This is a list of missile wings activated by the United States Air Force during and after the Cold War. Although most of these wings included the word "missile" in their designations, the majority of units operating Convair SM-65 Atlas and Martin SM-68A Titan I intercontinental ballistic missiles were strategic wings or strategic aerospace wings, which combined missile, bomber and air refueling units. The dates for these wings are the dates that they had missile squadrons assigned, rather than their activation and inactivation dates.
The list is organized numerically by weapons system designation, using the Air Force system in use until the tri-service aircraft designation system came into effect for missiles with such designation. Within missile types, wings are ordered numerically by wing designation.
The Martin MGM-1 Matador was the first operational surface-to-surface cruise missile designed and built by the United States. The Matador included a radio command that allowed in-flight course corrections. The Matador was armed with the W5 warhead. [1]
The Martin TM-76 Mace was originally the TM-61B, a tactical cruise missile developed as an improved TM-61 Matador. The MGM-13B was launched from a transporter erector launcher and the CGM-13C was launched from an underground bunker. While the MGM-13B was equipped with terrain-matching radar navigation, the CGM-13C used an inertial navigation system. [2]
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
38th Tactical Missile Wing | 18 June 1958 – 25 September 1966 | Hahn AB | 71st 89th 405th 822nd 823rd 887th | [3] [note 1] TM-61, TM-76 |
701st Tactical Missile Wing | 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958 | Hahn AB | 1st 11th 69th | [4] [note 2] TM-61 |
4504th Missile Training Wing (also 4504th Tactical Missile Wing, 4504th Combat Crew Training Wing) | c. 1 September 1954 – 1 July 1959 | Orlando AFB | 11th 17th 24th 4504th | TM-61, TM-76 |
The Northrop SM-62 Snark was an early-model intercontinental cruise missile that could carry a W39 nuclear warhead. The Snark was deployed from 1958 through 1961. It represented an important step in weapons technology during the Cold War. [5]
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
702nd Strategic Missile Wing | 1 January 1959 – 25 June 1961 | Presque Isle AFB | 556th [note 3] | [6] |
The Convair SM-65 Atlas was the United States' first successful ICBM, flown in 1957, and taken out of active service in 1965. Strategic Air Command deployed Atlas model D, Atlas model E, and Atlas model F. The Atlas used liquid fuel and it took 15 minutes to pump 249,000 pounds of propellant aboard the "quick firing" Atlas F. However, it was dangerous, as four Atlas silos were destroyed when propellant-loading exercises went awry.
Wing | Dates active | Stations | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Strategic Wing (Provisional) | 15 January 1958 1958 – 1 February 1958 | Francis E. Warren AFB | none | [note 4] |
6th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 September 1961 – 25 March 1965 | Walker AFB | 579th | [7] SM-65E |
11th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 June 1961 – 25 March 1965 | Altus AFB | 577th | [8] SM-65E |
40th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 January 1964 – 1 September 1964 | Forbes AFB | 558th | [9] SM-65E |
55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing | 1 September 1964 – 25 March 1965 | Offutt AFB | 548th [note 5] | [10] SM-65E |
92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 April 1960 – 25 June 1965 | Fairchild AFB | 567th | [9] SM-65E |
96th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965 | Dyess AFB | 578th | [9] SM-65E |
98th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 January 1964 – 25 June 1965 | Lincoln AFB | 551st | [11] SM-65E |
310th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 April 1961 – 25 June 1965 | Schilling AFB | 550th | [12] SM-65F |
385th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 January 1963 – 15 December 1964 | Offutt AFB | 549th | [13] [note 6] SM-65D |
389th Strategic Missile Wing | 1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965 | Francis E. Warren AFB | 564th 565th 566th | [13] [note 7] SM-65D, SM-65E |
706th Strategic Missile Wing | 23 February 1958 – 1 July 1961 | Francis E. Warren AFB | 549th 564th 565th | [14] [note 8] SM-65D |
4320th Strategic Wing | 1 February 1958 – 23 February 1958 | Francis E. Warren AFB | [15] [note 9] |
The Martin HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage intercontinental ballistic missile. It required liquid fuel. Originally designed as a backup in case SM-65 Atlas missile development ran into problems, the Titan was ultimately beaten into service by Atlas. Deployment went ahead anyway to more rapidly increase the number of missiles on alert and because the Titan's missile silo basing was more survivable than Atlas. [16]
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
9th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 June 1961 – 25 June 1965 | Mountain Home AFB | 569th | [17] |
28th Bombardment Wing | 1 December 1960 – 1 January 1962 | Ellsworth AFB | 850th | [18] |
44th Strategic Missile Wing | 1 January 1962 – 25 March 1965 | Ellsworth AFB | 850th | [19] |
451st Strategic Missile Wing | 1 July 1961 – 25 June 1965 | Lowry AFB | 724th 725th | [20] [note 10] |
456th Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 February 1963 – 25 March 1965 | Beale AFB | 851st | [21] [note 11] |
462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing | 1 February 1963 – 25 March 1965 | Larson AFB | 568th | [22] [note 12] |
703rd Strategic Missile Wing | 25 September 1958 – 1 July 1961 | Lowry AFB | 848th 849th | [23] [note 13] |
4126th Strategic Wing | 1 February 1961 – 1 February 1963 | Beale AFB | 851st | [24] [note 14] |
4170th Strategic Wing | 1 April 1961 – 1 February 1963 | Larson AFB | 568th | [25] [note 15] |
The Martin LGM-25C Titan II carried a payload twice as heavy as the Titan I. It also used storable propellants, which reduced the time to launch and permitted it to be launched from its silo. Titan II carried the W53 warhead, making it the most powerful ICBM in the US arsenal.
