The 445th Operations Group (445 OG) is the flying component of the
445th Airlift Wing, assigned to
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force (4 AF) is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California.
4 AF directs the activities and supervises the training of more than 30,000 Air Force Res ...
of the
United States Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...
. The group is stationed at
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene and Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wr ...
, Ohio.
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 ...
was first activated during
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 opposing ...
as the 445th Bombardment Group, a
Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit stationed in England with
VIII Bomber Command
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of ...
. The 445th was stationed at
RAF Tibenham
Royal Air Force Tibenham or more simply RAF Tibenham is a former Royal Air Force station located southwest of Norwich and north of Diss, Norfolk, England.
History
Tibenham was used as a Royal Flying Corps landing ground during the First Wo ...
in late 1943. The group earned a
Distinguished Unit Citation on 24 February 1944 for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at
Gotha
Gotha () is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia, Germany, west of Erfurt and east of Eisenach with a population of 44,000. The city is the capital of the Gotha (district), district of Gotha and was also a residence of the Ernestine House of Wet ...
, in Central Germany, losing thirteen aircraft. The 445th also earned the
French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its operations supporting the liberation of France. The 445th was actor
Jimmy Stewart
James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...
's original
bombardment group.
The
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
(USAF) reactivated the group in the
Air Force Reserve in 1947. In June 1949 it was inactivated when
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948–1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
During the Korean War, ConAC provided the necessary augm ...
reorganized its reserve units under the
wing base reorganization plan.
After the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, the group was again active at as the 445th Fighter-Bomber Group, the operational element of the
445th Fighter-Bomber Wing near
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...
. In 1957 the group moved to
Memphis Municipal Airport
Memphis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) northeast of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Hall County, Texas, United States.
Facilities and aircraft
Memphis Municipal A ...
, where it replaced the
319th Fighter-Bomber Group and converted to a troop carrier mission when USAF decided to concentrate its reserve fighter resources in the
Air National Guard. The group was inactivated a year later when its parent wing converted to the dual deputy organization and its operational squadrons were assigned directly to the
445th Troop Carrier Wing.
In 1992 the group once again assumed its role as the operational element of the 445th Airlift Wing under the USAF objective wing organization and became an associate unit of the active duty
63d Operations Group. The following year, the group moved to
March Air Reserve Base, California when
Norton AFB
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California.
Overview
For the majority of its operational lifetime, Norton was a logistics depot and heavy-li ...
closed. In the spring of 1994 the active duty
63d Airlift Wing and its elements inactivated and reserve
airlift units joined with the
air refueling
Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft ...
units already assigned to the
452d Air Mobility Wing
The 452nd Air Mobility Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Ai ...
or inactivated. The 445th was activated again later that year at Wright-Patterson as a stand-alone
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a retired military strategic airlifter that served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the ...
organization.
Overview
The 445th Operations Group is a unit of
Air Force Reserve Command that in the event of mobilization would be gained by
Air Mobility Command. it is currently assigned nine
McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III
The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two ...
aircraft. The 445 Operation Group's mission is to attain and maintain operational readiness; provide strategic transport of personnel and equipment; provide aeromedical evacuation; and recruit and train toward these goals.
Assigned units
*
89th Airlift Squadron
The 89th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 445th Operations Group, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
The squadron was first activated in June 1943 as the 89th Troop Carrier Squadro ...
* 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
* 445th Operations Support Squadron
* 445th Airlift Control Flight
History
: ''For additional history and lineage, see
445th Airlift Wing''
World War II
The 445th Bombardment Group was activated 1 April 1943 at Gowen Field in Idaho, where initial organization took place while key personnel traveled to
Orlando AAB, Florida for training with the
Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
.
Its original components were the
700th,
701st,
[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 707] 702d,
[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 707-708] and
703d Bombardment Squadrons.
[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 708-709] Both elements met at
Wendover Army Air Field
Wendover Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Utah now known as Wendover Airport. During World War II, it was a training base for B-17 and B-24 bomber crews. It was the training site of the 509th Composite Group, the B- ...
, Utah on 8 June 1943, where initial training with the
Consolidated B-24 Liberator took place. While the group was at Wendover, it was joined by actor
Jimmy Stewart
James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...
as the operations officer, then the
commander of the 703d Bombardment Squadron. The group moved to
Sioux City Army Air Base
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
, Iowa in July 1943 to complete training. In late August and early September, the group lost three B-24s to training accidents. In September the group began to receive B-24H aircraft, the model of the Liberator they would fly in combat.
