STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND  -  L. A. F. B.

      Airborne RB-47 Medium Jet Bomber  The Bomber of L.A.F.B. picture by George W. Golding 

Lincoln AFB has a long and colorful history as the home of the men and machines of war as they strove to maintain the peace.

Its first connection with the Air Force began during World War II, when it was first activated as a training base for aircraft mechanics, and a deployment center for B 17 aircraft and crews headed for England.

The base was originally known as Lincoln Army Airfield and at one time had more than 20, 000 military personnel assigned. At the end of the war the base was inactivated and turned over to the city of Lincoln.

Lincoln AFB was reactivated in February 1951, and was assigned the primary mission of providing support for a medium jet bomber wing and an air refueling squadron. The 98th Air Base Group was formed to support the tactical units and had a total of 18 officers and 230 airmen when the 98th Air Refueling Squadron was transferred to Lincoln from Forbes AFB, Kansas. The 98th Bombardment Wing arrived from the Far East in July 1954.

Less than one year after its reactivation,  the base had its mission increased twofold when Congress decided to make it a double-wing base. This increase came in October 1954 when the 307th Bombardment Wing, returning from Korea, was made part of the Lincoln strength.

The 98th Air Base Group was inactivated and replaced by a newly formed 818th Air Division and the 818th Air Base Group. These two groups took on the task of providing administrative and support units for the assigned bomb wings.

                       B - 47 Bomber (in foreground) at a 1950's Air Show

                        KC - 97 Tanker is shown (in background)

Both wings had B-29 aircraft when they were assigned here, and both underwent the difficult SAC conversion program into B-47 jet aircraft at this station.

Lincoln AFB was placed under the command of SAC's 15th Air Force at March AFB, Calif., when it was reactivated. On July 1, 1955, the 818th Air Dlvision was placed under the command of SAC's 8th Air Force, Westover AFB, Mass. Finally, on Jan. 1, 1959, the 818th Air Division was p 1 a c e d under the control of SAC's Second Air Force with headquarters at Barksdale AFB, La.

April 1, 1961, Lincoln AFB entered the missile age as the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron was activated and 12 Atlas "F" missile sites ringed the city of Lincoln and the base. These intercontinental missiles brought the assigned military strength of the base to 7,000 persons.

On March 1, 1962, the 818th Air Division was redesignated the 818th Strategic Aerospace Division to more accurately reflect the mission of the organization.

The strength of the base remained relatively stable until the Nov.19, 1964, announcement that the base would be inactivated. The first inactivation under that order was the 4362nd Post Attack Command Control Squadron by the end of the year.

On March 25, 1965, saw the departure of the Division headquarters and the 307th Bomb Wing. On that date the remaining units of the base came under the control of the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division at Minot AFB, N. D. Three months later, the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron also passed into his history.

Now as time runs out for the remainder of the base, only the 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing, 818th Combat Support Group and the 818th Medical Gioup remain to be inactivated.  Approximately four months hence the last remnants of this once mighty SAC base will pass into the hands of the personnel of the 4255th Air Base Squadron who will act as caretaker unit for the base.

History repeats itself as, the second time in 21 years Lincoln AFB is retired from the ranks of active military installations.

"As directed by Headquarters Eighth Air Force and in accordance with policies established by Headquarters Strategic Air Command_' the Commander 818th Air Division will: Supervise the organization and training of a force capable of immediate and sustained long-range offensive bombardment and air-to-air refueling operations in any part of the world, utilizing the latest technical knowledge and advanced weapons.

Be prepared to perform those tasks assigned in current emergency plans and related operations orders.

Supervise the participation of assigned units in disaster relief and other domestic emergencies when required.

Perform such special missions as may be directed by higher headquarters."

HISTORY OF THE 307th BOMB WING

March 25, 1965 brought to a close 23 years of distinguished and meritorious activity by the 307th Bomb Wing.

            Boeing B - 17 picture courtesy of The Society of the Strategic Air Command

In April of 1942 the 307th Bombardment Group was formed under orders of President Roosevelt. Formed at Geiger Field Washington, the Group was furnished with B-17 aircraft. In May 1942, they were reassigned to Washington and were assigned the mission of defending the coast of Alaska against the enemy forces of Japan.

                                       Consolidated B-24 Liberator

A few months later the unit was equipped with B-24 Liberators and immediately began an intensive training program in bombing gunnery, formation flying and long range navigation.

On December of 1942 they were again reassigned, this time to Hickam Field Hawaii where they immediately begin flying search missions patrolling the seas to prevent surprise attacks by Japanese naval forces.

Their first taste of combat came Dec 27th 1942, when 27 aircraft flew 1,260 miles to bomb selected targets on Wake Island All planes returned safely from the flight after having flown 2,240 miles, the longest mass raid of the war to that time. As a result of this mission and the many long distance flights to come, the 307th soon became known by nickname as the "Long Rangers"

The Group's aircraft were the first over Tarawa, Naura, Ocean Island and the Marshall Islands. It was January 1943 when the unit was credited with its first Japanese Zero.

