USAF 303rd Tactical Missile Wing Patch BGM-109G GLCM RAF Molesworth (3 Inch) – Subdued Variant D1

USAF 303d Tactical Missile Wing TMW Patch 3 Inch Subdued Variant D1 RAF Molesworth BGM-109G Gryphon GLCM

303d Tactical Missile Wing (303d TMW), stationed at RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom, during the deployment of the BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM).

This subdued green patch was issued to 303d Tactical Missile Wing personnel during its vital NATO nuclear deterrence mission in the final years of the Cold War. The 303d TMW operated under the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) from RAF Molesworth. The Wing became one of the most recognised Ground Launched Cruise Missile wings in Europe making their patches sought after for thier connection to the Cold War, RAF Molesworth history, nuclear deterrence history and tactical missile operations.

• RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom
• Dated: 1987
• Visibility Subdued green
• Fully embroidered construction with cut edge
• Size: 76mm x 78mm
• Approximate imperial size: 2 15/16 inches x 3 1/4 inches
• Free shipping

History of the USAF 303d Bombardment Wing and 303d Tactical Missile Wing

303d Bombardment Wing (Medium)

The United States Air Force activated the 303d Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 4 September 1951 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as part of Strategic Air Command (SAC). The wing initially operated Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers and included the historic 303d Bombardment Group and its 358th, 359th and 360th Bombardment Squadrons.

During the Second World War, the 303d Bombardment Group flew Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, England, carrying out bombing missions across occupied Europe.

In 1953, the wing transitioned to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber and KC-97 Stratofreighter tanker aircraft. The 303d Bombardment Wing conducted SAC nuclear deterrence operations, training exercises and overseas deployments, including RAF Greenham Common, RAF Fairford and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

As the USAF retired the B-47 fleet, the 303d Bombardment Wing was officially inactivated on 15 June 1964.

303d Tactical Missile Wing and the BGM-109G Gryphon

During the Cold War, RAF Molesworth was selected as a deployment base for the BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missile programme. In recognition of the wartime history of the 303d Bombardment Group at RAF Molesworth, the USAF redesignated the 550th Tactical Missile Wing as the 303d Tactical Missile Wing.

The 303d Tactical Missile Wing, together with the 87th Tactical Missile Squadron and the 303d Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron, was activated on 12 December 1986. Operating under 3rd Air Force and USAFE, the wing played an important role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence mission in Europe.

Personnel from the Royal Air Force Regiment and RAF Police supported security operations for missile dispersal convoys, alert areas and maintenance facilities.

The wing achieved initial operational capability on 17 December 1987 and received outstanding ratings during USAF and RAF Nuclear Surety Inspections.

Following the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, all GLCM nuclear missiles were removed from Europe. The first Soviet INF inspection of RAF Molesworth took place on 20 July 1988, marking a historic moment in Cold War arms reduction.

The 303d Tactical Missile Wing and the 87th Tactical Missile Squadron were officially inactivated on 31 January 1989 after the withdrawal of all missiles.

303d Aeronautical Systems Wing

The lineage of the 303d Wing continued when it was redesignated as the 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 2006. Assigned to Air Force Materiel Command, the wing was responsible for the design, development and delivery of advanced aerospace and intelligence systems for the USAF before its inactivation in 2010.