455th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing was a provisional United States Air Force unit located at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from 2002 to 2021. It was one of two expeditionary wings in Afghanistan. Most wing personnel were located at the Air Force Village known as Camp Cunningham.
| 455th Air Expeditionary Wing | |
|---|---|
A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from Bagram Airfield near C-130 Hercules deployed with the wing | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1956–1957; 1962–1968; 2002–2021 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Air Expeditionary |
| Role | Combat & Combat Support |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Central Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan |
| Nickname(s) | Vulgar Vultures (World War II) |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device |
| Insignia | |
| 455th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem (approved 3 August 2017) | |
| Patch with 455th Strategic Missile Wing emblem (approved c. October 1963) | |
| Unofficial 455th Bombardment Group emblem | |
The first predecessor of the wing was organized in 1943 as the 455th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers, the 455th deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat operations. Following V-E Day, it remained in Italy without its flight echelon until inactivating in September 1945.
The group was activated in the reserve in 1947. Apparently, it was not fully manned or equipped before inactivating in June 1949 and transferring most of its resources to another unit. It was redesignated the 445th Fighter-Day Group and activated in 1956, but did not become operational before inactivating in July 1957.
The wing's second predecessor was established in 1953, but not organized until November 1962 as the 455th Strategic Missile Wing an LGM-30B Minuteman I wing. It was inactivated in June 1968 and transferred its assets to the 91st Strategic Missile Wing. The group and wing were consolidated in 1985. In 2001, the consolidated unit was converted to provisional status as the 455th Air Expeditionary Group. It was activated the following year.