This is a list of missile wings activated by the United States Air Force during and after the Cold War. Although most of these wings included the word "missile" in their designations, the majority of units operating Convair SM-65 Atlas and Martin SM-68A Titan I intercontinental ballistic missiles were strategic wings or strategic aerospace wings, which combined missile, bomber and air refueling units. The dates for these wings are the dates that they had missile squadrons assigned, rather than their activation and inactivation dates.

The list is organized numerically by weapons system designation, using the Air Force system in use until the tri-service aircraft designation system came into effect for missiles with such designation. Within missile types, wings are ordered numerically by wing designation.

Martin TM-61 (MGM-1) Matador and TM-61B (TM-76, MGM-13B, CGM-13C) Mace

The Martin MGM-1 Matador was the first operational surface-to-surface cruise missile designed and built by the United States. The Matador included a radio command that allowed in-flight course corrections. The Matador was armed with the W5 warhead.Lanning, p. 11, 12-13

The Martin TM-76 Mace was originally the TM-61B, a tactical cruise missile developed as an improved TM-61 Matador. The MGM-13B was launched from a transporter erector launcher and the CGM-13C was launched from an underground bunker. While the MGM-13B was equipped with terrain-matching radar navigation, the CGM-13C used an inertial navigation system.Lanning pp. 20-21

Wings operating the TM-61 Matador and TM-76 Mace Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes38th Tactical Missile Wing18 June 1958 – 25 September 1966Hahn AB71st 89th 405th 822nd 823rd 887thRavenstein, pp. 66-67Replaced 701st Tactical Missile Wing. Ravenstein, p. 67 TM-61, TM-76701st Tactical Missile Wing15 September 1956 – 18 June 1958Hahn AB1st 11th 69thRavenstein, pp. 291-292Replaced by 38th Tactical Missile Wing. Ravenstein, p. 67 TM-614504th Missile Training Wing (also 4504th Tactical Missile Wing, 4504th Combat Crew Training Wing)c. 1 September 1954 – 1 July 1959Orlando AFB11th 17th 24th 4504th TM-61, TM-76

Northrop SM-62 Snark

The Northrop SM-62 Snark was an early-model intercontinental cruise missile that could carry a W39 nuclear warhead. The Snark was deployed from 1958 through 1961. It represented an important step in weapons technology during the Cold War.

Wings operating the SM-62 Snark Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes702nd Strategic Missile Wing1 January 1959 – 25 June 1961Presque Isle AFB556thThe squadron was located at Patrick AFB until July 1959. When it moved to Presque Isle, it was inactivated and the missiles were assigned directly to the wing.Ravenstein, p. 292

Convair SM-65 (CGM-16D, CGM-16E, HGM-16F) Atlas

The Convair SM-65 Atlas was the United States' first successful ICBM, flown in 1957, and taken out of active service in 1965. Strategic Air Command deployed Atlas model D, Atlas model E, and Atlas model F. The Atlas used liquid fuel and it took 15 minutes to pump 249,000 pounds of propellant aboard the "quick firing" Atlas F. However, it was dangerous, as four Atlas silos were destroyed when propellant-loading exercises went awry.

