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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 390th Strategic Missile Wing
| image=MK6 TITAN II.jpg
| image_size = 290
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}}
The '''390th Strategic Missile Wing''' was
The [[wing (military aviation unit)|wing]] was first organized as the '''390th Bombardment Group''' in January 1943 and equipped with the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]. After training in the United States, the [[group (military aviation unit)|group]] moved to England, beginning combat operations in August. The group flew 300 combat missions and was twice awarded the [[Distinguished Unit Citation]] for its action in combat. Its last mission was on 20 April 1945. After [[V-E Day]], the group returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in August 1945.
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The 390th was awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission on 14 October 1943 when it braved assaults by enemy fighters to bomb the [[ball bearing]] plants at [[Schweinfurt]].<ref name=Maurer390BG/> Once again, the group had the most accurate bombing results of the units attacking the target. Allied intelligence estimated that following the attack German ball bearing production was reduced by 50% and that it was six months before production was restored to its level before the attack.<ref>Freeman, pp. 78–79</ref> The group participated in the intensive Allied attacks on the German aircraft industry during [[Big Week]], from 20 to 25 February 1944, when it bombed aircraft factories, instrument plants and aircraft depots. Other strategic missions included attacks on [[marshalling yard]]s at [[Frankfurt]], bridges at [[Cologne]], petroleum facilities at [[Zeitz]], factories at [[Mannheim]], naval installations at [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]] and synthetic oil refineries at [[Merseburg]].<ref name=Maurer390BG/>
In January 1944 Sergeant [[Hewitt ‘Buck’ Dunn]] joined the 390th, who was a gunner and bombardier. He went on to become the only man in the [[Eighth Air Force]] to fly over 100 combat missions and one of the most decorated [[Enlisted rank|Enlisted men]] in the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. He died in 1961 at the age of 41 and is buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aviationtrails|date=2016-10-23|title=M/Sgt. Hewitt Dunn – Flew 104 missions.|url=https://aviationtrails.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/msgt-hewitt-dunn-flew-104-missions/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Aviation Trails|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Hatchment commemorating the 390 Bombardment Group, St Michaels, Framlingham.jpg|thumb|left|Hatchment commemorating the 390th inside the [[Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham]], Suffolk, England. The 390th was stationed at the [[Parham Airfield Museum|Parham Airfield]] in nearby [[Parham, Suffolk|Parham]].]]
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In August 1944, the group attacked a [[Focke-Wulf]] aircraft factory at [[Rumia]] (Rahmel), Poland, landing at [[Mirgorod]] in the Ukraine. After flying a mission against a synthetic oil production facility at [[Trzebinia]], Poland, (returning to Mirgorod), the group attacked airfields in Romania, landing in Italy. On its return to Feltwell, the group attacked a French airfield, suffering no losses to the three-legged mission.<ref>Freeman, p. 174</ref> The 390th cut German supply lines during the [[Battle of the Bulge]] between December 1944 and January 1945.<ref name=Maurer390BG/> On 14 January 1945, during an attack on targets near [[Berlin]], a low squadron of the group's aircraft were separated from the main attacking formation because of [[supercharger]] problems with the lead aircraft, making them easy targets for German fighters, which shot down all eight Flying Fortresses in the formation. This was the highest loss the 390th suffered on a single mission during the war.<ref>Freeman, p. 206</ref>
[[File:390bg-yankeedoodledandy.jpg|thumb|390th's "Yankee Doodle Dandy" with [[James Cagney]]<ref group=note>Aircraft is Douglas Long Beach B-17G-95-DL Flying Fortress serial 44-83884. An aircraft painted to represent 44-83884 is now
