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52-505: Wheless is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Hewitt T. Wheless (1913-1986), American military officer Joseph Wheless (1868-1950), American lawyer Troy Wheless (born 1980), American basketball player See also [ edit ] Thomas and Lois Wheless House , a historic house in North Carolina, U.S. [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with

104-505: A few months. In October 1949, the 19th Wing was transferred to the 20th Air Force's command. The remaining units in the Marianas and Bonin Islands were shifted to other organizations. From 17 October 1949 until 28 June 1950, the wing continued B-29 training, operation of Andersen Air Force Base, and rescue and reconnaissance missions. Three days after North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950,

156-509: A major change in 1989, when control transferred from SAC to Pacific Air Forces . The 633rd Air Base Wing activated on 1 October 1989, which led to the inactivations of the 43rd Bombardment Wing on 26 March 1990 and the 60th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 30 April 1990. In August 1990, Andersen personnel began shipping over 37,000 tons of munitions to forces in the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm . With

208-451: A massive installation, with four main runways, taxiways, revetments for over 200 B-29s, and a large containment area for base operations and personnel. The first host unit at North Field was the 314th Bombardment Wing , XXI Bomber Command , Twentieth Air Force . The 314th arrived in Guam on 16 January 1945 from Peterson Field, Colorado. The 314th controlled four operational B-29 bomb groups,

260-407: A mission to attack Japanese warships and transports in the harbor at Legaspi, Philippine Islands. Wheless's bomber was attacked by eighteen enemy fighters; three gunners were wounded and a fourth killed. The airplane was able to drop its bombs and seven fighters were reportedly downed. Wheless was able to return to base and land the aircraft safely in the dark with three flat tires. Wheless's heroism

312-625: A range which the B-29s could just about manage. Most important of all, it could be put on a direct supply line from the United States by ship. "North Field," as Andersen AFB was first named, was the first air base built in Guam after its liberation. Its construction began in November 1944 and was supported by the United States Navy Seabees . North Field and its co-located Northwest Field was

364-546: Is a United States Air Force base located primarily within the village of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam . The host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing (36 WG), assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force . As a non-flying wing, the 36 WG's mission is to provide support to deployed air and space forces of USAF, foreign air forces to Andersen, and tenant units assigned to

416-717: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Hewitt T. Wheless Hewitt Wheless was born in Menard County, Texas, in 1913. He graduated from Gulf Coast Military Academy at Gulfport, Mississippi , in May 1932, and attended the University of Texas from 1933 until 1936, graduating with a degree in civil engineering. Wheless was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry reserve on January 7, 1935. In June 1938, he began pilot training as an aviation cadet at Randolph Field, Texas , and graduated at Kelly Field, Texas . He

468-567: Is one of the four Air Force Bomber Forward Operating Locations and the only base in the Western Pacific that can permanently service U.S. heavy strategic bombers, including B-1B , B-2 , and B-52 bombers. Andersen is one of two critical bases in the Asia-Pacific region, the other being Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Due to Guam's almost unrestricted airspace and the close proximity of

520-845: The 13th Bomb Squadron and 393d Bomb Squadron have taken turns in order to provide a continuous bomber presence at the base. One four-month deployment involving four B-2s began in March 2009. In March 2009, the base announced that it would investigate allegations made by a whistleblower of environmental violations within the protected area of the base. The allegations included poaching, illegal trapping of coconut crabs and resale of trophy deer, paving beaches, and stripping vegetation used for nesting by endangered hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) said, "The Air Force program for protecting Guam's natural resources has utterly broken down." The Department of Defense Inspector General (DOD IG) determined that

572-525: The 19th , (Square M), 29th (Square O), 39th (Square P), and 330th (Square K). B-29 Superfortress missions from North Field were attacks against strategic targets in Japan, operating in daylight and at a high altitude to bomb factories, refineries, and other objectives. In March 1945, the XXI Bomber Command changed tactics and started carrying out low-level night incendiary raids on area targets. During

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624-787: The 801st Air Division at Lockbourne Air Force Base , Columbus, Ohio. Assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., in April 1957, General Wheless was designated chief, War Plans Division, deputy chief of staff, operations. In a reorganization in July 1957, he was transferred to the Directorate of Plans as the deputy chief of staff, plans and programs, with no change in duty. In July 1958, he became deputy director for war plans, deputy chief of staff, plans and programs, and in September 1958 became director of plans. In September 1960, General Wheless became

676-625: The Attack on Pearl Harbor . The United States Navy surrendered Guam to the Japanese on 10 December. At the height of the war, approximately 19,000 Japanese soldiers and sailors were deployed to the island . Guam was liberated by the United States Marine Corps' 3rd Amphibious Corps on 21 July 1944, in the Battle of Guam (1944) , after a 13-day pre-invasion bombardment. The Japanese managed to contain

