The 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group (526 ICBMG) is an inactive

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

(USAF) unit. It was last located at

Hill AFB Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force (USAF) base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and bordering the Cities of Layton, Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, and Sunset with its largest border immediately adjacent t ...

, Utah, where it was inactivated in 2010. The group was first activated during

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 opposing ...

to conduct

anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are t ...

in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic seaboard of Georgia and Florida. It was again active during the Cold War as an Atlas missile wing. Its final period of active service was as a systems and sustainment organization for USAF missile systems.

History

World War II

The 526th ICBMG was first activated in 1942 as the 26th Antisubmarine Wing, a command organization for

Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was formed in the fall of 1942 to establish a single command to control antisubmarine warfare (ASW) activities of the Army Air Forces (AAF). It was formed from the resources of I Bomber Command, which ...

units in the Caribbean and South Atlantic. Its area of jurisdiction ranged from the Georgia/Florida border along the Atlantic Coast outward to approximately 100 miles eastward from coastline to the entire

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

, and

Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...

from the

Florida Straits The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait ( es, Estrecho de Florida) is a strait located south-southeast of the North American mainland, generally accepted to be between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and between th ...

south to the Venezuela coast. As the Army Air Forces turned responsibility for

over to the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

in 1943, the

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...

was transferred to First Air Force and disbanded while its squadrons were transferred and redesignated

bombardment A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire or by dropping bombs from aircraft on fortifications, combatants, or towns and buildings. Prior to World War I, the term was only applied to the bombardment of defenseless or undefended objects, ...

squadrons.

Cold War

The 706th Strategic Missile Wing (706 SMW) was established on 13 February 1958 at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming.Ravenstein, pp. 294–295 Preparation for intercontinental ballistic missile operations at F.E. Warren began on 15 January 1958 when

Air Research and Development Command The Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. It was established in April 1951, being split off from Air Materiel Command. The mission of AFSC was Research and Development for new weapons systems. Ove ...

established the Strategic Missile Wing (Provisional). On 1 February, Strategic Air Command took over F.E. Warren from Air Training Command and replaced the provisional wing with its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) 4320th Strategic Wing (Missile). The 4320th was a support organization, and was assigned the 389th Air Base Group to act as the host for units at F.E. Warren.Mueller, pp. 179–185 The 706th replaced the 4320th almost immediately, assuming control of the 389th. Two operational squadrons were activated later that year; the 564thMaurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 662–663 and 565th Strategic Missile Squadrons (SMS).Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 663 It accepted its first two

SM-65 Atlas The SM-65 Atlas was the first operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the United States and the first member of the Atlas rocket family. It was built for the U.S. Air Force by the Convair Division of General Dy ...

missile complexes in August 1960, gaining initial operational capability. The same year a third operational squadron, the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron was assignedMaurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 652–653 The 706th SMW was replaced by the 389th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Atlas) and inactivated on 1 July 1961. The 389th assumed the 706th mission, equipment and personnel, except for the 549th SMS, which moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Logistics Unit

The next iteration of the Wing was as the 526th Special Operations Wing. In 2007, the wing was reduced to a group, and was made subordinate to the 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing. The ICBM System Program Office (SPO) develops, acquires, and supports silo-based ICBMs and provides program direction and logistics support as the single face to the customer. The SPO is responsible for acquisition, systems engineering and depot repair support; manages equipment spares; provides storage and transportation; and, accomplishes modifications and equipment replacement to maintain silo-based ICBM systems. The ICBM Prime Integration Contract (PIC) Program Management Office, LM(3), is charged with day-to-day execution and management of the PIC. The office is accountable to the System Program Director (SPD) for cost, schedule, and technical performance of the ICBM prime contractor. LM(3) supports the other SPO divisions by working with LMK-P to translate requirements for engineering services and/or modification/replacement programs into the necessary contracting actions.

Lineage

26th Antisubmarine Wing * Constituted as 26th Antisubmarine Wing on 17 November 1942 : Activated on 20 November 1942 * Disbanded on 15 October 1943 * Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and consolidated with the 706th Strategic Missile Wing as the 526th Special Operations Wing 706th Strategic Missile Wing * Constituted as 706th Strategic Missile Wing on 13 February 1958 : Activated on 23 February 1958 : Redesignated 706th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Atlas) on 1 April 1958 * Discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1961. * Consolidated on 31 July 1985 with the 26th Antisubmarine Wing as the 526th Special Operations Wing 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group * 526th Special Operations Wing formed on 31 July 1985 by consolidation of 26th Antisubmarine Wing and 706th Strategic Missile Wing (not active) * Redesignated 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Wing on 31 January 2005 : Activated on 24 February 2005 : Redesignated 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group on 13 August 2007 * Inactivated on 30 April 2010

Assignments

(later I Bomber Command): 20 November 1942 – 15 October 1943 * 1st Missile Division: 23 February 1958 * Fifteenth Air Force: 15 January 1959 * 13th Air Division: 1 July 1959 – 1 July 1961 *

Ogden Air Logistics Center The Ogden Air Logistics Complex (OO-ALC) performs programmed depot maintenance on a number of US Air Force weapon systems. Specifically it supports A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-2 Spirit, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and LGM-30G Minuteman III systems. Add ...

