View source for 501st Combat Support Wing

{{lead too short|date=September 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=501st Combat Support Wing
[[File:United States Air Forces in Europe.svg|center|60px]]
|image=423rd Security Forces Squadron training Image 12 of 13.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption=Airmen with the wing's 423rd Security Forces Squadron prepare to clear a building during an exercise at RAF{{nbsp}}Molesworth in 2020
|dates=1944–1946; 1956–1958; 1982–1991; 2005–present
|country={{USA}}
|branch={{air force|US}}
|type=
|role=
|size=
|command_structure=[[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa]]
|current_commander=
|garrison=[[RAF Alconbury]], United{{nbsp}}Kingdom
|nickname=
|motto=Pathfinders "Light The Way"<ref name="501CSWunits">{{Cite web |title=Units |url=https://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/Units/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=www.501csw.usafe.af.mil}}</ref>
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[File:Streamer APC.PNG|150px]]<br/>[[World War II]] – [[Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal|Asia-Pacific Theater]]
* [[Air raids on Japan|Air Offensive Japan]]
* [[Eastern Mandates]]
* [[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Western Pacific]]<ref name=501CSWfacts>{{Cite web|last=Stephens|first=Maj Tonia|date=June 14, 2017 |title=501 Combat Support Wing (USAFE)|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433972/501-combat-support-wing-usafe/  |access-date=July 24, 2022|website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
|decorations=[[File:Streamer PUC Army.PNG|150px]]<br/>[[Distinguished Unit Citation]]<br/>[[File:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Streamer.jpg|150px]]<br/>[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]]
|anniversaries=
|identification_symbol=[[File:501st Combat Support Wing.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=501st Combat Support Wing emblem{{efn|Modified 27 July 2005. }}<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
|identification_symbol_2=[[File:501 Tactical Missile Wing emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=501st Tactical Missile Wing emblem{{efn|Approved 20 June 1957, modified 1 October 1982.  Description: A shield [[quartering (heraldry)|quartered]]: first and fourth quarters, [[Or (heraldry)|Or]], on a [[bend (heraldry)|bend]] [[azure (heraldry)|Azure]] an arrow of the first [color mentioned] [[Bend (heraldry)#Bendwise|per bend]]; second quarter, Azure, a griffin [[Attitude (heraldry)#Rampant|segreant]] Or, [[Attitude (heraldry)#Attitudes of beasts|langued]] [[Gules]]; third quarter, Azure, a torch [[Pale (heraldry)#Derived terms|in pale]], flamed, between two branches of olive Or; on an [[inescutcheon#of pretence|escutcheon of pretence]] Gules, an [[astral crown]] Or.  Significance:  The golden arrow signifies guided flight.  The golden griffin, half eagle and half lion, symbolizes a warlike character with the cunning and intelligence of the eagle in flight and the courage and valor of the lion in battle.  The torch and olive wreath represent the peacetime pursuit of knowledge and progress.  The small shield and crown signify the authority of command.  The astral crown denotes command in the air and obedience to guidance.  The blue and yellow colors stand for the Air Force, and the red stands for the courage and strength with which the wing carries out its mission.}}
}}

The '''501st Combat Support Wing''' is an administrative support [[wing (air force unit)|wing]] of the [[United States Air Force]], based at [[RAF Fairford]], United Kingdom. It is one of three wings located in the United Kingdom as components of the [[Third Air Force]] and [[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa]] (USAFE).

==Units==

{{As of|2022|07}} the 501st Combat Support Wing is made up of the following units:<ref name=501CSWunits/>
* [[422nd Air Base Group]] ([[RAF Croughton]], United Kingdom)
: 420th Air Base Squadron ([[RAF Fairford]], United Kingdom)
: 420th Munitions Squadron ([[RAF Welford]], United Kingdom)
: 422nd Air Base Squadron
: 422nd Civil Engineer Squadron
: 422nd Communications Squadron
: 422nd Medical Squadron
: 422nd Security Forces Squadron

* [[423rd Air Base Group]] ([[RAF Alconbury]], United Kingdom)
: 421st Air Base Squadron ([[RAF Menwith Hill]], United Kingdom)
: 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron
: 423rd Communications Squadron
: 423rd Force Support Squadron
: 423rd Medical Squadron
: 423rd Security Forces Squadron
: 426th Air Base Squadron ([[Sola Air Station]], Norway)

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2022}}

===501st Bombardment Group===

The first predecessor of the 501st Wing was activated on 1 June 1944 as the '''501st Bombardment Group''' at [[Dalhart Army Air Field]], Texas for training with [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]es.  Its components were the [[21st Bombardment Squadron|21st]], [[41st Air Refueling Squadron|41st]] and [[485th Bombardment Squadron]]s.<ref name=501CSWfacts/>  In August, the 501st Group and its squadrons moved to [[Harvard Army Air Field]], Nebraska and began to equip with Superfortresses.  The group completed its training and departed for the Pacific on 7 March 1945.<ref name=Maurer501BG>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 367</ref>

