455th Air Expeditionary Wing
| 455th Air Expeditionary Wing | |
|---|---|
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|
|
| Active | 1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1956–1957; 1962-1968; 2002–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Air Expeditionary |
| Role | Combat & Combat Support |
| Part of | U.S. Air Forces Central Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan |
| Nickname(s) | Vulgar Vultures (World War II) |
| Motto(s) | Be A Force Multiplier! |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
| Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brig. Gen. Dave Julazadeh |
| Insignia | |
| 455th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem |  |
| Patch with 455th Strategic Missile Wing emblem (approved c. October 1963) |  |
| Unofficial 455th Bombardment Group emblem |  |
The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force USAFCENT unit located to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. It is one of two expeditionary wings in Afghanistan. Most of the wing personnel are located at the Air Force Village known as Camp Cunningham.
The wing's primary mission is to support the Global War on Terrorism by providing aerial support for U.S. and Coalition forces on the ground. Activated in 2001, the 455th has members deployed throughout the country supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
The wing commander reports to the United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT) Commander in Southwest Asia. The commander is supported by a wing staff and oversees five Air Force groups located at Bagram and one at Kandahar Airfield. The five groups are the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 455th Expeditionary Medical Group, and the 455th Expeditionary Base Defense Group. It also oversees the 451st Air Expeditionary Group at Kandahar Airfield.
During the Cold War, the Strategic Air Command 455th Strategic Missile Wing was an LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM wing. During World War II, the wing's predecessor unit, the 455th Bombardment Group was a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment organization, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.
The wing consists of five groups:
455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group:
Constituted as the 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943. Activated on 1 June 1943. Activated as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment unit; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in New Mexico and Utah received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in November 1943. Moved to Langley Field, Virginia where the group flew long-range convoy escort missions over the Mid-Atlantic, October–November 1943 while station in Italy was being constructed.
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Wikipedia