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-29Ps. 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.  Initially the unit was equipped with B-36Fs.  Later Featherweight III  B-36Js were added, with each squadron operating both types.    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. 
 

    During the late 40s and early 50s SAC used tail markings that consisted of a combination of geometric shapes and letters.  In the case of the 6th BW a large triangle enclosing the leter "R" was used.  The shape would indicate the numbered Air Force, with a triangle representing the 8th AF, which was the Air Force the 6th BW was assigned to.   A triangle was used for the 8th AF, a circle for 15th AF and a square for 2nd AF.  This system was phased out about 1953.

   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 on March 25.  On April 1,  1988 the designation became the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, only to be inactivated on September 1, 1992. The unit was re-activated on September 4, 1994 at MacDill AFB, Florida as the 6th Air Base Wing, becoming the 6th Aerial Refueling Wing on October 1, 1996.   The final change (for now) came on January 1, 2001 as the 6th Air Mobility Wing.
 

  1                                  2                                 3

(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)
 

I have had several veterans correspond with me and state that at least the 6th BW emblem was carried on the right side of the wing's BUFFs and I have finally found proof of that.  This photo of 56-0651 is cropped from a group picture of the 6th EMS and clearly shows the official 6th Bomb Wing patch.  During July, 2006 I was contacted by Phil Rogers who confirmed that the 6th BW aircraft carried the patch.  Phil had been assigned to the 6th FMS paint shop and had place many of the patches on the aircraft himself.
 

    This provides a very brief list of the squadrons and aircraft of the 6th.  Red indicates the units and stay at Walker.  The Dark Blue indicates history after Walker.
 

    24th Bombardment Squadron 
    January 2, 19511 - January 25, 19672
 

                                                                                                            B-29       1951 - 1952
                                                                                                            B-36       1952 - 1957
                                                                                                            B-52E    1957 - 1967
 

    24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
    March 25, 1967 -  July 7, 19922
 

                                                                                                            KC-135  1967 - 1992
                                                                                                            RC-135  1967 - 1992
                                                                                                            EC-135  1967 - 1992
 

    39th Bombardment Squadron 
    January 2, 19511 - September 15, 19632
 

    40th Bombardment Squadron 
    January 2, 19511 - January 25, 19672
 

   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.
 

To return to...

Comments or suggestions...