85th Group
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The 85th Group was redesignated on 1 July 1995 from the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing.
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[edit] History
Established as 85th Bombardment Group (Light) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 10 Feb 1942. Redesignated the 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 27 July 1942, then to the 85th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 Aug 1943. Disestablished on 1 May 1944. Reestablished, and redesignated the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing on 31 July 1985.
Consolidated on 29 Sept 1994 with Air Forces Iceland, which was established as Iceland Air Defense Force, and organized, on 1 Apr 1952. Redesignated as Air Forces Iceland on 1 June 1960. Inactivated on 31 May 1993. Consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, and redesignated the 85th Wing on 29 Sept 1994. Activated on 1 Oct 1994.
[edit] Assignments
- 3d Air Support Command, 10 Feb 1942
- III Bomber Command, 16 Mar 1942
- XII Bomber Command, 2 May 1942
- III Bomber Command, 8 May 1942
- III Ground Air Support (later, III Air Support) Command, 10 Aug 1942
- IV Air Support Command, 8 Apr 1943
- 23d Bombardment Training Wing, 10 Apr 1943
- III Fighter Command, 6 Aug 1943 - 1 May 1944
- Military Air Transport Service, 1 Apr 1952
- 64th Air Division (Defense), 1 July 1962
- 26th Air Division (SAGE), 1 July 1963
- Goose Air Defense Sector, 4 Sept 1963
- 37th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966
- 21st Air Division, 31 Dec 1969
- Aerospace Defense Command, 1 Oct 1975
- Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct 1979
- First Air Force, 6 Dec 1985 - 31 May 1993
- Eighth Air Force, 1 Oct 1994.
[edit] Stations
- Savannah AB, Georgia, 10 Feb 1942
- Bowman Field, Kentucky, c. 16 Feb 1942
- Hunter Field, Georgia, 9 June 1942
- Waycross, Georgia, 15 Aug 1942
- Gillespie Field, Tennessee, 3 Oct 1942
- Blythe AAB, California, 2 Nov 1942
- Rice, California, c. 11 Dec 1942
- Camp Young, California, 21 Jan 1943
- Harding Field, Louisiana, 8 Apr 1943
- Waycross AAF, Georgia, c. 27 Aug 1943 - 1 May 1944
- Keflavik Airport (later, NAS Keflavik), Iceland, 1 Apr 1952 - 31 May 1993
- NAS Keflavik, Iceland, 1 Oct 1994.
[edit] Operations
Operated as a training unit within the United States, first using V-72 aircraft. Converted to A-24s in Aug 1942, A-36s in early 1943, and P-40s in early 1944. Received a few P-47s in Mar 1944. Participated in maneuvers in California during fall and winter of 1942 - 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 - Sept. 1994), resumed air defense mission of Iceland.
It is expected to deactivate September 2006 since the Air Force announced a reduction in forces for Iceland. All rotational fighters and the 56th Rescue Squadron are going to cease operation at the end of the fiscal year.