728-579: The Farallon de Medinilla Island , a naval bombing range 184 miles (296 km) north, the base is in an ideal training location. Andersen Air Force Base was established on 3 December 1944, and is named for Brigadier General James Roy Andersen (1904–1945). Andersen graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1926, served at various army installations, and obtained his wings at Kelly Field , Texas, in 1936. During 1943–1944 he served on

780-602: The NASA Space Shuttle was permitted to land, serving as an Augmented Emergency Landing Site for the Shuttle orbiter. In 2007, the condition of the 50-year-old South Runway was found to have deteriorated, and complete removal and replacement of the runway was necessary to maintain safety. It was replaced via a 50 million-dollar Design-Build project from the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency to

832-410: The surname Wheless . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wheless&oldid=801597761 " Category : Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description

884-556: The 1 April 1955 base transfer and activation of the 3960th Air Base Wing, B-47s replaced the B-36s in the rotations. The 43rd Bomb Wing from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona , operated from July to October 1957, which eventually became Andersen's host unit. The 3960th Air Base Wing was redesignated on 1 July 1956 as the 3960th Air Base Group. The 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the Pacific Air Forces , along with its F-86s ,

936-484: The 19th BW headquarters was relocated to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa in 1953 and was replaced by the 6319th Air Base Wing of the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) . FEAF Bomber Command's 19th Bomb Wing and SAC's 98th and 307th Bomb Wings were inactivated in 1954. Its three B-29 wings returned to the contiguous United States and were replaced with B-47s. The 3rd Air Division was activated on 18 June in its place. Its objective

988-770: The 19th Bomb Group deployed B-29s to Andersen to begin bombing targets throughout South Korea. A few days later, the group was detached from the 19th BW and deployed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The rest of the wing remained at Andersen, providing maintenance for transient aircraft and operating ammunition dumps until 1953. In 1951, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) selected several overseas bases to support rotational unit deployments of its bombers from stateside bases, starting with B-29 units and later including B-36 Peacemaker , B-47 Stratojet , B-50 Superfortress bombers and KB-29 refueling tankers. With decreased hostility in Korea ,

1040-538: The 3960th Air Base Wing, continued as the base's host wing until it was inactivated and replaced by the 43rd Strategic Wing on 1 April 1970. The 43rd assumed the mission of the 4133rd on 1 July 1970. It continued in this capacity until the 57th Air Division (Provisional) and 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional) were activated in June 1972 in support of Operation Bullet Shot ( military operation name for temporary duty assignment of US-based technicians — "the herd shot 'round

1092-541: The 3rd Air Division was reactivated on 1 January 1975. When the North Vietnamese forces overran South Vietnam later in 1975, the base provided emergency relief and shelter for thousands of Vietnamese evacuees as a part of Operation New Life . After the Fall of Saigon , Andersen received almost 40,000 refugees and processed another 109,000 for transportation to the United States. The base returned to routine operations by

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1144-567: The Air Force responses to the PEER allegations adequately addressed the issues raised. Consequently, DoD IG determined further investigation was not warranted. The strategic importance of Andersen AFB was brought to the forefront on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 when the base was circled by two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-H bombers hours prior to President Obama 's State of the Union Address. Their flight

1196-496: The Allied assault on Okinawa , groups of the 314th Bomb Wing attacked airfields from which the Japanese were sending out suicide planes against the invasion force. Flying out of Guam aboard a B-29, S/Sgt Henry E Erwin of the 29th Bombardment Group was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during a mission over Koriyama , Japan, on 12 April 1945. When a phosphorus smoke bomb exploded in

1248-591: The Marines on two beachheads, but their counter-attack failed. The Marines renewed their assault, and reached the northern tip of the island on 10 August 1944. Japanese guerrilla activities continued until the end of the war. Some were holdouts for many years afterwards. Guam was considered ideal to establish air bases to launch B-29 Superfortress operations against the Japanese Home Islands . The Marianas Islands are about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Tokyo,

1300-538: The SAC director of plans, and in July 1962 he was named SAC chief of staff. In June 1963, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as the assistant deputy chief of staff, programs and requirements. He became deputy chief of staff, programs and requirements, in February 1964 and was promoted to lieutenant general. In February 1965, he became assistant vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., his present position. He

1352-501: The Tutor-Perini Corporation and its local subsidiary, Black Construction Company. The project's scope included demolition and reconstruction of the existing runway, which was 11,185 feet by 200 feet, as well as repairs and tie-ins to existing taxiway intersections, removal and replacement of degraded airfield lighting, realigning arresting gear and reconstruction. On 23 February 2008, a USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, one of

