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* '''755th Air Expeditionary Group'''
* '''755th Air Expeditionary Group'''
: The group supports International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations across Afghanistan with essential resources to strengthen security and build a solid infrastructure. It provides Provincial Reconstruction Teams, Embedded Training Teams and Brigade Support Teams with services including security forces, explosive ordinance disposal, civil engineering, contracting, communications, medical, intelligence, legal and logistics support to train local officials and rebuild the country.
: The group supports International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations across Afghanistan with essential resources to strengthen security and build a solid infrastructure. It provides Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), Embedded Training Teams and Brigade Support Teams with services including security forces, explosive ordinance disposal, civil engineering, contracting, communications, medical, intelligence, legal and logistics support to train local officials and rebuild the country. In addition to the PRTs, the Group operates four squadrons, 655 AES, 755 AES, 855 AES and [955th Air Expeditionary Squadron]].


* '''451st Air Expeditionary Group'''
* '''451st Air Expeditionary Group'''

Revision as of 18:28, 19 July 2009

455th Air Expeditionary Wing
455th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem
Active2001–Present
CountryUnited States
BranchU.S. Air Force
TypeAir Expeditionary
RoleCombat Support
Part ofU.S. Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF)
Garrison/HQBagram Air Base, Afghanistan
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Steven L. Kwast[1]

The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing (455 AEW) is an air expeditionary wing of the U.S. Air Force assigned to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Most of the wing personnel are located at the Air Force Village known as Camp Cunningham.

Mission

The wing's primary mission is to support the Global War on Terrorism by providing aerial support for U.S. and Coalition forces on the ground.

Activated in 2001, the 455th is the only Air Force wing in Afghanistan and has members deployed throughout the country supporting the Operation Enduring Freedom.

Units

The wing consists of six groups:

  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group
The operations group is responsible for all expeditionary flying and aeromedical evacuation operations for the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. The group oversees the day-to-day operations of one active-duty F-15E fighter squadron, one active-duty A-10 squadron, one National Guard C-130 airlift squadron, and an active-duty Navy electronic attack flying squadron. The EOG also has administrative control over an active-duty EC-130 electronic combat squadron. In addition, the operations group oversees a range of support functions such as airfield management and operations for both Bagram and Kabul, air traffic control, intelligence, weather, and a medical clinic that serves the wing.
  • 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group
The group provides a wide range of services for the air component commander in support of coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. The group is comprised of four squadrons responsible for personnel accountability, manpower resources, services for laundry, billeting, morale and welfare, communications, airfield management, security for aircraft and personnel, local national force protection escorts, fuels, vehicle maintenance, logistics planning, passenger terminal operations and air terminal operations.
  • 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group
The group provides combat-ready aircraft and munitions to the air component commander in support of coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. The group is comprised of two squadrons responsible for on- and off-aircraft maintenance and sortie generation of F-15E fighter, A-10 attack and C-130 tactical airlift aircraft, as well as launch, recovery, and servicing support for military and commercial transient aircraft.


  • 455th Expeditionary Medical Group
The group is the Air Force component for Task Force Med, which provides combat medical and combat medical support services to U.S. and coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. Along with the U.S. Army, the 455 EMDG staffs Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram.
  • 755th Air Expeditionary Group
The group supports International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operations across Afghanistan with essential resources to strengthen security and build a solid infrastructure. It provides Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), Embedded Training Teams and Brigade Support Teams with services including security forces, explosive ordinance disposal, civil engineering, contracting, communications, medical, intelligence, legal and logistics support to train local officials and rebuild the country. In addition to the PRTs, the Group operates four squadrons, 655 AES, 755 AES, 855 AES and [955th Air Expeditionary Squadron]].
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Group
Located at Kandahar, Afghanistan
The group is responsible for air control of the southern region of Afghanistan, launch and recovery operations for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, the employment of combat search and rescue forces throughout the entire country and ground security and defense of the airfield. Also, the 451 AEG/CC serves as the Senior Airfield Authority, reporting to NATO and orchestrating the intentions of 11 NATO-ISAF allies operating over 100 additional aircraft. Included in the group are safety, logistics, communications, civil engineer, weather, services, and airfield management flights.

