435th Air Base Wing
Encyclopedia
The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (435 AGOW) is an active unit of the United States Air Force
, assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base
, Germany
.
The current commander is Colonel John S. Shapland, USAF.http://www.ramstein.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=14189
Squadrons
The 435th Troop Carrier Wing (435th TCW) was established and activated as a wing in the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) at Miami International Airport
on May 10, 1949. Trained in the Air Force Reserve as a troop carrier wing from July 1949 to February 1951, and again from December 1952-December 1958.
The 435th was called to active duty with Tactical Air Command
(TAC) in 1951 to train aircrews on C-46 Commando
s for duty in Korea
, though the wing itself was not tasked to deploy for the conflict there. The 435th was replaced by the 456th Troop Carrier Wing (456 TCW) in December 1952 and the 456th TCW was later replaced by the 482nd TCW as the Miami-based Air Force Reserve wing. By 1956, the 435th TCW was capable of flying overseas missions, particularly in the Caribbean area to Central America. In 1960, the wing moved to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
.
Over the many years of serving in Florida, the 435th Troop Carrier Wing came to be known as the Flamingo Wing - a name still used today by the 435th's veterans association.http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123053804. Two squadrons converted to the C-124 Globemaster in 1961 just before being ordered to active service. After training to become combat ready, participated in worldwide airlift and tactical exercises. Returned to reserve status in August 1962 and regained its C-119 Flying Boxcar
squadron that had not been on active duty. Switched completely to C-119s in 1963. Inactivated in 1965.
Reactivated first at RAF High Wycombe
, England, 24 December 1968, then reassigned to Rhein-Main AB, West Germany
on 1 July 1969, the 435th served as a support wing of Military Airlift Command
, providing deployed airlift control elements and aircraft maintenance at aerial ports in portions of Europe
, the Middle East
, Southwest Asia
, and Africa
.
The redesignated 435th Tactical Airlift Wing had host responsibilities for Rhein-Main AB, beginning July 1975, which included operating the busiest U.S. air terminal in Europe and supporting CONUS-based strategic airlift transiting Rhein-Main AB. While continuing to function as a tactical and support wing, the 435th TAW gained the mission of aeromedical evacuation in Europe and the Middle East. Provided airlift support for United States European Command
(EUCOM) and Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE), from March 1977 until June 1978.
Provided airlift for the theater, first with rotational C-130 forces until early 1978, and afterward with a permanently assigned C-130 airlift squadron. Participated in joint and combined paratroop training and exercises, as well all manner of theater humanitarian airlift, including relief for natural disasters, evacuation of civilians from hostile situations, and aeromedical evacuation from combat areas.
During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the wing's 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, plus additional wing personnel, deployed to Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, from mid-August 1990 to late March 1991 to provide theater airlift during the Persian Gulf War.
On 1 April 1992, the wing was again redesignated as the 435th Airlift Wing and implemented USAF's objective wing concept. With the disestablishment of Military Airlift Command
(MAC) in 1992, the wing and Rhein-Main AB returned to United States Air Forces in Europe
(USAFE) control, while an Air Mobility Command
(AMC) airlift support group was activated to take over operation of the air terminal and support transiting air mobility (i.e., strategic airlift, theater airlift, and air refueling) aircraft.
) to provide airland and airdrop humanitarian airlift to war-torn areas of the former Yugoslavia.
On 1 October 1993 the 55 AAS and 58 AS were inactivated as part of the general drawdown of USAF units and installations in Europe at the end of the Cold War
. In February 1994, USAF began returning portions of Rhein-Main AB to German control and the wing's remaining airlift squadron was reassigned to the 86th Wing
(86 WG) at Ramstein AB. The 86 WG was redesignated as the 86th Airlift Wing
(86 AW) on 1 October 1994. The 435 AW was inactivated effective 1 April 1995 and its responsibilities turned over to the 469th Air Base Group (469 ABG) under USAFE and the 726th Air Mobility Squadron (726 AMS) under AMC
. The last commander of the 435th Airlift Wing was Col Donald A. Philpitt, USAF.