Wings operating the SM-65 Atlas Wing Dates active Stations Missile squadron(s) NotesStrategic Wing (Provisional)15 January 1958 1958 – 1 February 1958Francis E. Warren AFBnonePredecessor to 4320th Strategic Wing6th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 September 1961 – 25 March 1965Walker AFB579thRavenstein, pp. 16-17 SM-65E11th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 June 1961 – 25 March 1965Altus AFB577thRavenstein, pp. 26-27 SM-65E40th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 January 1964 – 1 September 1964Forbes AFB558thRavenstein, pp. 128-130 SM-65E55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing1 September 1964 – 25 March 1965Offutt AFB548thIn 1964, the 40th Strategic Aerospace Wing was inactivated and SAC transferred Forbes to Tactical Air Command. For the seven months until the 548th Squadron was inactivated, it was transferred to the 55th Wing.Ravenstein, pp. 88-90 SM-65E92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing1 April 1960 – 25 June 1965Fairchild AFB567th SM-65E96th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965Dyess AFB578th SM-65E98th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 January 1964 – 25 June 1965Lincoln AFB551stRavenstein, pp. 138-141 SM-65E310th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 April 1961 – 25 June 1965Schilling AFB550thRavenstein, p. 158-159 SM-65F385th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 January 1963 – 15 December 1964Offutt AFB549thRavenstein, p. 211The wing replaced the 4321st Strategic Wing SM-65D389th Strategic Missile Wing1 July 1961 – 25 March 1965Francis E. Warren AFB564th 565th 566thThe wing replaced the 706th Strategic Missile Wing SM-65D, SM-65E706th Strategic Missile Wing23 February 1958 – 1 July 1961Francis E. Warren AFB549th 564th 565thRavenstein, p. 294The wing was replaced by the 389th Strategic Missile Wing SM-65D4320th Strategic Wing1 February 1958 – 23 February 1958Francis E. Warren AFBMueller, p. 184Predecessor to 706th Strategic Missile Wing

Martin SM-68A (HGM-25A) Titan I

The Martin HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage intercontinental ballistic missile. It required liquid fuel. Originally designed as a backup in case SM-65 Atlas missile development ran into problems, the Titan was ultimately beaten into service by Atlas. Deployment went ahead anyway to more rapidly increase the number of missiles on alert and because the Titan's missile silo basing was more survivable than Atlas.Greene, pp. 11, 13

Wings operating the SM 68A (HGM-25A) Titan I Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes9th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 June 1961 – 25 June 1965Mountain Home AFB569thRavenstein, pp. 23-2428th Bombardment Wing1 December 1960 – 1 January 1962Ellsworth AFB850thMaurer, p. 78144th Strategic Missile Wing1 January 1962 – 25 March 1965Ellsworth AFB850thRavenstein, pp. 73-74451st Strategic Missile Wing1 July 1961 – 25 June 1965Lowry AFB724th 725thRavenstein, p. 247Replaced 703rd Strategic Missile Wing.456th Strategic Aerospace Wing1 February 1963 – 25 March 1965Beale AFB851stRavenstein, pp. 251-252Replaced 4129th Strategic Wing.462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing1 February 1963 – 25 March 1965Larson AFB568thRavenstein, p. 256Replaced 4170th Strategic Wing.703rd Strategic Missile Wing25 September 1958 – 1 July 1961Lowry AFB848th 849thRavenstein, pp. 292-293Replaced by 451st Strategic Missile Wing.4126th Strategic Wing1 February 1961 – 1 February 1963Beale AFB851stMaurer, pp. 781-782Replaced by 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing.4170th Strategic Wing1 April 1961 – 1 February 1963Larson AFB568thMaurer, pp. 665-666Replaced by 462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing.

Martin SM-68C (LGM-25C) Titan II

The Martin LGM-25C Titan II carried a payload twice as heavy as the Titan I. It also used storable propellants, which reduced the time to launch and permitted it to be launched from its silo. Titan II carried the W53 warhead, making it the most powerful ICBM in the US arsenal.

Wings operating the SM 68C (HGM-25C) Titan II Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes308th Strategic Missile Wing1 April 1962 – 18 August 1987Little Rock AFB373rd 374thInformation through September 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 156-158381st Strategic Missile Wing1 March 1962 – 8 August 1986McConnell AFB532nd 533rdInformation through September 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 206-207390th Strategic Missile Wing1 January 1962 – 31 July 1984Davis-Monthan AFB570th 571st

Douglas SM-75 (PGM-17) Thor

The Douglas SM-75 Thor was the first operational ballistic missile of the United States Air Force (USAF). Named after the Norse god of thunder, it was deployed in the United Kingdom between 1959 and September 1963.

Wings operating the SM-75 Thor Wing Dates active Stations Missile squadron(s) Notes705th Strategic Missile Wing20 February 1958 – 1 April 1960RAF LakenheathSouth Ruislip Air Station672ndRavenstein, p. 294; Maurer, pp. 700-701 Trained Royal Air Force units.

