United States
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| United States Air Force
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| Brig. Gen. Christopher D. Miller
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| Whiteman Air Force Base
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| Defensor Vindex
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| World War II Vietnam War Operation Allied Force Operation Iraqi Freedom
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The 509th Bomb Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and includes the 509th Operations Group, previously designated as the 509th Composite Group during the Second World War, and the group that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
History
Established as 509th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, on 3 Nov 1947 and organized on 17 Nov 1947. Maintained combat proficiency with B–29 bombers and F–51 and F-84 fighters, 1947–1948. Redesignated as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 1 Aug 1948 and later as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 2 Apr 1966. Added air refueling capability in Sep 1948, initially with B–29M hose-type tankers and later with B/KB–29P boom–type tankers. Charged with strategic bombardment training and air refueling, 1949–1958. Deployed as a wing several times in the early 1950s, three times to England and once to Guam, and also deployed individual squadrons at other times. Temporarily had no refueling unit during 1958. Phased down for inactivation in late 1965, but was converted to a B-52/KC-135 wing in 1966. Supported SAC combat and contingency operations in Southeast Asia with KC–135 aircraft and crews, Nov 1966–Dec 1975, with B–52 aircraft and crews, Nov 1966–Sep 1969, and with B–52 crews, 1970. From 1 Apr to 1 Oct 1968 and 26 Mar to c. 20 Sep 1969, more than one-half of the wing was involved in SAC operations in Southeast Asia. On 1 Dec 1969 was redesignated as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Medium and just before Strategic Air Command was inactivated as the 509th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 30 Sep 1990. From Nov 1969 to Dec 1970, the wing had no bombardment aircraft but continued refueling operations and performed FB-111 ground training. Resumed bombardment flying training in Dec 1970 and assumed FB–111 alert commitments from 1 Jul 1971 until Sep 1990. Won the SAC Bombing and Navigation competition and the Fairchild trophy in 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1983. Awarded the Sanders trophy for best air refueling unit in 1982. Moved on paper to Whiteman on 30 Sep 1990, but not manned until Apr 1993. As part of the new Air Combat Command was renamed the 509th Bomb Wing on 1 Sep 1991.
In 1993 after two years of non-operational status the 509th became operational again as the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It received the first operational B-2 Spiritstealth bomber on 17 December of that year. It currently has all 21 of the operational B-2s under its command.
