492nd BS) Inactivated in 1969; Columbus AFB transferred to ATC 456th Strategic Aerospace (later Bombardment) Wing, Beale AFB, California B-52G, 1963–1975 Activated to replace 4126th Strategic Wing 744th Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 31st BS, a/c to 34th BS) Wing Inactivated in 1975, replaced by 17th Bombardment Wing 461st Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Amarillo AFB, Texas B-52D, 1963–1968 Activated to replace4128th Strategic Wing 764th Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 718 BS) Inactivated in 1968; Amarillo AFB closed. 462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing, Larson AFB, Washington Activated to replace 4170th Strategic Wing B-52D, 1963–1966 768th Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 327 BS) Inactivated in 1966; Larson AFB closed. 465th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Robins AFB, Georgia Activated to replace 4137th Strategic Wing B-52G, 1963–1968 781st Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 342d BS) Tenant SAC unit on AFLC base; Inactivated in 1968 484th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Turner AFB, Georgia Activated to replace 4138th Strategic Wing B-52D, 1963–1967 824th Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 336 BS) Inactivated in 1967; Turner AFB closed and transferred to US Navy in 1968 as NAS Albany. 494th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Sheppard AFB, Texas Activated to replace 4245th Strategic Wing B-52D, 1963–1966 864th Bombardment Squadron (a/c from 717 BS) SAC tenant unit on ATC base; Inactivated in 1966 509th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Pease AFB, New Hampshire B-52D, 1966–1969 393rd Bombardment Squadron Re-equipped with FB-111s in 1970; Inactivated 1995, Pease AFB transferred to Air National Guard as Pease ANGB per BRAC Historical Strategic Air Command MAJCOM B-52 units Strategic Wings were established by Strategic Air Command in the late 1950s to disburse its B-52 bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. A 4-Digit MAJCOM wing, they were considered as temporary, provisional units. Beginning in 1962, in order to retain the lineage of the Strategic Wings as combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history. Component units were also redesignated to historically-linked units of the newly established wing. Therefore, the history, lineage and honors of the World War II historical units were bestowed upon the newly established wing