5010th Combat Support Group

5010th Combat Support Group

Active 1948-1981
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Air base support
Part of Alaskan Air Command
Insignia
5010th Air Base Wing emblem

With the departure of the 97th Bombardment Wing, the Eielson Air Force Base Wing (Base Complement) was formed on 1 April 1948. On 20 April 1948, it was designated the 5010th Air Base Wing, and would be the host unit at the base until 1964.[1]

The wing provided support to reconnaissance squadrons of Air Weather Service from 1949 through 1958.[2] The wing also hosted Strategic Air Command units on temporary deployment to Eielson, playing host to Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, Convair B-36 Peacemakers and finally B-47s. In fact, the largest hangar on Eielson today, now used for Exercise Cope Thunder, was originally built to house two B-36 bombers, the largest bomber ever in Air Force inventory.

Construction boomed at Eielson AFB during the wing's tenure in the 1950s. Many of the facilities still in use today were built at that time - Amber Hall, the Thunderdome, Base Exchange, Commissary, Gymnasium, Theater, Base Chapel, some of the schools and many of the dormitories, just to name a few.

On 1 October 1981, the 343rd Wing, as the 343d Composite Wing, replaced the 5010th Combat Support Group[3] absorbing its personnel and equipment, as Eielson's host unit.[4]

Lineage

Redesignated Eielson Bombardment Wing in 1948
Redesignated 5010th Wing c. 20 September 1948
Redesignated 5010th Composite Wing on 4 June 1949
Redesignated 5010th Air Base Wing c. 8 October 1954
Redesignated 5010th Combat Support Group on 1 January 1965
Discontinued on 1 October 1981

Assignment

Components

Groups
Squadrons
Other

References

  1. Mueller, p. 145
  2. Muller, p. 146
  3. Mueller, pp. 143-148
  4. "Abstract, History 343 Composite Wing, CY 1981". Air Force History Index. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Although these units have the same name, they are different units.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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