The 435 AW was converted to a provisional expeditionary wing between February 2003 and December 2003 in preparation for, and execution of, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, but was never activated.
In late 2003, the wing was reactivated as the 435th Air Base Wing (435 ABW) and assumed the overall host base support responsibilities at Ramstein AB, Germany
as a non-flying unit.
In mid 2009, the 435th Air Base Wing was redesignated as the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (435 AGOW), the second wing of its kind in the USAF. The 435 AGOW assumed mission areas previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing
units - the Contingency Response Group and the Air and Space Communications Group - along with the 4th Air Support Operations Group out of Heidelberg, Germany. The 431st Air Base Group was officially inactivated during an earlier ceremony. The remaining mission areas of the 435 ABW merged with the 86th Airlift Wing.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The current commander is Colonel John S. Shapland, USAF.http://www.ramstein.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=14189
Overview
The 435 AGOW is the first USAFE wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen. It consolidates the tactical air control party and battlefield weather specialties of the 4th ASOG, the contingency communications support of the ACOMG, and the expeditionary support to assess, prepare and operate airfields for air expeditionary forces of the CRG. Both of the groups from the 86th AW will now perform their mission under the 435th AGOW.Units
The 435 AGOW comprises 3 groups. Each groups supports a specific portion of the wing's multifaceted mission.- The 4th Air Support Operations Group
- The 435th Contingency Response Group
- The group is tasked with establishing airfield and aerial port operations and providing force protection at contingency airfields. The unit was activated as the 86th Contingency Response Group at Hangar 3 at Ramstein Air Base on February 26, 1999, and was the first unit of its kind in the Air Force. The CRG incorporates more than 30 different jobs into one organization. It is a rapid-deployment unit designed at the initiative of Air Force leadership to be a "first-in" force to secure an airfield and establish and maintain airfield operations. The CRG consists of three subordinate squadrons:
- The CRG's Air Mobility Squadron provides airfield command and control, loads and unloads aircraft and essentially sets up an aerial port where none existed.
- The CRG's Security Forces Squadron provides force protection in the opening stages of a deployment and also provides protection for any follow-on forces. The Security Forces Squadron is capable of overland airlift, air assault, or airborne insertion into crisis situations.
- The CRG's Construction & Training Squadron provides Mission Essential Equipment Training (MEET) concentrates on specialized or unique mission-essential equipment civil engineers do not use in their day-to-day operations. MEET provides hands-on training to students for proper certifications in their CFETP and ACES PR. MEET is SORTS reportable under CAT II training. Individuals will be trained to the proficiency level prescribed in the approved MEET curriculum to set up, operate, troubleshoot, maintain and reconstitute equipment IAW Prime BEEF/Contingency Training Panel-approved objectives.
- The 435th Air and Space Communications Group
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 435th Operations Group435th Operations GroupThe 435th Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 435th Airlift Wing, stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 April 1995....
- Note: As the 435th Operations Group is currently inactive, The wing is authorized to display the honors earned by the Group prior to 26 June 1949
Lineage
- Established as 435th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 26 June 1949
- Ordered to Active Service on 1 March 1951
- Inactivated on 1 December 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 December 1952
- Redesignated as 435th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 18 September 1961
- Ordered to Active Service on 1 October 1961
- Relieved from Active Duty on 27 August 1962
- Redesignated as 435th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 1 July 1963
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 December 1965
- Redesignated as 435th Military Airlift Support Wing on 25 November 1968
- Activated on 24 December 1968
- Redesignated as: 435th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 July 1975
- Redesignated as: 435th Airlift Wing on 1 April 1992
- Inactivated on 1 April 1995
- Redesignated as 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 5 February 2001
- Returned to permanent status on 10 December 2003
- Redesignated as 435th Air Base Wing on 15 December 2003
- Activated on 15 January 2004
- Redesignated as 435th Air Ground Operations Wing on 16 July 2009.
