The wing was first activated in Northern Ireland under VII Air Force Composite Command as the 3d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group. It used Martin B-26 Marauders and Douglas A-20 Havocs to provide combat and theater indoctrination for Eighth Air Force combat crews from November 1943 until September 1944, when the need for dedicated Army Air Forces training units in the United Kingdom was reduced.[1]
The group's resources were used to man and equip provisional air disarmament units participating in Operation Lusty. These units moved to France in February 1945 and advanced with Allied ground forces, seizing, securing, inventorying, and disposing of captured Luftwaffe equipment and materiel through October 1945. The group inactivated the following month. It was disbanded in the fall of 1948.[1]
Support for Nellis Air Force Base and the Continental Range
The group was reconstituted as the 554th Operations Support Wing in 1980. It provided base support functions for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and its associated ranges from 1980 to 1991. The wing developed, operated, and maintained all range facilities and threat simulators and provided combat support functions at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field.[1]
Systems Management
The 554th Electronic Systems Wing was consolidated in 2006 with the Operations Support Systems Wing, which had been established in 2004 at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts. The wing was inactivated in June 2010.
Lineage
554th Operations Support Wing
Constituted on 2 November 1943 as the 3d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group
Activated on 21 November 1943
Redesignated 3d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Bomber or Fighter, Special) on 17 July 1944
Inactivated on 22 November 1945
Disbanded on 8 October 1948
Reconstituted on 26 February 1980 and redesignated 554th Operations Support Wing
Activated on 1 March 1980
Inactivated on 1 November 1991
Consolidated on 6 April 2006 with the Operations Support Systems Wing[2]
554th Electronic Systems Wing
Constituted as the Operations Support Systems Wing on 23 November 2004
Activated on 17 December 2004
Consolidated on 6 April 2006 with the 554th Operations Support Wing
Redesignated as the 554th Electronics Systems Wing on 17 April 2006
Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 17 December 2004 – 30 June 2010[2]
Components
Groups
554th Combat Support Group, 1 March 1980 – 1 November 1991
554th Electronic Systems Group, 17 April 2006 – 30 June 2010
USAF Hospital, Nellis (later 554th Medical Group), 1 March 1980 – 1 November 1991
554th Range Group, 1 March 1980 – 1 November 1991
554th Security Police Group, 1 March 1980 – 1 November 1991
754th Electronic Systems Group, 17 April 2006 – 30 June 2010
2069th Communications Group (later 554th Communications Group, 554th Communications Squadron), 1 September 1990 – 1 November 1991
Operational Squadrons
3d Replacement and Training Squadron (later 3d Replacement and Training Squadron, CCRC Group (Bombardment)), 21 November 1943 – 22 November 1945 (not operational after 10 October 1945)
4460th Helicopter Squadron, 1 June 1985 – 31 December 1987
Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield, Nevada
Systems Squadrons
Engineering and Integration Systems Squadron (later 643d Electronic Systems Squadron) 17 December 2004 – 30 June 2010