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
308th Strategic Missile Wing | 1 April 1962 – 18 August 1987 | Little Rock AFB | 373rd 374th | [26] |
381st Strategic Missile Wing | 1 March 1962 – 8 August 1986 | McConnell AFB | 532nd 533rd | [27] |
390th Strategic Missile Wing | 1 January 1962 – 31 July 1984 | Davis-Monthan AFB | 570th 571st | [27] |
The Douglas SM-75 Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the United States Air Force (USAF). Named after the Norse god of thunder, it was deployed in the United Kingdom between 1959 and September 1963.
Wing | Dates active | Stations | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
705th Strategic Missile Wing | 20 February 1958 – 1 April 1960 | RAF Lakenheath South Ruislip Air Station | 672nd | [28] Trained Royal Air Force units. |
The Boeing IM-99 BOMARC (Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center) was a supersonic ramjet powered long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) used during the Cold War for the air defense of North America. In addition to being the first operational long-range SAM and the first operational pulse doppler aviation radar, it was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force. [29]
Wing | Dates active | Stations | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
4751st Air Defense Missile Wing (later 4751st Air Defense Wing) | 1 October 1957 – 1 July 1962 | Hurlburt Field | 4751st | [30] |
The LGM-30 Minuteman, first flown in 1961 was developed to replace the hazards inherent in the caustic, volatile liquid-fuel systems of the Atlas and Titan ICBMs. Two innovations gave the Minuteman a long practical service life: a solid rocket booster making the Minuteman faster to launch than other ICBMs, and a digital flight computer, one of the first recognizably modern embedded systems.
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
44th Strategic Missile Wing (also 44th Missile Wing | 1 July 1963 – 5 July 1994 | Ellsworth AFB | 66th 67th 68th | [19] LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963 to 1973 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1971 to 1994 |
90th Strategic Missile Wing (also 90th Missile Wing, 90th Space Wing) | 1 July 1963 – present | Francis E. Warren AFB | 319th 320th 321st 400th | |
91st Strategic Missile Wing (also 91st Missile Wing, 91st Space Wing) | 25 June 1968 – present | Minot AFB | 740th 741st 742nd | [note 16] LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1968 to 1972 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972 to present |
321st Strategic Missile Wing (also 321st Missile Wing, 321st Missile Group) | 15 July 1961 – 1 July 1994 [note 17] | Grand Forks AFB | : 446th 447th 448th | LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965 to 1973 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972 to 1998 |
341st Strategic Missile Wing (also 341st Missile Wing, 341st Space Wing) | 14 August 1964 – present | Malmstrom AFB | 10th 12th 490th 564th | LGM-30A Minuteman I 1962 to 1964 LGM-30B Minuteman I 1964 to 1969 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1967 to 1996 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1975 (564 SMS); 1996 (10, 12, 490 SMS) to present |
351st Strategic Missile Wing (also 351st Missile Wing) | 15 February 1963 – 31 July 1995 | Whiteman AFB | 508th 509th 510th | LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963 to 1967 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1966 to 1995 |
455th Strategic Missile Wing | 28 June 1962 – 25 June 1968 | Minot AFB | 740th 741st 742nd | [note 18] LGM-30B Minuteman I |
4062nd Strategic Missile Wing | 1 December 1960 – 20 February 1962 | Hill AFB | [31] |
The General Dynamics BGM-109G Gryphon was a ground-launched cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War with a W80 warhead.It was developed as a counter to the mobile nuclear missiles deployed by the Soviet Union in Eastern Bloc European countries. It was removed from service under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
303rd Tactical Missile Wing | 12 December 1986 – 31 January 1989 | RAF Molesworth | 87th | [32] BGM-109G |
485th Tactical Missile Wing | 1 August 1984 – 30 April 1989 | Florennes AB | 71st | [33] BGM-109G |
486th Tactical Missile Wing | 27 August 1987 – 30 September 1988 | Woensdrecht AB | 405th | [34] BGM-109G |
487th Tactical Missile Wing | 30 June 1983 – c. 27 May 1991 | Comiso AS | 302nd | BGM-109G |
501st Tactical Missile Wing | 1 July 1982 – 4 June 1991 | RAF Greenham Common | 11th | [35] BGM-109G |
The LGM-118 Peacekeeper, initially known as the MX (for Missile-eXperimental), was a land-based ICBM. A total of 50 missiles were deployed. They were withdrawn from service by 2005 to comply with the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Armed with up to 10 re-entry vehicles, each carrying a W87 warhead, the Peacekeeper was the most powerful ICBM deployed by the United States. [36]
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
90th Strategic Missile Wing (also 90th Missile Wing, 90th Space Wing) | October 1986 – 10 October 2005 | Francis E. Warren AFB | 400th | [36] |
Wing | Dates active | Station | Missile squadron(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
