406th Air Expeditionary Group
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| 406th Air Expeditionary Group | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 406th Air Expeditionary Group | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1952–1956; 2001-TBD |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Air Expeditionary |
| Motto(s) | Ascende et Defende – "Rise and Defend" |
The 406th Air Expeditionary Group (406 AEOG) is the operational flying component of the
United States Air Forces in Europe
.
The current status of this unit is undetermined.
The group's
Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat during the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge
.
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 406th Air Expeditionary Wing
World War II
Media related to 406th Fighter Group (United States Army Air Forces) at Wikimedia Commons
Established as a dive-bomber attack group at
European Theater in March 1944. Assigned to Ninth Air Force
.
Entered combat with
St Lo
on 25 July
Moved to the Continent early in August 1944 and continued to provide tactical air support for ground forces. Participated in the reduction of
Distinguished Unit Citation
for operations on 7 September 1944 when the group destroyed a large column of armored vehicles and military transports that were attempting to escape from southeastern France through the Belfort Gap. Operated closely with ground forces and flew interdiction missions during the drive to the Moselle-Saar region.
Shifted operations from the Saar basin to the Ardennes and assisted the beleaguered garrison at Bastogne after the Germans had launched the counteroffensive that precipitated the Battle of the Bulge. Operated almost exclusively within a ten-mile radius of Bastogne from 23–27 December 1944, a period for which the group received a second DUC for its at¬tacks on tanks, vehicles, defended buildings, and gun positions. Flew escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley early in 1945 and thus assisted Allied ground forces in their drive to and across the Rhine.
Remained in Europe after V-E Day, being assigned to
86th Fighter Group
keeping with Air Force policy of having low-numbered units active as much as possible.
From the 1950s
The 406th was reactivated in England as the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 July 1952 and assigned to the
F-84G Thunderjets
.
From activation until August 1953, the 406th was tasked with both fighter-bomber and air defense roles in the United Kingdom. In the fall of 1953, the group was re-equipped with
F-86D Sabre interceptor version and the group's mission was changed to assist RAF Fighter Command
with air defense of the United Kingdom.
The group was inactivated on 1 May 1956 when 406th FIW converted to Tri-Deputate organization, assigning operational squadrons directly to the wing.
The group was reactivated as an Air Expeditionary unit in 2001. Was active in Turkey before Turkey refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] It seems likely the 406 AEG was inactivated shortly afterwards.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 406th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 4 February 1943
- Activated on 1 March 1943
- Redesignated 406th Fighter-Bomber Group in August 1943
- Redesignated 406th Fighter Group in May 1944
- Inactivated on 20 August 1946
- Redesignated 406th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated on 10 July 1952
- Redesignated 406th Fighter-Interceptor Group in April 1954
- Inactivated on 1 May 1956
- Redesignated 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated 406th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 5 February 2001.[2]
Assignments
|
|
Components
- 512th (formerly 628th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 March 1943 – 20 August 1946; 10 July 1952 – 1 May 1956
- 513th (formerly 629th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 March 1943 – 20 August 1946; 10 July 1952 – 1 May 1956
- 514th (formerly 630th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 March 1943 – 20 August 1946; 10 July 1952 – 1 May 1956
- 631st Bombardment Squadron: 1 March – 15 August 1943
- Trained for combat, disbanded and assets transferred to 512th, 513th and 514th Fighter Squadrons.
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Included A-20, A-24, A-25, A-26, A-35, A-36, UC-78, BC-1, P-39 and P-40, 1943
- P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1946
- F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1953[2]
- F-86D Sabre, 1953–1956[2]
References
Notes
- ^ McEntee, Marni (13 April 2003). "Airmen hover north of Iraq after politics rewrites the mission". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Bailey, Carl E. (5 February 2001). "Lineage and Honors History of the 406 Air Expeditionary Wing (USAFE)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2018.[failed verification]
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2016.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
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