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341st Space Wing

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341st Missile Wing
File:341st Missile Wing.jpeg
341st Missile Wing emblem
Active19xx-Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Garrison/HQMalmstrom Air Force Base
Motto(s)PAX ORBIS PER ARMA AERIA - World Peace Through Air Strength

The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing (341 MW) is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. Until 1 July 2008, it was designated as the 341st Space Wing.

Mission

The 341 MW is one of three USAF wings that maintain and operate the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The 341st Missile Wing reports directly to Twentieth Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming., and is part of Air Force Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

The mission of the 341st Missile Wing is to keep America free and strong by providing combat-ready people and aerospace forces.

Subordinate Units

History

Lineage

  • Constituted as 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) on 14 Aug 1942.
    • Activated in India on 15 Sep 1942
    • Inactivated on 2 Nov 1945.
  • Redesignated 341st Bombardment Group (Light). Allotted to the reserve.
    • Activated on 27 Dec 1946
    • Inactivated 27 Jun 1949
  • Established as 341st Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 23 March 1953
    • Activated on 1 Sep 1955
    • Discontinued and inactivated, 25 Jun 1961
  • Redesignated 341st Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Minuteman) and activated 1 Jul 1961
  • Redesignated 341st Missile Wing 1 Sep 1991
  • Redesignated 341st Space Wing 1 Oct 1997
  • Redesignated 341st Missile Wing 1 Jul 2008

Bases assigned

  • Karachi, India 15 Sep - 30 Dec 1942
  • Chakulia, India, 30 Dec 1942 - Jun 1943
  • Kurmitola, India, Jun 1943 - 7 Jan 1944
  • Kunming, China, 7 Jan 1944 - 13 Dec 1944
  • Yangkai, China, 13 Dec 1944 - Oct 1945
  • Camp Kilmer, NJ, 1 - 2 Nov 1945
  • Westover Field, Mass, 27 Dec 1946 - 27 Jun 1949.
  • Abiline (Later Dyess AFB), Tx, 1 Sep 1955 - 25 Jun 1961
  • Malmstrom AFB, MT, 15 Jul 1961 - Present

Major Command

Aircraft/Missiles assigned

Operational history

World War II

Constituted as 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) on 14 Aug 1942. Activated in India on 15 Sep 1942. Equipped with B-25's.

Entered combat early in 1943 and operated chiefly against enemy transportation in central Burma until 1944. Bombed bridges, locomotives, railroad yards, and other targets to delay movement of supplies to the Japanese troops fighting in northern Burma.

Moved to China in Jan 1944. Engaged primarily in sea sweeps and attacks against inland shipping. Also bombed and strafed such targets as trains, harbors, and railroads in French Indochina and the Canton-Hong Kong area of China. Received a DUC for developing and using a special (glip) bombing technique against enemy bridges in French Indochina.

Moved to the US in Oct 1945. Inactivated on 2 Nov 1945.

Cold War

The 341st was formed as a Bombardment Wing in September 1955 at Abeline AFB (later Dyess AFB), Texas, with the B-47 and KC-97 until redesignated as the 341st Strategic Missile Wing in Jul 1961. The wing relocated to Malmstrom AFB with the LGM-30B Minuteman I assigned from July 1962 until 1969, when it was replaced by the LGM-30F Minuteman II. In 1975, the LGM-30G Minuteman III was added.

On 1 September 1991 the 341st SMW was redesignated simply a Missile Wing. In accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), on 28 September 1991, the 341st Missile Wing began taking its Minuteman IIs off alert and began deactivation of the missiles. The 341st Missile Wing was reassigned from SAC to the Eighth Air Force of Air Combat Command on 31 May 1992.

References

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  • Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
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