64th Air Expeditionary Group

The 64th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force group, most recently assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Eskan Village, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was inactivated in 2014.[3]

64th Air Expeditionary Group
64th group photo, November 2010
Active1940–1945, 1947–1948, 1952–1954, 1991–1997, 2001-unknown, 2005–2014
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleForce protection and support
Motto(s)Hardest Target in the Kingdom
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations, Mediterranean Theater of Operations Global War on Terrorism (2005-TBD)
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation 7 April – 15 June 1944
1 June 2005 – 31 May 2006
1 June 2006 – 31 May 2007
1 June 2007 – 31 May 2008
1 June 2008 – 31 May 2009
1 June 2009 – 31 May 2010
1 July 1992 – 30 June 1993
1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997
Insignia
64th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem[1]
64th Troop Carrier Group emblem (approved 16 June 1942)[2]

The group was first activated in December 1940 as the 64th Transport Group, a year before the Attack on Pearl Harbor. During the Second World War it fought primarily with Twelfth Air Force, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation.

History

The 64th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit and uses the emblem of the inactive 64th Flying Training Wing.

World War II

Constituted as the 64th Transport Group on 20 November 1940. Activated on 4 December 1940. Used Douglas C-47s for training and flying transport missions in the US.

Redesignated 64th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. Moved to England in August 1942 and received additional training. Became part of Twelfth Air Force. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, November–December 1942. Flew first mission on 11 November, landing paratroops at Maison Blanche Airport. Dropped paratroops to capture airfields during the battle for Tunisia. Released paratroops near Gela and Catania when the Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943. Dropped paratroops near Avellino during the invasion of Italy in September 1943 to destroy a bridge on the enemy’s supply line to Salerno. Participated in the assault on southern France in August 1944 by releasing gliders and paratroops in the battle zone. Supported the partisans in northern Italy early in 1945 by dropping paratroops, supplies, and propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines.

When not engaged in airborne combat operations, the group continually transported men and supplies to the front lines and evacuated wounded personnel.

Most of the group was on detached service in the China Burma India Theater from April–June 1944, while a skeletal remnant remained in Sicily. With its squadrons operating from separate bases in India, the group aided the Allied offensive in Burma. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for flying unarmed over rugged enemy territory to carry food, clothing, medical supplies, guns, ammunition, and mules to the combat zone and to evacuate wounded personnel.

The group moved to Trinidad in June 1945. Assigned to Air Transport Command. Inactivated on 31 July 1945.

Activated in the United States on 19 May 1947. Not manned during 1947–1948. Inactivated on 10 September 1948.

Cold War

The 64th performed airlift and airdrop/airlanding of troops and cargo, routinely and during frequent maneuvers, 1952–1953. It began phasing down for inactivation in mid-October 1953, at which time tactical operations passed to 63d Troop Carrier Wing. In February 1954, however, the wing began building up again in preparation for an overseas movement, but was inactivated instead.

Flying training

From the implementation of the Objective Wing organization until 1997, the group served as the flying arm of the 64th Flying Training Wing.

Expeditionary operations

The 64 AEG/AEW operated out of Camp Snoopy at Doha International Airport, Qatar from 1996 until 2004.

In 2005, the group was activated for defense of personnel and assets in Southwest Asia. It provided force protection and support services for the installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia known as Eskan Village, replacing the former 320th Air Expeditionary Group. The group was made up of about 300 security forces, support airmen, and civilians in two squadrons: the 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron. Their mission was to stand guard, provide integrated defense, emergency response, and combat support for the base, which houses military and host-nation tenant agencies. Most days the airmen fought the Global War on Terrorism in extreme temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.[4]

Lineage

Group

  • Constituted as the 64th Transport Group on 20 November 1940
Activated on 4 December 1940
  • Redesignated: 64th Troop Carrier Group on 1 July 1942
Inactivated 31 July 1945
  • Activated on 19 May 1947
Inactivated on 10 September 1948
  • Redesignated: 64th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 3 July 1952
Activated on 14 July 1952
Inactivated on 21 July 1954
  • Redesignated 64th Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985
  • Redesignated: 64th Operations Group on 1 May 1991
Activated on 15 May 1991
Inactivated on 30 September 1997
  • Redesignated as 64th Air Expeditionary Group, converted to provisional status and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed on 4 December 2001[2]
Activated December 2001
Inactivated unknown
Activated 2005[5]
Inactivated 1 May 2014[5]

Assignments

December 2001 – unknown
379th Air Expeditionary Wing,[6] 23 September 2005 – 1 May 2014[5]

Stations

Components

Squadrons

  • 16th Transport Squadron (later 16th Troop Carrier Squadron): 4 December 1940 – 31 July 1945, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
  • 17th Transport Squadron (later 17th Troop Carrier Squadron): 4 December 1940 – 31 July 1945, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948, 14 July 1952 – 21 July 1954
  • 18th Transport Squadron (later 18th Troop Carrier Squadron): 4 December 1940 – 31 July 1945
  • 33d Flying Training Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 1 October 1992
  • 35th Transport Squadron (later 35th Troop Carrier Squadron, 35th Flying Training Squadron): 4 December 1940 – 31 July 1945, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948, 15 December 1991 – 31 July 1996
  • 52d Flying Training Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 1 April 1997
  • 54th Transport Squadron (later 54th Flying Training) Squadron: 1–11 June 1942; 15 December 1991 – 1 April 1997
  • 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron 23 September 2005 – 1 May 2014[6]
  • 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron 23 September 2005 – 1 May 2014[6]
  • T-1A Flying Training Squadron, Provisional, attached 15 December 1991 – 1 October 1992[2]

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. Approved for the 64th Flying Training Wing
  2. Robertson, Patsy (23 October 2008). "Factsheet 64 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. 64th Air Expeditionary Group Deactivated, Published 9 May 2014
  4. U.S. Air Force News Service
  5. Staff writer, no byline (9 May 2014). "64th Air Expeditionary Group Deactivated [sic]". 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  6. "379 AEW Library: Units". 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  7. "Eskan Village Air Force Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia". Military Bases.com. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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