The group attacked [[airfield]]s of the [[Luftwaffe]] to support [[Operation Varsity]], the airborne assault across the Rhine, in March 1945.<ref name=Maurer390BG/> On 5 April 1945, Master Sergeant Hewitt Dunn became the only person to fly 100 combat missions with Eighth Air Force.<ref>Freeman, p. 223</ref> The 390th Bombardment Group flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945. In over 300 missions, they dropped more than 19,000 tons of bombs. They lost 176 aircraft and 714 airmen were killed in action. The unit claimed the destruction of 342 enemy aircraft.<ref name=Freeman255/> The group dropped food supplies to the Dutch during the week prior to [[V-E Day]].<ref name=Maurer390BG/>
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===Cold War===
[[File:390th SMW Titan II Missile Sites.png|thumb|Titan II Missile Sites]]
In April 1960, the [[United States Air Force]] announced selection of the [[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base]], Arizona to support an [[LGM-25C Titan II]] missile wing.<ref name=Globalsecurity>{{cite web |url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/agency/390mw.htm |title=Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 390th Missile Wing|date=24 July 2011|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|
Its two component squadrons were the 570th and the 571st Strategic Missile Squadrons.<ref group=note>The 390th's other two World War II squadrons, the 568th and 569th, had already been activated as Titan I squadrons at [[Mountain Home Air Force Base]] and [[Larson Air Force Base]] and assigned to the strategic wings at those bases. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 665–666.</ref> Launcher locations for the 570th Squadron were at [[Oracle, Arizona|Oracle]], [[Three Points, Arizona|Three Points]], [[Rillito, Arizona|Rillito]] (4 silos), and Oracle Junction, Arizona (3 silos). The 571st's silos were located at [[Benson, Arizona|Benson]] (2 silos), [[Mescal, Arizona|Mescal]], [[Pantano, Arizona|Pantano]], [[Continental, Arizona|Continental]] (2 silos), Palo Alto, and [[Three Points, Arizona]].<ref name=Siloworld/> On 31 March 1963, the contractor turned site 570-2<ref group=note>Sites were numbered sequentially by the squadron that operated them.</ref> over to SAC for operational use.<ref name=Globalsecurity/>
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Its first [[intercontinental ballistic missile|missile]] did not arrive at Davis–Monthan until 27 November 1962 and was installed in its silo twelve days later, although it would be 31 March 1963 before the wing would accept its first Titan II complex. The 570th Squadron became operational on 13 June and the 571st on 30 November,<ref name=Ravenstein390SMW/> when the 18th and final wing Titan II went on alert. The 390th became the first operational Titan II wing in the Air Force the following day.<ref name=Siloworld/><ref group=note>In evaluating "firsts" or annual "bests" garnered by the wing, it should be kept in mind that there were only two other Titan II wings in the Air Force, the [[308th Strategic Missile Wing]] and the [[381st Strategic Missile Wing]]. Ravenstein, pp. 156–158, 206–207.</ref>
With a requirement to keep all 18 wing missiles on [[alert status]], maintenance personnel initially worked extremely long hours, particularly until the end of 1964, when the Davis–Monthan launch sites became the first Titan II sites to install dehumidifier equipment that eased corrosion problems within the silos under Project Green Jug. Additional modifications increased missile reliability, survivability, and reaction time. By the end of 1964, the 390th underwent the first operational readiness inspection for a Titan II unit.<ref name=Globalsecurity/> On 25 March 1965, the 390th performed the first operational launch test of one of its Titan IIs at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], California in Operation Arctic Sun. More tests followed.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.390smw.org/ |last1=Stumpf|first1=David|title=390 SMW Titan II Vandenberg Test Launch History|date=29 January 2000|publisher=390 SMW Memorial Association|
Competing in SAC's first missile competition, Project Curtain Raiser, in 1967, the 390th won the first "best crew" trophy.<ref name=Globalsecurity/> The wing was named the best Titan II wing in the Air Force at these competitions, which became known as "Olympic Arena." in 1969, 1970, 1974 and 1977.<ref name=Ravenstein390SMW/> These awards were capped in 1979, when the wing was awarded the [[United States Air Force Missile Combat Competition|Blanchard Trophy]] as the best missile wing in SAC.<ref name=390SMWmemorial>{{cite web |url= http://www.390smw.org/ |last1=Boelling|first1=Don|title=390th SMW|date=22 September 2005|publisher=390th SMW Memorial Association|
