Recounting the lineage of 91st MW

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Early 1950s maintainers from the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing pose next to an RB-45C Tornado, an aircraft vital for bombing missions during the Korean War. They represent a part of the honorable lineage the 91st Missile Wing carries with it, dating all the way to World War II. The 91st was originally activated as a SRW in 1948 at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. with an original mission of reconnaissance-aerial photography and mapping. (Photo courtesy/91st Missile Wing Historian)

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Missile alert facilities such as this one from the 1990’s have remained operational in support of the 91st Missile Wing mission of defending the United States by safely maintaining and securing a fleet of 150 Minuteman III missiles located in underground launch facilities scattered across the northwest part of North Dakota. The 91st Missile Wing’s missile complex stretches over 8,500 square miles, approximately 12% of North Dakota. The Minuteman weapon system has existed since the late 1950s, with a current Minuteman force consisting of 450 Minuteman III’s scattered throughout Air Force Global Strike Command bases. (Photo courtesy/91st Missile Wing Historian)

Recounting the lineage of 91st MW

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The RB-45C Tornado, represents a part of the honorable lineage the 91st Missile Wing carries with it, dating all the way to the 91st Bomb Group of World War II. This aircraft was vital for reconnaissance missions during the Korean War in 1950's. The RB-45C Tornado was the first multi-engine jet bomber to make the trans-Pacific flight, earning it the Mackay trophy for most meritorious flight of the year. The 91st was originally activated as a Strategic Reconnaissance Wing back in 1948 at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. with an original mission of reconnaissance-aerial photography and mapping. (Photo courtesy/91st Missile Wing Historian)

Recounting the lineage of 91st MW

Published Nov. 10, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Hernandez
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Nov. 10 marked the birthday 62nd anniversary of Air Force Global Strike Command's 91st Missile Wing, a wing with lineage dating all the way back to World War II.

Daniel DeForest, 91st MW historian, says it is a little complicated explaining the 91st MW lineage because, for historians, it's the story behind the wing's numbers that matter when talking about its history.

As a historian, part of Mr. DeForest's job is to research the wing's past and document its present actions and operations.

"When historians discuss the history of a particular wing, we actually like to talk about the history of the wings number," he continued. "It's a little odd, but that is how things are."

It's important to understand a wings number have a great significance he said. For military buffs, a wing's number actually has a lot of meaning.

"The military keeps tabs on which units have the best track record in battle and in mission support," Mr. DeForest said. "As time rolls by, the numerals of the best of the best units are kept alive by tradition."

Technically, he said, the number of the wing that is about to be deactivated could be transferred over to an existing wing, thus its lineage and past accomplishments remain alive. It's called a wing transfer without a move of personnel or equipment.

"A wing's number carries with it a symbol of honor and fortitude," he continued. "The 91st happens to represent and carry with it all its past accomplishments."

Mr. DeForest explained 91st has not always represented the missile wing here.

"The 91st has been all over the place," he said. "It actually came into existence when it was activated as a strategic reconnaissance wing back in 1948 at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J."

He said its original mission was reconnaissance-aerial photography and mapping. As a reconnaissance wing it supported fly-over missions during the Korean War and it had record breaking accomplishments.

Very few units in the Air Force have a legacy as notable as the 91st MW, said Col. Fred Stoss, 91st MW commander.

"Our rich history ranges from fighting tyranny over the skies of Europe in World War II in B-17s, to being the first operational unit to secure the mighty Minuteman III in 1971," Col. Stoss said.

Mr. DeForest added, in 1951, at the outbreak of the Korean War, the wing sent a detachment of three RB-45C Tornados to Japan.

"While flying one of these aircraft, Major Louis H. Carrington, Jr. and his crew won the Mackay trophy for making the first trans-Pacific flight of a multi-engine jet bomber," Mr. DeForest said.

After the war, the wing remained low-key until it was re-designated as the 91st Bombardment Wing in Glasgow AFB, Montana.

"The wing was in charge overseeing B-52D Stratofortress aircraft," said Mr. DeForest. "The bombers deployed to Southeast Asia twice, in 1966 and 1968, conducting strategic and tactical bombing missions over Vietnam."

In June 1968, Strategic Air Command closed Glasgow AFB and re-designated the wing to here. The existing missile wing here, 455th Strategic Missile Wing, was re-numbered the 91st. It was from that point that the 91st came to represent the missile wing here.

"Despite the fact that technically the 91st was not always representative of a missile wing, it still carries the heritage of the past wings it represented," Mr. DeForest said. "The 91st has quite the reputation preceding it."

Since the 91st became part of Minot AFB, it has continued to live up to the heritage of all the units preceding it. It has earned eight Air Force outstanding unit awards as well as numerous Major Command and a number of Air Force-level awards.

"Today, men and women in the 91st Missile Wing are proud to be a part of Air Force Global Strike Command, where together, we provide vital deterrence to potential aggressors as well as assurance to our allies," Colonel Stoss said.