65th Fighter Wing

Constituted as 4th Air Defense Wing on 25 Mar 1943 and activated on 27 Mar. Moved to England, May-Jun 1943, for duty with Eighth AF. Redesignated 65th Fighter Wing in Jul 1943. Served in combat in the European theater from Jul 1943 to late in Apr 1945. Inactivated in England on 21 Nov 1945.

Redesignated 65th Air Division (Defense). Organized in Iceland on 24 Apr 1952. Assigned to Military Air Transport Service. Served in the air defense of Iceland, its combat elements being fighter squadrons temporarily deployed from the US. Discontinued on 8 Mar 1954.

Activated in Spain on 8 Apr 1957. Assigned to Sixteenth AF. No combat elements were assigned at the time of activation.

Groups. 4th: 1943-1945. 56th: 1943-1945. 78th: 1943. 355th: 1943-1945. 356th: 1943-1944. 361st: 1944-1945, 1945. 479th: 1944-1945.

Stations. Hamilton Field, Calif, 27 Mar-c. 6 May 11943; Debden, England, 4 Jun 1943; Saffron Walden, England, c. 17 Jun 1943; Elveden Hall, England, c. 1 Sep 1945; Troston, England, c. 25 Oct-11 Nov 1945. Keflavik Aprt, Iceland, 24 Apr 1952-8 Mar 1954. Madrid, Spain, 8 Apr 1957-.

Commanders. Col Jesse Auton, Apr 1943; Brig Gen Ross G Hoyt, 4 Jun 1943; Brig Gen Jesse Auton, c. 6 Sep 1943; Col William L Curry, 29 Jul 1945-unkn. 1st Lt John Brody, 24 Apr 1952; Col Meredith H Shade, 10 Oct 1952; Col Emmett S Davis, 5 Sep 1953-unkn. Capt Newell H Beaty, 8 Apr 1957-.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. None.

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986