65th Air Base Group emblem (Approved 15 June 2007)
65th Air Base Wing emblem (Approved 15 June 2007)[1]
The group provides base and en route support for the U.S. 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.
The 65th was first organized at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York as the 65th Troop Carrier Wing in 1952. It conducted "reserve training toward proficiency with troop carrier aircraft from 1952–1953. However, the wing was never fully manned or equipped."[1]
The 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing replaced the 1605th Air Base Wing as the Military Airlift Command unit managing facilities at Lajes Field in January 1982. Ten years later, the two units were consolidated as the 65th Support Wing.[1]
It has "provided en route support for aircraft transiting Lajes Air Base from 1982 to the present." Its commander also serves as Commander, United States Forces Azores. The unit also "provided base support to elements of the United States 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"[1] and in support of the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) (Operation Enduring Freedom) and the War in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) since 2001 and 2003 respectively.
On 14 August 2015, the wing was redesignated as a group and reassigned to the 86th Airlift Wing.[3]
65th Air Base Group (later 1605th Air Base Group, 65th Support Group, 65th Mission Support Group), 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953, 1 January 1982 – 14 August 2015
65th Logistics Group, 27 January 1992 – c. 1997
65th Medical Group (later USAF Hospital, Lajes, 65th Medical Group), 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953, 1 January 1982 – present
Squadrons
65th Civil Engineer Squadron, 14 August 2015 – present
^ abcdefghijkRobertson, Patsy (24 November 2009). "Factsheet 65 Air Base Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
^Rumbaugh, Devin M. (3 April 2019). "496th ABS realigns under 65th ABG". Ramstein Air Base. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
^ abcTrobe, 1 Lt Alexandra (14 August 2015). "65th ABW redesignates at Lajes Field". USAFE/AF Africa Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Lajes Field Airman, fellow travelers stop attack on French train". Usafe.af.mil. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
^"Pentagon to give medals to three U.S. train heroes". digitaljournal.com. Digital Journal. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
^"496th ABS realigns under 65th ABG". 3 April 2019.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
External linksedit
Lajes Field Home Page Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine