List of USAF Reconnaissance wings assigned to Strategic Air Command

This is a list of United States Air Force Reconnaissance and Strategic Reconnaissance Wings assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC). SAC operated from 1946 to 1992.

5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
See 5th Bomb Wing

6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
See 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
 * Redesignated on: 1 April 1988.
 * At: Eielson AFB, AK.
 * Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force,14th Air Division.
 * Equipment: KC-135s, RC-135s, TC-135s.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force,3rd Air Division on 9 August 1990.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force on 1 April 1992.
 * Reassigned to: Air Combat Command,
 * Second Air Force on 31 May 1992

26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing “Knowledge is Power”
See 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
 * Activated on: 28 May 1952.
 * At: Lockbourne AFB, OH.
 * Assigned to: Second Air Force, 801st Air Division. (Attached to the 7th Air Division from 13 September to 29 October 1954).
 * Equipment: B-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1954 to B-47s, RB-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Reassigned to: Eighth Air Force, 801st Air Division on 1 July 1955.
 * Changed equipment in: 1955 to RB-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1956 to RB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Inactivated on: 1 July 1958.

Activated in May 1952, but unmanned until Jan. 1953. Maintained proficiency in strategic reconnaissance, Jan. 1953-Apr. 1958, and in aerial refueling, May 1952-Apr. 1955 and Aug. 1956-Apr. 1958. Not operational 15 April.-1 July. 1958.

28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
See 28th Bomb Wing
 * Redesignated on: 1 April 1950.
 * At: Rapid City AFB, SD.
 * Assigned to: Eighth Air Force.
 * Equipment: B-29s, RB-29s, B-36s, RB-36s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1951 to RB-36s.
 * Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force 1 April 1955. (Attached to the 3rd Air Division From 1 April to 24 July 1955).
 * Redesignated on: 1 October 1955 as 28th Bomb Wing.

Performed global strategic reconnaissance, 1954–1955, with bombardment as a secondary mission, 1954–1955. Trained primarily as a bombardment wing from 1955, but retained a reconnaissance capability to Sept. 1956.

55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 * Established on: 19 July 1948.
 * Activated on: 19 July 1948.
 * At: Topeka AFB, KS.
 * Assigned to: Strategic Air Command, 311th Air Division, Reconnaissance.
 * Equipment: B-17s, RB-17s, B-29s, RB-29s, RC-54s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1949 to B-17s, RB-17s, B-29s, RB-29s.
 * Inactivated on: 14 October 1949.


 * Redesignated on: 1 November 1950.
 * At: Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico.
 * Assigned to: Second Air Force.
 * Equipment: B -29s, RB-29s, RB-50s.
 * Moved to: Forbes AFB, KS, on 5 October 1952.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 21st Air Division on 1 October 1952.  (Attached to the 5th Air Division  from 18 May to 16 August 1955).
 * Changed equipment in: 1954 to EB-47s, RB-47s, RB-50s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1955 to EB-47s, RB-47s.
 * Reassigned to: Eighth Air Force, 21st Air Division on 1 July 1955.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 21st Air Division on 1 January 1959.
 * Changed equipment in: 1964 to EB-47s, RB-47s, Atlas.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 810th Strategic Aerospace Division  on 1 September 1964.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 12th Strategic Aerospace Division on  2 July 1966.
 * Moved to: Offutt AFB, NE on 16 August 1966.
 * Changed equipment in: 1966 to EB-47s, RB-47s, EC-135s, RC-135s, KC-135s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1967 to EB-47s, RB-47s, EC-135s, KC-135s, RC-135s.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Strategic Aerospace Division on  30 June 1971.
 * Changed equipment in: 1975 to EC-135s, KC-135s, RC-135s, E-4s.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 4th Air Division on 1 October 1976.
 * Changed equipment in: 1977 to C-135s, EC-135s, KC-135s, RC-135s, E-4s.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 57th Air Division on 1 April 1980.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 12th Air Division on 1 October 1982
 * Changed equipment in: 1983 to C-135s, EC-135s, KC-135s, NKC-135s, RC-135s, E-4s.
 * Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division on 1 October 1985.
 * Changed equipment in: 1988 to C-135s, EC-135s, KC-135s, NKC-135s, RC-135s, TC-135s,  E-4s.
 * Redesignated on: 1 September 1991 as 55th Wing.

