The 332d Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional air expeditionary group of the United States Air Force's
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
, currently active. It was inactivated on 8 May 2012 and reactivated 16 November 2014.
The
group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
forms part of the lineage of the
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
332d Fighter Group, known as the
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332d Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the ...
. This title refers to all who trained in the
Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
pilot training program at
Moton Field Moton may refer to:
People Given name
* Moton Hopkins (born 1986), American professional gridiron football player Surname
* LeVelle Moton (born 1974), American college basketball coach
* Robert Russa Moton (1867–1940), African American educator a ...
and
Tuskegee Army Air Field
Sharpe Field is a closed private use airport located northwest of the central business district of Tuskegee, a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. This airport is privately owned by the Bradbury Family Partnership.
Formerly known ...
, Alabama, between 1941 and 1945. It includes pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and personnel who kept aircraft flying.
Permanently assigned 332d EOG squadrons
![46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron MQ-1B Predator Balad AB Iraq](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/46th_Expeditionary_Reconnaissance_Squadron_MQ-1B_Predator_Balad_AB_Iraq.jpg)
*
22d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 22nd Fighter Squadron, sometimes written as 22d Fighter Squadron, (22 FS) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52nd Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.
Originally constituted ...
: Provided close-air support, offensive and defensive counter-air operations, interdiction, and suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses using F-16CM Block 50 Fighting Falcons. At the heart of "The Big 22" are more than 300 Airmen who support, maintain and fly the newest F-16s in the U.S. Air Force inventory.
* 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
: The 332d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron was a designation used to refer to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command F-16 units deploying to
Joint Base Balad
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
. While the 332d designation was widely used, it was not the proper designation of the units while deployed to
Joint Base Balad
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
. The 332d is used since most Guard/Reserve units rotated in and out on a more frequent basis compared to their active duty counterparts.
: Consisted of:
93rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Air Force Reserve)
: Consisted of:
107th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Michigan ANG)
: Consisted of:
111th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 111th Attack Squadron (111 ATKS) is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard 147th Attack Wing located at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas. The 111th is equipped with the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UA ...
(Texas ANG)
: Consisted of:
119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (New Jersey ANG)
: Consisted of:
120th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(Colorado ANG)
: Consisted of:
121st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(D.C. ANG)
: Consisted of:
124th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(Iowa ANG)
: Consisted of:
125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(Oklahoma ANG)
: Consisted of:
170th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
Seventeen or 17 may refer to:
*17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18
* one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017
Literature
Magazines
* ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine
* ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
(Illinois ANG)
: Consisted of:
176th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Wisconsin ANG)
: Consisted of:
179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Minnesota ANG)
: Consisted of:
186th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Montana ANG)
: Consisted of:
301st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Air Force Reserve)
: Consisted of:
457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (Air Force Reserve)
: Executed the daily ATO in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by flying F-16 Block 30 Fighting Falcons which can provide real-time imagery to joint tactical air controllers embedded with ground units via the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (TARS) as well as close-air support, offensive and defensive counter-air operations, and interdiction. This squadron consisted of Air National Guard or Reserve units.
*
777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
: This was the largest forward-deployed airlift squadron in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Composed of over 100 Airmen and a fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft, the 777 EAS has five primary missions: hub-and-spoke air-land missions, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation, distinguished visitor airlift and communications, and command and control for Joint Airborne Battle Staff support to Coalition forces on the ground. The squadron has all-weather, night-vision, and air-land delivery capability.
* 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
: Provided combat search and rescue support to Coalition forces in the Iraqi theater of operations. It is the largest-single CSAR operation since the end of the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
and consists of HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and aircrews, Guardian Angel weapons system personnel and associated support. The 64 ERQS is tasked through the Joint Personnel Recovery Center located at the CENTCOM Combined Air and Space Operations Center.
* 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
: Was responsible for launch and recovery of the
General Atomics MQ-1 Predator
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (often referred to as the predator drone) is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency ( ...
unmanned aerial systems in Iraq. The Predator provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability for 24-hour coverage of the Iraqi battlespace. The squadron also provides a line-of-sight base-defense mission for JBB.
* 332d Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron
: Was responsible for supporting all 332 EOG functions across the airpower operational spectrum. The 332 EOSS "Mustangs" execute senior airfield-authority duties, including: local tower control, combined en route radar approach, and airfield management. The Mustangs also provide support through intelligence, weapons and tactics, ground liaison, joint weather forecasting, aeromedical evacuation, aircrew flight equipment, and strategic reconnaissance services.