The group was equipped with the [[Bell Aircraft]] manufactured B-29B, which was designed to save weight by removing all of the guns and sighting equipment used on other B-29s, except the tail gun, allowing the B-29B to fly a little higher and a little further. The B-29B also had two new radar units installed, the [[AN/APQ-7]] Eagle radar for bombing and navigation and the AN/APG-15 for aiming the tail gun. These two radar units gave the B-29B a distinctive shape as the APQ-7 antenna appeared as a small wing under the fuselage, between the two bomb bay doors and the APG-15 added a ball shaped antenna to the tail of the aircraft below the tail guns.<ref name=Marshall>Marshall{{page needed|date=September 2023}}</ref>

The group arrived at its combat station, [[Northwest Field]] on [[Guam]] on 14 April 1945.  It flew its first combat mission on 19 June 1945, attacking Japanese fortifications on [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]].  Later that month, on 26 June, it flew its first mission attacking a target in Japan.  For the remainder of the war, the 501st operated principally against the enemy's petroleum industry on [[Honshu]].  These attacks included missions against the [[Cosmo Oil Company|Maruzen]] oil refinery at Shimotso, the Utsobo oil refinery at [[Yokkaichi]] and the petroleum center at [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]] during the week beginning on 6 July 1945.  For its performance on these missions, the group was awarded the [[Distinguished Unit Citation]].<ref name=Maurer501BG/>

Following [[V-J Day]], the group dropped supplies to [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[prisoners of war]] in Japan, Korea, Manchuria and China. It remained at Northwest Field until May 1946, when it became non-operational, and was inactivated there on 10 June 1946.<ref name=Maurer501BG/><ref name=501CSWfacts>{{Cite web|last=Stephens|first=Maj Tonia|date=June 14, 2017 |title=501 Combat Support Wing (USAFE)|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433972/501-combat-support-wing-usafe/  |access-date=July 24, 2022|website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

===701st Tactical Missile Wing===
The second predecessor of the wing is the '''701st Tactical Missile Wing''', which was activated on 15 September 1956 at [[Hahn Air Base]], West Germany. The first tactical missile wing in the U.S. Air Force when activated, it replaced the 7382d Guided Missile Group (Tactical), which [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] had established at Hahn on 1 February 1956.  The 70at controlled three tactical missile groups in Germany, each with one missile squadron of [[TM-61 Matador]] missiles and a support and maintenance squadron. In turn, the wing was inactivated on 18 June 1958 and replaced by the [[38th Tactical Missile Wing]].

===501st Tactical Missile Wing===
The 701st was redesignated as the '''501st Tactical Missile Wing''' on 11 January 1982 and consolidated with the '''501st Bombardment Group'''.  It was activated on 1 July 1982, at [[RAF Greenham Common]], England, to operate the Gryphon (BGM-109G) [[Ground Launched Cruise Missile]] (GLCM). The 501 TMW was inactivated on 31 May 1991 after ratification of the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty]] resulted in decommissioning of the BGM-109G. The USAF's first GLCM wing when it stood up, it was the also the last GLCM wing to be inactivated.

===501st Combat Support Wing===
The unit was redesignated the '''501st Combat Support Wing''' on 22 March 2005 and activated on 12 May 2005 at [[RAF Mildenhall]], England, to manage and support geographically separated USAF units, installations and activities in the United Kingdom not directly supporting operations at RAF Mildenhall or [[RAF Lakenheath]]. Effective 1 May 2007, it relocated to [[RAF Alconbury]].

The 501 CSW currently oversees and supports four Air Base Groups operating a total of eleven installations and operating locations in the U.K. and Norway; the [[420th Air Base Group]] at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford and [[RAF Welford]]; the [[421st Air Base Group]] at RAF Menwith Hill; the [[422d Air Base Group]] at [[RAF Croughton]]; and the [[423d Air Base Group]] at RAF Alconbury, including [[RAF Molesworth]], RAF Upwood and [[Sola Air Station]] (what the USAF calls Stavanger Air Base) in Norway.  The 501st CSW also serves as the administrative agent for NATO in the U.K.

RAF Fairford and RAF Welford house the 420th Air Base Group.  Their mission is to receive, bed-down and sustain munitions to enable U.S. and NATO forces to conduct full-spectrum flying operations from USAFE's only bomber-forward operating location.  [[RAF Fairford]] is a forward operating location for the [[Boeing B-52]], the B-1 and the B-2 bomber aircraft. It also assists in U-2 aircraft deployment, deployed operations training and serves as an alternate landing site for the U.S. Space Shuttle.  RAF Fairford annually hosts the world's largest military airshow called the [[Royal International Air Tattoo]] (RIAT); typically held in July.

