542d Combat Sustainment Wing

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542d Combat Sustainment Wing
Air Force Materiel Command.png
MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter from the 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing hovers over Elephant Butte Lake as a member of a Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team climbs aboard DF-ST-91-11163.jpg
A member of a Navy SEAL team climbs aboard a 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter at Elephant Butte Lake
Active1943–1945, 1971–1994, 2005–2010
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleLogistics Support
Part of Air Force Materiel Command
Engagements European Theater of World War II
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Hunter Harris, Jr.
Insignia
542d Combat Sustainment Wing emblem (approved 9 June 2005) [1] 542 Combat Sustainment Wing.PNG
1550th Combat Crew Training Wing emblem (approved 30 Aug 1972 [note 1] 542d Crew Training Wing.png

The 542d Combat Sustainment Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force last stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It was inactivated in June 2010.

United States Air Force Air and space warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

Robins Air Force Base United States Air Force base near Warner Robins, Georgia, USA

Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force installation located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, 18 mi (29 km) south-southeast of Macon and approximately 100 mi (160 km) south-southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The base is named in honor of Brig Gen Augustine Warner Robins, the Air Force's "father of logistics".

Georgia (U.S. state) State of the United States of America

Georgia is a state in the Southeastern United States. It began as a British colony in 1733, the last and southernmost of the original Thirteen Colonies to be established. Named after King George II of Great Britain, the Province of Georgia covered the area from South Carolina south to Spanish Florida and west to French Louisiana at the Mississippi River. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788. In 1802–1804, western Georgia was split to the Mississippi Territory, which later split to form Alabama with part of former West Florida in 1819. Georgia declared its secession from the Union on January 19, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870. Georgia is the 24th largest and the 8th most populous of the 50 United States. From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas. Georgia is known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta, the state's capital and most populous city, has been named a global city. Atlanta's metropolitan area contains about 55% of the population of the entire state.

Contents

The wing was first organized in England as the 92d Bombardment Wing, a heavy bombardment headquarters of VIII Bomber Command during World War II and took part in the air offensive against Germany until the surrender of Germany in 1945.

Bomber military aircraft for attack of ground targets with bombs or other heavy ordnance

A bomber is a combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry, firing torpedoes and bullets, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

In 1973 Military Airlift Command (MAC) activated the 1550th Aircrew Test and Training Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The wing trained aircrews for MAC, Air Mobility Command and Air Education and Training Command from 1971 to 1994 for search and rescue and special operations missions. In 1991 the wing was renumbered and consolidated with the 92d Bombardment Wing as the 542d Crew Training Wing. It was inactivated in 1994 and its mission, personnel and equipment transferred to the 58th Special Operations Wing, which was simultaneously activated.

Military Airlift Command 1941-1992 United States Air Force major command

The Military Airlift Command (MAC) is an inactive United States Air Force major command (MAJCOM) that was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Established on 1 January 1966, MAC was the primary strategic airlift organization of the Air Force until 1974, when Air Force tactical airlift units in the Tactical Air Command (TAC) were merged into MAC to create a unified airlift organization.

Hill Air Force Base American airport

Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air Corps, who died test-flying a prototype of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. In this decade Hill AFB is still the sixth-largest employer in the state of Utah, and the third-largest one excluding the State Government and Higher Education employers. Hill AFB is the home of the Air Force Materiel Command's (AFMC) Ogden Air Logistics Complex which is the worldwide manager for a wide range of aircraft, engines, missiles, software, avionics, and accessories components. The commander of the Air Logistics Complex is Brigadier General H. Brent Baker Sr. The Ogden Air Logistics Complex is part of the Air Force Sustainment Center.

Air Mobility Command Major command of the United States Air Force responsible for air mobility forces

Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri.

The wing was redesignated the 542d Combat Sustainment Wing in 2005 and activated as a logistics support organization s part of the Air Force Materiel Command Transformation project.

History

World War II

The wing was originally organized in 1943 as the 92d Bombardment Wing, [note 2] an operational command wing for Eighth Air Force. The wing entered combat on 11 December 1943, but its groups were withdrawn and it was not operational again until May 1944, although it conducted flying training operations in April. [1] The wing flew in combat in the European Theater until November 1944 when its assigned bombardment groups were attached to another wing. [1] In February 1945 the groups were reassigned. [2] The wing returned to the United States in July 1945 and was disbanded the following month. [2]

In military aviation, a wing is a unit of command. In most military aviation services, a wing is a relatively large formation of planes. In Commonwealth countries a wing usually comprises three squadrons, with several wings forming a group. Each squadron will contain around 20 planes.

Eighth Air Force Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for strategic bomber forces

The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Forces Strategic – Global Strike, one of the air components of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). The Eighth Air Force includes the heart of America's heavy bomber force: the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the B-1 Lancer supersonic bomber, and the B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber aircraft.

A bombardment group or bomb group was a group of bomber aircraft the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. It was the equivalent of an infantry regiment in the Army Ground Forces, or a bomber wing in the British Commonwealth air forces. A bombardment group was the key tactical control and administrative organization for bombers in all theaters of operation, and was commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel.

Crew Training

The 1550th Aircrew Test and Training Wing was activated in 1973 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where it trained all USAF helicopter aircrews and trained HC-130 crews for search and rescue missions. It also provided pararescue training and, operational test and evaluation of materiel, and performed local search and rescue missions. [1] It moved to Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. in 1976 and expanded its mission to include special operations training. By 1990, the wing's primary focus would be on special operations training. [3] In 1983, the wing deployed three aircraft to support Operation Urgent Fury, the invasion of Grenada in the Windward Islands. [4]

Helicopter Type of rotor craft in which lift and thrust are supplied by rotors

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward, and laterally. These attributes allow helicopters to be used in congested or isolated areas where fixed-wing aircraft and many forms of VTOL aircraft cannot perform.

