Lineage. Established as 92 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 25 Oct 1943. Activated on 1 Nov 1943. Redesignated: 92 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 24 Aug 1944; 92 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 22 Nov 1944. Disbanded on 28 Aug 1945. Reestablished, and redesignated 542 Combat Crew Training Wing, on 31 Jul 1985. Consolidated (1 Oct 1991) with the 1550 Aircrew Training and Test Wing, which was activated on 1 Apr 1971. Redesignated: 1550 Combat Crew Training Wing on 15 May 1984; 542 Crew Training Wing on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated 542 Combat Sustainment Wing on 31 Jan 2005. Activated on 4 Mar 2005.
Assignments. VIII Bomber Command, 1 Nov 1943; 3 Bombardment (later 3 Air) Division, 31 Mar 1944-22 Jul 1945; Second Air Force, 23 Jul-28 Aug 1945. Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 1 Apr 1971; Twenty-Third Air Force, 1 Oct 1983; Twenty-Second Air Force, 21 May 1990; Nineteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1993-1 Apr 1994. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, 4 Mar 2005-.
Components. Groups. 351 Bombardment: 1 Nov-15 Dec 1943. 401 Bombardment: Nov-15 Dec 1943. 486 Bombardment: 4 Apr 1944-Feb 1945. 487 Bombardment: 30 Jun 1944-10 Feb 1945. 542 Operations: 1 Oct 1991-1 Apr 1994. Squadrons. 1550 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1971-1 Oct 1991. 1551 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1971-1 Oct 1991. 1552 Flying Training: 1 Apr 1971-31 Dec 1973.
Stations. Polebrook, England, 1 Nov 1943; Camp Blainey, England, c. 12 Dec 1943; Sudbury, England, c. 2 Mar 1944; Bury St. Edmunds, England, c. 18 Nov 1944; Elveden Hall, England, 12 Feb-c. 13 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 23 Jul-28 Aug 1945. Hill AFB, UT, 1 Apr 1971; Kirtland AFB, NM, 15 Mar 1976-1 Apr 1994. Robins AFB, GA, 4 Mar 2005-.
Commanders. Unkn, 1-23 Nov 1943; Col Julius K. Lacey, 24 Nov-12 Dec 1943; Unkn, 12 Dec 1943-Mar 1944; Col Harold Q. Huglin, by Apr 1944; Unkn, 20 Nov 1944-11 Feb 1945; Col Hunter Harris Jr., 12 Feb-11 May 1945; Unkn, 12 May-28 Aug 1945. Col Malcolm C. Frazee, 1 Apr 1971; Col Erskine Wigley, 12 Aug 1972; Col William E. Moore, 8 Mar 1973; Col Dale L. Oderman, 12 Feb 1975; Col Ned L. Cagle, 1 Jun 1978; Col Bruce M. Purvine, 1 Mar 1979; Col Charles R. Skinner, 18 May 1981; Col Floyd E. Hargrove, 18 Jan 1983; Col Larry D. Parsons, by Jan 1986; Col Roland J. Page, 17 Jun 1987; Col Charles R. Holland, 15 Jun 1989; Col Gary C. Vycital, 7 Jun 1991; Brig Gen James L. Higham, 1 Oct 1991; Col Richard T. Jeffreys, 1 Jan 1993-1 Apr 1994.
Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945; B-24, 1944. H-3, 1971-1972; H-53, 1971-1972; HH-43, 1971-1975; TH-1, 1971-1987; UH-1, 1971-1994; HC-130, 1971-1994; HH-1, 1973-1975; HH-3, 1973-1994; HH-53, 1973-1994; CH-3, 1976-1994; CH-53, 1984-1994; JC-130, 1986-1987; MH-53, 1988-1994; UH-60, 1988-1994; TH-53, 1990-1994; MH-60, 1990-1994; MC-130, 1993-1994.
Operations. Began flying operations in Nov 1943 when two bombardment groups were assigned. Entered combat on 11 Dec 1943, but four days later the wing ceased flying operations when its groups were assigned elsewhere. Resumed flying when the first of two new bombardment groups was assigned in Apr 1944, and reentered combat in May. On November 18, the two groups were attached to another wing for operational control, and the wing ceased flying operations until the end of the war. Between 1971 and 1994, the wing trained USAF helicopter pilots and crews and HC-130 crews for search and rescue and special operations missions. Also provided pararescue training, operational test and evaluation of materiel, and local search and rescue missions.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr 1974-31 May 1976; 1 Apr 1976-31 Mar 1978; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1987-30 Jun 1989.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Apr 2005.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Apr 1994.
Supersedes published information contained in Maurer Maurer (ed.), Air Force Combat Units of World War II (Washington: USGPO, 1983).
Emblem. Approved on 9 Jun 2005.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.
Reviewed by A. Timothy Warnock.