66th Air Base Wing
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|---|---|
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| Active | 1953–1970: 1985–1992; 1994–2010 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Air base support |
| Part of | Air Force Materiel Command |
| Motto(s) | Omnia Conspicimus (Latin) We Observe All (English) |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
| Insignia | |
| 66th Air Base Wing emblem (approved 18 March 1986)[1] |  |
| Patch with 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing emblem (approved 26 May 1953)[2] |  |
The 66th Air Base Wing is an inactive United States Air Force wing that was last active in September 2010 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it had served as the host organization since 1994. It was replaced at Hanscom by the smaller 66th Air Base Group.
The wing was first activated in January 1953 at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina as the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, replacing an Air National Guard wing that had been called into federal service for the Korean War. After re-equipping and completing training, the wing moved to Europe, where it provided tactical reconnaissance coverage for United States Air Forces Europe and NATO from bases in Germany, France and the United Kingdom until inactivating in 1970.
The wing was reactivated in 1985 as the 66th Electronic Combat Wing. During Operation Desert Storm it deployed forces to Southwest Asia that conducted combat electronic warfare missions. In addition to its flying mission, the wing supported a number of geographically separated units in Europe. It was inactivated in 1992 when one of its squadrons was reassigned and the other inactivated. Its support mission was transferred to another wing.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (14 January 2010). "Factsheet 66 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 104–105