95th BW

    The 509th Composite Group was activated on December 17, 1944 at Wendover Army Air Field with B-29s. While at Wendover the 509th trained for the delivery of Atomic Bombs. During April of 1945 the unit moved to North Field on Tinian from where the two A-Bombs were dropped on Japan. In October, the unit started leaving for Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, where the unit was once again combat ready by November 17, 1945.     During 1946 the 509th participated in Operation Crossroads, a full scale test of nuclear weapons against a fleet of ships anchored at Bikini Atoll. On November 3, 1947 the 509th's designation changed to the 509th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) and on 1 Aug 1948 changed to the 509th Bombardment Wing (Medium).   In 1948 RAAF was renamed Walker Air Force Base.

    When the 509th arrived at Roswell, it included the 393rd, 715th and 830th Bombardment Squadrons. On July 19, 1948 the 509th Air Refueling Squadron was added and the 661st BS came along on March 1, 1959, but the 661st was deactivated on June 1, 1962.


    In a unique move on November 17, 1947, the 33rd Fighter Wing was placed under the control of the 509th. While not unheard of, it is odd for one wing to be subordinate to another, but this was SAC and no resources were to great to accomplish the mission. The 33rd only stayed until November 15, 1948, when the unit relocated to Otis AFB, Massachusetts. While at Walker, the 33rd flew F-51Ds and F-84Cs. After leaving and moves to various bases the unit transitioned to F-86s, F-94s, F-47s, F-89s, F-4s and the current F-15C at Eglin AFB, Florida.

    In June of 1950, the 509th re-equipped with B-50s and KB-29s. 1955 brought a change to B-47Es and KC-97s, but in 1958 the unit was transferred to Pease AFB, New Hampshire. While the 509th's history at Walker came to an end the unit went on to fly B-52Ds, KC-135As and FB-111As. Another move came along in 1990, this time to Whiteman AFB, Missouri, where the unit was designated the 509th Bomb Wing. Along with that move came the Current B-2A and with that aircraft the 509th Bomb Wing continues its mission that started at Wendover.

Probably the most famous bomber in the world is the Enola Gay, B-29-45-MO 44-86292.

The first photo shows her on Tinian either prior to the Hiroshima mission, or post mission. For that mission the 509th's arrowhead was replaced with the 6th BG's "R" inside a circle. (Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico)

Photo number 2 shows the Enola Gay on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in March , 2004. (CB)

Number 3 is during the time period of Operation Crossroads. For that operation the tail markings denoted the aircraft's purpose during the test: Solid black squares with a "B" was for bombers (or more correctly drop-ships), "F" for photo-recon, and "W" for weather. The instrument carriers retained the arrowhead inside the circle marking. This photo was probably taken at Roswell, the water tower in the background looks like the one still standing at Walker. (Historical Center for Southeast New Mexico)

(1) While B-29 44-86401 is a Sliver Plate conversion, it was not one of the original fifteen aircraft specially built in 1944 for the 509th CG. She was probably assigned after arrival at Roswell.

(2) 44-87353 appears to be parked on the ramp at Roswell.

(3) 44-87354, Dave's Dream, was one of the bomber aircraft available for Crossroads.

(4) F-13A (RB-29A) 44-61960 inflight over farmland. The F-13 was a photo-recon version of the B-29 and would later be renamed RB-29.