: 24 February 2005 * 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing: 12 August 2007 * Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center: 30 May 2008 – 30 April 2010

Components

Groups

* 389th Air Base Group (later 389th Combat Support Group): 23 February 1958 – 1 July 1961 * 389th USAF Hospital (later 389th Medical Group): 23 February 1958 – 1 July 1961 * 526th Acquisition Group: 24 February 2005 – 13 August 2007Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, ''Air Force Organizational Status Change Report'', February 2005Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, ''Air Force Organizational Status Change Report'', August 2007 * 526th Flight Systems Sustainment Group: 24 February 2005 – 28 April 2006Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, ''Air Force Organizational Status Change Report'', April 2006 * 526th Ground Systems Sustainment Group (later 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Group): 24 February 2005 – 13 August 2007 * 556th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Group: 28 April 2006 – 13 August 2007 * 826th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group: 28 April 2006 – 13 August 2007

Squadrons

* 7th Antisubmarine Squadron (later 851st Bombardment Squadron): 8 December 1942 – 1 October 1943 (detached to 25th Antisubmarine Wing ''ca''. 16 December 1942 – 20 April 1943 and to

25th Bombardment Group Fifth is the ordinal form of the number five. Fifth or The Fifth may refer to: * Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as in the expression "pleading the Fifth" * Fifth column, a political term * Fifth disease, a contagious rash th ...

20 April 1943 – 20 July 1943) : Assigned to: Jacksonville Army Air Field, Florida : Operated from:

Edinburgh Field Carlsen Air Force Base is a former United States Army Air Forces World War II airbase on Trinidad, consisting of two landing strips, "Edinburgh" and "Xeres". The airbase also included an emergency landing strip, "Tobago". History The America ...

, Trinidad *

9th Antisubmarine Squadron 009 may refer to: * OO9, gauge model railways * O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport * 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California * British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent * BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9 * ...

: 8 December 1942 – 23 September 1943 (detached to 25th Bombardment Group until March 1943) : Assigned to:

Miami Army Airfield Miami Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield located at the 36th Street Airport in Miami, Florida. The military airfield closed in 1946 and the airport was returned to civil use. In 1949, the airport became a U ...

, Florida : Operated from: Edinburgh Field, Trinidad * 10th Antisubmarine Squadron: 22 November 1942 – 15 October 1943 * 15th Antisubmarine Squadron: 17 December 1942 – 15 October 1942 : Assigned to: Jacksonville Army Air Field, Florida, Operated from: Drew Field, Florida and

Batista Field Batista is a Spanish or Portuguese surname. Notable persons with the name include: * Batista (footballer, born 1955), Brazilian football player * Dave Bautista, American actor and professional wrestler, also known as Batista * Edina Alves Batista, ...

, Cuba * 17th Antisubmarine Squadron (later 855th Bombardment Squadron): 14 December 1942 – 1 October 1943 : Assigned to: Palm Beach County Park (Lantana Airport), Florida, Operated from:

NAS Key West Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles (6 km) east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States., effective 2007-10-25 NAS Key West is an air ...

, Florida and Miami Army Air Field, Florida * 25th Antisubmarine Squadron: 1 May 1943 – 9 October 1943 : Assigned to:

Jacksonville Army Airfield Imeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the airport serving Jacksonville, Florida, from 1927 until its closing in 1968. It was known as Jacksonville Municipal Airport prior to World War II, Jacksonville Army Airfield when the ...

, Florida * 76th Bombardment Squadron (later 23d Antisubmarine Squadron): attached 20 November 1942 – 9 March 1943, assigned 9 March 1943 – 15 October 1943 (detached to Trinidad Detachment,

Antilles Air Command The Antilles Air Command is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1946. Engaged in antisubmarine operations, 1941� ...

after 5 August 1943) : Operated from: Imeson Field, Florida, Opalocka NAS, Florida Drew Field, Florida

, Cuba : Assigned to: Drew Field, Florida Operated from:

Langley Field Langley may refer to: People * Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name * Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer * Elizabeth Langley (born 1933), Canadian perfo ...

, Virginia : Assigned to:

, Trinidad (Ground echelon remained at Drew Field until 15 October 1943) : Detachment of air echelon operated from

Zandery Field Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport , also known as Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport, and locally referred to simply as JAP, is an airport located in the town of Zanderij and hub for airline carrier Surinam Airways, south of Param ...

, Surinam, 15 August— December 1943 * 79th Bombardment Squadron (later 8th Antisubmarine Squadron): 22 November 1942 – 14 October 1943 (attached to 25th Bombardment Group July – August 1943) *

124th Observation Squadron The 124th Attack Squadron is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard 132d Wing. It is assigned to Des Moines International Airport (Des Moines ANGB), Iowa and was formerly equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The unit is reequipping with ...

: attached 20 November 1942 – 4 January 1943Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 349 * 500th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Squadron: 13 August 2007 – 30 April 2010 * 509th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Squadron: 13 August 2007 – 30 April 2010 * 510th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Squadron: 13 August 2007 – 30 April 2010 * 511th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Squadron: 13 August 2007 – 30 April 2010 * 549th Strategic Missile Squadron: 1 October 1960 – 1 July 1961 * 564th Strategic Missile Squadron: 1 July 1958 – 1 July 1961 * 565th Strategic Missile Squadron: 1 December 1958 – 1 July 1961 * 706th Support Squadron (later 706th Missile Maintenance Squadron): 1 February 1959 – 1 July 1961

Stations

* Miami Army Air Field, Florida: 20 November 1942 – 15 October 1943 * F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming: 23 February 1958 – 1 July 1961 *

, Utah: 24 February 2005 – present

ICBM Supported

LGM-30 Minuteman 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 ...

(24 February 2005 – present) *

LGM-118A Peacekeeper The LGM-118 Peacekeeper, originally known as the MX for "Missile, Experimental", was a MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) produced and deployed by the United States from 1985 to 2005. The missile could carry up to twelve Mar ...

(c. 2005)

References

; Notes

Bibliography

* * * * {{USAF Material Command 526 Military units and formations in Utah Military units and formations established in 1958 1958 establishments in the United States