438th Air Expeditionary Group

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438th Air Expeditionary Group
Distinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
438th Air Expeditionary Group emblem (Approved 10 August 1954)[1]
Group emblem as originally designed[1]

The

United States Air Forces Central to activate or inactivate as needed. It was last active in Al Anbar province, Iraq to provide close-air support to coalition forces in the region with Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
aircraft. It was composed of deployed aircraft, equipment and personnel from Air Force units around the world.

The unit was first activated during

VE Day
, the group returned to the United States and was inactivated in December 1945.

The group was again activated in the

438th Airlift Wing
was reorganized under the Objective Wing model. It was inactivated with the wing in 1994.

History

World War II

C-47 of the 438th Troop Carrier Group – RAF Greenham Common, England – World War II

Training in the United States

The

Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, to begin training, primarily with Douglas C-47 Skytrains, but also with other military models of the DC-3. After processing through Baer Field, the group departed for England in January 1944.[1][2][3][4][5]

Combat in the ETO

The group arrived at

53d Troop Carrier Wing After a month the group was moved south to a new station at RAF Greenham Common. Until June, the 438th TCG trained for and participated in airborne operations, flew resupply and reinforcement missions to combat zones, evacuated casualties, and hauled freight.[1]

The 438th was selected to be the first group of

502d Parachute Infantry Regiment. The planned route to the drop zone avoided friendly antiaircraft positions and allied convoys and was flown at 500 feet over the English Channel to elude German radar, with a climb to 1500 feet once landfall was made to avoid groundfire.[7]

Eighty-one aircraft, divided into two serials of 36 and 45 aircraft and led by the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron took off commencing at 23:48 hours on 5 June. Despite radio black-out, overloaded aircraft, low cloud cover and lack of marked drop zones, they carried 1,430 men of the 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment, who were dropped soon after midnight in the area northwest of

Distinguished Unit Citation
. Losses amounted to one C-47 and a C-53, both lost to flak on 7 June.

On 20 July the air echelons of the 87th, 88th and 89th Troop Carrier Squadrons departed for Canino airbase in Italy in preparation for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. In the invasion, the squadrons dropped paratroops and towed gliders that carried reinforcements. The group also hauled freight in Italy. The 90th TCS stayed in the UK and operated from RAF Welford until the rest of the groups aircraft returned from Italy on 24 August.

In September the 438th Group helped to supply the

Operation Market-Garden, the airborne operation in the Netherlands. As part of Operation Market Garden, 90 aircraft from the 438th dropped 101st Airborne paratroopers near Eindhoven
without loss on 17 September. The next day, 80 aircraft towed gliders again without loss of aircraft, although two gliders aborted and 11 C-47s suffered flak damage. However, when 40 C-47s towing 40 CG-4A Horsa Gliders left Greenham Common on 19 September, things did not go so well in adverse weather. Only half of the gliders were released in the landing zone area, and one C-47 was shot down and several gliders were lost. A further glider mission by a similar number of aircraft fared no better and another C-47 was lost. Re-supply missions were flown on 20 September and on the 21st to Overasselt and on the 21st to Son.

During the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944 – January 1945), the group, again headed by the 87th Troop Carrier Squadron, flew air supply missions to battle areas, including the first two flights into beleaguered Bastogne. In February 1945 the groups of the 53d TCW were moved to France, the 438th going to A-79 Advanced Landing Ground at Pronses.

The group evacuated Allied prisoners of war after

Lawson Field, Georgia in November.[1]

Air Force Reserve

C-46D of the AF Reserve

In 1949

381st Bombardment Group, which was simultaneously inactivated.[1][9] Although the group's manning, along with that of its component squadrons was limited to 25% of active duty organization authorizations, it was assigned four squadrons, rather than three.[10] The group trained under the 2473d Air Force Reserve Training Center for troop carrier operations with the C-46, but also flew the North American T-6 Texan trainer.[8][11]

All combat units of the Air Force Reserve were ordered to active service for the Korean War.[12] The 438th was called up in the second wave of mobilizations on 10 March 1951. Its personnel were used to man other organizations, primarily those of Strategic Air Command, and it was inactivated on 14 March 1951.[1][13] Its aircraft were distributed to other organizations as well.[14]

F-80 as flown by the group

Little more than a year later the group was redesignated the 438th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated at

air defense role.[17]

In 1957 the group began to upgrade to the

440th Troop Carrier Group, which was simultaneously activated.[8][19]

Strategic Airlift

Group C-141 over Philadelphia

On 1 December 1991, the unit was activated as the 438th Operations Group as the operational component of the 438th Airlift Wing when

Okinawa.[20][21]

On 1 October 1994, the group was inactivated and replaced at McGuire by the

Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana when Grissom became an Air Force Reserve Command
base.

