Overview
When activated in 2003, the 485 AEW was a composite wing of 24 F-15C “Eagles” fighter aircraft and 46 C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft and more than 3500 personnel from 82 different locations. The C-130s assembled represent one of the largest combat groupings ever. The wing was composed of aircraft and personnel from Langley AFB, Virginia; Eglin AFB, Florida, as well as the West Virginia Air National Guard, Tennessee Air National Guard, Missouri Air National Guard, Kentucky Air National Guard, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Delaware Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve.
By 3 May 2003, the C-130 portion of the wing had flown 1199 missions, 3354 sorties, 7451 hours, hauled 9382 tons of cargo and 8800 passengers, and boasted a mission capable rate average greater than 90 percent. When the F-15s completed flight operations 17 April they had compiled 581 sorties, flown more than 4000 hours and maintained a mission capable rate greater than 83 percent.
The wing was disbanded in early May 2003 with the last members returning to the United States in September of that year.
Read more about this topic: 485th Air Expeditionary Wing