Activation
    The 96th Bomb Group was activated in the Reserves on May 29, 1947 at Gunter AFB, Alabama, but inactivated on July 27, 1949.  Established again on November 6, 1953 at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, as the 96th Bombardment Wing, Medium.  It was activated November 8th.  Wing headquarters and most of the wing components were not manned until March 1954; those components manned were controlled by the 96th Air Base Group, whose commander served additional duty as the 96th's wing commander. 
KC-97 Stratotankers and B-47 Stratojets
     The wing soon received KC-97 Stratotankers and began air refueling operations in March 1954.  The tankers were soon followed by the new B-47 Stratojets and the 96th began bombardment training in April 1955.  Deployed at Andersen AFB, Guam, from January 7 to April 10, 1957.  Transferred to Dyess AFB, Texas on on September 8, 1957.  
      Controlled the 4th Strategic Support Squadron, a strategic airlift squadron from September 1959 to March of 1961.
Atlas Missiles
     The wing gained Atlas F missiles in July, 1961, manned by the 578th Strategic Missile Squadron.  The first of the Atlas went on alert in April, 1961.  The unit was redesignated the 96th Strategic Aerospace Wing on April 1, 1962.  The Atlas was phased out in March 1965.
B-52s and Vietnam
    In 1963, it's three squadrons of B-47s were replaced by one squadron of B-52s.  The 96th received B-52Cs from the 99th Bomb Wing, then new B-52Ds and B-52Es from Boeing.  It was redesignated the 96th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on March 31, 1972.  During several months of 1970, and for a lengthy period in 1972–1973, all wing aircraft, crews, and most support personnel were loaned to other SAC organizations based in the Far East or Southeast Asia for combat operations.
Later Operations
     From 1980, the wing’s KC–135A aircraft deployed to Europe, Alaska, and the Pacific to support SAC tanker task force requirements.  The 96th received the B-1B on June 29, 1985, and became the first wing to operate the new aircraft.  Wing KC–135 tankers provided refueling support to units involved in the invasion of Panama, December 1989.  The 96th ferried personnel and equipment to Guam for further movement to Southwest Asia, in August of 1990. Single KC–135s provided refueling support throughout Southwest Asia, from August 1990 to March 1991.
Status
    Inactivated on October 1, 1993, but reactivated as the 96th Air Base Wing on March 15, 1994.
Components
Squadrons
337 BS: Assigned Nov.18, 1953 - March 15, 1963 (Not operational Nov. 18, 1953 - March 13, 1955);
       Sept 15, 1963 -        (Not operational Sept 15 - Dec. 22, 1963, June 22 - Sept 19, 1970 and
       April 8 1972 - Oct 28, 1973.  Flew B-52E from December 1963 until 1970.  Began converting
       to B-52D in 1969 for use in Vietnam.  Retained the B-52D until 1982.  Also flew B-52C
       from 1963-1971.  Received B-52H in 1982 and converted to B-1B in 1985.
338 BS   Assigned Nov 18, 1953 - March 15, 1963 (Not operational Nov 18, 1953 - March 13, 1955)
        Flew B-47s.
339 BS   Assigned Nov. 18- 1953 - March 15 1963 (Not operational Nov 18, 1953 - April  29, 1955)
       Flew B-47s
413 BS   Assigned Nov 1, 1958 - Jan 1, 1962 (Not operational Oct 1, 1961- Jan 1, 1962.)  Flew B-47s
   11AR   Attached Dec 16, 1957 - March 1958
  96AR    Assigned Nov 18, 1953 - Dec. 3,1957 (Not operational  Nov 18, 1953 - Jan 1954, Detached:
       Jan - March 14, 1954; Oct 5 - Nov 20 1954; Aug 1 -Sept 14, 1955; Jan 18 - 31, 1956; June 25
       Oct 9, 1956, Nov. 15 - Dec 7, 1956 and Jan 10 - April 7, 1957)
321 AR   Attached July 3 - Nov 8, 1954 (not operational)
380 AR   Attached Nov 8, 1954 - April 1, 1955
917 AR   Attached Jan 1 - 14, 1965.  Assigned Jan 15, 1965 (Not operation June 24 - Dec 1970
        and April 8, 1971 - March 1973.
     4 SS  Assigned Sept 1, 1959 - March, 1961
578 MS  Assigned  July 1, 1961 - March 24, 1965 (Not operational July 1 1961 - April 22, 1962
                and Feb 25 - March 1965.)
NOTES: 
Air Force wing history says it moved to Dyess AFB, Texas.  But if it did, how did it have the Atlas missile squadron in 1961-65 which was assigned to Altus?