The526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group is an inactiveUnited States Air Force group. It was last stationed atHill Air Force Base, Utah, where it was inactivated in 2010. The group was first activated as the26th Antisubmarine Wing duringWorld War II to conductanti-submarine warfare in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic seaboard of Georgia and Florida. It was again active during theCold War as the706th Strategic Missile Wing, anSM-65 Atlas missile wing. Its final period of service was as a systems and sustainment organization for USAFintercontinental ballistic missiles.
Thegroup was first activated in 1942 as the26th Antisubmarine Wing, to superviseArmy Air Forces Antisubmarine Command 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, and Caribbean Sea from theFlorida Straits south to the Venezuela coast. As theArmy Air Forces turned responsibility foranti-submarine warfare over to theUnited States Navy in 1943, thewing was transferred toFirst Air Force and disbanded while its squadrons were transferred and redesignatedbombardment squadrons.[1]
The 706th replaced the 4320th almost immediately, assuming control of the 389th. Two operational squadrons were activated later that year; the564th[4] and565th Strategic Missile Squadrons (SMS).[5] It accepted its first twoSM-65 Atlas missile complexes in August 1960, gaining initial operational capability. The same year a third operational squadron, the549th Strategic Missile Squadron was assigned[6]
The 706th Wing was replaced by the389th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Atlas) and inactivated on 1 July 1961.[2] The 389th assumed the 706th mission, equipment and personnel, except for the 549th Squadron, which moved toOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.[6]
In 1985, the two wings were consolidated as the526th Special Operations Wing, but the wing was not activated until 2005, when it was activated as the526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Wing. In 2007, the wing was reduced to a group, and was assigned to the508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing.
Theintercontinental ballistic missile (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 Program Management Office, LM(3),[jargon] is charged with day-to-day execution and management of the PIC. The office is accountable to the System Program Director for cost, schedule, and technical performance of the ICBM prime contractor. LM(3) supports the other SPO divisions by working with LMK-P[jargon] to translate requirements for engineering services and/or modification/replacement programs into the necessary contracting actions.
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 2007[9][10]
526th Flight Systems Sustainment Group: 24 February 2005 – 28 April 2006[9][11]
526th Ground Systems Sustainment Group (later 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Group): 24 February 2005 – 13 August 2007[9][10]
556th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Group: 28 April 2006 – 13 August 2007[10][11]
826th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group: 28 April 2006 – 13 August 2007[10][11]
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 after 5 August 1943)[18]
Operated fromImeson Field, Florida,Opalocka NAS, Florida Drew Field, Florida and Batista Field, Cuba
Stationed at Drew Field]], Florida, operated from Langley Field, Virginia
Stationed at Edinburgh Field, Trinidad (Ground echelon remained at Drew Field until 15 October 1943)
Detachment of air echelon operated fromZandery Field, 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)[19]
United States
United States Air Force
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Strategic Air Command (SAC)
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
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