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85th Fighter Group
85th Fighter Group
	An F-35A Lightning II preparing for air refueling
Active	1942–1944, 1952–1993, 1994–2006; 2024–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter training
Part of	Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ	Ebbing Air National Guard Base
Motto(s)	Guardians of the North (1955-2006) Coup de Main (French for 'A Sudden (Unexpected) Attack') (1942-1944)
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Insignia
85th Group emblem
85th bombardment Group emblem

The 85th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force organization, stationed atEbbing Air National Guard Base as an active associate of the 188th Wing. It serves as a training unit for countries using the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The first predecessor of the group was organized in 1942 as the 85th Bombardment Group. It served as a training unit and participated in military exercises until it was disbanded in a general reorganization of Army Air Forces units in the spring of 1944.

The second predecessor of the group was organized in 1952 as the Iceland Air Defense Force. Except for a brief period in the early 1980s, it served as the United State's air defense headquarters in Iceland until inactivating in 2006.

Overview

The 85th Group was the United States Air Force (USAF) component of U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Iceland Defense Force (IDF).^[2] the 85th Group was a tenant unit of U.S. Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavík, strategically located on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) base in the southwest corner of Iceland.^[2] Reactivated in 1952, the 85th Group was an Independent Group comprising seven squadrons and 13 staff agencies, with more than 1300 people assigned.^[2]^[3] Operationally, the group was assigned to the Iceland Defense Force (IDF) as part of Island Command Iceland.

As the "Guardians of the North," the 85th Group was responsible for deterring aggression in the North Atlantic, protecting Iceland's airspace and supporting contingency operations. This was accomplished through surveillance, air superiority and the use of rescue assets. The 85th Group was responsible for deterring aggression in the North Atlantic and protecting Iceland's airspace. It also supported contingency operations through surveillance, air superiority and rescue forces.

Mission

The group trains pilots from other nations on Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales program.^[4]

History

World War II

The earliest predecessor of the 85th Group was formed during World War II as the 85th Bombardment Group, a dive bomber unit equipped with Vultee V-72 Vengeance single-engine attack aircraft.^[1] The group's original squadrons were the 305th,^[5] 306th,^[6] 307th,^[7] and 308th Bombardment Squadrons.^[8] It moved to Bowman Field, Kentucky to train for close air support and received its first aircraft there.^[1]^[9] It converted to Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers in August 1942 and was reassigned to Fourth Air Force in California, taking part in training maneuvers at the Desert Training Center with Army ground units programmed for the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. It continued to participate in maneuvers in California during fall and winter of 1942–1943.^[1]

The 85th returned to Third Air Force in Louisiana and re-equipped with North American A-36 Apache attack aircraft in early 1943, moving briefly to Kentucky for maneuvers.^[1] The group then moved to Georgia with Curtiss P-40 Warhawk single-engine fighter aircraft in early 1944 as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for fighter-bomber pilots.^[1] RTUs were oversized units designed to train replacement aircrew for assignment overseas.^[10] In late 1943, it assumed a split operation as its 500th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (FBS) moved to Harris Neck Army Air Field, Georgia and its 502d FBS moved to Punta Gorda Army Air Field, Florida, while the group and remaining squadrons remained at Waycross Army Air Field. It received a few Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in March 1944. It served as a RTU until it disbanded in early in 1944,^[1] when like most RTUs and Operational Training Units its personnel, equipment, and training activities at Waycross were handed over to the 345th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).^[11] Those at Punta Gorda became the duty of the 344th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter)^[12] and at Harris Neck of the 346th AAF Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter).^[13] This reorganization occurred because the AAF found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.^[14]

Cold War

The second predecessor of the 85th Group was the Iceland Air Defense Force, which replaced the Iceland Base Command, which had been the headquarters for Army (and later Air Force) units stationed in Iceland since 1942 and was assigned to Military Air Transport Service (MATS). Between 1952 and 1961, provided air defense for Iceland, operated Keflavik Airport, and furnished base support for all U.S. military forces in Iceland.^[15] Fighters assigned to the unit routinely intercepted Soviet Union aircraft flying in the Iceland area.^[15] It performed its defense mission under North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the Air Force component of NATO Iceland Defense Force. Keflavik Airport was 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. it was transferred from MATS to Air Defense Command in 1962; Tactical Air Command in 1978 and Air Combat Command in 1992 until it was inactivated in 1993 and replaced by the 35th Wing. In 1994, it was consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing and activated to replace the 35th Wing to serve again as the headquarters for Air Force units in Iceland, as the 85th Wing.^[15] It assumed the operational management of fighter and tanker aircraft deployed to Iceland to protect the nation's airspace.^[15] It defended U.S. national interests in the North Atlantic.^[15] In 2003, its 56th Rescue Squadron deployed to Liberia as part of Joint Task Force Liberia. It provided a U.S. presence over the capital of Monrovia towards the end of the Second Liberian Civil War and saved lives by extracting people from the United States Embassy in Monrovia.^[3]

Air Force reductions and a new agreement with the Government of Iceland continued to affect Keflavik organizations. On 1 March 1995, the 57th Fighter Squadron was inactivated and the interceptor force was replaced by Regular Air Force and Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft rotating every 90 days to Iceland. The 85th Wing was reduced to a Group level in 1995 and supported rotational deployments. In 2002 jurisdiction of Air Force units in Iceland was transferred to the United States Air Forces in Europe.

