The 65th Air Base Group is a group of the United States Air Force based at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal.
The group provides base and en route support for Department of Defense, allied nations and other authorized aircraft in transit, including those from the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Colombia, Germany, Venezuela and Great Britain.
65th Civil Engineer Squadron65th Communications Squadron65th Logistics Readiness Squadron65th Operations Support Squadron65th Security Forces Squadron65th Comptroller Flight65th Force Support FlightThe 65th was first organized at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York as the 65th Troop Carrier Wing in 1952. It conducted "reserve training toward proficiency with troop carrier aircraft from 1952–1953. However, the wing was never fully manned or equipped."
The 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing replaced the 1605th Air Base Wing as the Military Airlift Command unit managing facilities at Lajes Field in January 1982. Ten years later, the two units were consolidated as the 65th Support Wing.
It has "provided en route support for aircraft transiting Lajes Air Base from 1982 to the present." Its commander also serves as Commander, United States Forces Azores. The unit also "provided base support to elements of the United States Army and U.S. Navy in the area." The 65th "supported deployment of personnel and equipment through Lajes during operations in the Persian Gulf from August 1990 – April 1991" and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2001 and 2003 respectively.
On 14 August 2015, the wing was redesignated as a group and reassigned to the 86th Airlift Wing.
On 21 August 2015, Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, a medical technician of the 65th Medical Operations Squadron was one of 6 passengers, including three Americans who thwarted the attack on a high speed train travelling from Brussels to Paris by an armed gunman by tackling and subduing him, then helping to provide medical aid to a wounded passenger. On September 16, 2015, he received the Airman's Medal and a Purple Heart medal from U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at the Pentagon.
65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
Established as the 65th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 26 May 1952Activated in the Reserve on 14 June 1952Inactivated on 1 April 1953
Redesignated 65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium on 1 April 1953Consolidated with the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing as the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing on 1 January 199265th Air Base Group
Established as the 1605th Military Airlift Support Wing and activated on 1 January 1982Consolidated with the 65th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 January 1992Redesignated
65th Support Wing on 27 January 1992Redesignated
65th Air Base Wing on 1 October 1993Redesignated
65th Air Base Group 11 August 2015
First Air Force, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953Twenty-First Air Force 1 January 1982Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1993Third Air Force, 1 October 2002United States Air Forces Europe, 1 November 2005Air Command Europe, 18 November 2005Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe), 1 December 200686th Airlift Wing, 11 August 2015Groups65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 195365th Air Base Group (later 1605th Air Base Group, 65th Support Group, 65th Mission Support Group), 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953, 1 January 1982 - 14 August 201565th Logistics Group, 27 January 1992 - c. 199765th Medical Group (later USAF Hospital, Lajes, 65th Medical Group), 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953, 1 January 1982 - presentSquadrons65th Civil Engineer Squadron, 14 August 2015 - present65th Comptroller Squadron (later 65th Comptroller Flight), 1 February 1996 - present65th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 14 August 2015 - present65th Security Forces Squadron, 14 August 2015 - present1605 Military Airlift Support Squadron (later 65 Military Airlift Support Squadron): 1 Jan 1982 – 1 Oct 19931936th Communications Squadron (later 1605th Communications Squadron, 65th Communications Squadron), 1 September 1990 - 1 September 1997, 14 August 2015 - presentFlights65th Comptroller Flight (see 65th Comptroller Squadron)65th Force Support Flight, 14 August 2015 - presentMitchel Air Force Base, New York, 14 Jun 1952 – 1 Apr 1953Lajes Field, Azores, 1 Jan 1982 – presentCurtiss C-46 Commando (1952–1953) 