392nd Strategic Missile Wing | 18 October 1961 – 20 December 1961 | Vandenberg AFB | 392nd 394th 395th 576th | Atlas, Minuteman, Titan [37] |
550th Guided Missiles Wing | 20 July 1949 – 30 December 1950 | Eglin AFB Patrick AFB | 1st 2nd 3rd | Lark, Matador, GAPA, Falcon, Shrike, Rascal, Snark, Boojum [38] |
704th Strategic Missile Wing | 1 July 1957 – 1 July 1959 | Vandenberg AFB | 392nd 394th 395th 576th 644th 672nd 864th 865th 866th | Atlas, Jupiter, Thor, Titan [39] |
4800th Guided Missiles Wing (later 6555th Guided Missiles Wing, 6555th Guided Missile Wing, 6555th Guided Missile Group) | 30 December 1950 – 1954 | Patrick AFB | 1st 69th 4802nd (later 6555th) 4803rd (later 6556th) 6545th 6546th (later 6546th Operations Squadron) 6547th (later 6547th Operations Squadron) | [40] |
6540th Missile Test Wing (later 6580th Missile Test Wing) | c. 30 Jun 1951 – 1 September 1952 | Holloman AFB | 6580th | [41] [note 19] |
6541st Missile Test Wing (also 6541st Operations Group) | 4 September 1951 – c. 1 March 1953 | Patrick AFB | none | [40] |
6580th Missile Test Wing | 1 September 1952 – 10 October 1952 | see 6540th Missile Test Wing. [41] |
The LGM-30 Minuteman is an American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in service with the Air Force Global Strike Command. As of 2024, the LGM-30G is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States and represents the land leg of the U.S. nuclear triad, along with the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and nuclear weapons carried by long-range strategic bombers.
Vandenberg Space Force Base, previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
The 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit. It was last located at Hill AFB, Utah, where it was inactivated in 2010. The group was first activated during World War II to conduct anti-submarine warfare in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic seaboard of Georgia and Florida. It was again active during the Cold War as an Atlas missile wing. Its final period of active service was as a systems and sustainment organization for USAF missile systems.
The 564th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 341st Operations Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 19 August 2008.
The 10th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
The 66th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 44th Operations Group, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The 66th was equipped with the LGM-30F Minuteman II Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War, the 66th was inactivated on 1 September 1993. Number of flights 100
The 821st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 30 June 1971.
The SM-68 Titan was the designation of two intercontinental ballistic missiles developed for the United States Air Force. The Titan I and Titan II missiles were operational between 1962 and 1987 during the Cold War. These missiles, particularly the Titan II, were the basis of the Titan family of space launch vehicles.
The 319th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 90th Operations Group at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence. It is the flagship squadron of the 90th Missile Wing.
The 320th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 90th Operations Group, stationed at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. The 320 MS is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
The 321st Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 90th Operations Group, stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Their mission is to operate safe and secure nuclear weapons, maintain mission ready facilities, and on order destroy OPLAN assigned targets.
The 490th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 341st Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. The 490 MS is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
The 13th Strategic Missile Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, based at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. It was inactivated on 2 July 1966.
The 850th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 25 March 1965. The squadron was first activated in 1943 as the 850th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations and participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.
The 68th Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 44th Operations Group, stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated in 1965 with the withdrawal of the Atlas missile from operations.
The United States Air Force's 394th Strategic Missile Squadron was an intercontinental ballistic missile that operated the LGM-30 Minuteman and LGM-25C Titan II missiles at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The 6555th Aerospace Test Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eastern Space and Missile Center and stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 October 1990.
The 90th Missile Wing is a component of Twentieth Air Force, stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and equipped with LGM-30G Minuteman III Missiles. It has served at Warren as a component of Strategic Air Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Space Command and Air Force Global Strike Command since 1963.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency