| 435th Air Ground Operations Wing | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing |
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| Active | 1943 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Administrative |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe |
| Garrison/HQ | Ramstein Air Base Germany |
| Mascot | Thunderbolt |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col John S. Shapland [1] |
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.[1]
The current commander is Colonel John S. Shapland, USAF.[2]
Previous Commanders: Colonel Thomas Gould, 16 Jul 09 - 13 Dec 10
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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.
The 435 AGOW comprises 3 groups. Each groups supports a specific portion of the wing's multifaceted mission.
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 Commandos 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.[3]. 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.
From July 1992 through September 1994, the wing controlled the massive airlift effort (Operation Provide Promise) 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.
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Groups
Squadrons
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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