USAF 501st Tactical Missile Wing Crusader Golf Complex Patch BGM-109G GLCM RAF Greenham Common (4 Inch) – Blue Variant

USAF 501st TMW Patch Tactical Missile Wing Crusader Golf Complex Patch Blue USAFE BMG-109G GLCM 1980s  RAF Greenham Common

USAF 501st TMW Crusader Golf Complex Patch

British Made unknown manufacturer embroidered on blue twill with a paper covered glue backing and merrowed edge 100mm four inches diameter.

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Wing History GLCM

501st Tactical Missile Wing was the first missile Wing to be activated on 1 July 1982 at RAF Greenham Common UK to operate BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile GLCMs introduced to counteract the threat of the Soviet SS-20 Saber road-mobile, intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) deployed by the Soviet Union in the Warsaw Pact from 1976. The first GLCMs were received by 501st Tactical Missile Wing in November 1983.

The Wing controlled 11th 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 501st 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.

This USAF 501st TMW Crusader Golf Complex patch dates from 1984.