The 91st missile wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile wing at minot air force base, n. Ap the 91st missile wing at minot air force base is getting a new leader. As an icbm launch officer stationed at minot afb, north dakota in the late 1990s, my unit, the 91st missile wing, was preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of colonel roosevelts rough riders victorious capture of san juan hill in the 1898 spanish american war. It is stationed at minot air force base, north dakota as a tenant unit. List of usaf strategic missile wings assigned to strategic. Missiles are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to an underground launch control center through a system of hardened cables. Previously known as the 91st space wing, it was renamed as a missile wing in june 2008. The missile wing is responsible for defending the united states by operating, maintaining and securing a fleet of minuteman iii missiles located in underground launch facilities scattered across the northwest part of the state. The following notes explain how the information in this book is arranged, and the terms and. Mar 18, 2020 as an icbm launch officer stationed at minot afb, north dakota in the late 1990s, my unit, the 91st missile wing, was preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of colonel roosevelts rough riders victorious capture of san juan hill in the 1898 spanish american war.
Minot is headquarters for the 91st missile wing, one of the air forces three. Oct 03, 2018 both the 5th bomb wing and the 91st missile wing call minot afb home, though the 5th has been in residence 10 years longer than the 91st. Air force missileer weaknesses worse than previously thought. The 91st missile wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile wing at. The 91st security forces group is a unit of the 91st missile wing based at minot air force base, north dakota. November 4, 2018 rough riders, come out and enjoy some hockey.
Members of the 91st missile security forces squadron convoy response force conduct convoy operations march 12, 2014, at the 91st missile wing missile complex. The 91st took over control of the 740th, 741st and 742nd strategic missile squadrons. The 91 mw is one of the air forces three icbm wings. The 91st mw nickname of rough riders was in honor of north dakotas proud badlands connection to theodore. Glasgow afb and b52s and kc5 it was redesignated the 91st bombardment wing, heavy and activated on november 15, 1962 at glasgow afb, montana on february 1, 1963. Excomm meets in west wing cuban missile crisis, crisis. In 1949, 80 years after its founding, the fort became francis e. Nuke units recover from scandals, find awards in global strike challenge. Minot afbs organizational makeup changed when the 91st strategic missile wing replaced the 455th strategic missile wing at minot afb. In 1997, the 91st was recognized as the commands best wing with the inaugural gen. On october 14, the colonel running for 17 months the 91st missile wing in north dakota lost his job because. Usaf missile patches in original current air force patches. The 91st missile wing is a united states air force unit assigned to the air force global strike. In 2019, the 5th bomb wing will celebrate its 100th birthday, having activated as the 2d group observation at luke field in the thenterritory of hawaii, on aug.
In august 1964, the air force announced plans to build an additional 50 silos assigned to the 341st to house the more modern. Gorham and fellow female missileers commanded the launch control centers controlled by the base in honor of womens history month. The missile field complex consists of 15 different missile alert facilities and 150 different. The 91 mw is one of the air forces three intercontinental ballistic missile wings. The 341st missile wing has its origins in the chinaburmaindia theater of world war ii, being activated in india on 15 september 1942. The 5th bomb wing and 91st missile wing immediately began a search of their weapons inventories and opened an investigation with the air. Connor and its command chief master sergeant is chief master sergeant john a. The officers, from the 91st missile wing at minot air force base, north dakota, were responsible for operating 150 minuteman iii icbms, constituting onethird of the u. Today, minot afb is the only base with dual nuclearcapable wings. For additional history and lineage, see 91st operations group. On 1 july 2008 it was designated as the 91st missile wing. Minot air force base missile wing getting new commander.
Replaced by the 91st strategic missile wing in june 1968 operations, support, and training. New listing 740 missile squadron flight 2 patch minot afb, nd usaf original 4 dia. The 5th bomb wing, the host wing at minot afb and part of the eighth air force and air force global strike command, is charged with defending the nation and supporting the 91st missile wing with the 5ths fleet of massive b52h stratofortress bombers, components in the militarys strategic and conventional combat forces. All female icbm alert crew makes history 20th air force.
As construction of these new silos proceeded through 1966, the 564th strategic missile squadron activated on 14 december. In the 2010 census, the base was counted as a cdp with a total population of 5,521, down from 7,599 in 2000. The change was in line with air force policy in keeping active those units with the most illustrious histories. In a may 8 statement, the air force global strike command said the action marked the largest decertification of missile launch officers in air force history. Launch crews, consisting of two officers, perform aroundtheclock alert in the launch control center. Minot celebrates 50th anniversary of missile, bomb wings. Minot is headquarters for the 91st missile wing, one of the air forces three operational missile units. The unit bombed railroads, aircraft factories, shipyards, communications and assisted allied forces during the battle of the bulge. Nuke units recover from scandals, find awards in global. The air force assumed command in1947 and in 1949 the fort was renamed f. The army air corps activated the 91st bombardment group in april 1942, said justin henderson, 91st missile wing historian. Colin connor is commander of the 91st missile wing.
Kelly gorham, 320th missile squadron missile combat crew commander, poses march 22, 2016 in the 90th operations group building wearing a patch commemorating that days allfemale missile crew contingent at f. The group was activated at camp malir in karachi, india on 15 september 1942. An official inquiry into the troubled inspection of the 91st missile wing at minot in march. Missile crews in alert facilities like the one shown here support the mission of the 91st missile wing at minot air force base, n.
