Talk:321st Air Expeditionary Wing

This, and all expeditionary wings, are provisional organizations by AF regulation (AFI 84-105). Their history and lineage are temporary and not tied to the major force provider/permanent organization, altho they can be authorized by the AF Letter activating them to carry (temporarily) the history and emblems of the permanent organization. Similarly, any battle honors earned by the expeditionary unit can be "conferred" back to the permanent organization. All lineage and history terminates when the provisional organization terminates. In no instance is there any "lineage" to permanent lower echelon organizations (such as groups, in this instance the 321st Bomb Group) that may or may not have provided personnel and assets for component air expeditionary units. The 321st AEW had no connection of any type, ever, to the historical 321st Bomb Group, which while inactive, continues in perpetuity to have its own history and lineage. The entire article is in error, as are most that seek to make current USAF wings (and in this instance, not even a permanent wing) "descend" from groups. An encyclopedia is about truth and accuracy, and these articles do not fit that description.--Reedmalloy (talk) 08:07, 21 May 2009 (UTC)
 * This misses the difference between "rainbow" expeditionary units and expeditionary units with a major force provider. Expeditionary units with a major force provider are treated essentially as described above.  However the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing designation is used when there is no single major force provider, but the expeditionary unit is formed from personnel and equipment from multiple units ("rainbow" units).  These units which have been converted from regular units continue the lineage and honors of the permanent organization they were formed from (in the case of the 321st, the 321st Bombardment Group and the 321st Bombardment Wing, which were consolidated into a single unit.  See AFI 84-105, para 2.2. --Lineagegeek (talk) 22:47, 4 June 2024 (UTC)

As a former member of the 321st Strategic Missile Wing, 446th Strategic Missile Squadron (1980-1984), I read about the 321st AEW and contacted the historical agency at Maxwell AFB--here is the reply to my question from 16 July 2007--

"The 321st AEG and the 321st SMW are one and the same. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know." v/r CARL E. BAILEY AFHRA/RSO Organizational History Branch

The following was attached--

Lineage and Honors History Of the 321 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)