Provided precise Shoran and Hiran mapping and photographic reconnaissance, 1948-1949. Performed strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, precise electronic geodetic mapping, and electronic reconnaissance, 1950-1954. When mapping and charting functions transferred on I May 1954, wing assumed mission of global strategic reconnaissance, including electronic reconnaissance, weather reconnaissance (to Jun. 1963), and photographic reconnaissance (to May 1964). Deployed at Ben Guerir Air Base, French Morocco, May-Aug. 1955. Responsible for an Atlas missile complex, Aug. 1964-Mar. 1965. Became responsible for SAC's airborne command post and post-attack command and control operations, Aug. 1966. In addition, flew SAC logistic support missions after Sept. 1971. Conducted K/E/RC-135 pilot training as required. Became responsible for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post E-4 aircraft fleet in 1975. Began Airborne Launch Control operations in 1978 using EC-135Cs as flying launch/control platforms for Minuteman, and later, Peacekeeper strategic missile systems. Awarded the P. T. Cullen award five times since 1971 for its contributions to photo and signal intelligence collection. Operated from bases in the U.S., Mediterranean, Europe, and the Pacific. Provided reconnaissance for contingencies in Grenada, 1983; Libya, 1986; and Southwest Asia, 1990-1991. Ended nearly twenty-five years of continuous Airborne Command Post operations in 1990, assumed a modified alert posture, and continued worldwide reconnaissance.

68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 * Activated on: 10 October 1951.
 * At: Lake Charles AFB, LA.
 * Assigned to: Second Air Force, 37th Air Division. (Attached to the 21st Air Division from 10 October 1951 to 15 May 1952).
 * Redesignated on: 16 June 1952 as 68th Bomb Wing.

Received initial cadre of 16 people from 44th Bombardment Wing in Oct. 1951. Began operational training as a reconnaissance wing using borrowed B-29s in Oct. 1951.

70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 * Established on: 23 March 1953.
 * Activated on: 24 January 1955.
 * At:Lockbourne AFB, OH.
 * Moved to:Little Rock AFB, AR. 1955
 * Assigned to: Second Air Force. (Attached to the 801st Air Division from 24 January 1955 to 1 August 1955).
 * Equipment: RB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 825th Air Division on 1 August 1955. (Remained attached to the 801st Air Division until 19 October 1955). (Attached to the 5th Air Division from 26 October to 17 December 1956).
 * Changed equipment in: 1962 to RB-47s.
 * Inactivated on: 25 June 1962.

Deployed at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 24 January-19 October. 1955, while permanent base underwent construction. Few wing components manned until move to Little Rock AFB, AR. Flew strategic reconnaissance to meet SAC's global commitments, Oct. 1955-1962, but on a reduced scale after Feb. 1958. Assumed an air refueling mission in 1955. Deployed at Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 26 October.-17 December. 1956. From Jun. 1958 to Sept. 1961, provided B/RB-47 combat crew training for other SAC units, while continuing RB-47 and KC-97 operations. The refueling squadron transferred in Aug. 1961 and the final RB-47 class graduated in Oct. 1961.

71st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Fighter

 * Redesignated on: 4 November 1954.
 * Activated on: 24 January 1955.
 * At: Larson AFB, WA.
 * Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force.
 * Equipment: RF-84s, RBF-84Fs.
 * Changed equipment in: 1957 to RF-84s.
 * Inactivated on: 1 July 1957.

