The 3973d SW was a support element for the SAC originally for SAC
Boeing B-47 Stratojet wing and support elements deployed to Moron AB from United States bases
Operation Reflex and later
Operation Chrome Dome operations between 1 June 1957 and 15 April 1966. When activated as the
3973d Air Base Squadron, it assumed the resources (Manpower, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the
7605th Air Base Squadron, a USAFE unit that had opened Moron. Throughout its existence it was controlled by SAC at Moron AB. The
wing originated as the
3973d Air Base Squadron on 1 January 1957, replacing the
7605th Air Base Squadron of
United States Air Forces Europe, which had opened Moron AB for
United States Air Force use. The wing trained and equipped personnel at Moron as well as supported Operation Chrome Dome operations with
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refueling
B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. On 4 February 1965 REeflex operations for
Boeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft ended and the wing focused on other missions. Chrome Dome operations terminated on 23 January 1966 at the request of the Spanish government, following the crash of a B-52 near
Palomares B-58 Hustler aircraft deployed from the
43d Bombardment Wing at
Carswell AFB, Texas arrived at Moron 22 July 1964 for Alarm Bell operational training, remaining on station until September. The wing inactivated on 15 April 1966 when Moron AB transferred from SAC to
United States Air Forces in Europe. The unit was replaced by the
7473d Combat Support Group under USAFE. SAC retained a tanker presence at Moron, but its mission was refueling USAFE
fighter aircraft. ==Lineage==