USAF Patch GLCM USAFE c 485 TMW Tactical Missile Wing BMG 109G a

USAF Patch USAFE GLCM 485 TMW Tactical Missile Wing BMG 109G 1984 Ground Launched Cruise Missile Florennes Air Base Belgium Subdued Fully embroidered on twill cut edge 74mm by 74mm two and fifteen sixteenth inches by two and fifteen sixteenth inches. 

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Wing History

485 Tactical Missile Wing was activated on 1 August 1984 at Florennes Air Base Belgium to operate BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile GLCMs introduced to counteract the threat of the Soviet SS 20 mobile missiles deployed in the Soviet Block from 1975.

Reporting to 17 Air Force the Wing controlled 71 Tactical Missile Squadron which had 48 missiles held by three Flights each having 2 Launch Control Vehicles and 4 Transporter Erector Launchers with four missiles each providing 16 missiles per flight. The Wing provided support with 485 Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron. During periods of increased tension the flights would be deployed with additional security and support vehicles to one of a number of pre-surveyed classified locations in the countryside away from the base. The flight would dig in erect camouflage to hide the vehicles set up special intrusion detection radar and prepare for launch.

The Reykjavík summit in Iceland on 11 October 1986 between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev agreed in principle to removing Intermediate Range Nuclear Force systems from Europe and to equal global limits of 100 INF missile warheads. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed on 8 December 1987 coming into force on 1 June 1988 leading to the removal of all nuclear missiles from Western Europe.

485 TMW was inactivated on 30 September 1989 following the decommissioning of the BGM-109G.

485 SPS Security Police Squadron provided security for the base and the deployed Flights. In addition to 485 SPS and 485 TMMS the Wing controlled 485 Missile Security Squadron, 485 Combat Support Group, 485 Transportation Squadron, 485 Supply Squadron, 485 Civil Engineering Squadron, 2135 Communications Squadron and USAF Clinic Florennes. 

This patch dates from 1984.