13 years and counting: Grand Slam Wing celebrates its enduring legacy Published April 3, 2015 By Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- For more than 13 years the Grand Slam wing has been at the forefront of the Global War on Terrorism following the devastating terrorist attacks against the United States on 9/11. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing was re-activated in April 2002, as a full spectrum wing tasked with providing kinetic and non-kinetic airpower to joint and coalition warfighters supporting U.S. Central Command missions, including operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. “Reflecting back on our extraordinary history, I can’t help but be amazed at the many accomplishments we’ve made in the last 13 years,” said Maj. Doug Lantry, 379th AEW historian. “What we do here to support combatant commanders and mission partners is unparalleled across the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility; however, our contributions and successes aren’t new for us…. we’re just continuing what our predecessors began more than 70 years ago.”The wing’s history dates back to World War II when it was activated as the 379th Bombardment Group on Oct 28, 1942. During this time, while assigned to 8th Air Force, the wing earned the distinction of being the only unit to achieve a “grand slam,” for having the greatest percentage of bombs on target; greatest tonnage of bombs dropped on targets; largest number of attacking aircraft; lowest losses of aircraft and the lowest abortive rate of aircraft launched into battle as part of B-17 bombardment operations. Over the next seven decades, the 379th’s legacy of excellence continued as they achieved major combat success during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and the First Gulf War. In the 13 years since being re-activated as an air expeditionary wing, the unit has met every challenge head-on and continues to live up to its “Grand Slam” legacy. Some of the wing’s achievements include completing more than 10,000 B-1 Bomber combat sorties and providing 100,000 hours of command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for warfighters supporting both OIF and OEF. Most recently the wing has been heavily involved in providing airpower support to operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. When OIR began in 2014, support for the wing revved up. During this time, the wing contributed to humanitarian aid efforts for 40,000 Iraqis who were stranded on Mount Sinjar, by delivering more than 114,000 meals and 35,000 gallons of water in support of the effort. “Despite our rich history of success, we must never lose sight of our mission to deliver the most unique and vital capabilities we can offer through power, precision and accuracy, because it’s our legacy,” Lantry said.