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The 65th Air Base Group is a group of the United States Air Force based at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal. The group 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. Contents 1 Components 2 History 3 Lineage 3.1 Assignments 3.2 Components 3.3 Stations 3.4 Aircraft 4 References 4.1 Notes 4.2 Bibliography 5 External links Components[edit] 65th Civil Engineer Squadron 65th Communications Squadron 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron 65th Operations Support Squadron 65th Security Forces Squadron 65th Comptroller Flight 65th Force Support Flight History[edit] 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 Operation Enduring Freedom and 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.[2] On 21 August 2015, Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, a medical technician of the 65th Medical Operations Squadron was one of 6 passengers, including three Americans who thwarted the attack on a high speed train travelling from Brussels to Paris by an armed gunman by tackling and subduing him, then helping to provide medical aid to a wounded passenger.[3] On September 16, 2015, he received the Airman's Medal and a Purple Heart medal from U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at the Pentagon.[4] Lineage[edit] 65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Established as the 65th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 26 May 1952 Activated in the Reserve on 14 June 1952 Inactivated on 1 April 1953 Redesignated 65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium on 1 April 1953 Consolidated with the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing as the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing on 1 January 1992[1] 65th Air Base Group Established as the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing and activated on 1 January 1982 Consolidated with the 65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 January 1992 Redesignated 65th Support Wing on 27 January 1992 Redesignated 65th Air Base Wing on 1 October 1993[1] Redesignated 65th Air Base Group 11 August 2015[2] Assignments[edit] First Air Force, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953 Twenty-First Air Force 1 January 1982 Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1993 Third Air Force, 1 October 2002 United States Air Forces Europe, 1 November 2005 Air Command Europe, 18 November 2005 Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 December 2006[1] 86th Airlift Wing, 11 August 2015[2] Components[edit] Groups 65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953[1] 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 65th Comptroller Squadron (later 65th Comptroller Flight), 1 February 1996 – present 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 14 August 2015 – present 65th Security Forces Squadron, 14 August 2015 – present 1605 Military Airlift Support Squadron (later 65 Military Airlift Support Squadron): 1 Jan 1982 – 1 Oct 1993[1] 1936th Communications Squadron (later 1605th Communications Squadron, 65th Communications Squadron), 1 September 1990 - 1 September 1997, 14 August 2015 – present Flights 65th Comptroller Flight (see 65th Comptroller Squadron) 65th Force Support Flight, 14 August 2015 – present Stations[edit] Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, 14 Jun 1952 – 1 Apr 1953 Lajes Field, Azores, 1 Jan 1982 – present[1] Aircraft[edit] Curtiss C-46 Commando (1952–1953)[1] References[edit] United States Air Force portal Military of the United States portal Notes[edit] ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Robertson, Patsy (November 24, 2009). "Factsheet 65 Air Base Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 25, 2015. ^ a b c Trobe, 1 Lt Alexandra (August 14, 2015). "65th ABW redesignates at Lajes Field". USAFE/AF Africa Public Affairs. Retrieved August 24, 2015. ^ "Lajes Field Airman, fellow travelers stop attack on French train". Usafe.af.mil. August 22, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-24. ^ "Pentagon to give medals to three U.S. train heroes". digitaljournal.com. Digital Journal. Retrieved 14 September 2015. Bibliography[edit] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. 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 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. External links[edit] Lajes Field Home Page v t e United States Air Force Leadership Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Structure Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSPC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE-AFA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth Air Forces Central Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol Personnel and training Airmen Rank officers enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment Uniforms and equipment Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms History and traditions History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Category United States Air Force portal v t e United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa Air Forces Third (Europe) Bases Aviano Air Base Lajes Air Station RAF Alconbury RAF Lakenheath RAF Mildenhall Ramstein Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base Support facilities Chièvres Morón RAF Akrotiri RAF Fairford RAF Molesworth RAF Welford San Vito Stuttgart Airport Taszár Air Base Tuzla Air Base Major units 31st Fighter Wing 39th Air Base Wing 52d Fighter Wing 65th Air Base Wing 48th Fighter Wing 86th Airlift Wing 100th Air Refueling Wing 423d Air Base Group 501st Combat |