85th Group
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| 85th Group | |
|---|---|
 Official crest of the 85th Group |
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| Active | 13 January 1942–1 May 1944 31 July 1985–28 June 2006 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Size | over 1300 personnel |
| Part of | Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force 48th Fighter Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Keflavik |
| Motto | "Guardians of the North" |
| Aircraft | F-15C/D Eagle KC-136R Stratotanker HC-130P/N Hercules HH-60G Pave Hawk |
| Decorations |   |
The 85th Group at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland was a United States Air Force unit inactivated at the end of June 2006.[1] It was previously redesignated on 1 July 1995 from the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing.
Contents |
[edit] History
Operated as a training unit within the United States, first using Vultee V-72 aircraft. Converted to A-24 Banshees in August 1942, A-36 Apaches in early 1943, and P-40 Warhawks in early 1944. Received a few P-47 Thunderbolts in March 1944. Participated in maneuvers in California during fall and winter of 1942 through 1943 and in Kentucky in April 1943. Afterward, served as a replacement training unit until it disbanded on 1 May 1944.
Between 1952 and 1961, provided air defense for Iceland, operated Keflavik Airport, and furnished base support for all U.S. military forces in Iceland participating in its defense under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Installation transferred to the U.S. Navy on 30 June 1961, along with base support activities. Air Forces Iceland continued the air defense mission of Iceland as a tenant organization at Keflavik until 1993. After a brief period of inactivation (June 1993 through September 1994), resumed air defense mission of Iceland.
The 85th Group inactivated during a one-hour, formal ceremony on 28 June 2006, because the Air Force had announced a reduction in forces for Iceland. All rotational fighters left and the 56th Rescue Squadron ceased operation at the end of the fiscal year.
[edit] Lineage and honors
Established as 85 Bombardment Group (Light) on 13 January 1942. Activated on 10 February 1942. Redesignated: 85 Bombardment Group (Dive) on 27 July 1942; 85 Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 August 1943. Disestablished on 1 May 1944.
Reestablished, and redesignated 85 Tactical Fighter Training Wing on 31 July 1985. Consolidated with Air Forces Iceland (established as Iceland Air Defense Force, and organized, on 1 April 1952; redesignated Air Forces Iceland on 1 January 1960; inactivated on 31 May 1993) on 29 September 1994. Redesignated 85 Wing on 29 September 1994. Activated on 1 October 1994. Redesignated 85 Group on 1 July 1995.
[edit] Service streamers
This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:
- World War II: American Theater.
[edit] Decorations
This unit earned the following organizational decorations:
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (15x): 1 June 1967–31 December 1968; 1 January 1969–31 December 1969; 1 January 1970–31 August 1970; 1 July 1973–30 June 1975; 1 July 1975–30 June 1976; 1 July 1976–30 June 1978; 1 July 1981–30 June 1982; 1 October 1994–31 May 1996; 1 June 1996–31 May 1997; 1 June 1997–31 May 1998; 1 June 1998–31 May 1999; 1 June 2000–31 May 2001; 1 June 2001–31 May 2002; 1 June 2002–30 September 2003; 1 October 2003–30 September 2004.
- Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards (3x): 1 July 1985–30 June 1987; 1 July 1987–30 June 1988; 1 July 1990–1 May 1992.
[edit] Awards
none.
[edit] Emblem
Approved on 13 December 1955.
[edit] Assignments
3d Air Support Command, 10 February 1942; III Bomber Command, 16 March 1942; XII Bomber Command, 2 May 1942; III Bomber Command, 8 May 1942; III Ground Air Support (later, III Air Support) Command, 10 August 1942; IV Air Support Command, 2 November 1942; Desert Training Center, 21 January 1943; III Air Support Command, 8 April 1943; 23d Bombardment Training Wing, 10 April 1943; III Fighter Command, 6 August 1943–1 May 1944.
Military Air Transport Service, 1 April 1952; 64th Air Division, 1 July 1962; 26th Air Division, 1 July 1963; Goose Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963; 37th Air Division, 1 April 1966; 21st Air Division, 31 December 1969; Aerospace Defense Command, 1 October 1975; Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979; First Air Force, 6 December 1985–31 May 1993.
Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1994; Third Air Force, 1 October 2002; 48th Fighter Wing, 8 October 2004–.
[edit] Components
Groups:
Squadrons:
- 56th Rescue: 1 July 1995–.
- 57th Fighter-Interceptor: 13 November 1954–18 December 1955; 1 July 1960–31 May 1993.
- 85th Civil Engineer
- 85th Logistics
- 85th Mission Support
- 85th Operations: 15 April 1996–.
- 85th Security Police
- 305th Bombardment (later, 499th Fighter-Bomber): 10 February 1942–1 May 1944.
- 306th Bombardment (later, 500th Fighter-Bomber): 10 February 1942–1 May 1944.
