Under the old
army organization virtually every squadron had a different numeric
designation. This caused a great deal of confusion. Under the
new wing organization, most of the Assigned Squadrons carried the same
number as the Assigned Wing
(For Exceptions, see *'s below).
Combat squadrons (Bomber, Fighter, Recon, &
Missile) Maintenance a separate numeric identity as they were often
transferred from one wing to another. Tanker Unit's may or may
not have the same designation as the wing). Example: The 380th BW
had five combat units: the 528th, 529th, 530th and 531st Bombardment
Squadrons, the 380th Air Refueling Sq, (AREFS) and later: had the
310th AREFS assigned. The tanker squadron having the same same
numeric designation as the bomb wing was strictly a coincidence. Special
Mission Units were, also assigned to the 380th BW from 1962 to 1964 the
4365th Post Attack Command & Control Squadron, with Special purpose
B-47's. Between 1962 & 1958 the 380th Supported the 556th Strategic
Missile Sq. a Atlas ICBM Missile Sq. While operating FB-111A's
the 380th had the 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron assigned.
For example, the Flying Wing Maintenance units
were the Periodic Maintenance. Sq. (Later:) Organizational Maintenance Sq.
Later: R/D as Aircraft Generation Squadron (Flight Line Level
Maintenance, Inspection Docks, Base Flight/Transit Alert, & Aerospace
Ground Equipment-Non Powered), the Maintenance Squadron.*, later:
Field Maintenance Squadron. (Later R/D:) Equipment Maintenance Squad.&
finally Maintenance. Sq. (Aircraft & Engine Systems and Specialty Shops
(including Structural Repair), and Aerospace Ground Equipment -Powered),
the Armament & Electronics Maintenance. Sq. (Later:) Avionics
Maintenance. Sq. and Component Repair Squadron (Aircraft Electronic
Systems (Minus - Electrical Shop) (Missions Systems, Comm/Nav, Armament**
& Defensive Systems), In specified B52 / DC-130 Recon Units a Airborne
Missile Maintenance. Sq was assigned to Maintenance AGM-28's Hound Dog,
ADM-20's Quail and Ryan Freebee RPV's, and the Aviation Depot Sq.***
(Later:), Munitions Maintenance squadron . (With the Implementation
of POMO Maintenance Concept. The MMS Function is Merged and assumed by the
Equipment Maintenance squadron . Small & Forward Units with Maintenance
requirements had a Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS),
(whose history is traced thru the Field Maintenance Squadron****) with all
Maintenance functions assigned.
Additional Maintenance. Units were added as required to
support special requirements
* Early SAC units had Maintenance Squadrons or Maintenance & Supply Group.
where the Maintenance was redesignated as Field Maintenance Squadrons Most
SAC Units had Units activated as FMS's.
** AEMS at Bases with No Munitions Functions had Weapons Functions
assigned.
*** All Maintenance Squadrons carried the same number designation as the
wing assigned with the exception of nuclear ADS / MMS until 1 October
1972
when all MMS were redesignated with the host wing number.
****KC-10 CAMS unit's were not Linked to the FMS as the FMS's were
still
Active at the time.
Support groups were numbered to the Host Unit
numbers. When the 380th Bomb Wing Activated at Plattsburg Air Force
Base, New York, it was supported by the 820th Combat Support Group. The
Base was designated to Support a Dual Wing Concept. A second B-47 wing
(308th BW) was designated to also be assigned to Plattsburg AFB, but was
delayed Activation. Because the Base was to Host two equal units,
SAC Activated the 820th Air Division. All squadrons within the Air
Base / Combat Support Group carried the same numeric designation - supply,
civil engineering,/ medical etc. . When the 820th AD deactivated,
the 820th CSG and all 820th Support Squadrons were Redesignated as the
380th Combat Support Group and its support squadrons
Support Squadrons Assigned & Later redesignation
Air Base Group / Combat Support Group
(Support Mission / Combat Mission - Major Base)
Air Base Sq / Combat Support Sq
(Support Mission / Combat Mission - Minor Base)
Combat Defense Sq. Later: Air Police Sq., Security
Police Sq. Security Forces Sq.
Food Services Sq Later: Services Squadron
Installation Sq. Later: Civil Engineering
Sq.
Motor Vehicle Sq. Later: Transportation Sq.
(Later Merged with Supply Functions to create Logistics Support Sq.)
Material Sq Later:
Supply Sq.
(Later Merged with Supply Functions to create Logistics Support Sq.)
Operations Sq. Later:
Communications Sq.*
(Base Operations to ABG/CSG)
After reorganization of support functions Base ops Functions
Merged with MAC
Weather Detachments, Records, Training, & other Operations Functions
to
form: Operational Support Sq.
* On SAC Bases SAC Kept assignment of the communication squadrons (Comm
Centers) as SAC Comm Sq's however the Air Traffic functions
were transferred to a AFCS Squadron. Some SAC Comm Sq. carried the
designation of the Host Unit Plattsburg 820th Comm Sq. Fairchild's
92nd Comm Sq - 92nd BW, 98th Comm Sq , 98th BW however
Offutt had the 1st Aerospace Comm Group (SAC), 30th Comm Sq, & 31st
Comm Sq.- March AFB had the 33rd Comm Sq. - Andersen
27th Comm Sq -Westover 18th Comm Sq, Barksdale 46th Comm Sq.
Infirmary
Later: USAF Hospital
Dispensary
Later: USAF Hospital
Medical Group Later:
USAF Hospital / USAF Regional Hospital
Might just be the HQ's Bases had different Comm Squadron ID's from the
host unit.
There are Exceptions to every rule You asked about the 862nd
Med Group. the 862nd CSG was assigned to Minot a dual wing Base
450 BW / 455 SMW the 862nd CSG was activated Jan 62 the 810th AD
transferred from Biggs AFB, Texas in July 62. the 862nd remained until
1972 when base functions were assigned to 91st SMW the apparent thought
(i.e.: reading between the lines) was the SMW was a more fixed in
location then a flying wing. (At least that is my reading of the
exception)
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