The 91st Operations Group is the operational component of the
91st Missile Wing, assigned to the
Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides combat-ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global stri ...
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (20th AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.
20 AF's primary mission is Interco ...
. It is stationed at
Minot Air Force Base
Minot Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation in Ward County, North Dakota, north of the city of Minot via U.S. Route 83. In the 2020 census, the base was counted as a CDP with a total population of 5,017, down from 5,521 i ...
, North Dakota.
The
group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
is one of three USAF operational missile units, equipped with the
LGM-30G Minuteman-III. Its mission is to defend the United States with safe and secure Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs); ready to immediately put bombs on target.
Activated as the
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), an
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Force ...
B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...
unit assigned to England, it was one of the first USAAF heavy bomb groups deployed to Europe in 1942. The 91st Bomb Group was stationed at
RAF Bassingbourn
Royal Air Force Bassingbourn or more simply RAF Bassingbourn is a former Royal Air Force Royal Air Force station, station located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire, Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambri ...
and is most noted as the unit in which the bomber
Memphis Belle flew, and for having suffered the greatest number of losses of any heavy bomb group in World War II.
As part of
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
in the early years of the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
, the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group provided worldwide surveillance. Inactivated in 1952, the group was reactivated as the 91 OG in 1991. Its three missile squadrons, however, have no traditional link to the 91st Bombardment Group and were previously part of the 455th Strategic Missile Wing and 455th Bomb Group.
Units
Through its four squadrons, the group remains a key facet of our nation's deterrent force. The four squadrons assigned to the group are the:
*
740th Missile Squadron
The 740th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
The ...
*
741st Missile Squadron
*
742d Missile Squadron
* 91st Operations Support Squadron
The missile squadrons include missile crewmembers, alert facility chefs and facility managers. These squadrons vigilantly maintain the missile force around-the-clock. Each squadron controls 50 launch facilities and five missile alert facilities. Missile squadrons are divided into missile operations flights and an operation support flight.
The missile operations flights are staffed by officer crewmembers who, when on alert, are responsible for day-to-day operations, maintenance and security of the missiles within their control and are prepared to launch their missiles at all times. Facility managers are responsible for and ensure the readiness of the missile alert facilities. The alert facility chefs are responsible for providing meals to missile alert facility personnel.
History
: ''For additional lineage and history, see
91st Missile Wing''
: ''For additional World War II history, see
91st Bombardment Group''
World War II
![B-17G-42-102509-91bg-401stbs](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/B-17G-42-102509-91bg-401stbs.jpg)
Trained with B-17s before moving to England, August–October 1942. Entered combat in November 1942, bombing such targets as submarine pens, airdromes, factories, communication targets, shipbuilding yards, harbors, and dock facilities until mid-1943. When Eighth Air Force heavy bombers first penetrated Germany on 27 January 1943, the group attacked the navy yard at Wilhelmshaven. Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for bombing marshalling yards at Hamm on 4 March 1943, despite adverse weather and heavy opposition. From the middle of 1943 until the war ended, attacked aircraft factories, airfields, oil facilities, chemical industries and ball-bearing factories. Earned a second DUC for attacking vital aircraft factories in central Germany on 11 January 1944 despite inadequate fighter cover, heavy enemy opposition, and bad weather. In June 1944, contributed to the Allied invasion of Normandy by bombing gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the beachhead area. Supported the St. Lo breakthrough by attacking enemy troop positions, 24–25 July 1944. In December 1944 – January 1945, participated in the Battle of the Bulge by attacking enemy communication targets. The group supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine River in the spring of 1945 by striking airfields, bridges, and railroads near the front lines.
After the war ended, evacuated prisoners from German camps. Returned to the United States, June–July 1945
Cold War
![RB-45C-48-037-91srg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/RB-45C-48-037-91srg.jpg)
It was activated as a long-range photographic reconnaissance group under Strategic Air Command in July 1947, but was not fully manned until after July 1948. It saw combat in Korea from November 1950 until inactivating in May 1952 and conducted surveillance over Sea of Japan. During the Korean War, the 91st SRG eventually flew the largest number of different airframes in the Korean War and had more assigned personnel than any other flying unit in the Korean War. With over 800 assigned personnel, they had six different types of aircraft assigned: the RB-29, RB-50, RB-45, WB-26, KB-29 and RB-36. Throughout the conflict though, the RB-29 and RB-50s were the workhorses of the unit. The RB-50 was a modification of the high-altitude bomber built towards the end of World War II to bomb Japan.