Aircrew personnel operating an aircraft in flight, including pilots, systems operators, and attendants

Aircrew, also called flight crew, are personnel who operate an aircraft while in flight. The composition of a flight's crew depends on the type of aircraft, plus the flight's duration and purpose.

Kirtland Air Force Base United States Air Force base at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexico, USA

Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland. The military and the international airport share the same runways, making ABQ a joint civil-military airport.

From 1984 it focused on the training mission and was redesignated the 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing. In 1991, as the Air Force abolished the MAJCON (four-digit) unit system, the wing was merged with the 92d Bombardment Wing and renamed the 542d Crew Training Wing. Along with the new name, the wing acquired three groups and assumed host responsibility for Kirtland from the 1606th Air Base Wing as it reorganized as a USAF Objective Wing. That same year it deployed aircrew, maintenance personnel and operations personnel to support Operation Desert Storm. Wing aircrews were responsible for the rescue of seven aircrew during the operation. [5] It also deployed personnel to support Operation Provide Hope in Somalia. At the start of 1993, Kirtland Air Force Base transferred to Air Force Materiel Command, and the wing lost its responsibility to act as host together with two of its groups. [6]

A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. The terms group and wing differ significantly from one country to another, as well as between different branches of a national defence force.

Air Force Materiel Command Major command of the United States Air Force responsible for research, development, and acquisitions

Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force Systems Command (AFSC).

With General Merrill McPeak's call to retain historic United States Air Force units on the active list, the 542d was inactivated on 1 April 1994, while the newly redesignated 58th Special Operations Wing took over its training mission. [7]

Logistics Operations

The wing was again activated in 2005 as the 542d Combat Sustainment Wing as part of the Air Force Materiel Command Transformation project, which replaced the staff agencies at Air Logistics Centers with wings, groups, and squadrons. Its mission was to design, acquire, install, and sustain electronic warfare, avionics, support equipment, vehicles, missiles, automatic test systems and weapons. It was responsible for supply chain management for F-15, C-130 and C-5 aircraft and provided calibration standards and certification of Precision Measurement Laboratories worldwide. It was responsible for life-cycle management of over 800 systems valued at over $56 Billion. Its 542d Combat Sustainment Group supported assigned electronic warfare systems, the 642d Combat Sustainment Group supported assigned support equipment systems, the 752d Combat Sustainment Group supported assigned electronics systems, the 762d Combat Sustainment Group managed logistics support for all assigned systems, and its 782d Combat Sustainment Group supported assigned armament systems. the 742d Combat Sustainment Group supported precision measurement equipment worldwide. [8]

Lineage

92d Bombardment Wing

Activated on 1 November 1943
Redesignated 92d Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 24 August 1944
Redesignated 92d Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 22 November 1944
Disbanded on 28 August 1945. [9]
Consolidated with 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing on 1 October 1991 [1]

1550th Combat Crew Training Wing

Redesignated 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing on 15 May 1984
Consolidated with the 542d Combat Crew Training Wing on 1 October 1991 [1]

Consolidated Wing

Inactivated on 1 April 1994
Activated on 4 March 2005. [1]
Inactivated on 30 June 2010

Assignments

Stations

Components

Groups

World War II

Crew Training

  • 542d Medical Group, 1 October 1991 – 1 January 1993
  • 542d Operations Group, 1 October 1991 – 1 October 1994
  • 542d Support Group, 1 October 1991 – 1 January 1993

Crew Training and Logistics Operations

  • 542d Logistics Group (later 542d Electronic Warfare Systems Sustainment Group, 542d Combat Sustainment Group), 1 October 1991 – 1 October 1994, 4 March 2005 – 30 June 2010

Logistics Operations

Squadrons

Aircraft

Awards

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 April 1974–31 March 19761550th Aircrew Test and Training Wing [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 April 1976–31 March 19781550th Aircrew Test and Training Wing [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1985–30 June 19871550th Combat Crew Training Wing [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1987–30 June 19891550th Combat Crew Training Wing [1]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png Air Offensive, Europe2 November 1943 – 5 June 194492d Bombardment Wing [9]
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 194492d Bombardment Wing [9]
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 194492d Combat Bombardment Wing [9]
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 194592d Combat Bombardment Wing (later 92d Bombardment Wing) [9]
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 194592d Bombardment Wing [9]

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ This emblem was retained by the 542d Crew Training Wing.
  2. ↑ This wing is not related to the 92d Bombardment Wing, which was active from 1947 to 1991. Ravenstein, pp. 128–130

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Haulman, Daniel L. (March 2, 2009). "Factsheet 542 Combat Sustainment Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Maurer, p. 411
  3. ↑ "Abstract, History 1550 Combat Crew Training Wing, Jan–Jun 1990". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Abstract, History 1550 Aircrew Training & Test Wing, Jul-Dec 1983". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Abstract, History 542 Crew Training Wing, Jan-Jun 1991". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Abstract, History 542 Crew Training Wing, Jul 1991-Dec 1992". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ Blyth, p. vii
  8. ↑ Briefing 542d Combat Sustainment Wing Requirement Symposium 2006 (retrieved 1 January 2013)[ permanent dead link ]
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lineage, station, and campaign information through 1945 are in Maurer, p. 411
  10. 1 2 Lineage, Station, Aircraft, Assignment information not included in Maurer, Combat Units is from the AFHRA Factsheet through 2009
  11. ↑ United Kingdom AAF station numbers are in Anderson
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 See Mueller, p. 244
  13. 1 2 3 4 Mueller, Air Force Bases, p. 293

Bibliography

Further reading

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