91st Bombardment Wing 91st Strategic Missile Wing Motto

Based at: McGuire AFB, Barksdale AFB, Lockbourne AFB, Glasgow AFB, Minot AFB
Aircraft: B-17, B-29, B-45, B-47, B-50, B-52. KB-50, KB-97, KC-135. Minuteman, Peacekeeper
Status: Now the 91st Strategic Missile Wing
Squadrons: 322 BS, 323 BS, 324 BS, 91 AR, 100 AR, 740 MS, 741 MS, 742 MS
Links: Minot AFB

     The 91st was one of SAC's longest-lasting and most versatile wings. It began as a reconnaissance wing, evolved into a bomb wing and ended up a missile wing. It's men flew virtually every plane in the SAC inventory. Today it operates Minuteman sites.
Activation
      The Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was established October 11, 1948 and activated November 10th at McGuire, AFB, New Jersey. It moved to Barksdale AFB, a year later.
B-17s, B-29, B-50 and B-45
    During it's first year, the 91st flew B-17s, RB-17s and trained it's men on the TRB-17. It's planes were soon replaced by B-29s, RB-29s, and TB-29s, then B-50, RB-50. It's diversified aircraft inventory included the esoteric RC-54. It was the only wing to have the B-45 and RB-45. Although bombers were assigned to the wing, it's primary mission was global strategic reconnaissance. In 1950, it began receiving tankers, first the KB-29, then the KC-97. On July 6, 1950, it was redesignated the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium. At Barksdale, it's wing headquarters with integrated with that of the 301st Bomb Wing. Although each wing conducted independent tactical operations, both detached components for up to three months. The wing also maintained detachments from other units. All of the trading back-and-forth of aircraft and aircrews was to provide ongoing reconnaissance of overseas areas. The detachments operated out of England.
Lockbourne AFB, Ohio
     On Sept. 11, 1951, the 91st moved to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio. It received its first YRB-47B in April of 1953, quickly followed by the RB-47B; that was the designation initially given to a proposed photo-reconnaissance version of the B-47B Stratojet. What actually became known as the RB-47B were 24 B-47Bs that were converted to reconnaissance configuration in 1953-54 by adding a special 8-camera heated pod in the forward bomb bay. Unlike the later RB-47E, the RB-47B could only provide daylight photographic coverage.   During 1953, B-47s were assigned to the wing. The 91st continued it's worldwide reconnaissance mission . Units were detached to England, 1952-1954. From 1951-1953, they operated out of Japan, providing photos of Korea. Units were also detached to North Africa and Newfoundland in 1956 and Greenland in 1957.   The 91st was inactivated on November 8, 1957.
Glasgow AFB and B-52s and KC-135
     It was redesignated the 91st Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated on November 15, 1962 at Glasgow AFB, Montana on February 1, 1963. It received B-52Cs from the 99th Bomb Wing and new B-52Ds from Boeing. It also began taking delivery on KC-135s. It's new mission was global bombardment, supported by aerial refueling.
Vietnam
     On September 11, 1966, the entire wing, except for a small rear echelon, was integrated into the Strategic Air Command's Arc Light Force for combat in Southeast Asia. It returned on March 31, 1967. From February 5, to April 15, 1968, it was deployed in Okinawa in response to the Pueblo Incident. A month after returning home, it became non-operational. It's aircraft departed and it's primary job was closing Glasgow AFB.
Minot AFB and Minuteman Missiles
     On June 25, 1968, the old reconnaissance and bombardment wing was moved to Minot AFB, North Dakota. There it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the recently inactivated 355 Strategic Missile Wing It was then redesignated the 91st Strategic Missile Wing.
Status
      Currently maintains Minuteman missile operations
Components
Groups:
91 BG: Assigned Nov. 10, 1948-May 28, 1952 (Not operational Feb 10, 1951 - May 28 1952)
Squadrons
16 BS: Attached Nov 10, 1948 - June 1, 1949
38 BS: Attached Nov   1, 1950 - Jan 5, 1951
91 BS: Attached Jan 22, 1949 - Mar 25, 1949
322 BS: Attached Feb 10, 1951 - May 27, 1952. Assigned May 28, 1952 - Nov 8, 1957.
        Assigned Feb, 1963 - June 25, 1968 (Detached (c Sept 11, 1966 - c Mar 31, 1967,
        c Feb 16, 1958 - c Apr 30, 1958; Not operational c May 1 - June 25, 1958)
        On Feb. 1, 1963, it received the resources of the former 4141st Strategic Wing.
323 BS: Attached Feb 10, 1951 - May 27, 1952. Assigned May 28, 1952- Nov 8, 1957
        (Detached Jan 12 - Feb, 26, 1954)
324 BS: Attached Feb 10, 1951 - May 27, 1952. Assigned May 28, 1952 - Nov 8, 1957
338 BS: Attached Nov 1, 1950 - Nov 24, 1950
343 BS: Attached Nov 1, 1950 - Jan 3, 1951
740 MS: Assigned Jun 25, 1958 -
741 MS: Assigned Jun 25, 1958 -
742 MS: Assigned Jun 25, 1958 -
   26AR: Attached May 28, 1952 - June 1, 1953
   68 AR: Attached May   5, 1952 - May 28, 952
   91 AR: Attached Feb 10, 1952 - May 27, 1952. Assigned May 28, 1952 - Nov 8, 1957
         (Detached Jan 12, 1954 - Feb 26, 2954, Oct 6 - Nov 12, 1954, July 10 - Oct 1955)
100 AR Attached May 23 - Nov 24, 1953
907 AR: Assigned Jul 1, 1963 - June 25, 1968. (Detached c Sep 11, 1966 - c Mar 31, 1957,
       c. Feb 1958 - c April 16, 1958; Not operational c May 1 - June 25, 1968.