This article is about the post-World War II bombardment wing. For the World War II B-29 unit, see 509th Composite Group.
US Air Force unit
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509th Bomb Wing
B-2A Spirit returns from a mission as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn[note 1]
Active
1947–1948; 1948–present (76 years, 7 months)
Country
United States
Branch
United States Air Force
Role
Bombardment
Part of
Eighth Air Force
Garrison/HQ
Whiteman Air Force Base
Motto(s)
Defensor Vindex (Latin for: Defender Avenger)
Tail code
WM
Engagements
Kosovo War[1]
Decorations
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander
Colonel Keith J. Butler[4]
Vice Commander
Colonel Maxwell D. DiPietro[2]
Command Chief
Chief Master Sergeant Olatokunbo O. Olopade[3]
Notable commanders
Paul Tibbets John A. Dramesi John Dale Ryan Gregory A. Biscone
Insignia
509th Bomb Wing emblem[1]
509th Bombardment Wing emblem(approved 10 July 1952)[5]
Aircraft flown
Bomber
B-2A
Trainer
T-38C
Military unit
The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.[6]
The 509 BW is the host unit at Whiteman, and operates the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The wing can launch combat sorties directly from Missouri to any spot on the globe, engaging adversaries with large payloads of traditional or precision-guided munitions.[6]
The wing's 509th Operations Group can trace its heritage back to the 509th Composite Group, when during WW2, two of its B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped the two atomic bombs that helped end the war in the pacific.[6]
The 509th BW led the way for America's first military response following the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., on 11 September 2001. B-2 bombers were the first U.S. aircraft to enter Afghan airspace in October 2001, paving the way for other coalition aircraft to engage Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. During this operation, the aircraft flew roundtrip from Missouri, logging combat missions in excess of 40 hours—the longest on record.[7]
Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).
^ abHaulman, Daniel L. (22 June 2017). "Factsheet 509 Bomb Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
^"509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
^"509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
^"509TH BOMB WING LEADERSHIP". 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
The 509thBombWing (509 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman...
The 509th Operations Group (509 OG) is the flying component of the United States Air Force 509thBombWing (509 BW), assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base...
The 393rd Bomb Squadron is part of the 509thBombWing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It operates Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit nuclear-capable strategic...
The 509th Composite Group began deploying to North Field on Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, in May 1945. In addition to the two nuclear bombing raids...
service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Global Strike Command. It is an associate unit of the active-duty 509thBombWing, which falls...
under the reactivated Twentieth Air Force on 29 March 1991, and the 509thBombWing took over host duties at Whiteman. As a result, SAC inactivated the...
Safety for the 509thBombWing at Whiteman AFB, from June 2009 to June 2010, followed by his role as the Deputy Commander of the 509th Operations Group...
called the B-2 Spirit. On 30 November 1988, SAC announced that the 509thBombWing would divest its FB-111 and KC-135 aircraft, relocate from its then-home...
of the 509thBombWing. Source: Ohio History Central. Tibbets, Paul W. Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces 393d Bombardment Squadron, 509th Composite...
4th Aero Squadron. The 394th Combat Training Squadron provided the 509thBombWing with qualified, mission-ready B-2 and Northrop T-38 Talon pilots to...
it relinquished "host wing" responsibilities for Whiteman AFB, transferring that role to Air Combat Command's 509thBombWing, operating the B-2 Spirit...
307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The B-2 force consists of 20 bombers assigned to the active duty 509thBombWing along with the...
The 110th Bomb Squadron (110 BS) is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard 131st BombWing located at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Missouri...
that participated in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Assigned to the 393d Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, it was used as...
71) participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Assigned to the 393d Bomb Squadron, 509th Composite Group, Jabit III was used...
Navy's naval aviation arm, centered around the carrier air wing. The core of the carrier air wing are the Naval Air Forces strike fighter squadrons (VFA)...
August 2009). "The Marshal's Baton. There is no bomb, there was no bomb, they were not looking for a bomb". Danish Institute for International Studies....
articles for that unit. Includes 2d BombWing; 5th BombWing; 6th BombWing; 7th BombWing; 9th BombWing; and the 11th Wing, which was assigned to Altus Air...
Pike. "22nd BombWing". GlobalSecurity.org. John Pike. "93rd Air Control Wing [93rd ACW]". GlobalSecurity.org. John Pike. "509thBombWing". GlobalSecurity...
Global Information
United States
United States Air Force
Eighth Air Force
Kosovo War[1]
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