The 85th Group continued to support rotational deployments until it was inactivated on 28 June 2006, as a result of the Air Force reduction in forces in Iceland. All rotational fighters left and the 56th Rescue Squadron ceased operation at the end of the fiscal year.

Foreign pilot training

The group was redesignated the 85th Fighter Group and activated at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas on 1 July 2024, drawing its resources from Detachment 1, 33rd Fighter Wing, which was discontinued. Detachment 1 had been established in 2023, when Ebbing was selected as the site for Foreign Military Sales associated training on the F-35 Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its task was to establish the tasks required to prepare for flight operations.^[4]

Lineage

85th Fighter-Bomber Group

Constituted as the 85th Bombardment Group (Light) on 13 January 1942

Activated on 10 February 1942

Redesignated 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 27 July 1942

Redesignated 85th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 August 1943

Disbanded on 1 May 1944

Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (not active)

Consolidated with Air Forces Iceland on 29 September 1994 as the 85th Wing^[15]

Air Forces Iceland

Designated as the Iceland Air Defense Force and organized on 1 April 1952

Redesignated Air Forces Iceland on 1 January 1960

Inactivated on 31 May 1993

Consolidated with the 85th Tactical Fighter Training Wing on 29 September 1994 as the 85th Wing

Activated on 1 October 1994

Redesignated 85th Group on 1 July 1995

Inactivated on 28 June 2006^[15]

Redesignated 85th Fighter Group'

Activated on 1 July 2024^[4]

Assignments

3d Air Support Command, 10 February 1942
3d Bomber Command, 16 March 1942^[c]
12th Bomber Command, 2 May 1942
3d Bomber Command, 8 May 1942
3rd Ground Air Support Command (later III Ground Air Support Command, III Air Support Command), 10 August 1942
IV Air Support Command, 2 November 1942
Desert Training Center, 21 January 1943
III Air Support Command, 8 April 1943
23d Bombardment Training Wing, 10 April 1943
III Fighter Command, 6 August 1943 – 1 May 1944
Military Air Transport Service, 1 April 1952
64th Air Division, 1 July 1962
26th Air Division, 1 July 1963
Goose Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963
37th Air Division, 1 April 1966+
21st Air Division, 31 December 1969
Aerospace Defense Command, 1 October 1975
Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979
First Air Force, 6 December 1985 – 31 May 1993
Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1994
Third Air Force, 1 October 2002
48th Fighter Wing, 8 October 2004 – 28 June 2006^[15]
33rd Fighter Wing, 1 July 2024 – present^[4]

Components

Operational Components

Divisions

65th Air Division, 24 April 1952 – 8 March 1954

Groups

85th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – 1 July 1995^[15]
1400th Operations Group, 18 December 1955 – 1 July 1960^[15]

Squadrons

56th Rescue Squadron, 1 July 1995 – 28 June 2006^[15]
57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (later 57th Fighter Squadron), 13 November 1954 – 18 December 1955; 1 July 1960 – 31 May 1993; 1 July 2024 – present^[15]^[4]
85th Operations Support Squadron (later 85th Operations Squadron), 1 July 1985 – 28 June 2006;^[15]
305th Bombardment Squadron (later 499th Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 10 February 1942 – 1 May 1944^[15]

Located at Harris Neck AAF. Georgia after 11 December 1943.

306th Bombardment Squadron (later 500th Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 10 February 1942 – 1 May 1944^[15]
307th Bombardment Squadron (later 501st Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 10 February 1942 – 1 May 1944^[15]
308th Bombardment Squadron (later 502d Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 10 February 1942 – 1 May 1944^[15]

Located at Punta Gorda AAF, Florida after 3 December 1943 (detached to 337th Fighter Group).^[16]

667th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 30 September 1988
932d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (later 932d Air Defense Squadron, 932d Air Control Squadron), 8 March 1954 – 18 December 1955; 1 July 1960 – 31 May 1993; 1 July 1995 – 28 July 2006
933d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 18 April 1955 – 18 December 1955; 1 July 1960 – 8 October 1960
934th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 8 October 1960