* 362d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
: Operated the MC-12W Liberty aircraft, the 362 ERS provided intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of coalition ground forces. Its eight-person crew (four airborne and four on the ground) provides support to a broad range of users from corps to the squad level. Missions include overwatch, convoy escort and personnel recovery.
* 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron
: Using the callsign "Kingpin", the 727 EACS was the primary tactical command and control agency for Iraq. 727 EACS provides persistent surveillance, identification, and control of aircraft over more than 270,000 square miles of Iraqi airspace. The 727 EACS ensured CFACC intent was met through precise air tasking order execution, including airspace deconfliction, air-refueling positioning and management, close-air support, tactical reconnaissance, and dynamic targeting support while balancing air operations directive priorities.
History
World War II
The United States entered World War II with a military that was segregated by race and remained segregated until 1948.
War Department War Department may refer to:
* War Department (United Kingdom)
* United States Department of War (1789–1947)
See also
* War Office, a former department of the British Government
* Ministry of defence
* Ministry of War
* Ministry of Defence
* D ...
planners generally placed White and African-American Army personnel in separate units during World War II.
The 332d Fighter Group was constituted on 4 July 1942, and activated on 13 October, predominantly manned with African-American personnel. Consisted of the
100th,
301st and
302d Fighter Squadron
The 302d Fighter Squadron is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor conducting an air superiority mission.
Mission
The 302d Fighter Squadron ...
s at
Tuskegee Army Air Field
Sharpe Field is a closed private use airport located northwest of the central business district of Tuskegee, a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. This airport is privately owned by the Bradbury Family Partnership.
Formerly known ...
, Alabama. Trained with
Bell P-39 Airacobra
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the ...
and
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time an ...
aircraft for an extended period of time as the Army Air Forces was reluctant to deploy African-American fighter pilots to an overseas combat theater. The 100th Fighter Squadron predates the 332d Fighter Group, being formed on 19 February 1942. The 100th carried out advanced fighter training of graduates of the Tuskegee Institute primary and basic flight training programs for African-American flight cadets at nearby
Moton Field Moton may refer to:
People Given name
* Moton Hopkins (born 1986), American professional gridiron football player Surname
* LeVelle Moton (born 1974), American college basketball coach
* Robert Russa Moton (1867–1940), African American educator a ...
. The first class (42-C) of twelve cadets and one student officer, Captain
Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.
He was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. On December 9, 1998, h ...
, who served as Commandant of Cadets, began training on 19 July 1941. On March 6, 1942, this class graduated with Davis and five of the original twelve cadets, 2Lt.
Lemuel R. Custis, 2Lt.
Charles DeBow, 2Lt.
George S. Roberts, and 2Lt.
Mac Ross
Mac Ross (June 12, 1912 – July 10, 1944) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot during World War II. A member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he commanded the 100th Fighter Squadron and served as the Group Operations Officer fo ...
. "Spanky" Roberts was actually the first cadet to receive a diploma and wings during the ceremony. He went on throughout the time of combat operations of the
99th Fighter Squadron
The 99th Infantry Division was formed in 1942 and deployed overseas in 1944. The "Checkerboard" or "Battle Babies" division landed at the French port of Le Havre and proceeded northeast to Belgium. During the heavy fighting in the Battle of the ...
and later when that squadron was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group (which already consisted of three squadrons), to be the Deputy Commanding Officer and at times when Colonel Davis was away, he served as the Group Commander.
![Pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Pilots_of_the_332nd_Fighter_Group.jpg)
After difficulty in establishing a core of African American pilots and ground crews and providing for training at Tuskegee AAF and
First Air Force stations in Michigan, by April 1943, the 332d Fighter Group deployed to
Twelfth Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to U ...
in the
Mediterranean theater. The group's first combat assignment involved attacking enemy units on the strategic volcanic island of
Pantelleria
Pantelleria (; Sicilian: ''Pantiddirìa'', Maltese: ''Pantellerija'' or ''Qawsra''), the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of the Tunis ...
in the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
, to clear the sea lanes for the
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from the Axis powers ( Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany). It bega ...
in July 1943. The air assault on the island began on 30 May 1943. The assignment to a predominately ground attack role prevented the 99th from engaging in air-to-air combat.