Aircraft Operated

History

Lineage

  • Constituted as 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on May 14, 1943
Activated on June 1, 1943
Inactivated on September 9, 1945
  • Redesignated 455th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy)
Activated on March 25, 1947
Inactivated on June 27, 1949
  • Established as 455th Fighter-Bomber Wing on March 23, 1953
455th Fighter-Day Group activated on July 25, 1956
Group inactivated November 18, 1956
Redesignated 455th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM—Minuteman), and activated, on June 28, 1962
Organized on November 1, 1962.
Discontinued, and inactivated, on June 25, 1968
  • Redesignated 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2001
Activated in 2001

Assignments

304th Bombardment Wing: January 25, 1944 – September 9, 1945
(ADC made a subordinate organization of Continental Air Command, December 1, 1948)
Fourth Air Force
25 Air Defense (later, 25 Air) Division, March 25, 1947 – June 27, 1949
Ninth Air Force, July 25 – November 18, 1956
455th Fighter-Day Group assigned to 342d Fighter Day Wing
810th Strategic Aerospace Division, November 1, 1962 – June 25, 1968.
Assigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, November 1, 1962 – July 1, 1963; July 2, 1966 – June 25, 1968
Assigned to: Second Air Force, July 1, 1963 – July 2, 1966
United States Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF)
Combined Joint Task Force-82/Regional Command-East

Stations

Components

1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1956; 1962–1968
1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1956; 1962–1968
1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1956; 1962–1968

Aircraft and Missiles Assigned

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on May 14, 1943. Activated on June 1, 1943. Trained with B-24’s.

Moved to Italy, arriving in January and February 1944. Served in combat with Fifteenth AF from February 1944 to April 1945. Engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets such as factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, storage areas, harbors, and airdromes in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans.

Received a DUC for a mission on April 2, 1944 when the group contributed to Fifteenth AF’s campaign against enemy industry by attacking a ball-bearing plant at Steyr. Although meeting severe fighter opposition and losing several of its bombers on June 26, 1944, the group proceeded to attack an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, receiving another DUC for this performance.

In addition to strategic missions in the Balkans, the group bombed troop concentrations, bridges, marshalling yards, and airdromes during the fall of 1944 to hamper the enemy’s withdrawal from the region. The group also supported ground forces at Anzio and Cassino in March 1944; knocked out gun positions in preparation for the invasion of Southern France in August 1944; and assisted the final Allied drive through Italy in April 1945 by hitting such targets as bridges, gun positions, and troop concentrations.

Inactivated in Italy on 9 SeP 1945.

Cold War

Redesignated 455th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the US on March 25, 1947 as B-29 Superfortress unit. Inactivated on June 27, 1949. Unclear if group was ever equipped or manned.

Assigned to Tactical Air Command. 455th Fighter-Day Wing established in 1953 but never activated. 455th Fighter-Day Group activated with assigned figher squadrons and assigned to 342d Fighter Day Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina on July 25, 1956 but never manned or equipped. Inactivated on November 18, 1956 along with 342d FDW with all assets being absorbed into 354th Fighter-Day Wing activated that date.

Reassigned to Strategic Air Command as the 455th Strategic Missile Wing and prepared for operational capability with intercontinental ballistic missiles from November 1962 to March 1964 at Minot AFB. The first Minuteman missile arrived on September 6, 1963, and was replaced three days later. The 150th, and final missile was replaced on February 26, 1964, and by late March the wing became combat ready. The 455th SMW maintained combat readiness until replaced by the 91st Strategic Missile Wing in June 1968. The 455th SMW was deactivated on June 25, 1968.

References

  1. ^ Official website news relating to change of command - [1]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977 (Washington: USGPO, 1984)
  • Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN: 1-85780-197-0
  • World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN: 1-880588-01-3