1404-527: The USAF announced it was no longer permanently basing strategic bombers outside the continental United States. Since 2004, B-1B Lancer , B-2A Spirit and B-52G Stratofortress aircraft deployed to Guam on a rotational basis. Despite the move, bombers are expected to continue to deploy on an ad hoc basis. As part of the establishment of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz , additional facilities are being constructed on Andersen to house Marines to be stationed there. In addition,

1456-831: The United States Mission to the United Nations. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery , Section 30. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is rated a command pilot and navigator. North Field, Guam Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) ( IATA : UAM , ICAO : PGUA , FAA LID : UAM )

1508-489: The War Department General Staff. In January 1945, Andersen was assigned to HQ AAF, Pacific Ocean Area. He died on 26 February 1945 in the crash of a B-24 Liberator aircraft between Kwajalein and Johnston Island while en route to Hawaii . Andersen Air Force Base's origin begins on 7 December 1941 when Guam was attacked by the armed forces of Imperial Japan in the Battle of Guam (1941) three hours after

1560-649: The base included the 36th Wing (PACAF), elements of the 624th Regional Support Group , the 734th Air Mobility Support Squadron (Air Mobility Command), Detachment 1, 69th Reconnaissance Group , flying the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk , and the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two-Five (HSC-25), U.S. Navy, flying the Sikorsky MH-60S . In April 2020, sixteen years of continuous bomber presence (CBP) at Andersen ended when

1612-543: The base. Andersen AFB was placed under the installation management authority of Joint Region Marianas in October 2009, along with Naval Base Guam . The two bases are about 30 miles (48 km) apart at opposite ends of the island. Established in 1944 after the Liberation of Guam as North Field , it is named for Brigadier General James Roy Andersen (1904–1945). The most important U.S. air base west of Hawaii, Andersen

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1664-463: The equivalent of 13 stateside bomber wings. A ceasefire came into effect in Vietnam on 27 January 1973. The B-52s continued to fly missions over Cambodia and Laos until those were halted on 15 August 1973. With the end of these runs, more than 100 B-52s, both D and G Models, were deployed elsewhere in the world by October 1973. The Eighth Air Force moved to Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana , and

1716-565: The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991, Andersen was instrumental in caring for American evacuees and their pets as a part of Operation Fiery Vigil . In December, Andersen became home to the Thirteenth Air Force, which had evacuated from Clark Air Base in the Philippines after the eruption. The host unit was changed on 1 October 1994, when the 633rd Air Base Wing was inactivated. The 36th Air Base Wing took over host operations and

1768-588: The headquarters of the Twentieth Air Force moved from Guam to Kadena Air Base , Okinawa. Its former staff was assigned to the 19th BW. At Andersen, the wing assumed responsibility for supervising two active bases and one semi-active base, an assortment of communication, weather, radar, rescue and other facilities and units, including the Marianas Air Material Area, a wing size unit. Many of the units and facilities were closed or inactivated within

1820-504: The implementation and review of policies, plans and programs, and in the overall direction of the U.S. Air Force. As an additional duty, General Wheless was the senior Air Force member, Military Staff Committee, United Nations. In this capacity, he provided the United States representation on the Military Staff Committee in accordance with the terms of the charter of the United Nations and furnishes military advice and assistance to

1872-497: The late 1970s, but continued to serve as one of SAC's strategic locations. Crews and aircraft were regularly sent to sites between Australia, Alaska and South Korea and supported sea surveillance operations support for the U.S. Navy. Andersen was also home to the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Typhoon Chasers" during the 1960s through the 1980s. Air crews flying WC-130s tracked and penetrated typhoons, providing advanced warnings to military and civilian populations throughout

1924-511: The launching chute and shot back into the plane, Sgt Erwin picked up the burning bomb, carried it to a window, and threw it out, saving the plane and all aboard her. After the war, B-29s from North Field dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners and participated in several show-of-force missions over Japan. The 29th, 39th and 330th Bombardment Groups returned to the United States and inactivated in December 1945. The 19th remained in Guam to become

1976-454: The most expensive military aircraft in the world (valued at $ 1.4 billion), crashed on the base moments after takeoff, due to a mechanical failure. Both pilots ejected safely. This was the first time a B-2 had crashed. On 21 July 2008, a B-52 crashed into the sea while on a training mission that was to fly over a parade in Guam commemorating the U.S. liberation of the island from Japanese occupation in 1944. B-2s and B-52 aircraft from

2028-521: The same capacity for the Second Air Force. Still with SAC, General Wheless went to England in July 1951 as director of operations for the Seventh Air Division . He returned to the Second Air Force in October 1952 to become director of operations. In November 1953, he assumed command of the 306th Bombardment Wing at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida, and the following April assumed command of

