65th Air Base Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=65th Air Base Wing


caption=
dates= 26 May 1952 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Base Support
role=
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command_structure=United States Air Forces in Europe
current_commander=Colonel [http://www.lajes.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=8531 Robert Winston]
garrison=Lajes Air Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
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identification_symbol=
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battle_honours= The 65th Air Base Wing (65 ABW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Lajes Air Base, Azores.

Mission

The wing provides base and en route support for Department of Defense, allied nations and other authorized aircraft in transit, including those from the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Colombia, Germany, Venezuela and Great Britain.

History

The 65th conducted reserve training toward proficiency with troop carrier aircraft from 1952-1953. However, the wing was never fully manned or equipped.

It has provided enroute support for aircraft transiting Lajes Air Base from 1982 to the present. The wing also provided base support to elements of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy in the area. The 65th supported deployment of personnel and equipment through Lajes during operations in the Persian Gulf from August 1990-April 1991 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2001 and 2003 respectively.

Operations

Previous designations

*65th Troop Carrier Wing (1952 – 1953)
*65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1953 – 1992)
*65th Support Wing (1992 – 1993)
*65th Air Base Wing (1993 – Present)

Assignments

Major Command

*Military Air Transport Service (1952 – 1953)
*Strategic Air Command (1982 – 1991)
*Air Combat Command (1991 – 2002)
*United States Air Forces in Europe (2002 – Present)

Numbered Air Force

*1st Air Force (1952 – 1953)
*21st Air Force (1982 – 1993)
*8th Air Force (1993 – 2002)
*3rd Air Force (2002 – Present)

ubordinate Organizations

65th Mission Support Group (65 MSG)
*65th Contracting Squadron (65 CONS)
*65th Communications Squadron (65 CS)
*65th Civil Engineering Squadron (65 CES)
*65th Logistics Readiness Squadron (65 LRS)
*65th Mission Support Squadron (65 MSS)
*65th Operations Support Squadron (65 OSS)
*65th Security Forces Squadron (65 SFS)
*65th Services Squadron (65 SVS)

65th Medical Group (65 MDG)
*65th Medical Operations Squadron (65 MDOS)
*65th Medical Support Squadron (65 MDSS)

Bases stationed

*Mitchel Air Force Base, New York (1952 – 1953)
*Lajes Field, Azores (1982 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-46 Commando (1952 – 1953)

Unit Shields

External links

* [http://www.Lajes.af.mil/ Lajes Field Home Page]