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The 38th Combat Support Wing (38 CSW) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was at Ramstein Air Basemarker, Germanymarker.

Mission

The mission of the 38 CSW was to enhance support to USAFE geographically separated units. This wing was inactivated in 2007.

History

Lineage

  • Constituted as 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) on November 20, 1940
Activated on January 15, 1941
Redesignated 38th Bombardment Group (Light) in May 1946
  • Established as 38th Bombardment Wing, Light on August 10, 1948
Activated on August 18, 1948
Inactivated on April 1, 1949
  • Activated on January 1, 1953
Redesignated: 38th Bombardment Wing, Tactical on October 1, 1955
Redesignated: 38th Tactical Missile Wing on June 18, 1958
Discontinued, and inactivated, on September 25, 1966
  • Redesignated 38th Flying Training Wing on March 22, 1972
Activated on August 1, 1972
Inactivated on September 30, 1973
  • Activated on December 1, 1973
Inactivated on December 1, 1975
  • Redesignated 38th Tactical Missile Wing on December 4, 1984
Activated on April 1, 1985
Inactivated on August 22, 1990
  • Redesignated 38th Engineering Installation Wing on November 1, 1994
Activated on November 8, 1994
Inactivated on February 3, 2000
  • Redesignated 38th Combat Support Wing on April 19, 2004
Activated on May 25, 2004
Inactivated on May 1, 2007


Assignments

3 Bomber (later, III Bomber) Command
Air Echelon remained attached to III Bomber Command, January 18 – May 1, 1942
Ground Echelon assigned to United States Army Forces in Australia, January 18 – February 25, 1942
Ground Echelon assigned to Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, April 1, 1942
Air Echelon attached to VII Fighter Command, May 1 – August 1, 1942
V Fighter Command (Combined unit), August 1, 1942
315th Air Division, August 18, 1948 – April 1, 1949
Twelfth Air Force, January 1, 1953


Seventeenth Air Force, November 15, 1959 – September 25, 1966
Seventeenth Air Force, April 1, 1985 – August 22, 1990
Electronic Systems Center, November 8, 1994 – February 3, 2000
Third Air Force, May 25, 2004
Air Command Europe, November 18, 2005
Third Air Force , December 1, 2006 – September 11, 2007


Components

Groups

Squadrons
  • 69th Bombardment Squadron: January 15, 1941 – February 26, 1943
  • 70th Bombardment Squadron: January 15, 1941 – February 26, 1943; August 1, 1972 – September 30, 1973; December 1, 1973 – December 1, 1975
  • 71st Bombardment Squadron: January 15, 1941 – April 1, 1949; January 1, 1953 – June 18, 1958; September 25, 1962 – October 1, 1965; August 1, 1972 – September 30, 1973; December 1, 1973 – December 1, 1975
  • 89th Bombardment Squadron: May 6, 1946 – April 1, 1949; September 25, 1962 – September 25, 1966
  • 405th Bombardment Squadron: February 25, 1942 – April 1, 1949; January 1, 1953 – June 18, 1958; September 25, 1962 – September 25, 1966
  • 822d Bombardment Squadron: April 20, 1943 – April 12, 1946; January 1, 1953 – June 18, 1958; September 25, 1962 – September 25, 1966
  • 823d Bombardment Squadron: April 20, 1943 – April 12, 1946; September 25, 1962 – September 25, 1966
  • 887th Tactical Missile Squadron: September 25, 1962 – September 25, 1966


Stations

United States Army Air Forces

United States Air Force

Weapon systems operated

aircraft was redesignated B-26 after June 1948


Operational history

World War II

The 38th Bombardment Group was constituted on November 20, 1940, and activated on January 15, 1941 at Langley AAFmarker, Virginiamarker. Original operational squadrons of the group were the 69th, 70th and 71st Bomb Squadrons and the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron. The group trained with B-18 Bolo aircraft at Jackson Army Air Basemarker, Mississippimarker for several months before receiving orders for shipment overseas.

71st Bomb Squadron North American B-25Js over the Pacific, 1944.
(44-31134 identifiable)
B-25C Tokyo Sleeper (41-12905), 405th Bombardment Squadron
The 38th Bomb Group was one of the first U.S. Army Air Force units to be deployed into the Pacific Theater after Pearl Harbormarker. In January 1942, the group was ordered to the South Pacific and the personnel departed in sections on January 17th, 18th, and l9th 1942 respectively for San Franciscomarker, Californiamarker, and overseas duty. On January 29 the ground echelon of the 38th Group boarded the Army Transport Bliss, formerly the SS President Cleveland. The Bliss left in convoy from San Francisco on the 31st and arrived at Brisbanemarker, Australia on February 25, 1942.