Support Components

Groups

85th Support Group, 1 October 1994 – 1 July 1995
1400th Air Base Group, 1 April 1952 – 1 July 1960
1400th Maintenance & Supply Group, 1 May 1959 – 1 July 1960
1400th USAF Hospital, 1 July 1960 – 1 October 1961

Squadrons

85th Civil Engineering Squadron (later 85th Civil Engineer Squadron), 1 July 1985 – 28 June 2006
85th Logistics Squadron, 1 July 1985 – c. 30 September 2002
85th Mission Support Squadron, 1 July 1985 – 28 June 2006
85th Security Police Squadron (later 85th Security Forces Squadron), 1 July 1985 – 28 June 2006
1400th Air Base Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 October 1961
1400th Civil Engineering Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 October 1961
1400th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 July 1961
1400th Supply Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 October 1961
1400th Support Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 July 1962
1400th Transportation Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 1 October 1961
4557th Security Police Squadron, c. 1985 – 31 May 1993
4557th Supply Squadron, 1 March 1987 – 31 May 1993

Stations

Army Air Base, Savannah, Georgia, 10 February 1942
Bowman Field, Kentucky, c. 16 February 1942
Hunter Field, Georgia, 9 June 1942
Waycross Army Air Field, Georgia, 15 August 1942
Gillespie Field, Tennessee, 3 October 1942
Blythe Army Air Base, California, 2 November 1942^[17]
Rice Army Air Field, California, c. 11 December 1942
Camp Young, California, 21 January 1943
Harding Field, Louisiana, 8 April 1943
Waycross Army Air Field, Georgia, c. 27 August 1943 – 1 May 1944
Keflavik Airport (later NAS Keflavik), Iceland, 1 April 1952 – 31 May 1993^[15]
NAS Keflavik, Iceland, 1 October 1994 – 28 June 2006^[15]

Aircraft

Vultee V-72 Vengeance, 1942
Douglas A-24 Banshee, 1942–1943
North American A-36 Apache, 1943–1944
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1944
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944
North American F-51 Mustang (rotational aircraft), 1952–1953
Northrop F-89 Scorpion, 1954–1962
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1962–1973
McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, 1973–1985
F-15 Eagle, 1985–1993, 1994–1995; (rotational aircraft), 1995–2006
HH-60 Pave Hawk, 1994–2006
KC-135 Stratotanker (rotational aircraft), 1994–2006
HC-130P/N (rotational aircraft), 1994–2006
F-16 Fighting Falcon (rotational aircraft), 1997 and 1999.^[15]

Awards

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award^[15]

1 June 1967 – 31 December 1968

1 January 1969 – 31 December 1969

1 January 1970 – 31 August 1970

1 July 1973 – 30 June 1975

1 July 1975 – 30 June 1976

1 July 1976 – 30 June 1978

1 July 1981 – 30 June 1982

1 October 1994 – 31 May 1996

1 June 1996 – 31 May 1997

1 June 1997 – 31 May 1998

1 June 1999 – 31 May 1999

1 June 2000 – 31 May 2001

1 June 2001 – 31 May 2002

1 June 2002 – 30 September 2003

1 October 2003 – 30 September 2004

1 October 2004 – 31 October 2005

1 October 2005 – 28 June 2006

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987

1 July 1987 – 30 June 1988

1 July 1990 – 31 May 1992

American Theater of World War II

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ Approved 13 December 1955, modified 9 October 1968.
^ Approved 6 November 1942. Description: Azure, five drop bombs or, arranged one large in pale two to dexter bendwise in pale and two to sinister bend sinisterwise in pale, a chief indented of eight points of the last [color mentioned].
^ Robertson shows this "III" Bomber Command. However, at the time this and the following commands had an arabic number in their names. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942."Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Maurer, Combat Units, p. 151
^ ^a ^b ^c Pike, John (2 January 2008). "85th Group (85 GP)". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b Reed, SSG Nicolasa (30 June 2006). "Group mission inactivates at Keflavik, Iceland". 48 Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 July 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sherlock, SSG Christopher (3 July 2024). "85th Fighter Group reactivates at Ebbing ANGB for F-35A FMS mission". 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 602
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 603
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 604–605
^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 605
^ No byline. "Abstract, History 85 Fighter-Bomber Group Feb-Dec 1942". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ Craven & Cate, p. xxxvi
^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 7
^ See No byline. "Abstract, History Punta Gorda AAF May 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ No byline. "Abstract, History Harris Neck AAF Jun 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ Craven & Cate, p. 75
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Robertson, Patsy (29 September 2008). "Factsheet 85 Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ No byline. "Abstract, History 85th Fighter-Bomber Group Dec 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ Wison, p. 128

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L., eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Wilson, Art (2008). Runways in the Sand. Blythe, California: Art Wilson. ISBN 978-0-615-21889-2. OCLC 316309702.