The 91st worked a number of different missions during the Korean War. In addition to bomb damage assessment, targeting and aerial photography for the Bomber Command and FEAF, the 91st conducted ELINT and "ferret" missions in theater. It conducted the first ferret missions ever conducted by the USAF. Overflights of Soviet-controlled Far East islands began in 1951. An example of this type of work was reconnaissance missions which were conducted over Karafuto following reports that the Soviets had built extensive underground installations and missile-launching facilities on the island. In Project 51, 91st SRW RB-45s took off from Yokota AB, Japan to conduct reconnaissance over the southern portions of Sakhalin Island. Photographic and radar reconnaissance overflight missions were also flown over the Murmansk-Kola inlet and Siberia.
The unit was also called upon to conduct psychological leaflet drops with its assigned RB-29 aircraft. Not only did the 91st drop Korean "Psyops" leaflets throughout the Korean peninsula and into Manchuria and China but Russian-language leaflets were also committed to air bases in the Far East where Russian pilots were suspected of flying from.
91st aircraft also provided the Air Force's first air-to-air refueling capability and is credited with the first refueling conducted in combat. In February 1951, it lost most of its personnel when assigned to the parent wing, and was inactivated in May 1952 as part of the Tri-Deputation reorganization.
A new era
Between September 1991 and July 1994, and since February 1996, maintained intercontinental ballistic missiles on alert at Minot AFB, ND.
Lineage
* Established as the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
: Activated on 15 April 1942
: Redesignated 91st Bombardment Group, Heavy' on 20 August 1943
: Inactivated on 7 November 1945
* Redesignated 91st Reconnaissance Group on 11 June 1947
: Activated on 1 July 1947
: Redesignated: 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group on 10 November 1948
: Redesignated: 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Group, Medium on 6 July 1950
: Inactivated on 28 May 1952
* Redesignated 91st Operations Group on 29 August 1991
: Activated on 1 September 1991
: Inactivated on 1 July 1994
* Activated on 1 February 1996
[
]
Assignments
* III Bomber Command
The III Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force headquarters. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command bomber units assigned to 3rd Air Force. Following the entry of the United St ...
, 15 April 1942
* II Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command heavy bomber units assigned to Second Air Force. Following the entry of the United St ...
, c. 28 June 1942
* VIII Bomber Command
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...
, c. 12 September 1942
* 1st Bombardment Wing (later 1st Combat Bombardment Wing), September 1942 (attached to 101st Provisional Heavy Bombardment Combat Wing after 22 May 1943)
* 1st Bombardment Division
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
(later 1st Air Division), 13 September 1943 – June 1945 (under operational control of 1st Bombardment Wing (later 1st Bombardment Wing))
* Third Air Force
The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in E ...
, 3 July-7 November 1945
* Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
, 1 July 1947
* 311th Reconnaissance Wing (later 311th Air Division), 1 October 1947
* 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 10 November 1948 – 28 May 1952 (not operational after 10 February 1951)
* 91st Missile Wing (later 91st Space Wing), 1 September 1991 – 1 July 1994
* 91st Space Wing (later 1st Missile Wing), 1 February 1996–present[
]
Components
* 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 20 August-9 November 1948
* 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron: 25 March 1949 – 16 November 1950
* 91st Air Refueling Squadron
The 91st Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It operates the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.
The squadron was first activated in January 1941 ...