In October 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] announced that as part of the modernization of strategic missiles the Titan II was to be retired by 1 October 1987. Site deactivation began at Davis–Monthan on 1 October 1982. During the operation, titled Rivet Cap, missiles were removed and shipped to [[Norton Air Force Base]], California, where they were refurbished and stored. Demolition began at missile complex 570-7 on 30 November 1983.<ref name=Globalsecurity/> In January 1984, the Air Force consolidated the 390th Group and the 390th Wing into a single unit.<ref name=DAFMPM539q>Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 539q, 31 January 1984, Subject: Consolidation of Units</ref> In May the last Titan II at Davis–Monthan came off alert status,<ref name=Globalsecurity/> and at the end of July the Air Force inactivated the 390th Strategic Missile Wing.<ref name=Globalsecurity/>
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; 390th Strategic Missile Wing
* Established as the '''390th Bombardment Wing
: Redesignated '''390th Strategic Missile Wing''' and activated on 28 November 1961
: Organized on 1 January 1962<ref name=Ravenstein390SMW2>Lineage, including assignments, components, stations and missiles through 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 211–212</ref>
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* [[Second Air Force]], 12–28 August 1945
* Strategic Air Command, 28 November 1961
* [[12th Air Division]] (later 12th Strategic Aerospace Division, 12th Strategic Missile Division, 12th Air Division), 1 January 1962 – 31 July 1984<ref name=Ravenstein390SMW2/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10067 |title=Factsheet 12 Air Division |publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency |
===Components===
* 390th Missile Maintenance Squadron, 1 January 1962 – 31 July 1984<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/457/350.xml |title=Abstract (Unclassified), History 390 Strategic Missile Wing Jan 1962 (Secret)|publisher=Air Force History Index|
* [[568th Strategic Missile Squadron|568th Bombardment Squadron]], 26 January 1943 – 28 August 1945<ref name=Maurer568BS/>
* [[569th Strategic Missile Squadron|569th Bombardment Squadron]], 26 January 1943 – 28 August 1945<ref name=Maurer569BS/>
* [[570th Strategic Missile Squadron|570th Bombardment Squadron]] (later 570th Strategic Missile) Squadron), 26 January 1943 – 28 August 1945; 1 January 1962 – 31 July 1984<ref name=Maurer569BS/>
* [[571st Strategic Missile Squadron|571st Bombardment Squadron]] (later 570th Strategic Missile) Squadron), 26 January 1943 – 28 August 1945; 1 January 1962 – 2 December 1983<ref name=Maurer569BS/>
===Stations===
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==See also==
{{Commons category}}
* [[List of USAF Strategic Missile Wings assigned to Strategic Air Command]]
* [[List of inactive AFCON wings of the United States Air Force]]
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===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil./shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf|title= Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|year=1985|location=Maxwell AFB, AL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062523/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|
* {{cite book|last=Freeman|first = Roger A. |author-link1=Roger A. Freeman|title=The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force)|year=1970 |publisher=Macdonald and Company|location=London, England, UK |isbn= 978-0-87938-638-2}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|
* {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last=Watkins|first=Robert|title=Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II |volume=
* {{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Art|title=Runways in the Sand|year=2008|page=94|publisher=Art Wilson|location=Blythe, California|isbn=978-0-615-21889-2|oclc=316309702}}
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==External links==
* {{cite web |url= http://www.390th.org/ |title=390th Memorial Museum|publisher=390th.org|
* [http://www.390smw.org/ "390th Strategic Missile Wing Memorial Association"] 390th SMW Memorial Association.
* {{cite web|url=http://www.framlingham.co.uk/390th_bomb_group_memorial_air_mu.htm |last1=Kindred |first1=Kath |title=The 390th Bomb Group Memorial Air Museum |publisher=Kath Kindred |url-status=dead |
* {{cite web |url= http://www.parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk/ |title=Parham Airfield Museum|publisher=390th Bombardment Group Memorial Air Museum and Museum of the British Resistance Organisation|
{{Strategic Air Command}}
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{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II}}
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