In the meantime the air echelon of the 38th Group stayed at Fort McDowell, California, until March 8, when the air officers and crew chiefs departed for Patterson Fieldmarker near Daytonmarker,Ohiomarker. In May 1942, that the 38th Group was equipped with B-26A Marauders. On May l9th the first flight of three planes left for Hamilton Fieldmarker, California and then on to Hawaii. From May 22 to June 10 the 69th and 70th Bomb Squadrons ferried 26 Martin B-26s from California to Hickam Field without a single mishap.

These two squadrons in Hawaii took part in the Battle of Midwaymarker as part of Seventh Air Force. Four B-26 Marauders were modified to each carry a Navy Mark XIII aerial torpedo took off on June 4, 1942 in an attempt to attack Japanese carriers. The torpedo runs began at 800 feet altitude, the B-26s then dropping down to only ten feet above the water under heavy attack from Japanese fighters. Two of the Marauders were lost in this action, and the other two were heavily damaged. No hits were made on the Japanese carriers.

On June 13 the 69th received orders to proceed to New Caledoniamarker. The 69th Bombardment Squadron at New Caledonia was the first medium bombardment squadron in the South Pacific, and along with the 7Oth Bombardment Squadron, which arrived at Fijimarker one week later, was the sole air striking force available for use against the Japanese fleet in the South Pacific. Flying combat missions detached from the 38th Bomb Group throughout 1942, on March 22, 1943, the 69th and 70th squadrons were reassigned with their B-26 Marauders to the 42nd Bombardment Group.

Meanwhile in Australia, the 38th was equipped with the B-25C Mitchells and new squadrons (405th, 822d, 823d) were assigned to the group along with the 71st. The group was assigned to V Bomber Command, Fifth Air Force and the group operated from bases in Australia, New Guineamarker, and Biakmarker, September 1942 – October 1944, attacking Japanese airfields and shipping and supporting ground forces in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelagomarker.

Major Ralph Cheli was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for action on August 18, 1943: while leading the 405th Squadron to attack a heavily defended airdrome on New Guinea, his plane was severely hit by enemy fire. Cheli remained in position and led the attack on the target before his bomber crashed into the sea. Initially he was believed killed in the crash, but post war evidence indicates that he survived the crash but was executed in March 1944 by the Japanese while a POW on Rabaulmarker. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. What are believed to be Major Cheli's and other similarly executed POWs remains are now interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemeterymarker in St. Louismarker, Missourimarker.

The group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing and strafing Japanese troops and fortifications on Cape Gloucestermarker, New Britainmarker, December 1943, preparatory to the Allied invasion. Received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for two missions over New Guinea, June 16 and 17, 1944, against Japanese airfields, merchant ships, and naval vessels.

The 38th moved to the Moluccasmarker in October 1944 and bombed airfields, ground installations, harbors, and shipping in the southern Philippinesmarker in support of the US invasion of Leytemarker. Struck a large enemy convoy in Ormoc Baymarker in November 1944 to prevent the landing of reinforcements, the group being awarded a 3d Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.

After moving to the Philippines in January 1945, the group supported US ground forces on Luzonmarker, bombed industries on Formosamarker, and attacked shipping along the southeast Chinamarker coast. Stationed temporarily on Palawanmarker in June 1945 for participation in the preinvasion bombing of Japanese installations on Borneomarker. Moved to Okinawamarker in July 1945 and conducted several attacks on industries, railways, and shipping in southern Japanmarker.

Moved to Japan in November 1945 as part of Far East Air Forces. Redesignated 38th Bombardment Group (Light) in May 1946 and assigned to the 315th Air Division. Equipped with Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft. The 38th assisted in the air defense of Japanmarker and participated in tactical exercises from August 1948 – March 1949.

The 38th Bombardment Group (later Wing) was inactivated in the Far East on April 1, 1949.