Boeing IM-99 (CIM-10) BOMARC

The Boeing IM-99 BOMARC (Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center) was a supersonic ramjet powered long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) used during the Cold War for the air defense of North America. In addition to being the first operational long-range SAM and the first operational pulse doppler aviation radar, it was the only SAM deployed by the United States Air Force. Wings operating the IM-99 BOMARC Wing Dates active Stations Missile squadron(s) Notes4751st Air Defense Missile Wing (later 4751st Air Defense Wing)1 October 1957 – 1 July 1962Hurlburt Field4751stMueller, p. 130

LGM-30 Minuteman

The LGM-30 Minuteman, first flown in 1961 was developed to replace the hazards inherent in the caustic, volatile liquid-fuel systems of the Atlas and Titan ICBMs. Two innovations gave the Minuteman a long practical service life: a solid rocket booster making the Minuteman faster to launch than other ICBMs, and a digital flight computer, one of the first recognizably modern embedded systems.

Wings operating LGM-30 Minuteman Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes44th Strategic Missile Wing (also 44th Missile Wing1 July 1963 – 5 July 1994Ellsworth AFB66th 67th 68th LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963 to 1973 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1971 to 199490th Strategic Missile Wing (also 90th Missile Wing, 90th Space Wing)1 July 1963 – presentFrancis E. Warren AFB319th 320th 321st 400th91st Strategic Missile Wing (also 91st Missile Wing, 91st Space Wing)25 June 1968 – presentMinot AFB740th 741st 742ndReplaced 455th Strategic Missile Wing. LGM-30B Minuteman I, 1968 to 1972 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972 to present321st Strategic Missile Wing (also 321st Missile Wing, 321st Missile Group)15 July 1961 – 1 July 1994It continued to operate missiles until 1998 as a groupGrand Forks AFB: 446th 447th 448thLGM-30F Minuteman II, 1965 to 1973 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1972 to 1998341st Strategic Missile Wing (also 341st Missile Wing, 341st Space Wing)14 August 1964 – presentMalmstrom AFB10th 12th 490th 564thLGM-30A Minuteman I 1962 to 1964 LGM-30B Minuteman I 1964 to 1969 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1967 to 1996 LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1975 (564 SMS); 1996 (10, 12, 490 SMS) to present351st Strategic Missile Wing (also 351st Missile Wing)15 February 1963 – 31 July 1995Whiteman AFB508th 509th 510thLGM-30B Minuteman I, 1963 to 1967 LGM-30F Minuteman II, 1966 to 1995455th Strategic Missile Wing28 June 1962 – 25 June 1968Minot AFB740th 741st 742ndReplaced by 91st Strategic Missile Wing. LGM-30B Minuteman I4062nd Strategic Missile Wing1 December 1960 – 20 February 1962Hill AFBMueller, p. 243

General Dynamics BGM-109 Gryphon

The General Dynamics BGM-109G Gryphon was a ground-launched cruise missile developed by the United States Air Force in the last decade of the Cold War with a W80 warhead.It was developed as a counter to the mobile nuclear missiles deployed by the Soviet Union in Eastern Bloc European countries. It was removed from service under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Wings operating BGM-109 Gryphon Wing Dates active Station Missile squadron(s) Notes303rd Tactical Missile Wing12 December 1986 – 31 January 1989RAF Molesworth87th BGM-109G485th Tactical Missile Wing1 August 1984 – 30 April 1989Florennes AB71st BGM-109G486th Tactical Missile Wing27 August 1987 – 30 September 1988Woensdrecht AB405th BGM-109G487th Tactical Missile Wing30 June 1983 – c. 27 May 1991Comiso AS302ndBGM-109G501st Tactical Missile Wing1 July 1982 – 4 June 1991RAF Greenham Common11th BGM-109G

LGM-118 Peacekeeper

The LGM-118 Peacekeeper, initially known as the MX (for Missile-eXperimental), was a land-based ICBM. A total of 50 missiles were deployed. They were withdrawn from service by 2005 to comply with the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Armed with up to 10 re-entry vehicles, each carrying a W87 warhead, the Peacekeeper was the most powerful ICBM deployed by the United States.

Wings operating LGM-118 Peacekeeper