16 April 1950 – 28 May 1952. (detached 10 February 1951 – 28 May 1952)
* 322d Bombardment Squadron (later 322d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron): 15 April 1942 – 7 November 1945; 6 July 1950 – 28 May 1952 (attached to 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 10 February 1951)
* 323d Bombardment Squadron
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
(later 323d Reconnaissance Squadron, 323d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron): 15 April 1942 – 7 November 1945; 1 July 1947 – 10 November 1948; 1 June 1949 – 28 May 1952 (detached 19 September-10 October 1949 and attached to 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 10 February 1951)
* 324th Bombardment (later, 324th Reconnaissance, 324th Strategic Reconnaissance) Squadron: 15 April 1942 – 7 November 1945; 1 July 1947 – 28 May 1952 (attached to 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 10 February 1951)
* 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 401st Bombardment Squadron
4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures.
In mathematics
Four is the smallest c ...
: 15 April 1942 – 7 November 1945
* 740th Missile Squadron
The 740th Missile Squadron is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The squadron is equipped with the LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, with a mission of nuclear deterrence.
The ...
: 1 September 1991 – 1 July 1994; 1 February 1996–present
* 741st Missile Squadron: 1 September 1991 – 1 July 1994; 1 February 1996–present
* 742d Missile Squadron: 1 September 1991 – 1 July 1994; 1 February 1996–present[
]
Stations
* Harding Field, Louisiana, 15 April 1942
* MacDill Field
MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida.
The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...
, Florida, 16 May 1942
* Walla Walla Army Air Base
Walla Walla Regional Airport is a public airport in Walla Walla County, Washington, in the western United States. It is northeast of central Walla Walla, and is owned by the Port of Walla Walla.
History World War II
The airport was the locati ...
, Washington, c. 28 June-24 August 1942
* RAF Kimbolton
RAF Kimbolton is a former Royal Air Force station located west of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.
History
USAAF use
The airfield was originally built in 1941 for RAF Bomber Command, then expanded to Class A airfield standards for use b ...
(AAF-117), England, 13 September 1942 (ground echelon), early October 1942 (air echelon)
* RAF Bassingbourn
Royal Air Force Bassingbourn or more simply RAF Bassingbourn is a former Royal Air Force Royal Air Force station, station located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire, Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambri ...
(AAF-121), England, 14 October 1942 – 23 June 1945
* Drew Field, Florida, 3 July-7 November 1945
* Andrews Field Andrews may refer to:
Places Australia
*Andrews, Queensland
*Andrews, South Australia
United States
*Andrews, Florida (disambiguation), various places
*Andrews, Indiana
* Andrews, Nebraska
*Andrews, North Carolina
* Andrews, Oregon
* Andrews, Sou ...
(later Andrews Air Force Base), Maryland, 1 July 1947
* McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the j ...
, New Jersey, 20 July 1948
* Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base (Barksdale AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in northwest Louisiana, United States, in Bossier Parish. It is contiguous to Bossier City, Louisiana, along the base's western and northwestern edge. Barksdale AFB ...
, Louisiana, 1 October 1949
: Elements deployed to Johnson Air Base and Yokota Air Base
, is a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) base in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.
It occupies portions of Akishima, Fussa, Hamura, Mizuho, Musashimurayama, and Tachikawa.
The base houses 14,000 perso ...
, Japan July 1950, remaining until group's inactivation in 1952.
* Lockbourne Air Force Base
Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base is an Ohio Air National Guard installation located near Lockbourne in southern Franklin County. The base was named for the famous early aviator and Columbus native Eddie Rickenbacker. It is the home of ...
, Ohio, 11 September 1951 – 28 May 1952
* Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, 1 September 1991 – 1 July 1994
* Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, 1 February 1996–present[
]
Aircraft and missiles
* B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...
, 1942–1945; (RB-17) 1949
* B/RB-29 Superfortress, 1949–1950
* B-50 Superfortress
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress is an American strategic bomber. A post–World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, it was fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller tail fin, and ot ...
, 1949–1950; KB-29 (Tanker), 1950–1952
* B/RB-45 Tornado, 1950–1952
* LGM-30G Minuteman III
The LGM-30 Minuteman is an American land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in service with the Air Force Global Strike Command. , the LGM-30G Minuteman III version is the only land-based ICBM in service in the United States and ...
, 1991–1994; 1996–present
References
Notes
; Explanatory notes
; Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
91st Operations Group Factsheet
Notations on the History of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
External links
{{Navboxes
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{{USAAF 8th Air Force UK
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II
{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II
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