Lineage. Established as 321 Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 26 Jun 1942. Redesignated 321 Bombardment Group, Medium on 28 Aug 1944. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945. Redesignated 321 Bombardment Group, Light on 26 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 29 Jun 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 321 Bombardment Wing, Medium, which was established on 23 Mar 1953. Activated on 15 Dec 1953. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Oct 1961. Redesignated 321 Strategic Missile Wing, and activated, on 14 Aug 1964. Organized on 1 Nov 1964. Redesignated: 321 Missile Wing on 1 Sep 1991; 321 Missile Group on 1 Jul 1994. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1998. Redesignated 321 Air Expeditionary Group, and converted to provisional status, on 4 Dec 2001. Assignments. III Bomber Command, 26 Jun 1942; 19 Bombardment Wing, 22 Jul 1942; III Bomber Command, c. 28 Sep 1942-21 Jan 1943; Northwest African Training Command, c. 21 Feb 1943; 47 Bombardment Wing, Mar 1943; 57 Bombardment Wing (attached to Tactical Bomber Force for operational control), 4 Nov 1943; XII Bomber Command, 1 Jan 1944; 57 Bombardment Wing, 1 Mar 1944-12 Sep 1945. Eleventh Air Force, 29 Jun 1947; 12 Bombardment Wing (later, 12 Air Division), 17 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949. Second Air Force, 15 Dec 1953 (attached to Air Division Provisional, 813, 11 Jun-14 Jul 1954); 813 Air Division, 15 Jul 1954 (attached to 7 Air Division, 9 Dec 1954-5 Mar 1955; 5 Air Division, 9 Apr-3 Jul 1956); Second Air Force, 1 Jun 1956; 6 Air Division, 1 Jan 1959; Eighth Air Force, 1 Feb 1959; 6 Air Division, 1 Jul 1959; 823 Air Division, 6 Feb-25 Oct 1961. Strategic Air Command, 14 Aug 1964; 4 Strategic Aerospace (later, 4 Strategic Missile; 4 Air) Division, 1 Nov 1964; 57 Air Division, 22 Jan 1975; 4 Air Division, 1 May 1982; 57 Air Division, 23 Jan 1987; 42 Air Division, 16 Jun 1988; Eighth Air Force, 9 Jul 1991; Twentieth Air Force, 1 Sep 1991-30 Sep 1998. Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at anytime after 4 Dec 2001. Components. Groups. 321 Operations: 1 Sep 1991-1 Jul 1994. Squadrons. 307 Air Refueling: attached 28 Sep-8 Nov 1954. 321 Air Refueling: 8 Nov 1954-16 Sep 1956 (detached 16 Aug-16 Sep 1956). 445: 26 Jun 1942-12 Sep 1945; 29 Jun 1947-27 Jun 1949; 15 Dec 1953-25 Oct 1961. 446: 26 Jun 1942-12 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949; 15 Dec 1953-25 Oct 1961; 1 Jul 1965-1 Sep 1991; 1 Jul 1994-8 Jul 1996. 447: 26 Jun 1942-12 Sep 1945; 29 Jun 1947-27 Jun 1949; 15 Dec 1953-25 Oct 1961; 1 Feb 1965-1 Sep 1991; 1 Jul 1994-2 Jul 1998. 448: 26 Jun 1942-12 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1947-28 Mar 1949; 1 Feb 1959-25 Oct 1961; 15 Sep 1965-1 Sep 1991; 1 Jul 1994-23 Sep 1997. Flights: 79 Rescue: 1 Jul 1994-2 Jul 1998. Stations. Barksdale Field, LA, 26 Jun 1942; Columbia AAB, SC, 1 Aug 1942; Walterboro AAFld, SC, c. 19 Sep 1942; DeRidder, AAB, LA, c. 1 Dec 1942; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 24 Jan-7 Feb 1943 (ground echelon); Morrison Field, FL, 12-15 Feb 1943 (air echelon); Sainte Barbe du Tlelat, Algeria, 21 Feb 1943 (ground echelon); Oujda, French Morocco, 2 Mar 1943 (air echelon), 7 Mar 1943 (ground echelon); Ain M’lila, Algeria, 12 Mar 1943; Souk el Arba, Tunisia, c. 1 Jun 1943; Soliman, Tunisia, c. 8 Aug 1943; Grottaglie, Italy, 3 Oct 1943; Amendola, Italy, c. 24 Nov 1943; Vincenzo Airfield, Italy, 14 Jan 1944;Gaudo Airfield, Italy, c. 18 Feb 1944; Solenzara, Corsica, 23 Apr 1944; Falconara, Italy, c. 1 Apr 1945; Pomigliano, Italy, Aug-12 Sep 1945. Mansfield, OH, 29 Jun 1947- 27 Jun 1949. Pinecastle (later, McCoy) AFB, FL, 15 Dec 1953-25 Oc 1961. Grand Forks AFB, NC, 1 Nov 1964-30 Sep 1998. Commanders. None (not manned), 26 Jun-31 Jul 1942; Maj Charles T. Olmsted, 1 Aug 1942; Col William C. Mills, 3 Aug 1942; Col Robert D. Knapp, 20 Sep 1942; Col Charles T. Olmsted, 5 Dec 1943; Lt Col Peter H. Remington, 18 Mar 1944; Col Richard H. Smith, 26 Mar 1944; Col Charles F. Cassidy Jr., 28 Jan 1945-unkn. Lt Col Robert E. Durkee, unkn-8 Jan 1948; Maj James R. McConnell, 9 Jan 1948-unkn. None (not manned), 15 Dec 1953-23 May 1954; Col Michael N. M. McCoy, 24 May 1954 (additional duty only through 31 May 1954); Col William L. Gray, 9 Oct 1957; Col Robert W. Strong Jr., 18 Oct 1957; Col Clifford V. Warden, 1 Jul 1959; Col Winton