449th Air Expeditionary Group
449th Air Expeditionary Group | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1946; 1963–1977; 2005-present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa |
Garrison/HQ | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Col. Andrew Crabtree |
Notable commanders | Darr H. Alkire |
Insignia | |
449th Air Expeditionary Group Emblem | |
World War II Tail Marking[1] | Upward-pointing black triangle outline within a white circle |
The 449th Air Expeditionary Group (449 AEG) is a provisional
The group began as the
In the postwar era, the 449th Bombardment Group was one of the original ten
The 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy was activated in 1963 at
In 1985 the
Units
The 449th AEG is currently made up of:[2]
- 12th Special Operations Squadron (Expeditionary SOS) (Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti)
- 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
- 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
- 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron (Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya)
- 726th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron
- 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron (Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti)
History
World War II
The group was constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May at
It was assigned to
By December 1943, training was complete and the 449th was ordered overseas to the
The group was a strategic bombardment organization, and bombed oil refineries, communications centers, aircraft factories, and industrial areas in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece.[3]
The group received a
The group was ordered back to the United States during May after the German capitulation. The 449th was redesignated a Very Heavy bombardment group and was programmed for very long range strategic bombardment operations against the
After a period of organization, the group moved to
On 21 March 1946, the 449th Bombardment Group became one of the initial ten B-29 groups assigned to
Strategic Air Command
4239th Strategic Wing
The origins of the 449th Bombardment Wing began on 1 July 1959 when SAC established the 4239th Strategic Wing (SW) at
The
However, SAC Strategic Wings could not carry a permanent history or lineage[14] and SAC looked for a way to make its Strategic Wings permanent.
449th Bombardment Wing
In 1962, in order to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Air Force controlled (AFCON) units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history. As a result, the 4239th SW was replaced by the 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy[15] which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment on 1 February 1963.[16]
In the same way the
The 449th continued the mission of strategic bombardment training and contributing to SAC's worldwide refueling capability. It supported SAC combat operations in Southeast Asia by furnishing KC-135 aircraft and crews from November 1965 through December 1975 and B-52 crews between May 1968 and June 1975.[15]
Although the number of ADC interceptor squadrons remained almost constant in the early 1960s, attrition (and the fact that production lines closed in 1961) caused a gradual drop in the number of planes assigned to fighter interceptor squadrons, from 24 to typically 18 by 1964 and to 12 by 1967.
Europe and Africa
From 2008, the 449th Air Expeditionary Group has been assigned to
In November 2006, while conducting an air-land mission, Staff Sergeant Joshua C. Sevilla, assigned to the group's 79th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron and his crew were forcibly detained by at El Fasher Airport, Sudan by members of the Sudanese military who accused them of espionage and demanded the surrender of all crew members and the aircraft. SSG Sevilla denied a force of more than 150 Sudanese soldiers the ability to control the aircraft, enabling all 17 American detainees to return.[22]
The
From November 2016 a detachment of General Dynamics F-16CM Fighting Falcons were deployed here from the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy with support from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, from RAF Mildenhall, UK using Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers.[25]
It is likely that the 60th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Camp Lemonnier was associated with the group in some way until it was inactivated in 2015. The 12th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron now conducts UAV takeoffs and landings from Chabelley Airport in Djibouti.
Lineage
449th Bombardment Group
- Constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943
- Activated on 1 May 1943.
- Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group, Heavy ca. August 1943
- Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 29 May 1945
- Inactivated on 4 August 1946
- Consolidated with 449th Bombardment Wing as 449th Bombardment Wing on 31 January 1984[26] (remained inactive)
449th Air Expeditionary Group
- Constituted as 449th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 23 March 1953
- Redesignated 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 15 November 1962 and activated (not organized)
- Organized on 1 February 1963
- Inactivated on 30 September 1977.
- Consolidated with 449th Bombardment Group on 31 January 1984[26] (remained inactive)
- Redesignated 449th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status in 2003.
- Activated and inactivated on undetermined dates.