[
On 20 October 1943 the ground echelon moved to Camp Shanks, New York and embarked on the on 26 October 1943, sailing next day. The unit arrived in the ]Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...
, Scotland on 2 November 1943 and disembarked at Gourock
Gourock ( ; gd, Guireag ) is a town in the Inverclyde council area and formerly a burgh of the County of Renfrew in the west of Scotland. It was a seaside resort on the East shore of the upper Firth of Clyde. Its main function today is as a ...
. The air echelon departed Sioux City late in October 1943 and flew to the United Kingdom via the southern route: Florida, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and West Africa, although one plane was lost en route. Upon arrival in England, the group was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing and stationed at RAF Tibenham
Royal Air Force Tibenham or more simply RAF Tibenham is a former Royal Air Force station located southwest of Norwich and north of Diss, Norfolk, England.
History
Tibenham was used as a Royal Flying Corps landing ground during the First Wo ...
in East Anglia. The group was initially given a tail code of "Circle-F".
The 445th entered combat on 13 December 1943 by attacking U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...
installations at Kiel
Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021).
Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...
. Only fifteen crews were considered fit for this mission which was heavily defended area. It suffered its first combat loss on 20 December in an attack against Bremen. The unit operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such targets as industries in Osnabrück
Osnabrück (; wep, Ossenbrügge; archaic ''Osnaburg'') is a city in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the river Hase in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest. With a population ...
, synthetic oil plants in Lutzendorf, chemical works in Ludwigshafen, marshalling yards
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 ...
at Hamm, an airfield
An aerodrome ( Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for pub ...
at Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...
, an ammunition plant at Duneberg, underground oil storage facilities at Ehmen, and factories at Münster
Münster (; nds, Mönster) is an independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state di ...
.[
]
The group participated in the Allied campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, from 20 to 25 February 1944, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking a Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often known unofficially as the Me 110,Because it was built before ''Bayerische Flugzeugwerke'' became Messerschmitt AG in July 1938, the Bf 110 was never officially given the designation Me 110. is a twin-engine (Des ...
aircraft assembly plant at Gotha
Gotha () is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia, Germany, west of Erfurt and east of Eisenach with a population of 44,000. The city is the capital of the Gotha (district), district of Gotha and was also a residence of the Ernestine House of Wet ...
on 24 February.[ Thirteen of the group's twenty-five attacking aircraft were lost along with 122 aircrew.][Birsic, p. 24] This was the longest running, continuous air battle of World War II – some two and a half hours of fighter attacks and flak en route and leaving the target area. Bomb damage assessment photographs showed that the plant was knocked out of production indefinitely.[
The group occasionally flew ]air interdiction
Air interdiction (AI), also known as deep air support (DAS), is the use of preventive tactical bombing and strafing by combat aircraft against enemy targets that are not an immediate threat, to delay, disrupt or hinder later enemy engagement of ...
and air support
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movemen ...
missions. It helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
by bombing airfields, V-1 and V-2
The V-2 (german: Vergeltungswaffe 2, lit=Retaliation Weapon 2), with the technical name ''Aggregat 4'' (A-4), was the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile. The missile, powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, was develope ...
launch sites, and other targets. The unit attacked shore installations on D-Day, 6 June 1944 with 81 sorties and supported ground forces at Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô (, ; br, Sant Lo) is a commune in northwest France, the capital of the Manche department in the region of Normandy. by striking enemy defenses in July 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...
, between December 1944 and January 1945 it bombed German communications. Early on 24 March 1945 the 445th dropped food, medical supplies, and ammunition to troops that landed near Wesel
Wesel () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.
Geography
Wesel is situated at the confluence of the Lippe River and the Rhine.
Division of the city
Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighove ...
during the airborne assault across the Rhine and that afternoon flew a bombing mission to the same area, hitting a landing ground at Stormede.[
On occasion the unit dropped propaganda leaflets and hauled fuel to France. It was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from December 1943 to February 1945][ supplying the resistance.
By far, the 445th's most tragic mission is the attack on Kassel][The Kassel Mission Historical Society: Dedicated to the 445th Bomb Group]
(retrieved 16 August 2013) of 27 September 1944. In cloud, the navigator of the lead bomber miscalculated and the 35 planes left the bomber stream of the 2d Air Division and proceeded to Göttingen
Göttingen (, , ; nds, Chöttingen) is a university city in Lower Saxony, central Germany, the capital of the eponymous district. The River Leine runs through it. At the end of 2019, the population was 118,911.