Global War on Terrorism

The group was redesignated the 438th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status in December 2001. The group was awarded an

Combat "V" Device for actions in 2002 and 2003, however, its location and activities for this period are not certain.[22][23]

It was again activated as part of the

Bagram Air Base in late 2007[23]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 438th Troop Carrier Group on 14 May 1943
Activated on 1 June 1943
Inactivated on 16 September 1945
  • Redesignated 438th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 1 June 1949
Activated in the Reserves on 27 June 1949
Called to active duty on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 14 March 1951
  • Redesignated 438th Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 June 1952
Activated in the Reserves on 15 June 1952
Inactivated on 16 November 1957[26]
  • Redesignated 438th Operations Group and activated on 1 November 1991
Inactivated on 1 October 1994
  • Redesignated 438th Air Expeditionary Group, converted to provisional status and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed on 4 December 2001[27]
Activated by 16 September 2002[22]
Inactivated after 15 September 2003[22]
Activated on 15 January 2007[24]
Inactivated c. December 2007[23]

Assignments

Unknown, by 16 September 2002 - after 15 September 2003[22]
332d Air Expeditionary Wing, 15 January 2007 - c. December 2007[23][24]

Components

  • 6th Airlift Squadron, 1 November 1991 – 1 October 1994[28]
  • 13th Airlift Squadron, 1 October 1993 – 1 October 1994[21]
  • 30th Airlift Squadron, 1 November 1991 – 1 October 1993[20]
  • 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 15 January 2007 - May 2007[23]
  • 104th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, August - December 2007[23]
  • 87th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 87th Fighter-Bomber Squadron), 1 June 1943 – 22 September 1945; 27 June 1949 – 14 March 1951; 15 June 1952 – 16 November 1957[2]
  • 88th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 88th Fighter-Bomber), 1 June 1943 – 22 September 1945; 27 June 1949 – 14 March 1951; 15 June 1952 – 16 November 1957[3]
  • 89th Troop Carrier (later Fighter-Bomber) Squadron (4U), 1 June 1943 – 22 September 1945; 27 June 1949 – 14 March 1951; 15 June 1952 – 1 July 1957[4]
  • 90th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1 June 1943 – 22 September 1945; 27 June 1949 – 14 March 1951[5]
  • 438th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 15 January 2007 - December 2007[29]
  • 438th Expeditionary Support Squadron, 15 January 2007 - December 2007[29]
  • 438th Operations Support Squadron, 1 November 1991 – 1 October 1994

Stations

Aircraft

  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1943–1945, 1949–1951
  • North American T-6 Texan, 1949–1951, 1952–1954
  • Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945, 1949–1951
  • North American F-51 Mustang, 1953–1954
  • Lockheed T-33 T-Bird
    , 1954–1957
  • Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, 1954–1957
  • North American F-86 Sabre, 1957
  • Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, 2007[24]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation
 5 June 1944-7 June 1944 438 Troop Carrier Group[1]
Combat "V" Device
 16 September 2002-15 September 2003 438th Air Expeditionary Group[22]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Normandy 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Northern France 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Rome-Arno 20 July 1944 – 9 September 1944 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Southern France 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 438th Troop Carrier Group[1]
National Resolution 2007 438th Air Expeditionary Group[29]
Iraqi Surge 2007 438th Air Expeditionary Group[29]
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal 438th Air Expeditionary Group[33]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 310-311
  2. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 300-301
  3. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 301-302
  4. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 303-304
  5. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 306
  6. ^ Johnston, Lew. "Troop Carrier D-Dat Flights: The Pathfinders Went in First". Air Mobility Command Museum. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  7. ^ Warren, p. 12
  8. ^ a b c d e Ravenstein, pp. 234-236
  9. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 268-269
  10. ^ Cantwell, p. 74
  11. ^ See Mueller, p. 457. 2473d Center at Offutt from 1946-1951.
  12. ^ Cantwell, p. 87
  13. ^ Cantwell, pp. 96-97
  14. ^ Cantwell, p. 137
  15. ^ Cantwell, p. 139
  16. ^ See "Abstract, History 2473 Air Reserve Flying Center Jan-Jun 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 24 February 2016. (responsible for active duty military and reserve personnel)
  17. ^ See Cantwell, p. 152 (all reserve fighter bomber wings initially assigned an air defense role and later a tactical fighter role.)
  18. ^ Cantwell, p. 168
  19. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 237-238
  20. ^ a b Robertson, Patsy (22 April 2014). "Factsheet 30 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  21. ^ a b Robertson, Patsy (6 February 2015). "Factsheet 13 Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 21 February 2016. (search)
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h Jacob, Jopachim (28 November 2009). "Warthog Deployments". Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  24. ^ a b c d e Derentz, 1 Lt Landon (22 January 2007). "A-10s set to soar in Al Anbar province". 332 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 16 November 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Clare, TSG D. (7 November 2007). "Air Guard pilots, maintainers make history in Iraq". 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  26. ^ a b c Lineage, including stations and aircraft prior to 1957 in Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 310-311, except as noted.
  27. ^ Department of the Air Force/XPM Letter 273, 4 December 2001 as amended by Department of the Air Force/XPM Letter 273-1, 30 January 2002, Subject: Air Combat Command Expeditionary Units
  28. ^ Kane, Robert B. (17 March 2015). "Factsheet 6 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  29. ^ a b c d "Special Order G-33995" (PDF). United States Air Forces Central Command. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  30. ^ Maurer only gives October 1943 for the group's arrival date. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 310-311. This date is the arrival date of the group's four squadrons and presumably of the group headquarters as well. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 300-306.
  31. ^ a b Station number in Anderson
  32. ^ a b Station number in Johnson
  33. ^ "Special Order G-33994" (PDF). United States Air Forces Central Command. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2016.

Bibliography

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