RAF Welford comprises 806 acres and is bordered by a 31,680 foot fence-line.  They are home to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's second largest munitions hub. The installation currently maintains 15,000 bombs; over a $160 million stockpile.

[[RAF Menwith Hill]] houses the 421st Air Base Group. Their mission is to ensure a full range of base support services for an installation populace of 4,500 military, civilians, contractors and their families.  The group hosts 10 multi-national, multi-service, multi-agency units performing U.S. and U.K. cryptologic missions and provides base mission support to RAF Menwith Hill. Menwith Hill Station serves as an integral part of the [[UKUSA]] intelligence network serving U.K., U.S. and their allied interests.

[[RAF Croughton]] houses the 422nd Air Base Group whose mission is to provide installation support, services, force protection, and worldwide communications across the entire spectrum of operations. The group is the premier global communication provider in the U.K. and supports NATO, U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Department of State operations and Ministry of Defense operations. The group sustains more than 450 C2 circuits; and supports 25 percent of all European Theater to continental United States (CONUS) communications.

RAF Alconbury houses the 423rd Air Base Group whose mission is to provide mission support services to the Joint Intelligent Operations Center Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center (commonly known as the [[Joint Analysis Center]]), NATO's Intelligence Fusion Center, and the RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and RAF Upwood and Stavanger Air Base (Norway) communities. RAF Alconbury is also home to the 501st CSW headquarters staff and hosts a community of 6,000 individuals associated with more than 15 multi-service and multi-national units.

RAF Upwood houses the medical and dental facilities for the RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth, and [[RAF Upwood]] communities.

[[Sola Air Station]] ("Stavanger Air Base" to the USAF) in southern Norway is also under the 501st CSW and houses the 426th Air Base Squadron.  The squadron mission is to provide base-level support to 220 U.S. service members and their families at NATO's [[Joint Warfare Center]]. The squadron also supports "Operating Location-A" in Oslo, Norway, shipping for $50 million war readiness material and $900 million U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy equipment.

In total, the 501st CSW has almost 2,600 U.S. military and civilian employees directly assigned, including non-appropriated fund employees. There are also 117 U.K. personnel who work directly for the wing in appropriated and non-appropriated positions and more than 180 U.K. [[Ministry of Defence Police]], Defense Schools and our many tenant units along with family members and retirees who reside in the United Kingdom.

==== 2007-08 leadership issues ====
The [[423d Air Base Group]] commander, Col. Robert G. Steele, was dismissed from his position on 18 January 2008 by the 501 CSW commander after only 6 months in command. The reason Col. Kimberly Toney gave was "I lost confidence in Col. Steele's ability to lead the group." No criminal charges were filed against Col. Steele.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bryan|last=Mitchell|title=Group commander relieved of post in U.K. after six months|work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]|date=2008-01-25|language=English|url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59373&archive=true|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130902025938/http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59373&archive=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2013}}</ref> The group commander of RAF Croughton, Col. John Jordan, was brought in to dually command the group at RAF Alconbury. The 501 CSW commander acknowledged the period was a "Painful challenge" and the 501 CSW commander (Col. Kimberly Toney) made a statement in an interview to the [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] newspaper that indicated the members of the 423rd ABG "blame themselves" for the sacking of Steele.<ref>{{cite news|first=Geoff|last=Ziezulewicz|title=422nd Air Base Group's commander slides over for 423rd, wing duties|work=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]|date=2008-03-27|language=English|url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61009&archive=true|access-date=14 June 2008|archive-date=1 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401000617/http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61009&archive=true|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Move to RAF Fairford ====
In December 2022, the wing's new headquarters at [[RAF Fairford]] was unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The first elements are due to relocate there during the summer of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zima |first=Jennifer |date=2022-12-12 |title=Pathfinder command team unveils new headquarters at Fairford |url=https://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3242992/pathfinder-command-team-unveils-new-headquarters-at-fairford/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=501st Combat Support Wing |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Lineage==
; 501st Bombardment Group
* Established as the '''501st Bombardment Group''', Very Heavy on 25 May 1944
: Activated on 1 June 1944
: Inactivated on 10 June 1946
* Consolidated with the '''701st Tactical Missile Wing''' as the '''501st Tactical Missile Wing''' on 11 January 1982<ref name=501CSWfacts/>

