6th Bomb Wing
Walker AFB, New Mexico
�� The 6th Bombardment Wing (Medium) was activated Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico on January 2, 1951.� The unit consisted of the 24th, 39th and 40th Bomb Squadrons and was equipped with B-29 Superfortress aircraft.� The 307th AREFS was also attached until 1952 and operated KB-29s. This unit insignia approved for this unit was the same as the 6th BG from WWII.� The 6th BG had also flown B-29s.� (The two unit insignia at the top of this page are the 6th ARW patch and the unofficial 6th BW patch applied to aircraft and worn on uniforms.� The 6th ARW patch will be replaced when I have time to draw the correct patch.)� In 1952 the unit was redesigned as a heavy bomb wing and re-equipped with B-36s.� During this time the "Pirate Head" emblem was applied to the right side of the aircraft with the SAC "Milky Way".� Each squadron painted the tip of the vertical stab, the lip of the jet intakes and the "nose cone" of the jet itself in squadron colors:� Yellow for the 24th, red for the 39th and blue for the 40th.
�� In 1957 the B-36s were
replaced
with B-52E Stratofortress aircraft.� The unit lost the
24th
BS, but gained the 4129th Combat Crew Training Squadron and the 6th
AREFS
along with KC-135A Stratotankers.� From 1961 until 1965
the
579th Strategic Missile Squadron and its Atlas missiles were
part
of the wing.� The 39th and the 4129th both left in 1963.� In
1967 Walker was closed and the 6th BW became the 6th Strategic Wing and
relocated to Eielson AFB, Alaska.� In 1991 the 6th became the 6th
Aerial Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida.
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(1)� 49-2683 and another B-36F in
flight
over what looks like West Texas or Southern New Mexico.� The
"Pirate
Head" is carried on the fuselage, but the squadron color is not applied
to the fin cap.� The nose area of the jet appears to be either red
or blue.� My guess is red, which would mean these aircraft belong
to the 39th BS.� (USAF)
(3)� An unidentified� B-36J showing the Pirate Head carried
on the right side of the nose.� Note the Santa Claus inside the
nose greenhouse.
(3)� B-52E 56-0640 on landing at Walker
AFB sometime in the 1960s.� The markings are rather plain and from
this photo it is not evident whether or not the "Pirate Head" is
carried.�
(USAF)
�� This page is a
"work
in progress".� I hope to add to it as time goes by, but for some
reason
the units at Walker AFB and Biggs AFB are not well recorded.
�
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Page created 1-19-02
Corrected 11-12-04