Editing Nevada Test and Training Range (military unit) (section)

==History==
: ''See [[98th Operations Group]] for additional history prior to 1947''
[[File:98thbombwing-patch.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Emblem of the 98th Bombardment Wing (Medium)]]

===Organization and Korean War===
During the early years of the [[Cold War]], the '''98th Bombardment Wing''', Very Heavy (BW) was formed 24 October 1947 as part of the Air Force's experimental wing base ([[Hobson Plan]]) reorganization and assigned to [[Strategic Air Command]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Goss|first=William A|editor=Craven, Wesley F |editor2=Cate, James L|title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=VI, Men & Planes|year=1955|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|lccn=48-3657|page=59|chapter=The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF}}</ref> The 98th BW was discontinued on 12 July 1948, and replaced by the 98th BW, Medium the same day when the test was deemed successful and the organization made permanent.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave/page/10|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave/page/10 10]}}</ref> From November 1947 to July 1948 and July 1948 to July 1954, the [[wing (military aviation unit)|wing]] headquarters was often manned as a "paper" unit with most of its components attached to other establishments for long periods. The wing's tactical [[group (military aviation unit)|group]] was operational, but under control of other organizations from November 1947 to April 1950 and again from August 1950 through March 1951.<ref name=Ravenstein138>Ravenstein, ''Combat Wings'', pp. 138–141</ref>

[[File:B-29 345th BS 98th BG over Korea.jpg|thumb|98th Bomb Wing B-29 over Korea]]
On 1 April 1951, wing headquarters deployed to Japan to assume control over combat operations of the group's three tactical squadrons,<ref>Ironically, at this time it was the group that became a paper unit</ref> while the rest of the wing remained behind in Washington.<ref name=Ravenstein138/> In 1952, the combat [[squadron (aviation)|squadrons]] were joined by three maintenance squadrons.  Wing [[combat]] missions in Korea included interdiction of enemy communications and support of United Nations ground forces. Its last combat mission flown 25 July 1953 and it dropped propaganda leaflets on the day of truce two days later.<ref name=Ravenstein138/>

During the Korean War, the squadrons of the 98th flew more than 5,000 sorties and dropped more than 40,000 tons of bombs (actual total unavailable).{{Citation needed|reason=need support for numbers|date=January 2013}}  They earned a [[Distinguished Unit Citation]], a [[Korean Presidential Unit Citation]] and 10 battle streamers.<ref name=Ravenstein138/> The 98th was credited with the destruction of 5 MiG 15 Jet Fighters and one propeller driven fighter.  The 98th recorded 19 [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]] losses from August 1950 to July 1954.{{Citation needed|reason=need support for losses|date=January 2013}}

=== Cold War ===
[[File:B-47 Ramp Lincoln AFB NE 1960.jpg|thumb|B-47s on the Ramp at Lincoln AFB]]
The wing remained at [[Yokota Air Base]], Japan in [[combat readiness|combat-ready]] status for another year. Meanwhile, wing components not deployed in Japan moved to newly reopened [[Lincoln AFB]], Nebraska to supervise construction in preparation for movement there of the deployed wing components.  The wing disposed of its B-29s at the "boneyard" at [[Davis-Monthan AFB]], Arizona. In July 1954, wing components concentrated at the wing's new base,<ref>This was the first time since 1947 that all wing components were under the wing's control at the same base</ref> but in October, the 98th gave up its host responsibilities at Lincoln to the [[818th Air Division]].<ref name=LincolnHistory>[http://www.lincolnafb.org/history.php The Lincoln AFB Online Museum - History] (retrieved 14 Jan 2013)</ref> [[aerial refueling|Air refueling]] operations were already underway by then.  The wing's squadrons began receiving new [[Boeing B-47E Stratojet]] swept-wing medium bombers<ref name=Ravenstein138/> in January 1955, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the [[Soviet Union]].{{Citation needed|reason=need support for speed and design purpose|date=January 2013}}  At this point the wing began an intensive training program to convert to combat ready status as soon as possible.  This was achieved in April 1955.<ref name=LincolnHistory/>

During next decade, the wing participated in Strategic Air Command's worldwide bombardment training and air refueling commitments. The wing deployed to [[RAF Lakenheath]], England from 11 November 1955 to 29 January 1956. Starting in 1960, the wing maintained B-47s on ground alert 24 hours a day.<ref name=LincolnHistory/> From January 1964 to April 1965, the wing also controlled an [[SM-65 Atlas]] [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] (ICBM) squadron and was redesignated as the '''98th Strategic Aerospace Wing'''.<ref name=Ravenstein138/> In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal.  Beginning in 1964, the wing began sending its aircraft to Davis-Monthan AFB. Lincoln AFB was closed and the wing inactivated in 1966.

