 At Itami, the unit began preparations to convert to Douglas A-26 Invaders, but it was inactivated there on 10 May 1946.The 42nd Bombardment Wing was first activated on 25 February 1953 at Limestone Air Force Base, Maine and was assigned to Eighth Air Force of s part of Strategic Air Command (SAC).Limestone was a new installation and the wing was organized with the help of resources and temporary duty personnel on loan from the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas and of the 4215th Air Base Squadron, which had overseen the construction of Loring as a heavy bomber base since 1950.