28th Bombardment Wing, US Air Force
28TH BOMBARDMENT WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 28 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 28 July 1947. Organized on 15 August 1947. Redesignated as: 28 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 12 July 1948; 28 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 16 May 1949; 28 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 April 1950; 28 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Heavy on 16 July 1950; 28 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 1 October 1955; 28 Wing on 1 September 1991; 28 Bomb Wing on 1 June 1992. Maintained proficiency in heavy bombardment, 1947–1948. Maintained proficiency in global bombardment, deploying tactical components or segments thereof as needed, 1948–1950. Performed global strategic reconnaissance, 1950–1955, with bombardment as a secondary mission, 1954–1955. Trained primarily as a bombardment wing from 1955, but retained a reconnaissance capability to September 1956. Deployed at Andersen AFB, Guam, April–July 1955. Added aerial refueling to mission in 1959 and began operating post-attack command and control system for Fifteenth Air Force in January 1965, maintaining this capability through a rear echelon during the absences of the remainder of the wing. Controlled a non-equipped Titan missile squadron, December 1960–December 1961. Except for a small rear echelon left at Ellsworth AFB, SD, the wing’s headquarters staff, tactical aircraft and crews, and most support personnel were integrated into ARC LIGHT forces for combat in Southeast Asia, c. 9 March–c. 21 September 1966, c. 15 January–c. 19 July 1968, and c. 9 September 1969–c. 18 March 1970. From April 1972 to October 1973 the wing also had most of its tactical aircraft and crews on loan to SAC organizations involved in combat operations, and the wing continued supporting Pacific forces with planes and crews into 1975. Converted from B–52G to B–52H models in 1977. Performed airborne launch control functions for USAF Minuteman missile wings with EC–135 aircraft and provided logistic support to the 44 Missile Wing. Expanded B–52H mission in 1984 to include sea reconnaissance, surveillance, and conventional operations from forward bases overseas. Upgraded tanker force to KC–135R in 1985–1986 and replaced B–52H with B–1B bomber in 1987. In 1989, won the Fairchild Trophy for excellence in bombing and navigation and the Omaha Trophy, presented to the outstanding wing in SAC. Provided tanker support for restoration of democracy in Panama (December 1989–January 1990), and deployed tanker and airborne command post aircraft to Southwest Asia (August 1990– March 1991). Lost air refueling mission in June 1992 and airborne command post mission in September 1992. In August 1993, flew B-1s around the world for the first time. Elements deployed to various locations for training exercises, including occasionally to Egypt (November 1993; August-December 1999) and England (May-June 1996; June-July 1997). In November 1997, deployed four B-1s and crews to Southwest Asia for a show of force against Iraq, the first real-world contingency use of the B-1 bomber. A year later (November 1998), the wing deployed three B-1s and crews to Southwest Asia for punitive attacks against Iraqi targets, the first combat use of the B-1. After terrorist attacks against the United States in September 2001, the wing deployed B-1 aircraft and crews to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, for bombing missions against enemy targets in Afghanistan. Deployed personnel and aircraft to Libya on a mission to attack military targets, March 2011. Reassigned from Air Combat Command to Air Force Global Strike Command on 1 October 2015.
| English | blazon wanted |
Origin/meaning
The Emblem was approved for 28 Group on 14 November 1941 and for 28 Wing on 11 June 1952; newly rendered on 15 September 1997.
Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons
. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/