Unknown USAF Nuclear Patch

[bbmilitaria]

This cut edge patch is on the chest of a rough K-2B flight suit. I assume it is nuclear orientated by the design of the patch. I know there are some forum members with a great deal of USAF knowledge, however mine is fairly limited. Any help is appreciated. Mike

 

 

[Teamski]

509th Bomb Wing (heavy) out of Pease AFB..... just ask USAFPATCHES.COM, hehehehe

 

-Ski

[KurtA]

509th Bomb Wing. Probably dates from the 1960's. Appears they primarily had refueling duties. See attached link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/509th_Bomb_Wing

[bbmilitaria]

Talk about fast information. Thank you Teamski and your information is much appreciated. Mike

[Mark1]

509th Bombardment Wing (Medium) 1958 to 1966 aircraft: B-47 & KC-97

509th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) 1966 to 1969 aircraft: B-52 & KC-135

509th Bombardment Wing (Medium) 1969 to 1990 aircraft: F-111 & KC-135 (1966 to 1976)

 

does the jacket have a squadron patch on it?

 

mark

[Wailuna]

More of the story to go with your flight suit:

 

It appears that the roots of 509th Bomb Wing's family tree grew out 509th Composite Group of WWII fame (Hiroshima, Nagasaki, etc.) and the modern 509th Bomb Wing insignia is based on 509th Composite Group's history. The Group was redesignated 509th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in 1947 and was assigned to the newly formed 509th Bombardment Wing (i.e., the present day 509th Bomb Wing). The group was inactivated in 1952 as 509th Bombardment Group (Medium) and reactivated in 1993 as 509th Operations Group and reassigned to 509th Bomb Wing, where it remains today (at Whitman AFB, Missouri). For more details, here are links to USAF official history of 509th Operations Group and 509th Bomb Wing. As an illustration of 509th Composite Group's approved insignia is not shown in the official history (Internet version), here is the image from a print edition of Maurer Maurer's Air Force Combat Units of World War II (1983, p. 372):

 

[bbmilitaria]

No other patches on the flight suit. Must be an early '60's suit as it retains the printed AAF style insignia on the left shoulder. Thanks everyone for the info.