7th Bomb Wing

7th Bomb Wing. The 7th Bomb Wing is a strategic bombardment unit of the United States Air Force, currently assigned to Eighth Air Force of Air Force Global Strike Command and stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. With a lineage tracing to the early days of World War II, the wing has operated a variety of heavy bomber and strategic aircraft across multiple global conflicts. It is presently equipped with the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, providing long-range strike capability for United States Strategic Command.

History

The wing's origins lie in the activation of the 7th Bombardment Group at Fort Douglas, Utah in early 1940, initially flying the Douglas B-18 Bolo. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group deployed to the Pacific Theater, operating from Java and later Australia under the Fifth Air Force, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for actions against Imperial Japanese Navy forces. Redesignated as a wing in 1955, it transitioned to jet aircraft like the Boeing B-47 Stratojet during the Cold War at Carswell Air Force Base. The wing later played significant roles in Operation Arc Light during the Vietnam War with the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, and in Operation Desert Storm with the Rockwell B-1 Lancer. More recently, it has conducted continuous bomber operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lineage and honors

Constituted as the 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in late 1939 and activated on 1 February 1940. It was redesignated as the 7th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy in 1944, and inactivated in 1945. Reactivated in 1946 as part of the Strategic Air Command, it was redesignated the 7th Bombardment Wing, Heavy in 1955. Its campaign streamers include participation in the Antisubmarine Campaign, the East Indies, Air Offensive, Japan, and the Korean and Vietnam campaigns. The wing has been awarded multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Valor devices for service in the Gulf War and post-9/11 conflicts.

Assignments and components

The wing has been assigned to major Numbered Air Forces throughout its history, including the Fifth Air Force in the South West Pacific, the Fifteenth Air Force during the Korean War, and Strategic Air Command for decades. It is currently under Eighth Air Force. Its operational squadrons have included the 9th Bomb Squadron, 20th Bomb Squadron, 28th Bomb Squadron, and 436th Bomb Squadron at various times. Support units like the 7th Operations Group and the 7th Maintenance Group provide essential functions for mission execution.

Aircraft operated

The wing's aircraft history reflects the evolution of American airpower, beginning with the Douglas B-18 Bolo and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. During the Pacific War, it also flew the North American B-25 Mitchell and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. In the jet age, it operated the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Boeing B-50 Superfortress, and the Boeing B-47 Stratojet. Its long tenure with the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress began in the 1960s. Since 1985, its primary aircraft has been the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, a supersonic variable-sweep wing bomber.

Bases stationed

Initial training was conducted at Hamilton Field, California. Wartime deployments saw the unit stationed at Townsville and later Pandaveswar Airfield in India under the China Burma India Theater. Its primary Cold War home was Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, a major Strategic Air Command installation. Since 1993, it has been permanently based at Dyess Air Force Base, also in Texas, where it shares the runway with the 317th Airlift Group operating Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States in the Korean War Category:Strategic bombardment wings of the United States Air Force