In September 1943 the unit was criticized by Col.
William W. Momyer for "(failure) to display...aggressiveness and daring for combat" and recommended for removal from operations. Congressional hearings were held on this perceived failure, with the aim of disbanding the squadron. However, neither the recommendation nor the hearings shut down the unit after an AAF study reported that the 99th had performed as well as other P-40 units in the Mediterranean. In the meantime the 99th received a
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
for its performance in combat on Sicily. Shortly after a Washington hearing on the feasibility of continuing to use African American pilots, three new fighter squadrons graduated from training at Tuskegee: the 100th, 301st and 302nd. The units then embarked for Africa and were combined to form the all-black 332d Fighter Group.
The squadrons were moved to mainland Italy. On 27 and 28 January 1944, ''Luftwaffe''
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190, nicknamed ''Würger'' (" Shrike") is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank at Focke-Wulf in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, ...
fighter-bombers raided
Anzio
Anzio (, also , ) is a town and ''comune'' on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.
Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a Port, fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine I ...
, where the Allies had conducted
amphibious landings on 22 January. Attached to the
79th Fighter Group, 11 of the 99th Fighter Squadron's pilots shot down enemy fighters. Captain Charles B. Hall claimed two shot down, bringing his aerial victory total to three. The eight fighter squadrons defending Anzio together claimed 32 German aircraft shot down, while the 99th claimed the highest score among them with 13.
[Haulman, Dr. Daniel L]
Air Force "Aerial Victory Credits of the Tuskegee Airmen".
''AFHRA Maxwell AFB''. Retrieved: 16 February 2007. They began operations with
Twelfth Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to U ...
on 5 February. They used P-39s to escort convoys, protect harbors, and fly armed reconnaissance missions, converted to
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bombe ...
ss during April–May, and changed to
North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter aircraft, fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team ...
s in June.
["Tuskegee Airmen History."](_blank)
''tuskegeeairmen.org.'' Retrieved: 11 October 2010.
The 99th Fighter Squadron, assigned to the group on 1 May 1944, joined them on 6 June at
Ramitelli Airfield
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the str ...
, in the small city of
Campomarino, on the
Adriatic coast
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to the ...
. From Ramitelli, the 332d Fighter Group escorted
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Air Force (15 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base. It was reactivated on 20 August 2020, merging the previous units of the Ninth Air Force ...
heavy strategic bombing raids into Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany from May 1944 to April 1945. The bombers struck objectives such as oil refineries, factories, airfields, and
marshaling yard
A classification yard (American and Canadian English ( Canadian National Railway use)), marshalling yard (British, Hong Kong, Indian, Australian, and Canadian English ( Canadian Pacific Railway use)) or shunting yard (Central Europe) is a railway ...
s in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, France, Germany, Poland,
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
, Austria,
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
,
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
,
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
, Bulgaria, and
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. They also made successful strafing attacks on airdromes, railroads, highways, bridges, river traffic, troop concentrations, radar facilities, power stations, and other targets. Flying escort for heavy bombers, the 332d earned an impressive combat record. The Allies called these airmen "Red Tails" or "Red-Tail Angels," because of the distinctive crimson paint prominently visible on the tail section of the unit's aircraft.
![Col Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Col_Benjamin_Oliver_Davis%2C_Jr.jpg)
The Tuskegee Airmen initially were equipped with Curtiss P-40F and L model Warhawks (99th Squadron only), briefly with Bell P-39 Airacobras (March 1944), later with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts (June–July 1944), and finally with the aircraft with which they became most commonly identified, the North American P-51 Mustang (July 1944).
The unit received a
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
for a mission on 24 March 1945 when the group escorted B-17s during a raid on the
Daimler-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz Group Aktiengesellschaft, AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German Multinational corporation, multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It ...
tank factory at Berlin, fought the
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ''Schwalbe'' (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ''Sturmvogel'' (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the Germa ...
jet interceptors that attacked the formation, and strafed transportation facilities while flying back to the base in Italy. During the action, its pilots were credited with destroying three Me 262s of the ''Luftwaffe''s all-jet ''
Jagdgeschwader 7
Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7) ''Nowotny'' was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II and the first operational jet fighter unit in the world. It was created late in 1944 and served until the end of the war in May 1945.
Background
JG 7 was fo ...
