44th Missile Wing

44th Missile Wing
LGM-30F Minuteman II test launch at Vandenburg AFB, California
Active	1941–1994
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Part of	Strategic Air Command
Garrison/HQ	Ellsworth Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Aggressor Beware
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable commanders	Howell M. Estes II Leon W. Johnson
Insignia
44th Missile Wing emblem

The 44th Missile Wing (44 MW) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twentieth Air Force, being assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 4 July 1994.

For over 40 years the 44th was a front-line Strategic Air Command wing, initially as a B-47 Stratojet medium bomber unit in the 1950s. With the phaseout of the B-47, the wing became a LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM unit in the 1960s, being inactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of U.S. strategic forces after the end of the Cold War.

During World War II, its predecessor unit, the 44th Bombardment Group was the first B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group of VIII Bomber Command stationed in England. Colonel Leon W. Johnson, while commander of the 44th Bombardment Group, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Ploesti Raid on 1 August 1943.

The 44th Bombardment Wing, Medium was established in late December 1950 as part of the postwar Hobson Plan. The 90th Bombardment Group, reactivated by Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1947 was assigned as its combat group. The new wing was organized at March AFB, California where it received B-29 Superfortresses along with some TB-29s. Depended on 22d Bombardment Wing for initial cadre and help in becoming organized.