations. Organized in response to a need for increased air support of ground forces and air interdiction by the close of the Korean War. Although the Air Force envisioned equipping the 461st with B-57s, these were not available at the time of activation so the wing received B-26s. The wing trained for light bombardment and tactical bombardment proficiency. Participated in actual and simulated exercises involving the deployment of aircraft and crews. It also operated Blytheville AFB, AR from 8 Apr 1956 to inactivation in 1958. Activated at Amarillo AFB, TX in 1963 and absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 4128 Strategic Wing. Trained to maintain heavy bombardment proficiency, participating in operational readiness inspections and actual and simulated exercises. Deployed B-52 aircraft and crews to Anderson AFB, Guam, 18 Jan-4 Jul 1967 for combat operations in Southeast Asia. Maintained combat bombing proficiency until 21 Jan 1968 when the last B-52 departed. Since Oct 2011, operated JSTARS aircraft surveilling moving ground targets in support of tactical military operations.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. None
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Meritorious Unit Awards: [1 Oct 2011]-31 Mar 2012; 1 Apr 2012-31 May 2013; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2019. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1967; 1 Jun 2013-31 May 2014; 1 Jun 2017-31 May 2018.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 461 Bombardment Group prior to 23 Dec 1953. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Southern France; Po Valley; North Apennines; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Central Europe; Air Combat EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Hungary, 12-13 Apr 1944; Ploesti, 15 Jul 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, Aircraft, Operations and Honors through 26 Jan 2021.
Commanders through 26 Jan 2021.
Supersedes statement prepared on 13 Jun 2019.
Emblem. Approved on 4 Aug 1955; newest rendition 3 Nov 2011.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.