Activated in Jan. 1955 to perform strategic reconnaissance and test a technique for launching small RBF-84 aircraft from GRB-36 bombers, to extend the range of photographic reconnaissance and fighter escort. Tests ended in 1956, but wing continued strategic reconnaissance until inactivated in 1957.

Activated on paper on 16 June. 1952, but not operational until it absorbed the residual resources of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in Oct. 1952. Conducted global strategic reconnaissance, Mar. 1953-1955, gradually shifting to a bombardment-training mission beginning in 1954. Added refueling to its global mission in 1958. Inactivated on 30 June. 1971.

72d Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 * Established on: 4 June 1952.
 * Activated on: 16 June 1952.
 * At: Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico.
 * Assigned to: Second Air Force.
 * Equipment: RB-36s, KC-97s.
 * Redesignated on: 1 October 1955 as 72d Bomb Wing.

91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

 * Established on: 11 October 1948.
 * Activated on: 10 November 1948.
 * At: McGuire AFB, NJ.
 * Assigned to: Strategic Air Command, 311th Air Dission,Reconnaissance.
 * Equipment: B-17s, RB-17s, B-29s, RB-29s, TB-29s, RC-54s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1949 to B-17s, RB-17s, TRB-17s, B-29s, RB-29s, TB-29s,  TRB-29s, B-50s, RC-54s.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force on 1 November 1949.
 * Moved to: Barksdale AFB, LA, on 1 October 1949.1949.
 * Changed equipment in: 1950 to B-17s, RB-17s, B-29s, KB-29s, RB-29s, B-45s,  RB-45s, B-50s, RB-50s.
 * Reassigned to: Strategic Air Command, 4th Air Division on 10 February 1951.
 * Moved to: Lockbourne AFB OH, on 11 September 1957.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force on 11 September 1951.
 * Changed equipment in: 1951 to KB-29s, RB-29s, B-45s, RB-45s, RB-50s.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 37th Air Division on 10 October 1951.  (Attached to Second Air Force  10 October 1951 to 17 March 1952).
 * Changed equipment in: 1952 to KB-29s, B-45s, RB-45s, KC-97s.
 * Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 801st Air Division on 28 May 1952.
 * Changed equipment in: 1953 to KB-29s, B-45s, RB-45s, RB-47s, RB-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97s.
 * Changed equipment in: 1954 to RB-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97.
 * Reassigned to: Eighth Air Force, 801st Air Division on 1 July 1955.
 * Changed equipment in: 1955 to RB-47s, KC-97.
 * Inactivated on: 8 November 1957.

Performed global strategic reconnaissance, 1948–1957, with emphasis on aerial photography and mapping, 1948–1950; added aerial refueling mission, 1950-1957. Wing headquarters integrated with headquarters of 301st Bombardment Wing, 1 April 1950-9 February 1951, although each wing continued tactical operations independently. Tactical components occasionally detached for periods up to three months for duty with other USAF establishments. More frequently, wing maintained operational detachments of aircraft and crews drawn from several n components to provide reconnaissance support in overseas areas. Such detachments were maintained in England, 19 January 1951-20 March 1952, 18 March 1952 – 11 May 1952, 21 October 1952 – 12 December 1952 and 8 April 1954 – 9 May 1954; in Japan, 23 March 1951-30 November 1953; in north Africa, 3 August-4 November 1956; in Newfoundland, 3 August-2 November 1956; and in Greenland, 1 October-8 November 1957. Won the SAC reconnaissance, photographic, and navigation competition and the P. T. Cullen Award in 1955 and 1956. From Aug to Nov 1956 most of the wing deployed overseas in detachments not under operational control of the small establishment remaining in the United States. Inactivated in Nov 1957.

99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing “Sight with Might”
See 99th Air Base Wing

111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Pennsylvania Air National Guard)
See 111th Fighter Wing

311th Reconnaissance Wing
See 311th Air Division