2080-538: The station's host unit after the 314th Bombardment Wing moved to Johnson Air Base , Japan for occupation duty. After the end of World War II , Guam served as a collection point for surplus war goods that had accumulated in the Pacific Theater . The 19th Bombardment Wing (BW) was formed at North AFB in 1948 from the resources of the former North Guam Air Force Base Command (Provisional). The 19th BW operated Andersen AFB and continued utilizing B-29s. In May 1949,

2132-687: The western Pacific. During the Vietnam War, the 54th also provided cloud seeding capability along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and synoptic reconnaissance, deploying from Udorn RTAFB when not in Guam. The 54th WRS was inactivated in September 1987. In 1983, the 43rd completed its transition from the B-52D to the B-52G and became one of only two SAC bomber wings equipped with the Harpoon anti-ship missile . The base saw

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2184-683: The world." ). The 303rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Wing (Provisional) was activated in July 1972. All of the provisional units remained at Andersen until bombing missions ceased on 15 November 1973. Operation Linebacker II continued the mission of Operation Arc Light, and was most notable for its 11-day bombing campaign between 18 and 29 December 1972, in which more than 150 B-52s flew 729 sorties in 11 days. The B-52s at Andersen, combined with other bombers stationed at U-Tapao Field in Thailand, constituted about 50 percent of SAC's total bomber force and 75 percent of all combat crews. Two bases contained

2236-490: Was appointed senior Air Force member, Military Staff Committee, United Nations, in August 1967 in addition to his present duty. Lieutenant General Hewitt Terrell Wheless was assistant vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force. In this position, he was the principal assistant to the chief of staff and the vice chief of staff in the discharge of their duties, and acted for them on matters not requiring their personal attention. He assisted in

2288-616: Was assigned in the same capacity to the Eighth Air Force , and in December 1946 assumed command of the 7th Bombardment Group . In August 1947, General Wheless was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters at Andrews Army Air Field , Maryland, as chief of the Operations Division, and in December 1948 moved with the command to Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska, where he was the deputy director of operations. In April 1950, he went to Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana, in

2340-532: Was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps Reserve on May 26, 1939. His first assignment was as assistant operations officer of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron at March Field, California . In October 1941, he went with the 19th Bombardment Group to the Philippine Islands and then to Java and Australia . On 14 December 1941, then Lieutenant Wheless was the pilot of a B-17 on

2392-422: Was followed by KC-135 Stratotankers . With the start of Operation Arc Light in June 1965, B-52Fs and KC-135As began regular bombing missions over Vietnam and continued until 1973, with a break between August 1970 and early 1972. In support of Operation Arc Light, SAC activated the 4133rd Bombardment Wing (Provisional) on 1 February 1966. The 3960th Strategic Wing , which was originally activated in 1955 as

2444-483: Was monitored by US F-15 fighter jets . The Russian bombers later left the area in a northbound direction. As tensions escalated between the U.S. and the North Korean regime, the latter threatened to strike the island. A total of 816,393 munitions assets valued at over $ 95 million were delivered to Andersen Air Force Base between 21 August and 30 September 2017. In early 2019, the main operational and flying units on

2496-473: Was noted in Franklin Roosevelt's Fireside Chat on April 28, 1942. In April 1942, Wheless returned to the United States. He served as operations officer for the 34th Bombardment Group at Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington . In December 1942, he was assigned as deputy commander of the 88th Bombardment Group at Walla Walla, Washington , where he later became commander. From October 1943 to June 1944, he

2548-414: Was operations staff officer at Second Air Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, Colorado . Again going overseas in June 1944, Wheless served as director of operations for the 314th Bombardment Wing at North Field, Guam . He returned to the United States and went to Fort Worth Army Air Field , Texas, where he served as deputy chief of staff, operations, for the 58th Bombardment Wing . A year later, he

2600-506: Was redesignated as the 36th Wing on 12 April 2006. In October 1994, the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5) relocated to Andersen from the now-closed Naval Air Station Agana , Guam. HC-5 was later redesignated as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Twenty-Five ( HSC-25 ) following its transition from the CH-46 to the MH-60S . The base was one of the few places in the world where

2652-611: Was stationed at Andersen from August 1956 until it was inactivated in March 1960. After that, the air defense mission was provided by deployments of Fifth and Thirteenth Air Force units flying the F-102 aircraft. Andersen's rotational duties concluded when the B-47 was phased out and replaced by the B-52 Stratofortress . The first B-52, the "City of El Paso," arrived from the 95th Bomb Wing at Biggs Air Force Base , Texas in March 1964. It

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2704-559: Was to control all SAC units in the Far East. The division operated as a tenant unit from June 1954 until April 1955 and received host-base support services from the 6319th until that unit was inactivated on 1 April 1955. The 6319th was replaced with the SAC-aligned 3960th Air Base Wing. SAC continued its 90-day unit rotational training program and began to take control of the base from the FEAF. After

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