64th Air Expeditionary Group

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64th Air Expeditionary Group
64AEG 1010.JPG
64th group photo, November 2010
Active1940–1945, 1947–1948, 1952–1954, 1991–1997, 2001-unknown, 2005–2014
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleForce protection and support
Motto(s)Hardest Target in the Kingdom[ citation needed ]
Engagements European Theater of Operations, Mediterranean Theater of Operations Global War on Terrorism (2005-TBD)
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation 7 April – 15 June 1944
1 June 2005 – 31 May 2006
1 June 2006 – 31 May 2007
1 June 2007 – 31 May 2008
1 June 2008 – 31 May 2009
1 June 2009 – 31 May 2010
1 July 1992 – 30 June 1993
1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997
Insignia
64th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem [1] 64th Air Expeditionary Group.png
64th Troop Carrier Group emblem (approved 16 June 1942) [2] 64 Troop Carrier Group emblem.png

The 64th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force group, most recently assigned to AFNORTH. In that capacity, in support of FEMA operations across the United States, the 64 Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) led Air Force doctors, nurses, medics and general purpose staff augmenting the civilian work force in hospitals along the west coast of California to reduce the patient load on civilian providers battling COVID-19. As the number of United States citizens with COVID-19 declined, the group transitioned to establishing Air Force-led COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center (CVC) sites.

Contents

- 64th EMDOS located in Houston, Texas at Reliant Stadium (operational February 2021 to May 2021).

- Detachment 1 located in Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field (operational March 2021 to May 2021).

- Detachment 2 located in Gary, Indiana at Theodore Roosevelt Park (operational April 2021 to June 2021).

- Detachment 3 located in Saint Paul, Minnesota at The State Fair (operational April 2021 to June 2021).

- Detachment 4 located in Grand Rapids, Michigan at DeVos Place (operational April 2021 to June 2021).

Prior to supporting FEMA during the COVID-19 pandemic, the last activation was in direct support of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Eskan Village, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was inactivated in 2014. [3]

The group was first activated in December 1940 as the 64th Transport Group, a year before the Attack on Pearl Harbor. During the Second World War it fought primarily with Twelfth Air Force, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation.

History

The 64th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit and uses the emblem of the inactive 64th Flying Training Wing.

World War II

Constituted as the 64th Transport Group on 20 November 1940. Activated on 4 December 1940. Used Douglas C-47s for training and flying transport missions in the US.

Redesignated 64th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. Moved to England in August 1942 and received additional training. Became part of Twelfth Air Force. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, November–December 1942. Flew first mission on 11 November, landing paratroops at Maison Blanche Airport. Dropped paratroops to capture airfields during the battle for Tunisia. Released paratroops near Gela and Catania when the Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943. Dropped paratroops near Avellino during the invasion of Italy in September 1943 to destroy a bridge on the enemy's supply line to Salerno. Participated in the assault on southern France in August 1944 by releasing gliders and paratroops in the battle zone. Supported the partisans in northern Italy early in 1945 by dropping paratroops, supplies, and propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines.

When not engaged in airborne combat operations, the group continually transported men and supplies to the front lines and evacuated wounded personnel.

Most of the group was on detached service in the China Burma India Theater from April–June 1944, while a skeletal remnant remained in Sicily. With its squadrons operating from separate bases in India, the group aided the Allied offensive in Burma. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for flying unarmed over rugged enemy territory to carry food, clothing, medical supplies, guns, ammunition, and mules to the combat zone and to evacuate wounded personnel.

The group moved to Trinidad in June 1945. Assigned to Air Transport Command. Inactivated on 31 July 1945.

Activated in the United States on 19 May 1947. Not manned during 1947–1948. Inactivated on 10 September 1948.

Cold War

The 64th performed airlift and airdrop/airlanding of troops and cargo, routinely and during frequent maneuvers, 1952–1953. It began phasing down for inactivation in mid-October 1953, at which time tactical operations passed to 63d Troop Carrier Wing. In February 1954, however, the wing began building up again in preparation for an overseas movement, but was inactivated instead.

Flying training

From the implementation of the Objective Wing organization until 1997, the group served as the flying arm of the 64th Flying Training Wing.

Expeditionary operations

The 64 AEG/AEW operated out of Camp Snoopy at Doha International Airport, Qatar from 1996 until 2004.[ dubious – discuss ]

In 2005, the group was activated for defense of personnel and assets in Southwest Asia. It provided force protection and support services for the installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia known as Eskan Village, replacing the former 320th Air Expeditionary Group. The group was made up of about 300 security forces, support airmen, and civilians in two squadrons: the 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron. Their mission was to stand guard, provide integrated defense, emergency response, and combat support for the base, which houses military and host-nation tenant agencies. Most days the airmen fought the Global War on Terrorism in extreme temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. [4]

In April 2020, the group was reactivated under the leadership of Air Force Colonel Adrian Byers. The AEG responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic, performing medical duties in support of the New York Health and Hospital Systems fight against COVID-19. The leadership cell functioned out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ with forward presence stationed at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York under the leadership of Deputy Commander, Lt Col Curt Hasse. [5] The COVID response mission ended and the 64 AEG was once again inactivated in July 2021.

Lineage

Group

Activated on 4 December 1940
Inactivated 31 July 1945
Inactivated on 10 September 1948
Activated on 14 July 1952
Inactivated on 21 July 1954
Activated on 15 May 1991
Inactivated on 30 September 1997
Activated December 2001
Inactivated unknown
Activated 2005 [6]
Inactivated 1 May 2014 [6]
Activated April 2020
Inactivated July 2020
Activated 23 Dec 2020

Assignments

December 2001 – unknown
379th Air Expeditionary Wing, [7] 23 September 2005 – 1 May 2014 [6]

Stations

Components

Squadrons

Aircraft

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Approved for the 64th Flying Training Wing
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Robertson, Patsy (23 October 2008). "Factsheet 64 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. ↑ 64th Air Expeditionary Group Deactivated [sic], Published 9 May 2014
  4. ↑ U.S. Air Force News Service
  5. ↑ "Freedom Wing Command Team Assists in Fighting Global Pandemic".
  6. 1 2 3 4 Staff writer, no byline (9 May 2014). "64th Air Expeditionary Group Deactivated [sic]". 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "379 AEW Library: Units". 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Eskan Village Air Force Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia". Military Bases.com. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

Bibliography

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