'' in aerial combat that day, despite the American unit initially claiming 11 Me 262s on that particular mission.
[Caldwell and Muller 2007, p. 276.] Upon examination of German records, ''JG 7'' records, just four Me 262s were lost and all of the pilots survived.
In return, the 463rd Bomb Group, one of the many B-17 groups the 332d were escorting, lost two bombers,
and the 332d lost three P-51s during the mission.
Fifteenth Air Force dispatched about 660 bombers, 250 of these headed for Berlin. Altogether, Fifteenth Air Force lost nine B-17s and one B-24, out of the fighter escort, five P-51 Mustangs were destroyed during this sortie. Three of the four Me 262 jets that were lost by the ''Luftwaffe'' were reportedly shot down, all their pilots bailed out wounded.
Flying escort for heavy bombers, the 332d earned an impressive combat record. Reportedly, the Luftwaffe awarded these airmen the nickname, "Schwarze Vogelmenschen," or "Black Birdmen." The Allies called these airmen "Redtails" or "Redtail Angels," because of the distinctive crimson paint applied on the vertical stabilizers of the unit's aircraft.
[The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-47s as well as a red rudder, the P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, red wing bands and all-red tail surfaces. Rice, Markus]
"The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters."
''Tuskegee Airmen'', 1 March 2000.
With the end of hostilities in Europe in May 1945, the 332d was reassigned to the
305th Bombardment Wing, to prepare for a move to the
Pacific Theater
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
and engage in combat against Japan. With the
atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the onl ...
and the end of the war, this became unnecessary and the 332d returned to the United States and was assigned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where it inactivated on 19 October 1945.
Postwar era
![332d Fighter Group - F-47N 44-89140](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/332d_Fighter_Group_-_F-47N_44-89140.jpg)
The unit was activated again in 1947 at
Lockbourne Army Air Base
Lockbourne is a village in Franklin County and Pickaway County, Ohio, United States. The population was 236 at the 2020 census. Lockbourne is located near Rickenbacker International Airport, and had initially provided its original name of Lock ...
as operational component of
332d Fighter Wing, with Col. Davis in command. The group was finally inactivated in 1949 as part of the Air Force plan to achieve racial integration.
[Gropman 1985, p. 120.]
Air Expeditionary Group
![119th Fighter Squadron - F-16 Iraq](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/119th_Fighter_Squadron_-_F-16_Iraq.jpg)
In 1998, the 332d Air Expeditionary Group, "The Tip of the Spear", was activated at
Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait in November 1998, replacing the 4406th Operations Group (Provisional) which was formed in 1996. The 332d Group evolved and grew to reflect the Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) concept of a consolidated force in a forward location. The package previously included
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relyi ...
s and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.
The mission of the 332d was supporting Joint Task Force – Southwest Asia, which monitored a no-fly zone mission dubbed
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
. Active duty, Guard and Reserve A-10 and F-16 fighter units, along with support individuals, rotated in and out, ensuring Iraqi aircraft don't fly below the 32d parallel. At the Al Jaber AFB the 332 ELS Commander and 10 personnel are on a one-year tour; all others (1190 personnel) rotate every 90 days. That mix of aircraft, including
HH-60
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic system ...
rescue helicopters, gave the 332d the ability to conduct any
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
mission.
The group's personnel turned over almost completely every 120 days with a population of 1,400 people constantly rotating, a need existed for continuity to guide the base and its mission. The US compound at Al Jaber was a sandy "fortress" of less than a mile's circumference. Most people lived in dorms—armen doing 12-month rotations had their own rooms.
Beginning in 2001, after
Al Qaeda
Al-Qaeda (; , ) is an Islamic extremist organization composed of Salafist jihadists. Its members are mostly composed of Arabs, but also include other peoples. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian and military targets in various countr ...
's attack on 9/11, the 332d Air Expeditionary Group participated in
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
in Afghanistan. The group's F-15Es, F-16s, and later A-10s played a critical role in the defeat of Al Qaeda and the Taliban and later provided key air support for the provisional government in Afghanistan. Significantly, the F-15Es and F-16s saved a team of US Army soldiers, US Navy SEALS and US Air Force Combat Controllers and PJ pinned down after the helicopter in which they were flying was disabled by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) in the mountains of Afghanistan at Takur Ghar on what is now known as "
Roberts' Ridge". The fighters employed both 20mm cannon and GBU-12 laser guided bombs on Al Qaeda militants as they proceeded up the mountain in an effort to capture or kill the crashed Americans, saving over 2 dozen American lives.