As the war progressed, the 307th was moved to Guadalcanal and immediately began search missions staging out of the newly won Henderson Field. August 1943 found the Group ready to sew up the Solomous campaign by launching an all-out effort to knock out its Japanese-held airstrips. The airfields were hit, definitely checking the Japanese bid to control the skies. The campaign continued with suecessful strikes against Rabaul, Truk, Yap, and Palau. Fighting the most difficult air battles of their careers, crews encountered coordinated and concentrated interception by Japanese airmen Their gunners shot down an average of 25 per cent of their interceptors.

Two Presidential Unit Citations were awarded to the Group, one for action in the bombing of the Island of Truk, the most heavily defended and strongly fortified japanese base in the Pacific.  During withdrawal. gunners of the Group destroyed 31 of the 75 attacking aircraft, probably destroyed 12 more and damaged 10 in an air battle that lasted 43 minutes.This daring raid, made on 29 March 1944, neutralized the Islands airfields, making possible long range flights without fighter protection, The other Presidential Unit Citation was awarded for the successful strike at the Baltkapapan Oil Refineries in Borneo on 30 September 1944. The 307th had to fly their B-24 Liberator bombers 17 1/2 hours for a round trip of 2,610 miles, the longest mass daylight mission ever flown by this type aircraft

The story of the "Long Rangers" in World War II is an impressive one. They hit the Japanese in the air. They shot down 355 planes, 68 probables and 51 damaged. On the ground they destroyed 170 airplanes, scores of airfields and supply dumps, oil refineries and harbor installations. On the sea they sunk 21,000 tons of shipping and damaged another 112,000 tons.

Shortly after V-J Day, the proud numerals of the 307th Bomb Group became just another line on the list of deactivated fighting units.

                               Boeing RB - 29 picture by Edward D. Edwards

In November 1945, the 307th Bomb Group was deactivated, but with the Air Force's Policy of preserving the names of the top fighting units of World War II, the 307th Bomb Group was reactivated as the 307th Bombardment Wing on 4 August, 1946. Assigned to Macdill Air Force Base, Florida, and furnished with B-29 Aircraft. The 307th Bomb Wing took part in all Strategic Air Command Operations until the outbreak of the Korean War in July 1950.

They had a sucessful campaign in Korea, and received another presidental unit Citation for their extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United Nations during the period of 11 to 27 July, 1953. At this time they flew 93 sorties and dropped 860 tons of bombs on targets at the Simanju Air Field, where despite severe icing, intense enemy anti-craft fire and co-ordinated search light fighter opposition they rendered the airfield unservicable. Industrial targets were soon completely destroyed and for lack of targets, the mission was modified to primarily place emphasis on night bombardment strikes against communications and supply facilities. A few of the many industrial and supply targets in North korea that the Wing successfully bombed were No- Ri, Humbok- Tang, Tokolon, the Chosin Hydroelectric plant, Sinanjti and many targets close to the Yalu River.

During the course of the Korean operations, the Wing mounted 6.052 sorties against enemy targets. flew 55.473 cornbat hours and dropped 51,757 tons of bombs.

They also contributed to the stabilization of U. N. positions by striking 17 aiming points of enemy troop concentrations in a high level night attack. A citation was also received from President Symgman Rhee of South Korea.

The 307th Bomb Wing returned to the United States in 1954. The 307th Bomb Wing the last remaining B 29 Wing in the Far East returned in October 1954 to be equipped with the B 47 Stratojet bomber and reassigned to the new duty station at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska

Aircraft and crews departed Kadena AB, Okinawa, for Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona where the B-29 aircraft were placed in storage. Ihe crews went to McConnell AFB, Kansas where they underwent a period of transition training in the new aircraft.

In February 1955, an air refueling squadron was added to the Wing. This addition gave it a high degree of flexibility consistent with the current SAC planning.

The 307th Bomb Wing received its first B-47 at Lincoln in March 1955. Here the mission became one of training. The Wing now had a highly sophisticated tactical weapon that required extensive and demanding professional skills. The immediate target was to bring the Wing to combat ready status in a minimum of time. The challenges presented the maintenance and operational personnel were even greater than some of their previous wartime problerns due to the complexity of the B 47 weapons system.

The challenge was met when the Wing was declared combat ready in November 1955. It began immediately to prove its operational capability. It was in this type mission that a crew from the wing won the award of Outstanding Crew over a field of some 250 crews..... An outstanding crew....An outstanding feat....An outstanding Wing.

HISTORY OF THE 98th BOMB WING

The present 98th Bombardment Wing (M) was first physically activated on 16 February 1942 as the 98th Bombardment Group at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. After receiving the necessary training in the utilization of the B-24 bomber, the wing departed for North Africa, where it flew its first combat mission over Matruh, Egypt.

The most famous of the 98th Bomb Wing's World War II missions was its participation in the low level bombing raids at Ploesti, Roumania. The 98th Furnished nearly one-third of the total 175 B-24 bombers that dropped their bombs from an altitude less than 300 feet.

