98th Strategic Aerospace Wing (M) 1954 - 1966: B-47s

Lincoln Air Force Base was under the control of the 98th Air Base Group when 98th air crews began arriving in the latter part of 1954.  The 98th Air Base Group was then inactivated in October 1954 and the 818th Air Division was organized under SAC regulations governing the function of a multi-wing base of command.

Colonel William F. Coleman assumed command of the 98th in November 1954.  B-47 aircraft began arriving in January 1955.  At this point the wing began an intensive training program to effect the conversion to combat ready status as soon as possible.  This was achieved in July 1955 and a "graduation" mission was flown.

Jurisdiction of SAC bases was realigned and the 98th was transferred out of the 15th AF to the 8th AF.  The 98th continued to fly and emphasize the "bomber stream" type missions.  The 98th proved its proficiency on 10 October 1955 with a successful "Post Hole" SAC evaluation mission.

On 6 November 1955, the 98th deployed for a 90 day TDY to Lakenheath, England.  On 27 December 1956, the 98th was again tasked as the 98th Air Refueling Squadron with KC-97s was required to deploy to Harmon AFB, Newfoundland returning to Lincoln on 14 March 1957.

The 98th remained a unit of the 8th AF until 1 January 1959 when it was reassigned to the 2nd AF.  The 98th continued to maintain its combat ready proficiency through many 2nd AF operational competitions.

Aside from the 98th Air Refueling Squadron, the 98th B-47 Wing included the 343rd, 344th, 345th, and the 415th Bomb Squadrons.  Other squadrons included Headquarters, Armament & Electronics, Field Maintenance, Organizational Maintenance, and the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron.

The 98th Air Refueling Squadron was again deployed to Lajes Air Base, Azores in September 1962.  Again, the 98th ARS was committed to operations connected to the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.  On April 15, 1963 the 98th ARS was inactivated.  After a full nine years, the 98th ARS had flown a total of 64,000 hours without the loss of a single man or aircraft.

NEXT:   98th STRATEGIC WING: TORREJON, SPAIN KC-135s, 1966 - 1976