| 3973d Strategic Wing | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1964–1966 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Host base unit |
| Role | Support SACbombardment units |
| Part of | Sixteenth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Moron Air Base, Spain |
The3973d Strategic Wing (3973d SW) is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit, discontinued atMoron Air Base, Spain in 1966. It was established in 1957 to support forward deployed elements ofStrategic Air Command (SAC) (Reflex) and added support ofBoeing B-52 StratofortressOperation Chrome Dome missions, which continued afterOperation Reflex operations ended. It was discontinued when its parentSixteenth Air Force was transferred toUnited States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) after the Chrome Dome mission ended in Spain.
The 3973d SW was a support element for the SAC originally for SACBoeing B-47 Stratojet wing and support elements deployed to Moron AB from United States basesOperation Reflex and laterOperation Chrome Dome operations between 1 June 1957 and 15 April 1966. When activated as the3973d Air Base Squadron, it assumed the resources (Manpower, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the7605th Air Base Squadron, a USAFE unit that had opened Moron. Throughout its existence it was controlled by SAC at Moron AB.
Thewing originated as the3973d Air Base Squadron on 1 January 1957, replacing the7605th Air Base Squadron ofUnited States Air Forces Europe, which had opened Moron AB forUnited States Air Force use. The wing trained and equipped personnel at Moron as well as supported Operation Chrome Dome operations withBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelingB-52 Stratofortress aircraft.[1] On 4 February 1965 REeflex operations forBoeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft ended and the wing focused on other missions.[2] Chrome Dome operations terminated on 23 January 1966 at the request of the Spanish government, following the crash of a B-52 nearPalomares[3]
B-58 Hustler aircraft deployed from the43d Bombardment Wing atCarswell AFB, Texas arrived at Moron 22 July 1964 for Alarm Bell[jargon] operational training, remaining on station until September.[citation needed]
The wing inactivated on 15 April 1966 when Moron AB transferred from SAC toUnited States Air Forces in Europe. The unit was replaced by the7473d Combat Support Group under USAFE.[4] SAC retained a tanker presence at Moron, but its mission was refueling USAFEfighter aircraft.[3]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