During the entire period of World War II, the 98th had pounded enemy supply routes in the Mediterranean, cooperated with the British Eighth Army in its eastward advance from Egypt into Libya and Tunisia, and struck at vital installations in Sicily and Southern Italy, preparatory to the Allied invision of those areas. While flying from North African bases, the Wing had participated in the bombing of Naples, Italy on 4 December 1942 and in the attacks upon Ploesti, Roumania and Weiner Neustadt, Austria on 1 and 13 August 1943, respectively. Later, from stations in Southern Italy, squadrons of the 98th had flown to targets within an arch extending from Toulon, Prance, to Friedrichshafen, Regensburg, and Blechmanner, Germany, to Constanta, Roumania on the Black Sea, and to Athens, Greece. The location was ideal for attacks on the Roumanian oil fields and for the giving of assistance to partisians and guerillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries. Time and again the wing had struck at manufacturing centers deep within the Reich, at marshalling yards in the Balkans, and at communications centers in the region of the Alps. In these and many other ways it had denied to the enemy the capacity to make war. Through the heroism of its airmen and the patient and toilsome endeavor of its groundcrews, the 98thBombWing, had achieved an enviable combat record.

For its combat effectiveness during the war, the 98th received two Presidential Citations, one for its mission accomplishments in the Middle East, North Africa and Sicily, and the other for its participation inthe raids on the Ploesti Oil Fields.

The wing returned to the United States after Germany's surrender in 1945. Here it was deactivated in November of the same year. After reactivation in September of 1947, at Spokane, Washington, the wing was equipped with B-29 aircraft. In August of 1950, the wing departed for japan and combat action in Korea.

After flying its first mission over Korea on 7 August 1950, the wing remained operational ready for 20 out of the remaining 24 days in August, During the entire period of the wing's duty over Korea, the B-29's of this unit dropped 167,100 tons of bombs on North Korean targets.

The 98th Bomb Wing returned to the United States after the close of the Korean Conflict and was assigned to its present location, Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska in July l954. At this time the wing began a transition program from the B-29 to the Medium Jet Bomber, the B-47.

The Strategic Air Command rotational movements have been executed by the 98th since its arrival at Lincoln, Nebraska, the entire Wing deploying to the United Kingdom in November of 1955, and the second deployment with just the 98th Air Refueling Squadron to Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland in December of 1956.   

THE 34TH MUNITIONS MAINTENANCE SQUADRON

By 1st Lt. Robert Brown

The specific daily tasks of a SAC Munitions Maintenance Squadron have riever been discussed in unclassified print nor will they ever be. W'hat can be said is that The 34th MMS at Lincoln AFB  has been a vital part of the mission of the 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing. The support given to two fully equipped B-47 Wings of the 818th Strategic Aeropace Division and an Atlas Missile System through the years has required a high standard of SAC professionalism and devotion to duty.

The sacrifices and effort expended were perhaps no greater than all the equally more important support functions, but they were more constant and demanding in terms of safety and adherence to munitions technical data. The B-47 is now gone from the SAC scene, as well as the concept of consolidating such large numbers of bombers at one base. Whether or not this happens in SAC, the fact remains that the 34th Munitions Maintenance Squadron sucessfully supported the largest bomber base of its type in the world and did it with an outstanding record of safety.

The men of the 34th MMS are now moving on to provide support for SAC and TAC units wherever our nations commitments require it. They will perform vital roles in a field that has experienced a full cycle of emphasis from conventional bombing in WW II  to massive retaliation through the 50's, and again to conventional munitions delivery in the vietnam conflict.

Soon the 34th MMS will go into the official Air Force Unit History, but the 34th MMS will exist in an unwritten form after the official base closure in June of this year. It will be the loading crew in the bitter cold of Wurtsmith or a fusing operation on a scorching ramp at Bien Hoa, or a munitions storage area operation somewhere in the Pacific. Now it is approprate to say "thanks" to those who assisted the 34th MMS in the support of the wing and to say "well done" to the men of this munitions squadron who truly accomplished the mission of peace for SAC by providing the deterrent to aggressors.

The 34th Munitions Maintenance Squadron has completed its mission at Lincoln AFB. Its accomplishments, like so many SAC Units, will live on because of the men who made it run.  

This article was written by Lt. Brown for the February 25th, 1966 edition of the " Jet Scoop", the LAFB Newspaper.

At the bottom of the page of this edition of the "Jet Scoop" is this:

Captain Leo F. Holden, Director of Information, locks the door to the "Jet Scoop" office signifying the suspension of publication of the paper.

Special thanks to Lt. Col. George Scuttis, NEANG, for his research.  

Edited by Roger W. Miner

One of the best websites I have come across is a Web Site by Rob Branting who has made a two year study of the Lincoln Air Base complete with pictures. You can go to this website by using the address: http://www.geocities.com/bigrob685/home 

Webmaster: Roger W. Miner at minerland@neb.rr.com

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