42nd Air Base Wing, US Air Force
42ND AIR BASE WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 42 Bombardment Group (Medium) on 20 November 1940. Activated on 15 January 1941. Redesignated 42 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 6 September 1944. Inactivated on 10 May 1946. Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 42 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, which was established on 19 February 1953. Activated on 25 February 1953. Redesignated: 42 Wing on 1 September 1991; 42 Bomb Wing on 1 June 1992. Inactivated on 30 September 1994. Redesignated 42 Air Base Wing, and activated, on 1 October 1994. Began training in B–26s, October 1941–January 1942. Patrolled the Northwest Pacific Coast and trained B–25 combat crews for the Alaskan Defense Command. Arrived in New Caledonia in April 1943. Entered combat in June 1943, operating from Guadalcanal, and later from other bases in the Solomon Islands. Attacked Japanese airfields, personnel areas, gun positions, and shipping. January–July 1944, engaged primarily in the neutralization of enemy airfields and harbor facilities on New Britain, but also supported ground forces on Bougainville and attacked shipping in the northern Solomons and the Bismarcks. Aug 1944–Jan 1945, bombed airfields and installations on New Guinea, Celebes, and Halmahera, and flew reconnaissance missions. Moved to the Philippines in February–March 1945. Attacked shipping along the China coast, struck targets in French Indochina, bombed airfields and installations in the Philippines, and supported ground operations on Mindanao. Also supported Australian forces on Borneo during May and Jun 1945. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its pre-invasion bombing of Balikpapan, 23–30 Jun 1945. Ended combat service by attacking isolated Japanese units on Luzon, July–August 1945. 42 Bombardment Wing activated at Limestone AFB in 1953 and began operational training in April. All squadrons were flying by August. In 1954 and 1955, portions of the wing twice deployed at Upper Heyford and Burtonwood, England, and the entire wing deployed at Upper Heyford, 18 October–18 November 1955. Gained an air refueling mission in 1955 and B–52 bombers in 1956. Operated out of Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico (bombers), and Goose AB, Labrador (tankers), while runway repairs were made at Loring, 10 July–5 October 1959. Supported SAC’s bombardment and air refueling operations in Southeast Asia from the mid-1960s to mid-1975, furnishing aircraft, aircrews, and at times support personnel to other units. Participated in strategic and tactical exercises worldwide and supported USAF needs for air refueling after 1975. Won the Omaha Trophy as “the outstanding wing in SAC for 1977.” Deployed personnel, aircraft and equipment to Southwest Asia, 7 August 1990– c. 12 April 1991. Began preparations for closure of Loring AFB in October 1991. Lost air refueling mission in June 1992. Last wing B-52 departed Loring on 18 November 1993. Wing activated at Maxwell AFB, AL, on 1 October 1994 and became the support wing for Air University.
Official blazon
Azure, on a bend engrailed or, four annulets gules, between two aerial bombs palewise of the second, all within a diminutive border of the last.
Origin/meaning
The overall design symbolizes the wing’s mission of supporting Air University and its vital Air Force-wide education mission. The four annulets represent the primary support functions provided by the wing--personnel, facilities, supplies, and air and ground transportation. The two bombs are indicative of the wing’s ultimate goal--air power through the total support of Air University’s mission to educate and train tomorrow’s Air Force leaders. Blue symbolizes the need for knowledge. Yellow signifies the light of intellect, and red depicts the strength, passion, and zeal with which the wing carries out its mission. The original Arms was approved for the 42nd Bombardment Group 11 March 1942, becoming the emblem of the 42nd Bombardment Wing 16 April 1954
Literature: Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/
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