Later, the unit was expanded to a wing, with the 332d Air Expeditionary Group operating as the operational component of the
332d Air Expeditionary Wing
The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (332 AEW) is a Provisional Wing of Air Combat Command, currently active. It was last inactivated on 8 May 2012, and most recently reactivated on 19 May 2015.
The Wing's 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group (33 ...
after the initiation of
Operation Iraqi Freedom
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
(OIF). It was moved to
Tallil Air Base
Nasiriyah Airport is a public and military airport located 23 km (14 mi) southwest of Nasiriyah, Iraq.
It is also known as Tallil Air Base until December 2011 and Imam Ali Air Base until March 2017, when the base was used by United ...
, Iraq, in support of OIF, then moving to
Balad Air Base
Balad Air Base ( ar, قاعدة بلد الجوية) , is an Iraqi Air Force base located near Balad, Iraq, Balad in the Sunni Triangle north of Baghdad, Iraq.
Built in the early 1980s, it was originally named Al-Bakr Air Base. In 2003 the base ...
, Iraq, in 2004.
During the height of operations, the 332d Wing contained nine groups—including four geographically separated groups at
Ali Air Base
Nasiriyah Airport is a public and military airport located 23 km (14 mi) southwest of Nasiriyah, Iraq.
It is also known as Tallil Air Base until December 2011 and Imam Ali Air Base until March 2017, when the base was used by United ...
,
Sather Air Base
Baghdad International Airport , previously Saddam International Airport ( ar, مطار بغداد الدولي, Maṭār Baġdād ad-Dawaliyy) is Iraq's largest international airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the ...
,
Al Asad Air Base, and
Kirkuk Air Base
The Kirkuk International Airport is an airport located Kirkuk, Iraq. The airport officially opened in 20th October, 2022 for civil visitors.
Since 2003 the airport was used by the U.S. Air Force as a military airport. It was returned to the Iraq ...
— as well as numerous detachments and operating locations scattered throughout Iraq. The wing had as many as four fighter squadrons, an airlift squadron, a helicopter combat search and rescue squadron, two aerial reconnaissance squadrons and an air control squadron.
During the drawdown of forces from Iraq, the 332d Wing provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue, armed overwatch and close air support to one of the largest logistics movements since World War II.
In support of the reposture of U.S. forces, the wing continued to support U.S. Forces-Iraq after forward deploying to an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia in November 2011 so
Joint Base Balad
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...
could be returned to the government of Iraq. And as the last U.S. convoy left Iraq on 18 December 2011, it was the 332d AEW's F-16s and MQ-1B Predators in the skies providing overhead watch.
The 332d Air Expeditionary Group was reactivated on 16 November 2014 at
Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait.
Lineage
![332d Air Expeditionary Group - Desert - Emblerm](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/332d_Air_Expeditionary_Group_-_Desert_-_Emblerm.png)
* Constituted as the 332d Fighter Group on 4 July 1942
: Activated on 13 October 1942
: Inactivated on 19 October 1945
* Activated on 1 July 1947
: Inactivated on 26 August 1948
* Activated on 26 August 1948
: Inactivated on 1 July 1949
* Converted to provisional status, redesignated 332d Air Expeditionary Group and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate on 1 October 1998
: Activated in October 1998, assuming personnel and equipment of 4406th Operations Group (Provisional).
: Redesignated 332d Expeditionary Operations Group on 12 August 2002
: Inactivated on 8 May 2012
* Redesignated 332d Air Expeditionary Group on 16 November 2014.
Assignments
*
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in E ...
, 13 October 1942
*
First Air Force, 29 March 1943
*
XII Fighter Command
Twelve or 12 may refer to:
* 12 (number)
* December, the twelfth and final month of the year
Years
* 12 BC
* AD 12
* 1912
* 2012
Film
* ''Twelve'' (2010 film), based on the 2002 novel
* ''12'' (2007 film), by Russian director and actor Nikit ...
, 3 February 1944
*
306th Fighter Wing, 28 May 1944
*
Army Service Forces
The Army Service Forces was one of the three autonomous components of the United States Army during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces, created on 9 March 1942. By dividing the Army into three large comman ...
