The three missile squadrons, however, were reassigned to the 91st Wing. On 31 January 1984, the 455th Fighter-Day Group and the 455th Strategic Missile Wing were consolidated into a single unit under the wing's designation. War in Afghanistan The 455th was converted to provisional status in December 2001 and redesignated the 455th Air Expeditionary Group for the Global War on Terrorism. It was activated on 26 April 2002 at Bagram Air Base. In July 2002, the group was redesignated the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing with five assigned groups. Since then the wing has provided close air support, air mobility, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, combat search and rescue, electronic attack, aero medical evacuation, and combat support as the lead Air Force organization in Afghanistan. The wing consisted of about 1,600 airmen, based throughout Afghanistan. The 455 AEW was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award for all personnel assigned between 1 October 2006 and 30 September 2007, 1 October 2008 through 30 September 2009, and 1 October 2010 through 30 September 2011. Lineage 455th Fighter-Day Group Constituted as the 455th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 14 May 1943 Activated on 1 June 1943 Redesignated 455th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 6 March 1944 Inactivated on 9 September 1945 Redesignated 455th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 5 March 1947 Activated on 25 March 1947 Inactivated on 27 June 1949 Redesignated 455th Fighter-Day Group on 7 May 1956 Activated on 25 July 1956 Inactivated 1 July 1957 Consolidated with the 455th Strategic Missile Wing as the 455th Strategic Missile Wing on 31 January 1984 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Established as the 455th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 23 March 1953 Redesignated 455th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM—Minuteman) and activated on 28 June 1962 (not organized) Organized on 1 November 1962 Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1968 Consolidated with the 455th Fighter-Day Group on 31 January 1984 Converted to provisional status and redesignated 455th Air Expeditionary Group on 4 December 2001 and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed Activated on 26 April 2002 Redesignated 455th Air Expeditionary Wing on 26 July 2002 Assignments II Bomber Command, 1 June 1943 I Bomber Command, 4 October 1943 Fifteenth Air Force, c. 15 January 1944 304th Bombardment Wing, 25 January 1944 – 9 September 1945 Tenth Air Force, 25 March 1947 309th Bombardment Wing (later 309th Air Division), 17 October 1947 – 27 June 1949 Ninth Air Force, 25