History of the 460th

The history of the 460th Space Wing dates back to World War II with the establishment of the 460th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on May 19, 1943, and subsequent activation that July 1.

Key members attended the Army/Air Force School of Applied Tactics in Florida Aug. 23 - Sept. 12, 1943.  Meanwhile, remaining group members moved to Kearns Army Air Field, Utah, where they were joined by key personnel Sept. 16.  As the group gained more combat crews in early October, it was nicknamed the Black Panther.  By the end of October, it was moved to Chatham AAF, Ga.  There it received the new B-24H aircraft in December and began preparing to relocate overseas.

The group's ground echelon moved to Camp Patrick, Va., in January 1944 and sailed aboard the Liberty Ship Thomas R. Marshall.  It arrived in Spinazzola, Italy, Feb. 11.  The air echelon flew the group's aircraft via the southern route and arrived at Spinazzola shortly after the ground echelon.

The unit entered combat as part of the 15th Air Force, flying its first combat mission March 19, 1944, against the marshaling yards at Matkovic, Yugoslavia.  It operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until April 1945.  During that period, it attacked oil refineries, oil storage facilities, aircraft factories, railroad centers, industrial areas and other objectives throughout Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia and Greece.

The group received a distinguished unit citation for leading a wing formation through adverse weather and heavy enemy fire to attack an airdrome and aircraft facilities in Zwolfaxing, Austria, July 26, 1944.

It also participated in some interdictory and support missions including the invasion of southern France in August 1944.  It hit bridges, viaducts, ammunition dumps, railroads, and other targets to aid in the advance of allied forces in northern Italy.  It flew its last combat mission April 26, 1945.

By June 1945, the group had moved to Trinidad and then to Brazil to support the Air Transport Command in moving re-deployed personnel from Europe to the United States.  The group was deactivated Sept. 26, 1945.

Twenty years later, the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was organized in February 1966 to control and administer tactical reconnaissance resources in Southeast Asia.  Assigned and attached tactical reconnaissance and tactical electronic warfare squadrons and squadron-sized detachments flew day and night visual, photographic, radar, thermographic, and electronic reconnaissance missions to meet the combat needs of the 2nd Air Division until April 1966 and for the 7th Air Force thereafter.  It then divided reconnaissance in Southeast Asia with another wing in September 1966.

In October 1966, it assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility for all U.S. Air Force organizations using Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam.  It continued its reconnaissance operations through August 1971 and was inactivated Aug. 31 that year.

Historical records show the unit was then re-designated as the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group Sept. 19, 1989, with activation Oct. 1, also with the 7th Air Force.  It was flying the RF-4 reconnaissance aircraft.  The unit disbanded when the Air Force eliminated the RF-4 from its inventory.  Only a year later, it was inactivated Oct. 1, 1990 at Taegu AB, South Korea.

During its relatively short active-duty time, the 460th has been awarded numerous times for its effort.  The 460th has received the Distinguished Unit citation, four Presidential Unit citations, five Air Force Outstanding Unit awards (2 with Combat "V" device).  These esteemed decorations came from direct service in twenty-two different campaigns during WWII, Vietnam, the Cold War, and now during our supporting the Global War on Terror.

On Oct. 1, 2001, Air Force officials renamed and activated the 460th again, this time as the 460th Air Base Wing.  On Aug. 19, 2004, the 460th became a space wing and gained a new group and squadron and assumed operational control of several others.  The wing added the 460th Operations Group, 460th Operations Support Squadron which took over operational responsibilities for the 2nd, 8th and 137th Space Warning Squadrons from the 21st Space Wing.  A year later, wing continued growing when its medical squadron became the 460th Medical Group.

Already growing and transforming after the activation of Buckley Air Force Base, the 460th Space Wing looks forward to numerous construction projects that ensure a successful mission completion well into the future.  Bearing a similarity to the constantly growing Denver-metro area, the building of state-of-the-art facilities, gymnasiums, shopping centers, and on base homes places quality of life initiatives at the forefront for personnel now assigned to the wing and to those who will follow.

Chronology of the 460th

May 19, 1943: 460th Bombardment Group Established
July 1, 1943: 460th Bombardment Group Activated
Feb. 1944: Moved to Spinnazzola, Italy
March 19, 1944: Began Combat Operations
July 26, 1944: Lead wing in attack in Zwolfaxing, Austria. Earned Distinguished Unit Citation
Aug. 1944: Participated in interdiction and support missions during invasions of southern France
April 26, 1945: Flew last combat mission during World War II
June 15, 1945: Moved to Trinidad and then on to Brazil. Assisted in moving troops from Europe to the United States
Sept. 26, 1945: Inactivated
Feb. 2, 1966: Established, organized and activated for tactical reconnaissance in Vietnam
Oct. 1966: Assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility for USAF units using Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam
Sept. 19, 1989: Redesignated 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
Oct. 1, 1989: Activated at Taegu Air Base, Republic of South Korea
Oct. 1, 1990: Inactivated
April 26, 2001: Redesignated 460th Air Base Wing
Oct. 2001: Activated the 460th Air Base Wing at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado
Aug. 14, 2004: Redesignated 460th Space Wing