485th Air Expeditionary Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=485th Air Expeditionary Wing


caption= Emblem of the 485th Tactical missile Wing
dates= 1943-1946, 1984-1989, 2003
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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current_commander=
garrison= Southwest Asia
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
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anniversariesThe United States Air Force's 485th Air Expeditionary Wing (485 AEW) was an Air Expeditionary Wing located in Southwest Asia during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Overview

The 485 AEW was itself comprised of aircraft and personnel from langley AFB VA, Eglin AFB FL as well as the West Virginia Air National Guard, Tennessee Air National Guard, Missouri Air National Guard, Kentucky Air National Guard, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Delaware Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve. The wing operated out of Southwest Asia location conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom beginning in 2003.

The 485th AEW was a mixture of 24 F-15C “Eagles” fighter aircraft and 46 C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft and more than 3500 personnel from 82 different locations. The C-130s assembled represent the one of the largest combat groupings ever.

By May 3 3003, the C-130 portion of the wing had flown 1199 missions, 3354 sorties, 7451 hours, hauled 9382 tons of cargo and 8800 passengers, and boasted a mission capable rate average greater than 90 percent. When the F-15s completed flight operations April 17 they had compiled 581 sorties, flown more than 4000 hours and maintained a mission capable rate greater than 83 percent.The wing was disbanded in early May 2003 with the last members returning to the United States in September of that year.

History

Lineage

* 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (1943-1946)
* 485th Tactical Missile Wing (1984-1989)
* 485th Air Expeditionary Wing (2003)

Assignments

* Fifteenth Air Force
* United States Air Forces in Europe (1984-1989)
* Air Combat Command/USCENTAF (2003)

tations

* Venosa, Italy, (1943-1945)
* Florennes, Belgium (1984-1989)
* Southwest Asia (2003)

Aircraft flown

* B-24 Liberator (1943-1946)
*F-15 Eagle (2003)
*C-130 Hercules (2003)
*C-5 Galaxy (2003]

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943 and activated on 20 Sep. Trained with B-24’s.Moved to the Mediterranean theater, Mar- Apr 1944, with the air echelon receiving additional training in Tunisia before joining the ground echelon in Italy. Assigned to 55th Bombardment Wing, Fifteenth Air Force.

Entered combat in May 1944 and engaged primarily in flying long range missions to targets in Italy, France,Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives.

Received a DUC for combating intense fighter opposition and attacking an oil refinery at Vienna on 26 Jun 1944. Also carried out some support and interdiction operations. Struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in Aug 1944 to aid the invasion of Southern France. Hit communications lines and other targets during Mar and Apr 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army in northern Italy.

Returned to the US in May 1945. Redesignated 485th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in Aug 1945. Equipped with B-29’s. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 Mar 1946.

Inactivated on 4 Aug 1946.

Cold War

The 485th Tactical Missile Wing operated the Air Force's Ground Launched Cruise Missile base in Florennes, Belgium. The wing was activated in 1984 and inactivated in 1989 with the withdrawal of American forces from Florennes.

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

External links

* [http://www.wv.ngb.army.mil/pa/publications/defender/03_SE_Defender.pdf (Page 10) "130thAW mobilizations at highest level since Desert Storm", Capt. David P. Lester, Mountaineer Defender-Magazine of the West Virginia National Guard]
* [http://www.wvchar.ang.af.mil/News/485AEWStory.htm 485th Wing Story]
* [http://www.delawarenationalguard.com/dngnews/jun03/166th.htm "166th AW part of Herculean gathering of C-130s in Operation Iraqi Freedom", Capt. David P. Lester, Delaware Air National Guard]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/florennes.htm Globalsecurity.org: Florennes, Belgium]
* [http://www.stdcomp.com/485tmw/ 485th Tactical Missile Wing Alumni Association]