General information
The ori ...
some from the primary target. After the bomb run, the group was alone in the skies and was attacked from the rear by an estimated 150 Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
planes, resulting in the most concentrated air battle in history. The Luftwaffe unit was a ''Sturmgruppe'', a special unit intended to attack bombers by flying in tight formations of up to ten fighters in line abreast. This was intended to break the bomber formation at a single pass. The 361st Fighter Group
The 127th Operations Group is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard. It is stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base and 1s one of two flying groups assigned to the 127th Wing. The group operates Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbol ...
intervened, preventing complete destruction of the Group. Twenty-nine German and 25 American planes went down in a radius. Only four 445th planes made it back to the base – two crashing in France, one in Belgium, another at RAF Old Buckenham.[ Two landed at ]RAF Manston
Royal Air Force Manston or more simply RAF Manston is a former Royal Air Force station located in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site was split between a commercial airport Kent International Airpo ...
. Only one of the 35 attacking aircraft was fit to fly next day, but 445th sent 10 planes to the same target, Kassel.
After the end of the air war in Europe, the 445th flew low level "Trolley" missions over Germany carrying ground personnel so they could see the result of their efforts during the war.[Birsic, p. 42] The group's air echelon departed Tibenham on 17 May 1945, and departed the United Kingdom on 20 May 1945. The 703rd BS ground echelon sailed on USAT ''Argentina'' from Southampton and the other squadrons on the USAT ''Cristobal'' from Bristol.[ Both ships arrived at New York on 8 June 1945. Personnel were given 30 days R&R. The group reestablished at Fort Dix, New Jersey, with the exception of the air echelon, which had flown to ]Sioux Falls Army Air Field
Sioux Falls Regional Airport , also known as Joe Foss Field, is a public and military use airport three miles northwest of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. It is named in honor of aviator and Sioux Falls native Joe Foss, who later served a ...
, South Dakota. Most personnel were discharged or transferred to other units, and only a handful were left[ when the group was inactivated on 12 September 1945.][
During World War II, the group flew 280 missions, losing 138 B-24s.
]
Cold War
The 445th Bombardment Group was activated again in the Reserve during the summer of 1947 at McChord Field
McChord Field is a United States Air Force base in the northwest United States, in Pierce County, Washington. South of Tacoma, McChord Field is the home of the 62d Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, the field's primary mission being worldwi ...
, Washington as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment group[ and assigned two of its World War II squadrons, the 700th][ and 701st.][ By the end of the summer it added two additional squadrons located at Hill Field, Utah,][Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 83] the 15th and 702d Bombardment Squadrons. At the beginning of 1948 it added a third squadron at McChord, the 703d, although the squadron moved away in May and was reassigned.[ The group was inactivated in June 1949][ when ]Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948–1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
During the Korean War, ConAC provided the necessary augm ...
reorganized to the wing base organizational model. It was replaced at McChord by the 302d Troop Carrier Group of the 302d Troop Carrier Wing
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
. It does not appear that the squadrons at Hill were ever equipped with aircraft[ and reserve training at Hill was continued by the 9013th Volunteer Air Reserve Training Wing.
The group was activated again in the reserves as the 445th Fighter-Bomber Group, an element of the 445th Fighter-Bomber Wing in 1952 at Buffalo Municipal Airport, New York with the 700th, 701st and 702d Fighter-Bomber Squadrons assigned. Although designated as a fighter unit, until 1955 the group primarily flew ]North American T-6
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...
aircraft, although it was equipped with a few North American F-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 and Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
s. In 1955 the group moved a few miles to Niagara Falls Municipal Airport
Niagara Falls International Airport is located east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civ ...
and converted to the Republic F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thun ...
.
In 1957 the United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
realigned its reserve forces, transferring all fighter aircraft to the Air National Guard, while Air Force Reserve organizations flew tactical airlift
An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via military transport aircraft.
Airlifting consists of two distinct types: strategic and tactical. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distance ...
aircraft. As a result, the 445th redesignated as the 445th Troop Carrier Group in September and its remaining squadron began training in Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechani ...
aircraft. In July 1957 reserve operations at Niagara Falls had been reduced to a single squadron when the 701st and 702d squadrons inactivated.[ In mid-November 1957 the 445th Group moved to ]Memphis Municipal Airport
Memphis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) northeast of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Hall County, Texas, United States.
Facilities and aircraft
Memphis Municipal A ...
