509th Bomb Wing
The 509th Bomb Wing (509 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
| 509th Bomb Wing | |
|---|---|
B-2A Spirit returns from a mission as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn | |
| Active | 1947–1948; 1948–present (76 years, 5 months) |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment |
| Part of | Eighth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Whiteman Air Force Base |
| Motto(s) | Defensor Vindex (Latin for: Defender Avenger) |
| Tail code | WM |
| Engagements | Kosovo War |
| Decorations | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Keith J. Butler |
| Vice Commander | Colonel Maxwell D. DiPietro |
| Command Chief | Chief Master Sergeant Olatokunbo O. Olopade |
| Notable commanders | Paul Tibbets John A. Dramesi John Dale Ryan Gregory A. Biscone |
| Insignia | |
| 509th Bomb Wing emblem | |
| 509th Bombardment Wing emblem(approved 10 July 1952) | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | B-2A |
| Trainer | T-38C |
The 509 BW is the host unit at Whiteman, and operates the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The wing can launch combat sorties directly from Missouri to any spot on the globe, engaging adversaries with large payloads of traditional or precision-guided munitions.
The wing's 509th Operations Group can trace its heritage back to the 509th Composite Group, when during WW2, two of its B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped the two atomic bombs that helped end the war in the pacific.
The 509th BW led the way for America's first military response following the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., on 11 September 2001. B-2 bombers were the first U.S. aircraft to enter Afghan airspace in October 2001, paving the way for other coalition aircraft to engage Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. During this operation, the aircraft flew roundtrip from Missouri, logging combat missions in excess of 40 hours—the longest on record.