The two birthdays of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Published July 11, 2008 By Lane Bourgeois 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Historian SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Organizations are somewhat like people. They are conceived (established), born (the initial activation), live (become operational), sleep (inactivate), and may even die (disband). Unlike a person however, the organization of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing may legitimately claim two birthdays. On July 11, 1955, the wing was born with its initial activation. At that time it was designated as the 380th Bombardment Wing (Medium). However, the wing may also claim that it was born on Nov. 3, 1942, with the activation of the 380th Bombardment Group. Two historical anniversaries coincidentally coincide with the establishment and activation of the 380th Bombardment Group. The War Department established the 380th Bombardment Group on Oct. 28, 1942. October 28 is the date the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York City in 1886. The group activated on Nov. 3, 1942. November 3 is the date that the Japanese fleet received from Tokyo a top secret order to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941. While the anniversaries of the Statue of Liberty dedication and the Japanese order to strike Pearl Harbor have no bearing on the establishment and birth of the wing, these events seem to echo the wing's very origin and purpose. Throughout its rich history, the wing has preserved liberty and defeated aggression. The 380th Bombardment Group did this convincingly in WWII, earning two distinguished group citations and nine campaign streamers. It defeated aggression by flying armed reconnaissance patrols, conducting a series of longrange bombing raids on oil refineries and dock facilities, and attacking enemy airfields and ground forces throughout the war. After the end of hostilities, it preserved liberty by flying reconnaissance patrols, ferrying released prisoners to Manila, and returning B-24s and their crews to the United States in an effort called the "Sunset Project." The group inactivated in 1946, activating only briefly from May 1-16, 1951, before inactivating again. On July 11, 1955, the 380th Bombardment Wing (Medium) was activated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.. At this time in history, the 380th Bombardment Wing was separate from the 380th Bombardment Group of WWII. The lineage and history of the two organizations were separate. The wing has a distinguished history. Flying the B-47, the wing deployed to Brize Norton, UK, for three months in 1957, winning the "Three Capitals" air race. In 1963, in addition to its tanker and bomber mission, the wing added missiles to its arsenal. It maintained 12 Atlas missiles on constant alert. During the Cuban Missile Crisis the wing deployed eight B-47s to a dispersal base. The wing was redesignated as the 380th Strategic Aerospace Wing in 1964. From 1974-1985, the wing won Strategic Air Command's bombing and navigation competition (the Fairchild Trophy) five times--more times than any other unit. On Jan. 31, 1984, an event occurred which gives the 380th a certain historical uniqueness. The lineage and honors of the WWII, 380th Bombardment Group, was consolidated with the lineage and honors of the 380th Wing. Consolidations are not automatic; they must be done by special order. Though the WWII group and the wing started as two separate organizations, they were merged into one in 1984. For this reason, the wing, in a very real sense, has two birthdays: both Nov. 3, 1942 and July 11, 1955. An interesting thread that is only a small part of the rich tapestry that makes up the history of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.