435th Tactical Airlift Wing

435th Air Ground Operations Wing
An Army paratrooper prior to an airborne operation during International Jump Week at Ramstein Air Base hosted by the wing annually
Active	1949–1952; 1952–1965; 1968–1995; 2004–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Control of tactical strike aircraft
Part of	United States Air Forces in Europe
Garrison/HQ	Ramstein Air Base Germany
Nickname(s)	Flamingo Wing (1949-1965)
Motto(s)	Citus et Certus Latin Swift and Sure
Mascot(s)	Thunderbolt
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Andra V.P. Kniep
Insignia
435th Air Ground Operations Wing emblem (approved 4 May 2004)
435th Tactical Airlift Wing emblem (approved 4 October 1976)
435th Troop Carrier Wing emblem (approved 22 May 1952)

The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing 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 Andra V.P. Kniep, who took command in March 2015.

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.

In June 1949, Continental Air Command (ConAC), which had the responsibility for training reserve units, reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system. As part of this reorganization and unit reductions required by President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, the 435th Troop Carrier Wing was activated at Miami International Airport, and formed its cadre from the inactivating 49th Air Division and 100th Bombardment Group. The wing was manned at 25% of normal strength but was authorized four squadrons rather than the three of active duty units.

At Miami, the wing trained with C-46s under the supervision of the active duty 2585th Air Force Reserve Training Center. The wing was ordered into active service in March 1951 as a result of the Korean War. Along with other reserve units called to active duty, it formed Tactical Air Command's Eighteenth Air Force. The 435th's initial function was to train C-46 aircrews for service in Korea. The wing also trained with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Although it remained at Miami, the wing deployed twice while on active duty: to Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, North Carolina from 21 July until 1 September 1951 and to Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire from 2 January to 3 March 1952. It was relieved from active duty and inactivated on 1 December 1952 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the regular 456th Troop Carrier Wing, which was activated the same day.