- 307th Bombardment (later, 501st Fighter-Bomber): 10 February 1942–1 May 1944.
- 308th Bombardment (later, 502d Fighter-Bomber): 10 February 1942–1 May 1944.
- 932d Air Control
[edit] Stations
- Savannah Air Base (later, Hunter Field), GA, 10 February 1942;
- Bowman Field, KY, c. 16 February 1942;
- Hunter Field, GA, 9 June 1942;
- Waycross, GA, 15 August 1942;
- Gillespie Field, TN, 3 October 1942;
- Blythe Army Air Base, CA, 2 November 1942;
- Rice, CA, c. 11 December 1942;
- Camp Young, CA, 21 January 1943;
- Harding Field, LA, 8 April 1943;
- Waycross Army Air Field (later, Waycross-Ware County Airport), GA, c. 27 August 1943–1 May 1944.
- Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland, 1 October 1994–2006.
[edit] Aerospace vehicles
Vultee V-72, 1942; A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943; A-36 Apache, 1943–1944; P-40 Warhawk, 1944; P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944.
F-51 Mustang (rotational aircraft), 1952–1953; F-89 Scorpion, 1954–1962; F-102 Delta Dagger, 1962–1973; F-4 Phantom II, 1973–1985; F-15 Eagle, 1985–1993.
F-15 Eagle, 1994–1995; HH-60 Pave Hawk, 1994–; KC-135 Stratotanker (rotational aircraft), 1994–; HC-130P/N (rotational aircraft), 1994–; F-15 Eagle (rotational aircraft), 1995–; F-16 Fighting Falcon (rotational aircraft), 1997 and 1999.
[edit] Commanders
- Second Lieutenant Benson M. Sherman, 18 February 1942
- Captain Orren L. Briggs, 23 February 1942
- Captain Joseph Ralph Deming, 31 March 1942
- Lieutenant Colonel Arnold L. Schroeder, 13 June 1942
- Lieutenant Colonel William R. Clingerman Jr., 10 October 1943
- Colonel James E. Ellison, 13 November 1943
- Colonel Joseph S. Holtoner, 26 January 1944
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Holdiman, 4 March 1944
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Bagby, 20 March 1944
- Colonel Joseph S. Holtoner, 1 April 1944–1 May 1944
- Brigadier General Ralph O. Brownfield, 1 April 1952
- Colonel J. C. Bailey, c. 1 January 1953
- Brigadier General Ralph O. Brownfield, 14 April 1954
- Colonel J. C. Bailey, 10 July 1954
- Colonel Salvatore E. Manzo, 23 July 1955
- Colonel Richard W. Philbrick, 15 March 1957
- Colonel Paul P. Douglas, 7 June 1959
- Colonel Howard E. Kreidler, 20 July 1959
- Colonel Benjamin G. Willis, 24 July 1959
- Colonel Thomas W. Schwellenbach, 15 January 1960
- Colonel George J. Shyer, 13 January 1961
- Colonel Oscar B. Steely, 1 July 1961
- Lieutenant Colonel August E. Weil, 19 August 1962
- Colonel Alan G. Long, 25 July 1964
- Colonel Richard H. Broach, October 1966
- Colonel Maurice D. Surratt, by September 1968
- Colonel Robert L. Sowers, by June 1969
- Colonel Budd H. Butcher, by January 1971
- Colonel Ewell D. Wainwright, by June 1973
- Colonel William E. Lindeman, 8 July 1975
- Colonel Leon W. Babcock Jr., 27 June 1977
- Colonel Paul D. Wagner, 7 July 1978
- Colonel Larry D. Waldron, 19 June 1980
- Colonel Gary K. Carroll, 29 June 1980
- Colonel Jerry E. Smith, 24 July 1981
- Colonel Dallas R. Hanna, 14 April 1983
- Colonel James T. Talley, 18 June 1985
- Colonel Robert G. Jenkins, 25 June 1985
- Colonel John L. Welde, 12 June 1987
- Colonel Harvey M. Smith, 27 June 1988
- Colonel William T. Hobbins, 17 July 1989
- Colonel William A. Payne, 27 June 1990
- Colonel Michael B. Lackey, 25 June 1991
- Colonel Thomas L. Allen, 7 July 1992–31 May 1993
- Colonel Richard B. Cross Jr., 1 October 1994
- Colonel Stephen H. Spencer, 16 August 1995
- Colonel Carl E. Van Pelt, 12 August 1996
- Colonel Jerry M. Bergstresser, 30 January 1998
- Colonel Michael C. Henchey, 12 March 1998
- Colonel Mark D. Budgeon, 10 March 2000
- Colonel W. Bruce Rember, 8 February 2002
- Colonel Roderick C. Zastrow, 5 August 2003
- Colonel Phillip G. Gibbons, 21 July 2004
