65 Air Base Group (USAFE)

Lineage.  Established as 65 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 26 May 1952.  Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952.  Inactivated on 1 Apr 1953.  Redesignated as 65 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium, on 1 Apr 1953.  Consolidated (1 Jan 1992) with the 1605 Military Airlift Support Wing, which was established, and activated, on 1 Jan 1982. Redesignated as: 65 Support Wing on 27 Jan 1992; 65 Air Base Wing on 1 Oct 1993; 65 Air Base Group on 14 Aug 2015.

Assignments.  First Air Force, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953.  Twenty-First Air Force, 1 Jan 1982; Eighth Air Force, 1 Oct 1993; Third Air Force, 1 Oct 2002; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Nov 2005; Air Command Europe, 18 Nov 2005; Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 Dec 2006; 86 Airlift Wing, 14 Aug 2015-. 

Operational Components.  Group.   65 Troop Carrier, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953.  Squadron.  1605 Military Airlift (later, 65 Airlift) Support: 1 Jan 1982-1 Oct 1993.

 

Stations.   Mitchel AFB, NY, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953.  Lajes Field, Azores, 1 Jan 1982-.

 

Commanders.  Col Charles K. Nelson Jr., 14 Jun 1952; Col Howard C. Stelling, 31 Jul 1952-1 Apr 1953. 

 

Aircraft.  C-46, 1952-1953.

 

Operations.  Reserve training toward proficiency with troop carrier aircraft, 1952-1953. Never fully manned or equipped.   

 

Service Streamers.  None. 

 

Campaign Streamers.  None.

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

 

Decorations.   Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1988-31 May 1990; 15 Jan 1991-15 Jan 1993; 16 Jan 1993-31 Mar 1994; 1 Apr 1994-1 May 1995; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2010; 1 Oct 2010-30 Sep 2012.  

 

Bestowed Honors.  Authorized to display honors earned by the 65 Observation (later, 65 Reconnaissance) Group prior to 14 Jun 1952.  Service

Streamers.  None.  Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.  Decorations. None.

 

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 21 Mar 2016.

 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Apr 1953.    

 

Supersedes statement prepared on 29 Sep 2015. 

 

Emblem.  Approved on 15 Jun 2007.

 

Prepared by Daniel Haulman.