; 501st Combat Support Wing   
* Established as the '''701st Tactical Missile Wing''' on 3 August 1956  
: Activated on 15 September 1956  
: Inactivated on 18 June 1958 
* Redesignated '''501st Tactical Missile Wing''' and consolidated with the '''501st Bombardment Group''' on 11 January 1982   
: Activated on 1 July 1982  
: Inactivated on 31 May 1991  
* Redesignated '''501st Combat Support Wing''' on 22 March 2005  
: Activated on 12 May 2005<ref name=501CSWfacts/>

===Assignments===
* [[Second Air Force]], 1 June 1944
* [[XXI Bomber Command]], 14 Apr 1945 (attached to [[315th Bombardment Wing]] after 15 April 1945)
* 315th Bombardment Wing (later 315th Composite Wing), 19 June 1945
* [[Twentieth Air Force]], 15 May–10 June 1946
* [[Twelfth Air Force]], 15 Sep 1956
* [[United States Air Forces in Europe]], 1 January–18 June 1958
* [[Third Air Force]], 1 July 1982 – 31 May 1991
* Third Air Force, 12 May 2005
* United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 November 2005
* [[Air Command Europe]], 18 November 2005
* Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 Dec 2006 – present<ref name=501CSWfacts/>

===Components===
; Groups
* 422nd Air Base Group, 12 May 2005 – present
* 423rd Air Base Group, 12 May 2005 – present
* [[501st Combat Support Group]], 1 October 1982 – 31 May 1991
* 501st Security Police Group, 22 November 1983 – 8 April 1988
* [[585th Tactical Missile Group]] ([[Bitburg Air Base]], Germany), 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
* [[586th Tactical Missile Group]], 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
* [[587th Tactical Missile Group]] ([[Sembach Air Base]], Germany), 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958<ref name=501CSWfacts/>

; Squadrons
* [[11th Tactical Missile Squadron]], 1 October 1982 – 31 May 1991
* [[21st Bombardment Squadron]], 1 June 1944 – 10 June 1946 (not operational after c. 21 May 1946)<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
* [[41st Bombardment Squadron]], 1 June 1944 – 10 June 1946 (not operational after c. 21 May 1946)<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
* [[485th Bombardment Squadron]], 1 June 1944 – 10 June 1946 (not operational after c. 21 May 1946)<ref name=501CSWfacts/>
* 501st Comptroller Squadron, c. 1987 – 31 May 1991
* 501st Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron, 1 October 1982 – 31 May 1991

===Stations===
* Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, 1 June 1944
* Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska, 22 Aug 1944
* [[Fort Lawton]], Washington, 10–17 March 1945
* Hawaii, 25–30 March 1945
* [[Northwest Field]], Guam, 14 April 1945 – 10 June 1946
* Hahn Air Base, Germany, 15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958
* RAF Greenham Common, England, 1 July 1982 – 31 May 1991
* RAF Mildenhall, England, 12 May 2005
* RAF Alconbury, England, 30 Sep 2007 – present<ref name=501CSWfacts/>

==Commanders==
*Capt Harry L. Young, 27 Jun 1944
*Lt Col Arch G. Campbell Jr., 6 Jul 1944
*Col Boyd Hubbard Jr., 11 Aug 1944
*Col Vincent M. Miles Jr., 15 Apr – 20 May 1946
*Not manned, 21 May – 10 Jun 1946
*Lt Col Robert F. Zachmann 15 Sep 1956
*Col Theodore H. Runyon 7 Jan 1957 – 18 Jun 1958
*Col Robert M. Thompson, 1 Jul 1982
*Col John Bacs, 25 Jan 1985
*Col William E. Jones, 2 June 1987
*Col Richard P. Riddick, 21 Jul 1988
*Col Wendell S. Brande, 7 Jan – 31 May 1991
*Col Blake F. Lindner, 12 May 2005
*Col Kimberly K. Toney, 21 Jun 2007
*Col Brian A. Filler, 7 Jul 2021
*Col D. Landon Phillips, 17 Jul 2023

==Unit Decorations and Honors==
*Distinguished Unit Citation (Japan) 6 – 13 Jul 1945
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamers: Air Offensive, Japan Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific
*Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 15 Sep 1956 – 30 Apr 1958, 1 Jul 1982 – 30 Jun 1984, 1 Jul 1987 – 31 May 1989, 1 Jun 1989 – 31 May 1991

== References ==
===Notes===
; Explanatory notes
{{notelist}}

; Citations
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{AFHRA}}
* {{cite book|last=Marshall|first=Chester|title=B-29 Superfortress|series=Warbird History|year=1996|publisher=Motorbooks International|location=Minneapolis, MN|isbn=0879387858}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
* {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330257/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-047.pdf|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9}}

==External links==
* [https://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/ Official website]

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[[Category:Wings of the United States Air Force]]