=== European Mission ===
[[File:Boeing KC-135 J57 takeoff.JPEG|thumb|KC-135 on takeoff]]
[[File:98thstrategicwing-patch.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Emblem of the 98th Strategic Wing]]
The wing was inactivated on 25 June 1966 at Lincoln AFB, but activated the same day at [[Torrejon Air Base]], Spain replacing the '''3970th Strategic Wing''' (SW).  The 3970th SW had been established on 1 July 1957 at Torrejon as the '''3970th Air Base Group'''<ref name="Fletcher">{{cite book|last=Fletcher|first=Harry R|title=Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/May/25/2001330286/-1/-1/0/AFD-100525-060.pdf |year=1993|publisher=Center for Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn= 0-912799-53-6|pages=187–190}}</ref> to support B-47 and KC-135 elements from SAC CONUS-based units deployed to Europe as part of REFLEX deployments and provide a refueling mission to [[USAFE]] tactical fighters.{{Citation needed|reason=need support for 3970 mission|date=January 2013}} Until 1 April 1966, when SAC transferred Torrejon to USAFE, the 3970th also acted as the host base organization for all USAF units at Torrejon.  The group was assigned seven support squadrons and a hospital to carry out its mission. It was redesignated the '''3970th Combat Support Group''' on 1 June 1959 and upgraded to wing status on 1 February 1964.<ref name=Fletcher/>

In 1966, SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue the 3970th SW (a MAJCON wing) and activate an AFCON wing which could continue the lineage and history of a combat wing. On 5 June 1966, the 3970th SW was replaced by the '''98th Strategic Wing''', which assumed the personnel, equipment, and mission of the '''3970th Strategic Wing''',<ref name=Ravenstein138/>
For the next decade, the 98th had no tactical aircraft components assigned to it, but rather used attached [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker]]s and crews furnished by other SAC wings to provide air refueling support for the operational, alert exercise commitment of SAC, [[Tactical Air Command]], [[United States Air Forces Europe]] and [[NATO]]. These aircraft were deployed on temporary duty as the '''Spanish Tanker Task Force'''.  The wing's operational area included the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.<ref name=Ravenstein138/>

The Wing maintained a detachment at [[RAF Upper Heyford]] (relocated to [[RAF Mildenhall]] in April 1970) supporting RC-135 Reconnaissance Aircraft, and supporting KC-135 Tankers deployed from the Spanish Tanker Task Force.  In October 1976, the [[306th Strategic Wing]], based at [[Ramstein AB]], West Germany assumed this support task and the 98th phased down at Torrejon and was inactivated 31 December 1976.<ref name=Ravenstein138/>

=== Post Cold War ===
[[Image:98 Range Wg.jpg|thumb|left|98th Range Wing Emblem]]
In October 2001, the wing was redesignated the '''98th Range Wing''' and began operating the range facilities of the Air Warfare Center from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.<ref name=NTTRfacts/> It replaced the [[99th Range Group]] and 99th Range Squadron of the host unit at Nellis, the [[99th Air Base Wing]].  Its mission is to provide a flexible and realistic "battle space" to support training, testing, and tactics development, for which it controls the airspace over 12,000 square nautical miles, 7,000 of which are shared with civilian aircraft.<ref name=NellisRangeFacts/>

The NTTR supports [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] (DOD) advanced composite force training, tactics development, and electronic combat testing as well as DOD and [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] testing, research, and development. It acts as the single point of contact for range customers.<ref name=NellisRangeFacts/>

In June 2011, the wing was redesignated '''Nevada Test and Training Range''' and its operational groups were replaced by directorates.<ref name=NTTRfacts/><ref name=NellisRangeFacts/> Then on 1 April 2013, the [[25th Space Range Squadron]] (SRS) was moved under the NTTR from [[Air Force Space Command]]. The 25 SRS operates and maintains the [[Space Test and Training Range]]. On 24 July 2020 the 25th Space Range Squadron was transferred to the United States Space Force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2287104/us-space-force-stands-up-star-delta-provisional|title = US Space Force stands up STAR Delta Provisional}}</ref>