Assignments
- Fourth Air Force, 1 May 1943
- Second Air Force, 12 September 1943
- 47th Bombardment Wing: 11 December 1943 – 15 May 1945
- 20th Bombardment Wing, 29 May 1945
- Strategic Air Command: 21 March 1946 – 4 August 1946
- Strategic Air Command: 15 November 1962 (not organized)
- 40th Air Division, 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1977
- United States Air Forces Central, 2003)
- United States Air Forces in Europeto activate or inactivate any time after 1 October 2008
- Seventeenth Air Force, 1 October 2008 - 20 April 2012
- Third Air Force, 20 April 2012 – present
Stations
|
|
Components
Groups
- 449th Combat Support Group, 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1977
Operational Squadrons
1943–1977
|
From 2011
|
Support Squadrons
- 70th Munitions Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1972
- 449th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1975
- 449th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977
- 449th Combat Defense Squadron (later 449th Security Police Squadron): 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1971
- 449th Field Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977
- 449th Munitions Maintenance Squadron: 1 October 1972 – 30 September 1977
- 449th Organizational Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977
Other
- USAF Hospital, Kincheloe: 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1977
Aircraft and missiles
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator (1943–1945)
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1945–1946)
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (1963–1977)
- ADM-20 Quail (1963–unknown)
- AGM-28 Hound Dog (1963–1975)
- AGM-69 SRAM (1973–1977)
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (1963–1977)
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules (present)
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
4 April 1944 | Bucharest, Rumania[3] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation |
9 July 1944 | Ploiești, Romania[3] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
1 July 1974 – 30 June 1976 | [15] |
Campaign Streamer | Theater | Campaign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
American Theater of World War II
|
[3] | ||
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
|
Air Combat EAME Theater | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Air Offensive, Europe | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Naples-Foggia | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Anzio | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Rome-Arno | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Normandy | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Northern France | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Southern France | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | North Apennines | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Rhineland | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Central Europe | [3] | |
Mediterranean Theater of Operations | Po Valley | [3] |
See also
References
Bibliography
- 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.
- McMullen, Richard F. (1964). The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964. ADC Historical Study No. 27. Ent Air Force Base, Colorado: Air Defense Command. (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000)
- 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.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2nd, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center. LCCN 22226556.
- Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. OCLC 791362037.
Further reading
- Caplan, Laura (2004). Domain of Heroes: The Medical Journal, Writings, and Story of Dr. Leslie Caplan. Edina, Minnesota: self-published. OCLC 755921442.
- Currier, Donald R. (1992). 50 Mission Crush. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press. OCLC 231434413.
- Gann, Harvey E. (1995). Escape I Must, World War II Prisoner of War in Germany. Austin, Texas: Woodburner Press. OCLC 33630053.
- Gansz, David M. (2022). Fifteenth Air Force War Diary, Bombing by the Numbers. First Mountain Belgians Publishing. ISBN 978-1-7343806-1-3.
- O'Neil, Myles (1993). Ploesti raiders: B-24 bomber crew member, 719th Bomb Sqd., 449th Bomb Group, 47th Wing, 15th Air Force, Italy, WW II. Chicago, Illinois: Adams Press. OCLC 47054576.
- Rust, Kenn C. (1976). Fifteenth Air Force Story. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album. OCLC 2644131.
- Shepard, D. William (1976). Of Men and Wings: The First 100 Missions of the 449th Bomb, January to July 1944. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album. OCLC 2644131.
- Turner, Damon, ed. (1985). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. I Tucson to Grottaglie. Collegiate Press.
- Turner, Damon, ed. (1985). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. II From Grottaglie. Collegiate Press.
- 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (1989). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. III Grottaglie and Home. Collegiate Press.
- 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (2000). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. IV Maximum Effort. Panama City, FL: Norfield Publishing.
- 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (2001). The Planes of the 449th Bomb Group in World War II. Panama City, Florida: Norfield Publishing.
- Yedlin, Benedict; Jeffers, Alexander (2002). Brother Men Who Fly: A World War II Gunner's Personal Quest. Princeton, New Jersey: Liberator Crew Productions. OCLC 52232362.
Notes
- OCLC 791362037.
- ^ "435th Air Expeditionary Wing". www.usafe.af.mil. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ OCLC 9644436.
- OCLC 9018678.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 716–717
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 717–718
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 718
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 391–393
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 80–81
- ^ "Factsheet 40 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 311–312
- ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center. p. 12.
- ^ OCLC 10207373.
- ^ The 449th Wing had been constituted nine years earlier as a fighter unit but never activated. It continued, through temporary bestowal, the history, and honors of the World War II 449th Bombardment Group. It was also entitled to retain the honors (but not the history or lineage) of the 4239th. This temporary bestowal ended in January 1984, when the wing and group were consolidated into a single unit.
- ^ Under this plan flying squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Operations and maintenance squadrons reported to the wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance
- ^ McMullen, Richard F. (1964) "The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964" ADC Historical Study No. 27, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, CO (Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000), pp. 41, 43–45
- ^ Ravenstein Combat Wings, p. 274
- ^ USAFE/AFRICA Public Affairs Office, USAFE Factsheet, U.S. Forces Africa Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 27 August 2002 (retrieved 26 May 2013)
- ^ Drake, Corey 449th Air Expeditionary Group Changes Hands in Djibouti 2 March 2009 (retrieved 26 May 2013)
- ^ Military Times Hall of Valor, Joshua C. Sevilla (retrieved 26 May 2013)
- ^ a b "Factsheets: 303 Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (USAFE)". Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^ Reif, Tech Sgt. Jasmine. "Joint SAR training tests interservice communications". www.hoa.africom.mil. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- . January 2017. p. 22.
- ^ a b Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 539q, 31 January 1984, Subject: Consolidation of Units
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency