USAF Patch 501 Transport Squadron USAFE GLCM Tactical Missile Wing TMW BGM 109G Gryphon Nuclear GLCM

 

USAF Patch 501 Transport Squadron USAFE GLCM Tactical Missile Wing TMW BGM 109G Gryphon Nuclear GLCM

Base – RAF Greenham Common UK

Date – 1986

Visibility – Subdued

Construction – UK Made Fully embroidered cut edge

Size – 95mm by 90mm three and eleven sixteenth inches by three and nine sixteenth inches.

Shipping – Free

 

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USAF Patch 501 Transport Squadron Tactical Missile Wing BGM 109G Gryphon Nuclear GLCM USAFE

Wing History

B 29B Superfortress bomber aircraft 501 Bombardment Group

501 Bombardment Group was activated at Dalhart Army Air Field Texas on 1 June 1944 to be equipped with B 29 Superfortress bomber aircraft and assigned to Second Air Force. The Groups flying components were 21 41 and 485 Bombardment Squadrons. The Group relocated to Harvard Army Air Field Nebraska on 22 August 1944 and began to receive the B 29B Superfortress bomber aircraft adapted to fly higher and farther by stripping out all guns except the rear and incorporate radar systems for navigation bombing and rear gun control for the Pacific theatre. The Group departed Harvard AAF on 7 March 1945 The group moved to Fort Lawton Washington 10 March 1945 then on to Hawaii on 25 March 1945 arriving at Northwest Field Guam on 14 April 1945

501 BG attacked targets on Truk as its first combat mission on 19 June 1945. The Group undertook its first attack on the Japanese mainland on 26 June 1945 and began a sustained campaign against oil related targets on Japan including refineries at Shimotso Yokkaichi and Kawasaki for which a Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded. The Groups bombing of Japan continued up to VJ day 15 August 1945 and began food medical and humanitarian drops to remote POW camps in Japan Korea and China. 501 Bombardment Group was inactivated at Northwest Field Guam on10 June 1946.

BGM 109G Tactical Nuclear Ground Launched Cruise Missile 501st Tactical Missile Wing

To counteract the threat of the Soviet SS 20 mobile tactical nuclear missiles deployed in the Soviet Block from 1975 the USAF introduced BGM 109G Gryphon nuclear warhead cruise missile to be based in Europe. With plans to allocate RAF Greenham Common as one of the UK bases the USAF approved the consolidation of 501 Bombardment Group with 701 Tactical Missile Wing and redesignation of the consolidated unit to 501 Tactical Missile Wing to retain historic lineage in USAF units in recognition unit roles during WWII.

501 Tactical Missile Wing was the first tactical missile Wing to be activated on 1 July 1982 at RAF Greenham Common UK to operate BGM 109G Tactical Nuclear GLCMs with the first received by the Wing in November 1983.

The Wing controlled 11 Tactical Missile Squadron which had 96 missiles held by six Flights A B C D E and F each having 2 Launch Control Vehicles and 4 Transporter Erector Launchers with four missiles each providing 16 missiles per flight. The Wing provided support with 501st Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron. During periods of increased tension the flights would be deployed with additional security and support vehicles to one of a number of pre-surveyed classified locations in the countryside away from the base. The flight would dig in erect camouflage to hide the vehicles set up special intrusion detection radar and prepare for launch.

The Reykjavík summit in Iceland on 11 October 1986 between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev agreed in principle to removing Intermediate Range Nuclear Force systems from Europe and to equal global limits of 100 INF missile warheads. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed on 8 December 1987 coming into force on 1 June 1988 leading to the removal of all nuclear missiles from Western Europe.

The 501 TMW was the last missile wing to be inactivated on 31 May 1991 following the decommissioning of the BGM-109G. From 1982 to 1991 the Wing was awarded three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.

Combat Support 501 Combat Support Wing

501 Combat Support Wing was activated on 12 May 2005 at RAF Mildenhall to manage and support geographically separated USAF units installations and activities in the United Kingdom and Norway not directly supporting operations at RAF Mildenhall or RAF Lakenheath. 501 CSW is also the NATO administration agent for the UK. The Wing relocated to RAF Alconbury on 1 May 2007.

The Wing is assigned

421 Air Base Squadron at RAF Menwith Hill

422 Air Base Group at RAF Fairford RAF Welford and RAF Croughton. 422 Force Support Squadron was activated in November 2024 to provide support for units on Cyprus.

423 Air Base Group at RAF Alconbury RAF Molesworth RAF Upwood and Sola Air Station Stavanger Air Base in Norway.

 

 

This USAF Patch 501 Transport Squadron dates from 1986.