(for inactivation), 17–19 October 1945
* 332d Fighter Wing, 1 July 1947 – 26 August 1948; 26 August 1948 – 1 July 1949
*
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
, October 1998
: Attached to:
United States Central Command Air Forces
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
, October 1998 – 12 August 2002
* 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, 12 August 2002 – 8 May 2012
* 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, 16 November 2014 – present
Components
World War II/Postwar era
* 99th Fighter Squadron: 1 May 1944 – 22 June 1945; 1 June 1947 – 1 July 1949 (attached to
86th Fighter Group
Area codes 084 and 086 are Nigerian telephone area codes serving the cities of Port Harcourt and Ahoada in Rivers State. They fall under the Southeast Zone in the National Numbering Plan (NNP) restructured in 2003.
When in Port Harcourt or Ahoa ...
, 11–30 June 1944)
* 100th Fighter Squadron: 13 October 1942 – 19 October 1945; 1 June 1947 – 1 July 1949
* 301st Fighter Squadron: 13 October 1942 – 19 October 1945; 1 June 1947 – 1 July 1949
* 302d Fighter Squadron: 13 October 1942 – 6 March 1945
332d AEG/EOG Attached Squadrons, 1998–present
Known units include:
* Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, Operations Southern Watch (1998–2003) and Enduring Freedom (2001–2003)
:
4th Fighter Squadron
:
41st Rescue Squadron
:
103d Fighter Squadron (Pennsylvania ANG)
:
121st Fighter Squadron (D.C. ANG)
: 332d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
:
492d Fighter Squadron
The 492nd Fighter Squadron (492nd FS), nicknamed "the Bolars" and "the Madhatters", is part of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, where they operate the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle.
Mission
The 492nd Fighter Squadron is ...
:
70th Fighter Squadron
The 70th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force squadron. The Squadron was constituted on 14 Dec 1940 as the 70th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). This squadron was activated on 1 Jan 1941 and patrolled the airspace around Fiji. ...
:
18th Fighter Squadron
:
355th Fighter Squadron
* Mazar-e Sharif, Konduz, Bagram, Kabul & Tora Bora, Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2003)
:
39th Rescue Squadron
The 39th Rescue Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command unit of the 920th Rescue Wing (920 RQW) at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. Until December 2019, it operated the Lockheed HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft conducting search and rescue a ...
(Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait)
:
682d Air Support Operations Squadron (Shaw AFB, SC)
* Tallil Air Base, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2004)
:
303d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 303rd Fighter Squadron is assigned to the 442d Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and flies the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.
The squadron (aviation), squadron w ...
(AFRES)
: 332d Expeditionary Medical Squadron
: 392d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
* Balad Air Base, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004–2011)
:
13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 13th Fighter Squadron is a fighter squadron of the United States Air Force. The squadron flies the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
The squadron traces its heritage bac ...
:
14th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 14th Fighter Squadron is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting Wild Weasel missions. The squadron has been stationed at Misawa since 1987.
The squadron was first ...
:
34th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
The 34th Fighter Squadron is part of the United States Air Force's 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. On 2 August 2016, the Air Force announced that the 34th had become the first squadron to achieve initial operating capability ...
: 362d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
: 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation
:
421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
:
510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
:
555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
* Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, Operation Inherent Resolve (2014–present)
:
107th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
Stations
* Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, 13 October 1942
*
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Unit ...
, Michigan, 29 March 1943
*
Oscoda Army Air Field Oscoda may refer to:
* Oscoda, Michigan, an unincorporated community in Iosco County
* Oscoda County, Michigan
* Oscoda Township, Michigan
Oscoda Township is a charter township of Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was ...
, Michigan, 12 April 1943
* Selfridge Field, Michigan, 9 July – 22 December 1943
*
Montecorvino Airfield, Italy, 3 February 1944
*
Capodichino Airfield, Italy, 15 April 1944
*
Ramitelli Airfield
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the str ...
, Italy, 28 May 1944
*
Cattolica Airfield, Italy, c. 4 May 1945
*
Lucera Airfield
Lucera Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy. It was located 7.9 kilometers east of Lucera, in the Province of Foggia. The airfield was abandoned and dismantled after the end of the war in 1945.
History
Lucera Airfield a ...
, Italy, c. 18 July–September 1945
*
Camp Kilmer
Located in Central New Jersey, Camp Kilmer is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service ...
