526th ICBM Systems Group

The 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group was an inactive United States Air Force organization associated with the acquisition, integration, sustainment, and logistical support of silo-based intercontinental ballistic missile systems. Although its final designation and mission were focused on missile systems, its lineage reaches back to a World War II antisubmarine wing and a Cold War strategic missile wing. The organization was ultimately inactivated at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on 30 April 2010. The unit’s earliest predecessor was the 26th Antisubmarine Wing, constituted in November 1942 and activated shortly afterward during World War II. It supervised Army Air Forces antisubmarine units operating across a large maritime area that included the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic coastline from Georgia and Florida. Its subordinate squadrons operated from bases in Florida, Cuba, Trinidad, and other Caribbean locations. As responsibility for antisubmarine warfare shifted from the Army Air Forces to the United States Navy in 1943, the wing was disbanded and several of its squadrons were transferred or redesignated for bombardment duties. The second major predecessor was the 706th Strategic Missile Wing, established at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, in February 1958. It was created during the early deployment phase of the United States’ land-based intercontinental ballistic missile force and initially operated under the Strategic Air Command. The wing controlled support organizations and later three operational strategic missile squadrons: the 564th, 565th, and 549th Strategic Missile Squadrons. It received its first two SM-65 Atlas missile complexes in August 1960, achieving initial operational capability during the same year. The 706th was discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1961, with the 389th Strategic Missile Wing assuming its mission, equipment, and most of its personnel. The two historical lineages were consolidated in 1985 as the 526th Special Operations Wing, although the consolidated wing was not immediately active. On 31 January 2005, it was redesignated the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Wing and activated on 24 February at Hill Air Force Base. In this final period, the organization served as a systems and sustainment body rather than as an operational missile launch wing. Its responsibilities included acquisition, systems engineering, depot repair, equipment spares, storage, transportation, modifications, and replacement of equipment supporting silo-based ICBM systems. The group also worked through the ICBM System Program Office and the ICBM Prime Integration Contract Program Management Office. These offices coordinated requirements, contractor execution, engineering support, modification programs, cost, schedule, and technical performance. The organization supported the LGM-30 Minuteman family and, during the relevant period, the LGM-118A Peacekeeper system. In August 2007, the wing was reduced to group status and redesignated the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group. It was assigned first to the 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing and later to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. Its subordinate organizations included sustainment and missile-systems squadrons responsible for acquisition, ground systems, flight systems, and ICBM support. The group was inactivated on 30 April 2010. It was therefore not a commercial brand or an independently marketed product organization, but a historical United States military unit whose identity was tied to strategic missile systems management and sustainment.

The organization’s lineage begins with the 26th Antisubmarine Wing, which was constituted on 17 November 1942 and activated on 20 November during World War II. Operating under the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, it coordinated antisubmarine units covering the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic coast near Georgia and Florida. Its subordinate squadrons flew or supported patrol operations from locations including Miami, Jacksonville, Key West, Cuba, Trinidad, and other Caribbean-area fields. When antisubmarine responsibilities were transferred to the United States Navy in 1943, the wing was disbanded on 15 October and several subordinate units were reassigned or converted to bombardment organizations. A separate predecessor, the 706th Strategic Missile Wing, was constituted on 13 February 1958 and activated at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, on 23 February. Its creation reflected the rapid development of the United States’ operational ICBM force. The wing initially replaced a provisional strategic missile organization and assumed control of base-support elements, including the 389th Air Base Group and the 389th USAF Hospital. The 564th and 565th Strategic Missile Squadrons were activated in 1958, followed by the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron in 1960. The wing was redesignated the 706th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Atlas) and accepted its first two SM-65 Atlas missile complexes in August 1960, reaching initial operational capability. It was inactivated on 1 July 1961, when the 389th Strategic Missile Wing assumed its mission and most of its resources. On 31 July 1985, the 26th Antisubmarine Wing and 706th Strategic Missile Wing were consolidated. The resulting lineage was designated the 526th Special Operations Wing, although the consolidated organization was not activated at that time. It was redesignated the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Wing on 31 January 2005 and activated at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on 24 February 2005. The new mission centered on ICBM systems rather than aircraft operations or missile-launch command. During its active systems period, the organization performed functions associated with the ICBM System Program Office. These included acquisition, systems engineering, depot repair, equipment-spares management, storage, transportation, modification, and replacement of components needed to maintain silo-based ICBM systems. The ICBM Prime Integration Contract Program Management Office handled day-to-day management of the prime integration contract and monitored contractor cost, schedule, and technical performance. The wing’s subordinate organizations included the 526th Acquisition Group, 526th Flight Systems Sustainment Group, 526th Ground Systems Sustainment Group, 556th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Group, and 826th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group. On 13 August 2007, the wing was redesignated the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group. It was assigned to the 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing and later, from 30 May 2008, to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. The group included the 500th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Sustainment Squadron and the 509th, 510th, and 511th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Squadrons. It supported the LGM-30 Minuteman system and was also associated with the LGM-118A Peacekeeper during the period. The group was inactivated at Hill Air Force Base on 30 April 2010, ending its final active organizational period.

1. 2010Group inactivated

   The 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group was inactivated at Hill Air Force Base on 30 April.

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2. 2008Assigned to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

   The group transferred to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center on 30 May.

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3. 2007Wing reduced to group status

   On 13 August, the organization became the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group and was assigned to the 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing.

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4. 2005526th ICBM Systems Wing activated

   The consolidated organization was redesignated the 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Wing and activated at Hill Air Force Base on 24 February.

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5. 1985Historical lineages consolidated

   The 26th Antisubmarine Wing and 706th Strategic Missile Wing were consolidated into the lineage of the 526th Special Operations Wing.

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6. 1961706th Strategic Missile Wing inactivated

   The 706th Wing was discontinued and inactivated on 1 July, with its mission transferred to the 389th Strategic Missile Wing.

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7. 1960Atlas missile complexes accepted

   The 706th Wing accepted its first two SM-65 Atlas missile complexes and achieved initial operational capability.

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8. 1958706th Strategic Missile Wing activated

   The 706th Strategic Missile Wing was activated at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and began organizing support for the Atlas ICBM force.

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9. 1943Antisubmarine wing disbanded

   The wing was disbanded on 15 October after antisubmarine responsibilities shifted to the United States Navy.

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10. 194226th Antisubmarine Wing constituted and activated

    The 26th Antisubmarine Wing was constituted on 17 November and activated on 20 November to coordinate Army Air Forces antisubmarine operations in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and southeastern Atlantic approaches.

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A United States Air Force systems-management and sustainment organization supporting the national land-based intercontinental ballistic missile enterprise.

• LGM-30 MinutemanIntercontinental ballistic missile system

  The group supported the United States Air Force’s silo-based LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM enterprise during its final active period. Its work covered systems acquisition, engineering, depot repair, sustainment, spares, transportation, equipment replacement, and modifications rather than commercial manufacture or consumer distribution.

• LGM-118A PeacekeeperIntercontinental ballistic missile system

  The LGM-118A Peacekeeper was among the strategic missile systems associated with the organization’s systems-support responsibilities during the 2005–2010 period. The available reference material identifies the group with support for the system but does not specify a complete set of individual programs or contracts.

1. 526th Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Group