498th Nuclear Systems Wing
| 498th Nuclear Systems Wing | |
|---|---|
498th Nuclear Systems Wing emblem
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| Active | 1943-1946 1960-1969 2006-present |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Equipment Support |
| Part of | Global Strike Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Kirtland Air Force Base |
| Engagements |
 
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| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Henry Andrews Jr. |
The 498th Nuclear Systems Wing (498 NSW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The wing was initially established as the 498th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 19 November 1943. The group remained unmanned until it was activated on 20 November 1943. The group was established at Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, and assigned to Second Air Force. It was to be a B-29 Superfortress group. The unit was formed with four bomb squadrons (873d, 874th, 875th and 876th), all being newly constituted.
It moved to Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas in December 1943 to begin training. Due to a shortage of B-29s, the group was equipped with former II Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses already at Great Bend which were previously used for training heavy bomber replacement personnel. In the spring of 1944, it finally received newly manufactured B-29 Superfortresses. In May shortages in aircraft and equipment led to the 876th Bomb Squadron being inactivated (10 May 1944), with its personnel being consolidated into other group squadrons (the 880th would be reactivated in August as part of the 383d Bombardment Group).
The 498th Bombardment Group operated very heavy (B-29 Superfortress) bombardment aircraft against Japan as part of Twentieth Air Force. Its aircraft were identified by a "T" and a square painted on the tail.
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Wikipedia