66 Air Base Wing

Lineage

Established as 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1970. Redesignated 66th Electronic Combat Wing, and activated, on 1 Jun 1985. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1992. Redesignated 66th Air Base Wing on 16 Sep 1994. Activated on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

Ninth Air Force, 1 Jan 1953; Twelfth Air Force, 7 Jul 1953; United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Jan 1958; Seventeenth Air Force, 15 Nov 1959; Third Air Force, 1 Sep 1966–1 Apr 1970. 65th Air Division, 1 Jun 1985; Seventeenth Air Force, 30 Jun 1991–31 Mar 1992. Electronic Systems Center, 1 Oct 1994–.

Components

Group. 66th: 1 Jan 1953–8 Dec 1957.

Squadrons. 17th: 10 May 1959–12 Jan 1970. 18th: 1 Jun 1959–30 Jan 1970. 19th: 8 Dec 1957–8 Mar 1958 (detached 8 Jan–8 Mar 1958). 30th: 8 Dec 1957–8 Mar 1958 (detached 8 Jan–8 Mar 1958). 32d: attached 8 Jan–7 Mar 1958, assigned 8 Mar 1958–1 Oct 1965. 38th: attached 8 Jan–7 Mar 1958, assigned 8 Mar 1958–1 Jan 1966. 42d: 1 Jun 1985–25 Jan 1991 (detached 2 Jun 1985–24 Jan 1991). 43d: 1 Oct 1986–31 Jul 1991 (detached 17 Jan– 10 Mar 1991; 7 Apr–14 Apr 1991). 302d: 8 Dec 1957–20 Jun 1959. 303d: 8 Dec 1957–20 Jun 1959.

Stations.

Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan–25 Jun 1953; Sembach AB, Germany, 7 Jul 1953; Laon AB, France, 10 Jul 1958; RAF Upper Heyford, England, 1 Sep 1966–1 Apr 1970. Sembach AB, Germany, 1 Jun 1985–31 Mar 1992. Hanscom AFB, MA, 1 Oct 1994–.

Commanders

Col Jacob W. Dixon, 1 Jan 1953; Col George H. Fulcher, 27 Mar 1953; Col Hervey H. Whitfield, (by Sep) 1954; Col Earl H. Jacobson, 25 Apr 1957; Col Robert R. Gideon, Jr., 8 Jun 1957; Brig Gen Kyle L. Riddle, Aug 1959; Col Bernard R. Muldoon, 6 Jul 1961; Col Nathan J. Adams, 2 Jul 1963; Col Charlie Falletta, 24 May 1965; Col Frederick W. Dyer, 10 Jul 1965; Col Frank C. Malone, 13 Jul 1965; Col Robert J. Holbury, 6 Jul 1966; Col Kendall S. Young, 14 Aug 1967; Col Harry M. Chapman, 26 Jun 1968; Col Herman G. Tillman, Jr., 4 Jul 1968–1 Apr 1970. Col Frederick A. Zehrer III, 1 Jun 1985; Col William B. Mitchell, 25 Mar 1988; Col David L. Vesely, 30 Jun 1989; Col John R. Fuhrmann, 18 May 1990; Joseph D. Ferris, 29 Jul 1991–31 Mar 1992.

Aircraft

RF–51, 1953; RB–26, 1953–1955; RF–80, 1953–1956; RB–57, 1954–1955, 1955–1958; B–57, 1955–1956; RF–84, 1955–1959; RB–66, 1957–1958;RB–45, 1957; RF–101, 1958–1970; RF–4, 1969–1970. EF–111, 1985–1991; EC–130, 1986–1991.

Operations

Replaced 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Jan 1953. Provided day and night tactical reconnaissance for TAC, and participated in several exercises, Jan–May 1953. Moved to Europe in mid-1953. Provided day and night (primarily day, after Jan 1958) reconnaissance for USAFE and NATO, Jul 1953–Jan 1970. In addition, participated in a steady stream of tactical exercises and evaluations, readiness inspections, and training programs, until inactivation in 1970. Activated as an Electronic Combat Wing in Jun 1985. Trained EC–130 aircrews (43d ECS) in tactics and concept of operations, and along with NATO forces, on the concept and use of EC–130H COMPASS CALL electronic countermeasures. Administratively controlled EF–111s (42d ECS) which were based at RAF Upper Heyford, England, and operationally controlled by the 20th FW. Assigned host wing responsibilities that included support of numerous geographically separated units and logistical support for flying units located at Sembach AB. Deployed aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia and Turkey, providing tactical and electronic combat operations against Iraq from 17 Jan–28 Feb 1991. Began phasing down operations in 1991, and inactivated on 31 Mar 1992.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan–31 Dec 1962; 1 Apr 1987–1 Mar 1989; 1 Jun 1989–31 May 1991.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 66th Reconnaissance Group prior to 1 Jan 1953.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.

Decorations. None.

Emblem