Assignments
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 26 July 1949 - Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 2 March 1951 - Eighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It was activated on 1 October 2003 and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
, 1 June 1951-1 December 1952 - Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 1 December 1952 - Third Air Force Reserve Region, 15 July 1960
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 1 October 1961 - Third Air Force Reserve Region, 27 August 1962-1 December 1965
- Twenty-First Air ForceTwenty-First Air ForceThe 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command. It is headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey$3...
, 24 December 1968
- 322d Airlift Division322d Airlift DivisionThe 322d Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, 23 June 1978 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 1 April 1992 - Seventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air ForceSeventeenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during its years of active service...
, 1 February 1993-1 April 1995 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
to activate or inactivate any time after 5 February 2001. - Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 15 January 2004 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 1 November 2005 - Air Command Europe, 18 November 2005
- Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe)Third Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 1 December 2006–present
Components
Groups- 4th Air Support Operations Group
- 435 Troop Carrier (later, 435 Tactical Airlift; 435 Operations) Group435th Operations GroupThe 435th Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 435th Airlift Wing, stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 1 April 1995....
: 26 June 1949-1 December 1952; 1 December 1952-14 April 1959; 1 July 1975-23 June 1978; 15 September 1978-1 June 1980; 1 April 1992-1 April 1995 - 908 Troop Carrier: 18 March 1963-1 December 1965
- 915 Troop Carrier: 17 January 1963-1 December 1965
- 916 Troop Carrier: 17 January-18 March 1963
- 917 Troop Carrier: 17 January-1 July 1963
Squadrons
- 37 Tactical Airlift (later, 37 Airlift): 1 October 1977-15 December 1978; 1 June 1980-1 April 1992
- 55 Aeromedical Airlift: 31 March 1975-15 December 1978; 1 June 1980-1 April 1992
- 58 Military Airlift: 1 September 1977-23 June 1978
- 76 Troop Carrier: 14 April 1959-1 October 1961; 27 August 1962-17 January 1963
- 77 Troop Carrier: 14 April 1959-17 January 1963
- 78 Troop Carrier: 8 May 1959-17 January 1963
Stations
- Miami International AirportMiami International AirportMiami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 26 June 1949-1 December 1952; 1 December 1952 - Homestead AFB, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 25 July 1960-1 December 1965 - RAF High WycombeRAF High WycombeRAF High Wycombe is a Royal Air Force station, situated in the village of Walters Ash, near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England. Its purpose is to serve the needs of the RAF Air Command, situated on the site. It is also the headquarters of the European Air Group...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 24 December 1968 - Rhein-Main AB, West Germany (later Germany)GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 1 July 1969-1 April 1995 - Ramstein AB, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 15 January 2004–present
Aircraft
- C-46, 1949–1951; 1952–1957
- C-119, 1951–1952; 1957–1965
- C-124, 1961–1963
- C-130, 1975–1994
- C-9, 1975–1993
- VC-135, 1977–1978
- VC-140, 1977–1978
- C-12, 1978
- CT-39, 1978
- C-141, 1994
Cold War
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
on May 10, 1949. Trained in the Air Force Reserve as a troop carrier wing from July 1949 to February 1951, and again from December 1952-December 1958.
The 435th was called to active duty with Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(TAC) in 1951 to train aircrews on C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
s for duty in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, though the wing itself was not tasked to deploy for the conflict there. The 435th was replaced by the 456th Troop Carrier Wing (456 TCW) in December 1952 and the 456th TCW was later replaced by the 482nd TCW as the Miami-based Air Force Reserve wing. By 1956, the 435th TCW was capable of flying overseas missions, particularly in the Caribbean area to Central America. In 1960, the wing moved to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Over the many years of serving in Florida, the 435th Troop Carrier Wing came to be known as the Flamingo Wing - a name still used today by the 435th's veterans association.http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123053804. Two squadrons converted to the C-124 Globemaster in 1961 just before being ordered to active service. After training to become combat ready, participated in worldwide airlift and tactical exercises. Returned to reserve status in August 1962 and regained its C-119 Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
squadron that had not been on active duty. Switched completely to C-119s in 1963. Inactivated in 1965.