, New Jersey, 17–19 October 1945
* Lockbourne Army Air Base (later Lockbourne Air Force Base), Ohio, 1 July 1947 – 1 July 1949
*
Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, 1 October 1998
* Tallil Air Base, Iraq, March 2003
* Balad Air Base (later Joint Base Balad), Iraq, 2004
* Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, 18 December 2011 – 8 May 2012
* Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, 16 November 2014 – present
Aircraft
* Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1944
* Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1944
* Republic P-47 (later F-47) Thunderbolt, 1944, 1947–1948; 1948–1949
* North American P-51D Mustang, 1944–1945
* Fairchild Republic OA-10 Thunderbolt II, 1995, 1999, 2001–2002
*
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet, 2002
* General Atomics MQ-1A Predator, 2003–2011
*
Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems ...
, 2003–2011
*
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
A large number of variants of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon have been produced by General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and various licensed manufacturers. The details of the F-16 variants, along with major modification programs and der ...
, 2001–2011
*
McDonnell Douglas F-15D Eagle, 2003–2011
* McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 2001–2011
*
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally design ...
, 2003–2011
* Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, 2007–2011, 2014–
*
Beechcraft MC-12W Liberty, 2009–2011
Campaigns
* American Theater Service Streamer (World War II)
![World War II - American Campaign Streamer (Plain)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/World_War_II_-_American_Campaign_Streamer_%28Plain%29.png)
* Europe, Africa, Mediterranean Theater Streamers (World War II)
![European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_Medal_streamer.png)
** Rome-Arno
** Normandy
** Northern France
** Southern France
** North Apennines
** Rhineland
** Central Europe
** Po Valley
** Air Combat EAME Theater
Decorations
*
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enem ...
Italy, 24 March 1945
*
Gallant Unit Citation
The Gallant Unit Citation (GUC), a United States Air Force unit award, was approved in March 2004 and is awarded to any Air Force unit which distinguishes itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force on or afte ...
[ Kuwait/Afghanistan, 15 October 2001 – 15 April 2002
* ]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air Force, unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the A ...
Kuwait, 1 June 2000 – 31 May 2002
See also
* Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981 was issued on July 26, 1948, by President Harry S. Truman. This executive order abolished discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin" in the United States Armed Forces, and led to the re-integra ...
* ''Fly
Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwing ...
'' (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
* List of African-American Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. Recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own l ...
* Military history of African Americans
The military history of African Americans spans from the slavery in the United States, arrival of the first enslaved Africans during the colonial history of the United States to the present day. In every war fought by or within the United States ...
* Port Chicago disaster
The Port Chicago disaster was a deadly munitions explosion of the ship SS ''E. A. Bryan'' that occurred on July 17, 1944, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California, United States. Munitions detonated while being loaded ont ...
* Red Ball Express
The Red Ball Express was a famed truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces moving quickly through Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in 1944. To expedite cargo shipment to the front, trucks emblazoned with red ...
References
Notes
; Explanatory notes
; Citations
Bibliography
* Boehme, Manfred. ''Jagdgeschwader 7: Die Chronik eines Me 262-Geschwaders 1944/45'' (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag, 1983. .
* Boehme, Manfred. ''JG 7: The World's First Jet Fighter Unit 1944/1945'' (Schiffer Military History). Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2004. .
* Caldwell, Donald and Richard Muller. ''The Luftwaffe over Germany: Defense of the Reich.'' London: Greenhill Books, 2007. .
* Cotter, Jarrod. "Red Tail Project." ''Flypast,'' No. 248, March 2002.
* Francis, Charles F. ''The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation.'' Boston: Branden Books, 1997. .
* Gropman, Alan L. ''The Air Force Integrates, 1945–1964.'' Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1985. .
* Homan, Lynn M. and Thomas Reilly. ''Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen.'' Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing, 2001. .
*
*
*
External links
*
* The story of one such airman during World War II is retold in the radio drama
Last Letter Home
, presented by ''Destination Freedom
''Destination Freedom'' was a weekly radio program produced by WMAQ in Chicago from 1948 to 1950 that presented biographical histories of prominent African-Americans such as George Washington Carver, Satchel Paige, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tu ...
''
{{DEFAULTSORT:332d Fg
Air expeditionary groups of the United States Air Force
Military units and formations established in 1942