321st Bombardment Wing
| 321st Air Expeditionary Wing | |
|---|---|
321st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron airmen patrol the flight line
|
|
| Active | 1942–1945; 1947-1949; 1953-1961; 1964-1998; 2001-2011 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Air Expeditionary |
| Role | Combat Support |
| Part of | USAFCENT |
| Motto(s) | Perseverance, Vision and Duty (1942-1952) Pax Per Potentiam Latin Peace Through Power (1953-1961) Skill – Professionalism – Determination (after 1965) |
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lance W. Lord |
| Insignia | |
| 321st Air Expeditionary Wing emblem (Approved 27 December 1965) |  |
| 321st Bombardment Wing emblem (Approved 30 August 1954) |  |
| 321st Bombardment Group emblem (Approved 7 November 1942) |  |
The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing (321 AEW) was a United States Air Force unit assigned United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT), the USAF component command of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). The unit was reestablished on 1 November 2008 and was a nexus of all Coalition Air Force Training Teams and the Iraqi Air Force.
In 2001, the wing was converted to provisional status and allocated to Air Combat Command. It was believed to be active between 2001 and 2004, and deployed to Masirah Island Air Base, Oman. Its operational component was believed to be the 355th Air Expeditionary Group.
However, the task of developing a comprehensive listing of AEW units present in Southwest Asia (SWA) and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operations security (OPSEC) and be sensitive to host nation politics, ergo information regarding the locations and missions of many air expeditionary wings and groups in SWA has been made deliberately vague.
What is known is that in its latest iteration, the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing trained, advised, and assisted the Iraqi Air Force to develop as a professional and credible regional airpower partner, with the foundational and enduring capabilities to maintain internal security and defend against external threats; provide aerial port, airfield operations, base and medical support, and command and control in support of United States Forces - Iraq (USF-I). On order, it transitioned designated missions, organizations and functions to other US Government agencies no later than 31 December 2011.
On 15 December 1953, the 321st Bombardment Wing (Medium) was activated at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, absorbing the B-47 Stratojets and KC-97 tankers of the discontinued 4240th Flying Training Wing in late May 1954. Two weeks later, on 1 January 1954, the wing was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) as the B-47 combat crew training mission was transferred to SAC. Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy was appointed commander of the 321st Bombardment Wing on 24 May 1954. He previously commanded the 306th Bombardment Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida, and was considered the "dean" of Strategic Air Command’s B-47 Stratojet operational wing commanders.
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