455th Missile Wing

• Origins in WWII: The 455th was originally activated as the 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in June 1943, flying B-24 Liberators in the European Theater during World War II. • Distinguished Unit Citations: The group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for courageous missions over Regensburg and Vienna, successfully bombing heavily defended targets. • Transition to Missiles: The 455th was redesignated as the 455th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) in 1962, transitioning from bombers to managing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). • Minuteman ICBMs: The 455th SMW operated LGM-30 Minuteman ICBMs, forming a critical part of the United States’ nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. • Strategic Air Command: The wing was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC), the major command responsible for America’s strategic nuclear forces. • Location: The 455th Missile Wing was stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, a site chosen for its remote location ideal for missile operations. • Deactivation: The 455th Missile Wing was inactivated in 1968 as part of the U.S. Air Force's realignment and modernization of its ICBM forces. • Legacy: The unit’s lineage and honors are preserved through successor units, reflecting its contributions to both air and missile warfare. • Combat Missions: During WWII, the 455th played a significant role in strategic bombing campaigns in Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Balkans, often under intense enemy fire. • Emblem and Motto: The unit adopted the motto “Valor and Victory,” symbolizing its twin legacies of bravery in air combat and critical deterrence in the nuclear age.