, Tennessee,[ where it replaced the 319th Fighter-Bomber Group and reserve operations at Niagara Falls were transferred to the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron. The 445th wing and the 700th squadron moved to ]Dobbins AFB
Dobbins Air Reserve Base or Dobbins ARB is a United States Air Force reserve air base located in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb about northwest of Atlanta. Originally known as Dobbins Air Force Base, it was named in honor of Captain Charles M. ...
, Georgia at the same time.[ Simultaneously, the 701st and 702d Troop Carrier Squadrons were reactivated and joined the group at its new station, while the ]357th Troop Carrier Squadron 357th may refer to:
*357th Air & Missile Defense Detachment, brigade level Air Defense unit of the United States Army
*357th Airlift Squadron (357 AS), part of the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
*357th Fighter Group, air comb ...
at Donaldson AFB
Donaldson Air Force Base is a former facility of the United States Air Force located south of Greenville, South Carolina. It was founded in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base; it was deactivated in 1963 and converted into a civilian airport. It ...
, South Carolina was reassigned to the group.[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 445]
In November, Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command (ConAC) (1948–1968) was a Major Command of the United States Air Force (USAF) responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
During the Korean War, ConAC provided the necessary augm ...
reorganized under the dual deputy system. The group was inactivated,[ and its squadrons transferred directly to the 445th Troop Carrier Wing.][
]
Modern era
In 1992 the group once again assumed its role as the operational element of the 445th Airlift Wing under the USAF Objective Wing organization.
The 445th wing had been a reserve associate of the active duty 63d Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California.
Overview
For the majority of its operational lifetime, Norton was a logistics depot and heavy-l ...
, California since 1973. Under the reserve associate concept, the 445th wing had no aircraft of its own, but its reservists flew and maintained the 63d wing's aircraft alongside the regular airman assigned to the 63d.[ In the summer of 1992, the group was again activated as the 445th Operations Group and became an associate unit of the active duty 63d Operations Group. The 729th and 730th Airlift Squadrons were reassigned from the wing to the group,][ while the 445th Operations Support Flight was activated under the group.
The following year both wings and their subordinate elements moved to March Air Reserve Base, California as ]Norton AFB
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California.
Overview
For the majority of its operational lifetime, Norton was a logistics depot and heavy-li ...
closed. Air Mobility Command had combined airlift and air refueling
Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft ...
units at a number of locations into what were designated "Air Mobility Wings." In the spring of 1994 the active duty 63d Airlift Wing and its elements inactivated at March and reserve airlift units were joined with the air refueling
Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft ...
units already assigned to the 452d Air Mobility Wing
The 452nd Air Mobility Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Ai ...
, while the 445th wing and group inactivated.
The 445th was activated again later that year at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio as a stand-alone Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a retired military strategic airlifter that served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the ...
organization. It absorbed two squadrons already stationed at Wright-Patterson, the 89th Airlift Squadron
The 89th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 445th Operations Group, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
The squadron was first activated in June 1943 as the 89th Troop Carrier Squadro ...
from the 906th Operations Group and the 356th Airlift Squadron
The 356th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 433d Operations Group Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Kelly Field Annex, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The 356th is a C-5M Super Galaxy Formal T ...
from the 907th Operations Group.
In 2006, the 356th inactivated[ while the 89th and the 445th converted to Lockheed C-5 Galaxys and in 2011 to McDonnell Douglas C-17s. The group trained for and flew strategic airlift missions worldwide, performing channel flights and special assignment airlift missions. It participated in various contingency and humanitarian operations and training exercises. The group also tested and calibrated the laser detection and ranging (]LADAR
Lidar (, also LIDAR, or LiDAR; sometimes LADAR) is a method for determining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. It can also be ...
) system.[
]
Lineage
* Established as 445 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 March 1943
: Activated on 1 April 1943
: Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943
: Inactivated on 12 September 1945
* Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
: Activated in the Reserve on 12 July 1947
: Inactivated on 27 June 1949
* Redesignated 445 Fighter-Bomber Group on 24 June 1952
: Activated in the Reserve on 8 July 1952
: Redesignated 445 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 6 September 1957
: Inactivated on 25 September 1958
* Redesignated: 445 Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
* Redesignated: 445 Operations Group and activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992
: Inactivated on 1 May 1994
* Activated in the Reserve on 1 October 1994[Lineage, assignments, components, stations and aircraft in AFHRA Factsheet 445 Operations Group]
Assignments
* II Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command heavy bomber units assigned to Second Air Force. Following the entry of the United St ...
