477th Fighter Group
477th Fighter Group |
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The 477th Fighter Group is an Air Reserve unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska. The 477th FG is an associate unit of the 3rd Wing of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and if mobilized the wing is gained by PACAF.
Overview
The 477th Fighter Group was reactivated on 1 October 2007 as the first Air Force Reserve unit to fly, maintain, and support the
Units
The 477th Fighter Group provides a combat-ready force of approximately 425 Air Reserve Technicians, Traditional Reservists, and civil servants assigned to the following squadrons:
- 302d Fighter Squadron
- 477th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 477th Maintenance Squadron
- 477th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 477th Aerospace Medicine Flight
- 477th Mission Support Flight
- 477th Operations Support Flight
- 477th Force Support Squadron
The men and women of the 477th Fighter Group will functionally integrate with their active duty Air Force partners in almost all F-22A mission areas to increase efficiency and overall combat capability while retaining Reserve administrative support and career enhancement. The 477th Fighter Group will leverage the traditional Reserve Component strengths of experience and continuity to fly, and fight, and win as Unrivaled Wingmen on the Total Force team at Elmendorf.
History
World War II Training unit
The 477th was originally established in May 1943 at
Reactivation with African-American personnel
The 477th was reactivated as the 477th Bombardment Group (M) (Colored) at
On 5 May 1944, possibly out of fear of a repeat of the previous summer's
The morale of the 477th was poor because the field was not suited to use by the B-25 and because black officers, including combat veterans of the
At Freeman Field, the
Never deployed in combat, the 477th was downsized when the war ended. In 1946, it was reassigned to
Lineage
- Established as the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 13 May 1943
- Activated on 1 June 1943
- Inactivated on 25 August 1943
- Activated as the 477th Bombardment Group (M) (Colored) on 15 January 1944
- Redesignated 477th Composite Group on 22 June 1945
- Inactivated on 1 July 1947
- Redesignated: 477th Special Operations Group on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 477th Expeditionary Special Operations Group and converted to provisional status on 24 January 2005
- Redesignated: 477th Special Operations Group and withdrawn from provisional status on 11 August 2006
- Redesignated: 477th Fighter Group on 21 September 2007
- Activated on 1 October 2007[1]
Assignments
- Third Air Force, 1 June – 25 August 1943
- First Air Force, 15 January 1944
- Ninth Air Force, 1 January–1 July 1947
- Air Force Special Operations Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 24 January 2005 – 11 August 2006
- Tenth Air Force, 1 October 2007 – present[1]
Components
- 99th Fighter Squadron: 22 June 1945 – 1 July 1947
- 302d Fighter Squadron: 1 October 2007 – present
- 616th Bombardment Squadron: 1 June–25 August 1943; 15 January 1944 – 22 June 1945
- 617th Bombardment Squadron: 1 June–25 August 1943; 15 April 1944 – 1 July 1947
- 618th Bombardment Squadron: 1 June–25 August 1943; 15 May 1944 – 8 October 1945
- 619th Bombardment Squadron: 1 June–25 August 1943; 27 May 1944 – 22 June 1945[1]
Stations
- MacDill Field, Florida, 1 Jun – 25 August 1943
- Selfridge Field, Michigan, 15 January 1944
- Godman Field, Kentucky, 6 May 1944
- Freeman Field, Indiana, 5 March 1945
- Godman Field, Kentucky, 26 April 1945
- Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio, 13 March 1946 – 1 July 1947
- Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 1 October 2007 – present[1]
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Robertson, Patsy (27 January 2011). "Factsheet 477 Fighter Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ "Colonel Brian Budde". The 477th Fighter Group Air Force Reserve Command. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "477th Fighter Group News: Art". 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- James C. Warren, The Freeman Field Mutiny, San Rafael, CA:Donna Ewald, Publisher, 1995. ISBN 0-9660818-0-3