Minot air force base minot, north dakota, united states. Dont recall the number of name plates but it was significant. Hurdle was one of many minot airmen who volunteered to read books to students during african american history month. It received b52cs from the 99th bomb wing and new b52ds from boeing. Another shakeup hits us nuclear missile command world. The squadron was first activated in january 1941 as the 1st reconnaissance squadron at langley field, virginia. The bases location in the geographic center of north america made it perfect for a minuteman missile wing complex to be built in 1961. The 91st space wing, minot afb, nd, is one of the air forces three. This is the story of the cold warera construction of minot air force base and its. The 91st sw replaced the 455th strategic missile wing on june 25 1968 the. The base has scheduled a changeofcommand ceremony friday morning. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 91st operated b17 flying fortress aircraft and was known unofficially as the ragged irregulars or as wrays ragged irregulars, after the commander who took the group to england.
It operates the boeing kc5r stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions. The unit was one of the first bomber units in the cbi. On october 14, the colonel running for 17 months the 91st missile wing in north dakota lost his job because of. Nov 06, 2014 nuke units recover from scandals, find awards in global strike challenge. Stoss said hes such a perfectionist that it drives his wife. Both the 5th bomb wing and the 91st missile wing call minot afb home, though the 5th has been in residence 10 years longer than the 91st. Replaced by the 91st strategic missile wing in june 1968. List of usaf strategic missile wings assigned to strategic air command. New commanders at embattled nd base vow perfection newsday. The 91st sw is an element of 20th air force, headquartered at f. Nov 17, 2010 missile crews in alert facilities like the one shown here support the mission of the 91st missile wing at minot air force base, n. Air force icbm unit has become a high risk of getting fired occupation. This is the story of the cold warera construction of minot air force base and its continued operation as an air force strike command b52h bomber and minuteman iii intercontinental ballistic missile base. The 91st air refueling squadron is part of the 6th air mobility wing at macdill air force base, florida.
Ferdinand stoss, the 91st missile wings new commander, are both promising perfection just as their predecessors did. Bradley cochran is the commander of the 5th bomb wing and col. Coffelt was most recently the vice wing commander of the 91st missile wing at minot air force base in north dakota. The 91st missile wing is a united states air force unit assigned to the air force global strike command twentieth air force. The 91st strategic reconnaissance squadron was detached from the wing at mcguire afb and placed under operational control of the far east air force. The wing is made up of three groups, the 91st operations group, 91st maintenance group, and 91st security forces group. Both the 5th bomb wing and the 91st missile wing call minot afb home, though the 5th has been in residence.
The plans and inspections office reports to the wing vice commander. The best books to read while social distancing, according to book lovers. The 91st missile wing is commanded by colonel colin j. Warren afb became the nations first operational intercontinental ballistic missile base with the introduction of the atlas missile in 1958. Tensions with north korea, among other things, have propelled the nuclear base to. Minot afb 91st security forces group squadron posters. Minot afb was my first station at the 91st strategic missile wing in 1978 so i. During the visit, dunford toured various 5th bomb wing and 91st missile wings facilities to learn about their mission. The 2014 blanchard trophy for best missile wing went to the 91st missile wing at minot air force base, north dakota. The 91st bg began bombing missions against german submarine facilities with the famed boeing b17f flying fortress memphis belle. Joseph dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, visited airmen at minot air force base, n. Briton hurdle, 5th force support squadron missile chef assistant noncommissioned officer in charge, reads a book about harriet tubman at dakota elementary school on minot air force base, n. The 341st missile wing began as the 341st bombardment group medium in the chinaburmaindia cbi theater of world war ii.
The 91st sfg consists of the 91st missile security forces squadron, the 791st missile security forces squadron, and the 91st security support squadron. Warren air force base in wyoming and the 91st missile wing at minot air force base in north dakota. In 1962, in order to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious world war ii records, headquarters sac received authority from headquarters usaf to discontinue its major command controlled majcon strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate air force controlled afcon units, most of which were. Military aviation patch 91st smw is your chance to own a piece of military aviaition history. Strategic command presented the 91st with the 2010 omaha trophy as the most outstanding icbm wing. Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff visits minot air. For humor only, i also include the nicknames given in the book nuclear heartland. On november 15, 1950, at johnson ab, japan the 91st srs absorbed the personnel and resources of the 31st strategic reconnaissance squadron. Visit a live usaf nuclear missile bunker 70 feet below minot, nd.
The air force crews responsible for overseeing the nations nuclear stockpilesmembers of which are known as missileerswere somehow worse at their jobs than was previously reported. The 91st missile wing 91 mw of the global strike command afgsc is responsible for maintaining the minuteman iii nuclear missiles, located in three main fields to the north, west, and south of the base. Minuteman missiles allow the wing to achieve its mission. The 2014 blanchard trophy for best missile wing went to the 91st missile wing. Financial management, safety and history are assigned under the director of staff. During the first ten years as an air force base, the installation was used as a training facility. The 91st bomb group heavy was an air combat unit of the united states army air forces during the second world war.
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