Reactivated first at RAF High Wycombe
RAF High Wycombe
RAF High Wycombe is a Royal Air Force station, situated in the village of Walters Ash, near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England. Its purpose is to serve the needs of the RAF Air Command, situated on the site. It is also the headquarters of the European Air Group...
, England, 24 December 1968, then reassigned to Rhein-Main AB, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
on 1 July 1969, the 435th served as a support wing of Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, providing deployed airlift control elements and aircraft maintenance at aerial ports in portions of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
The redesignated 435th Tactical Airlift Wing had host responsibilities for Rhein-Main AB, beginning July 1975, which included operating the busiest U.S. air terminal in Europe and supporting CONUS-based strategic airlift transiting Rhein-Main AB. While continuing to function as a tactical and support wing, the 435th TAW gained the mission of aeromedical evacuation in Europe and the Middle East. Provided airlift support for United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
(EUCOM) and Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(USAFE), from March 1977 until June 1978.
Provided airlift for the theater, first with rotational C-130 forces until early 1978, and afterward with a permanently assigned C-130 airlift squadron. Participated in joint and combined paratroop training and exercises, as well all manner of theater humanitarian airlift, including relief for natural disasters, evacuation of civilians from hostile situations, and aeromedical evacuation from combat areas.
During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the wing's 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, plus additional wing personnel, deployed to Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, from mid-August 1990 to late March 1991 to provide theater airlift during the Persian Gulf War.
On 1 April 1992, the wing was again redesignated as the 435th Airlift Wing and implemented USAF's objective wing concept. With the disestablishment of Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC) in 1992, the wing and Rhein-Main AB returned to United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
(USAFE) control, while an Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC) airlift support group was activated to take over operation of the air terminal and support transiting air mobility (i.e., strategic airlift, theater airlift, and air refueling) aircraft.
Modern era
From July 1992 through September 1994, the wing controlled the massive airlift effort (Operation Provide PromiseOperation Provide Promise
Operation Provide Promise was a humanitarian relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars, from 2 July 1992, to 9 January 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian airlift in history....
) to provide airland and airdrop humanitarian airlift to war-torn areas of the former Yugoslavia.
On 1 October 1993 the 55 AAS and 58 AS were inactivated as part of the general drawdown of USAF units and installations in Europe at the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. In February 1994, USAF began returning portions of Rhein-Main AB to German control and the wing's remaining airlift squadron was reassigned to the 86th Wing
86th Airlift Wing
The 86th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force wing, currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 86th AW is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-Mission:...
(86 WG) at Ramstein AB. The 86 WG was redesignated as the 86th Airlift Wing
86th Airlift Wing
The 86th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force wing, currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 86th AW is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-Mission:...
(86 AW) on 1 October 1994. The 435 AW was inactivated effective 1 April 1995 and its responsibilities turned over to the 469th Air Base Group (469 ABG) under USAFE and the 726th Air Mobility Squadron (726 AMS) under AMC
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
. The last commander of the 435th Airlift Wing was Col Donald A. Philpitt, USAF.
The 435 AW was converted to a provisional expeditionary wing between February 2003 and December 2003 in preparation for, and execution of, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, but was never activated.
In late 2003, the wing was reactivated as the 435th Air Base Wing (435 ABW) and assumed the overall host base support responsibilities at Ramstein AB, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as a non-flying unit.
In mid 2009, the 435th Air Base Wing was redesignated as the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing (435 AGOW), the second wing of its kind in the USAF. The 435 AGOW assumed mission areas previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing
86th Airlift Wing
The 86th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force wing, currently assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 86th AW is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-Mission:...
units - the Contingency Response Group and the Air and Space Communications Group - along with the 4th Air Support Operations Group out of Heidelberg, Germany. The 431st Air Base Group was officially inactivated during an earlier ceremony. The remaining mission areas of the 435 ABW merged with the 86th Airlift Wing.