R. Close, 16 Jul 1959; Lt Col Harry F. Baker, 15 Sep-25 Oct 1961. Non (not manned), 14 Aug-31 Oct 1964; Col Gilbert F. Friederichs, 1 Nov 1964; Col Jack D. Lander, 31 May 1967; Col Gerald G. Fall Jr., 21 Jun 1967; Brig Gen Paul Krause, 23 May 1970; Col Oliver C. Fought, 31 Jul 1972; Brig Gen Paul Krause, 15 Sep 1972; Col Stuart H. Sherman Jr., 8 Nov 1972; Brig Gen William L. Shields Jr., 16 Feb 1974; Col Joe L. Church, 10 Mar 1976; Col George Holt Jr., 4 Oct 1977; Col Kenneth L. Holden, 12 Sep 1978; Col Nathan Hartman, 10 Apr 1980; Col Frank B. Horton III, 8 Jul 1982; Col Kenneth B. Van Dillen, 18 Sep 1984; Col Robert W. Parker, 26 Nov 1985; Col Rickell D. Knoll, 8 Jun 1987; Col Lance W. Lord, 23 Feb 1989; Col James H. Reid, 31 May 1990; Col Jerry M. Drennan, 23 Jun 1992; Col John P. Gibeau, 10 Jun 1993; Col Robert P. Summers, 5 Jul 1995; Col Richard E. Webber, 1 Jul 1996; Col Edward W. Rausch, 8 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1998. Aircraft and Missiles. B-25, 1942-1945. AT-6, 1947-1949; AT-11, 1947-1949. B-47, 1954-1961; KC-97, 1954-1956; C-124, 1959-1961. Minuteman II, 1965-1973; Minuteman III, 1971-1998; HH-1, 1993-1998. Operations. The 321 Bombardment Group trained with B-25s, Aug-Oct 1942. Moved to the Mediterranean Theater, Jan-Mar 1943, joining Twelfth Air Force. Engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa, France, Sicily, Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during Mar-May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusa in Jun, the invasion of Sicily in Jul, the landing at Salerno in Sep, the Allied advance toward Rome during Jan-Jun 1944, the invasion of southern France in Aug 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy, Sep 1944-Apr 1945. Inactivated in Italy on 12 Sep 1945. Trained in the reserves, 1947-1949. The 321st Bombardment Wing activated and absorbed resources of the 4042d Flying Training Wing in late May 1954. Conducted global bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet SAC commitments, 1954-1961. Wing deployed at RAF Station Lakenheath, England, 9 Dec 1954-5 Mar 1955, and at Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 9 Apr-3 Jul 1956. On 11-12 Aug 1957, a wing B-47 flew nonstop from Andersen AFB, Guam, to Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco -- a distance of 11,450 miles -- in 22:50 hours, establishing a new flight record. Replaced by 4047th Strategic Wing in Oct 1961. Monitored Minuteman II ICBM facility construction, Nov 1964-Nov 1966. First Minuteman II missile assigned in Aug 1965 and first squadron completely equipped in Apr 1966. Wing operational with 150 Minuteman missiles in Nov 1966. Won the Lee R. Williams Trophy as SAC’s outstanding missile wing for 1969. The Wing won the SAC missile combat competition and the Blanchard Trophy in 1969, 1974, and 1987. Began removing missiles in Oct 1995, in preparation for base closure. Continued Minuteman III alert until 1 Jan 1998 and inactivated on 30 Sep 1998. Service Streamers. None Campaign Streamers. World War II: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Athens, Greece, 8 Oct 1943; Toulon, France, 18 Aug 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Oct 1994-30 Sep 1996; 1 Oct 1996-30 Sep 1997. Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 4 Dec 2001. Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998. Supersedes statement prepared on 15 Oct 1993. Emblem. Approved on 7 Nov 1942; reinstated on 22 Mar 1995. Prepared by Carl E. Bailey Approved by Judy G. Endicott Jdh23 (talk) 19:41, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

Merger
The article on the 321st Air Expeditionary Group should be merged into this article. WP:MILMOS indicates an article about a unit, should be placed at "Name (optional disambiguator)". The name should generally be the official name used by the armed forces to which the unit belongs. When a unit has had multiple names over the course of its existence, the title should generally be the last name used; however, exceptions can be made in cases where the subject is clearly more commonly known by one of the previous names. 321st Air Expeditionary Group was the name of the unit for a brief time after it became an expeditionary unit as indicated by the above lineage statement. Within a year it expanded into a wing. --Lineagegeek (talk) 15:46, 18 February 2016 (UTC)
 * Agreed and ✅ Klbrain (talk) 17:55, 13 February 2018 (UTC)