, 1 April 1943
* Second Air Force
The Second Air Force (2 AF; ''2d Air Force'' in 1942) is a USAF numbered air force responsible for conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and non-flying officers. In World War II the CONUS unit defende ...
, 6 October 1943
* Eighth Air Force, c. 2 November 1943
* VIII Bomber Command
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of ...
, 5 November 1943
* 2d Bombardment Division, 9 November 1943
* 2d Combat Bombardment Wing
The Second Bombardment Wing, abbreviated as 2nd Bombardment Wing of the United States Army Air Forces is a disbanded unit whose last assignment was with the Continental Air Forces, based at McChord Field, Washington. It was last active in Novem ...
, November 1943
* Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command (ATC) was a United States Air Force unit that was created during World War II as the strategic airlift component of the United States Army Air Forces.
It had two main missions, the first being the delivery of supplies and ...
, 9 June – 12 September 1945
* 305th Bombardment Wing (later 305 Air Division), 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
* 445th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 445 Troop Carrier Wing), 8 July 1952 – 25 September 1958
* 445th Airlift Wing, 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994
* 445th Airlift Wing, 1 October 1994 – present[
]
Components
* 15th Bombardment Squadron: 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949
: Located at Hill Field (later Hill AFB), Utah[
* 89th Airlift Squadron: 1 October 1994 – present
* 356th Airlift Squadron: 1 October 1994 – 30 June 2006
* 357th Troop Carrier Squadron: 16 November 1957 – 25 March 1958
: Located at Donaldson AFB, South Carolina][
* 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: 1 October 1994 – present
* 700th Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Troop Carrier Squadron, Airlift Squadron): 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 25 September 1958 (detached to 445th Troop Carrier Wing after 16 November 1957)
* 701st Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Troop Carrier Squadron, Airlift Squadron): 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957 – 25 September 1958
* 702d Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Troop Carrier Squadron): 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957 – 25 September 1958
: Located at Hill Field (later Hill AFB), Utah from 1947 to 1949][
* 703d Bombardment Squadron: 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 1 January 1948 – 28 May 1948
* 729th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994
* 730th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994][
* 445th Airlift Support Flight:][445th Airlift Wing – Units](_blank)
(retrieved 16 August 2013) 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994; 1 October 1994 – present
* 445th Operations Support Flight (later 445th Operations Support Squadron):[ 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994; 1 October 1994 – present
]
Stations
* Gowen Field, Idaho, 1 April 1943
* Wendover Field, Utah, 8 June 1943
* Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 8 July – 20 October 1943
* RAF Tibenham (AAF Station 124),[Station Number in Anderson] England, 4 November 1943 – 28 May 1945
* Fort Dix Army Air Base
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, New Jersey, 9 June – 12 September 1945
* McChord Field (later McChord AFB), Washington, 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
* Buffalo Municipal Airport, New York, 8 July 1952
* Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, 15 June 1955
* Memphis Municipal Airport, Tennessee, 16 November 1957 – 25 September 1958
* Norton AFB
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was a United States Air Force facility east of downtown San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California.
Overview
For the majority of its operational lifetime, Norton was a logistics depot and heavy-li ...
, California, 1 August 1992
* March AFB
March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), previously known as March Air Force Base (March AFB) is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's ...
, California, 1 July 1993 – 1 May 1994
* Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 1 October 1994–present[
]
Aircraft
* B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
* B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 F ...
, 1947–1949
* T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air force ...
, 1953–1955
* F-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat 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 headed by James ...
, 1953–1954
* F-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
, 1953–1956
* F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thun ...
, 1955–1957
* C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechani ...
, 1957–1958
* C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a retired military strategic airlifter that served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the ...
, 1992–1994; 1994–2006
* C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed, and now maintained and upgraded by its successor, Lockheed Martin. It provides the United States Air Force (USAF) with a heavy intercontinental-rang ...
, 2006–2011[
* ]C-17 Globemaster III
The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of t ...
, 2011–present[
]
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
* (ISBN is for Revised edition published in 2010. The 1947 edition does not contain page numbers. Page numbers in citations are those in the online .pdf version)
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) ''Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now''. After the Battle
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) ''The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record''. Cassell & Co.
External links
Tribute to the 445th Bomb Group
(retrieved 16 August 2013)
(retrieved 16 August 2013)
{{USAAF 2d Air Force World War II
Military units and formations established in 1943
Airlift 445
Airlift groups of the United States Air Force
Military units and formations in Ohio
Operations groups of the United States Air Force