Cold War

Douglas B-26C-35-DT Invder Serial 44-35549 of the 822nd Bomb Squadrons
The 38th Tactical Bombardment Wing (38th TBW) was reactivated as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe on January 1, 1953, being assigned to Laon-Couvron Air Basemarker, Francemarker. Upon activation, the wing absorbed the assets of the Air National Guard 126th Bomb Wing, which was inactivated and returned to the control of the Illinoismarker Air National Guard. The 38th's squadrons were designated the 71st, 405th, and 822nd Bomb Squadrons. The wing flew the Douglas B-26 Invader until 1955.

In April 1955 the 38th Bomb Wing converted to the Martin B-57 "Canberra". The B-57 was a replacement for aging Douglas B-26 "Invader", and with their arrival, the B-26's were returned to CONUS. Because English Electric was unable to meet the USAF delivery schedule, the design was licensed to Martin for US manufacture. A total of 49 B-57B and 8 2-seat B-57C models were deployed to Laon.

The mission of the B-57 was to provide a nuclear deterrent for NATOmarker and to deliver nuclear weapons against pre-selected targets, day or night. The aircraft at Laon were painted a gloss black. An acrobatic team was organized and named the Blak Knights using five B-57's. The Black Knights performed at several air shows around Western Europe, including the 1957 Paris Air Showmarker. The Black Knights were the only tactical bomber show team in the world.

In 1958, General De Gaulle announced that all nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft had to be removed from French soil by July 1958. Since NATO strategy had evolved into "massive nuclear retaliation" this meant all tactical fighter and bombing wings had to depart France.

The 38th TBW was inactivated at Laon on June 18, 1958 and redesignated as the 38th Tactical Missile Wing at Hahn Air Basemarker West Germanymarker, operating and maintaining the TM-67A "Matador" cruise missile. The wing was deactivated in September 1966.

Air Training Command

The 38th was reactivated as the 38th Flying Training Wing and replaced the 3640th Pilot Training Wing at Laredo Air Force Basemarker, Texas, on August 1, 1972. Its operational squadrons were the 40th and 41st Pilot Training Squadrons. The wing performed pilot training until August 28, 1973 when Laredo AFB was inactivated.

The 38th Flying Training Wing was reassigned to Moody AFBmarker, Georgia on December 1, 1973, replacing the 3550th Pilot Training Wing. The 38th performed pilot training until November 21, 1975. On December 1, 1975 the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, a unit of Tactical Air Command (TAC), relocated to Moody from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailandmarker and the mission of the base changed from pilot training under ATC to an active tactial fighter base under TAC.

The 38th FTW was inactivated on December 1, 1975.

Ground Launched Cruise Missiles

In April 1985, the 38th Tactical Missile Wing, was activated at Wueschheim AB, West Germany. The wing was assigned to tactical missile operations, equipped with Ground-Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) to counter Sovietmarker intermediate-range ballistic missiles from 1986–1990.

The GLCMs (and their strategic cousins, the Pershing IIs) had a destabilizing effect on the Soviet Union, as NATO's ability to stand firm and carry out the deployments in the face of nerve-wracking Soviet threats convinced the Kremlin that NATO could not be intimidated.

It was this realization that led to the opening of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) talks and an INF treaty that eventually removed an entire class of nuclear arms from the superpower arsenals--a major step in the weakening and ultimate dissolution of the Soviet Union itself.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with the Soviet Unionmarker which went into effect on June 1, 1988 and led to inactivation of the wing on August 22, 1990.

Post Cold War

The 38th went on to serve as the 38th Engineering Installation Wing wing from November 8, 1994 – February 3, 2000 at Tinker AFBmarker, Oklahomamarker, to provide the Air Force with centralized management of worldwide engineering and installation (E&I) resources. The wing reorganized the Command and Control Systems Center and became the Communications Systems Center (CSC). CSC leaders created a new structure, which accommodated a more effective business-management approach to satisfying the communications-computer software requirements of our Air Force and DoD customers

The 38 EIW was inactivated in February 2000 and downgraded to a group level. The transfer of responsibilities were assigned solely to the 38th Engineering Installation Group (38 EIG) located at Tinker.

The 38th Combat Support Wing was activated at Ramstein ABmarker, Germanymarker in 2004 to enhance support to the over 70 USAFE geographically separated units (GSUs) and units across Europe. But a review found the wing actually created an extra layer of bureaucracy and isolated units would be better served without it. Also studies showed that larger, neighboring bases could offer better support for airmen scattered across the continent.

The 38th CSW was inactivated on September 30, 2007.

See also



References





External links




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