305th Operations Group

305th Operations Group. The 305th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It provides operational command and control for the wing's flying squadrons, overseeing global air mobility and aerial refueling missions. The group's history traces back to its origins as a World War II bombardment group, with subsequent periods of inactivation and reactivation under various commands.

History

The group was first constituted as the 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942 and activated on 1 March 1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base. Equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, it trained under the Second Air Force before deploying to the European Theater of Operations in August 1942 as part of the Eighth Air Force. The group was stationed at RAF Chelveston in England and began strategic bombing operations against Nazi Germany, participating in critical campaigns such as the Combined Bomber Offensive. It earned a distinguished reputation for precision bombing, notably during the raid on the Focke-Wulf aircraft plant in Marienburg. The group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for missions over Schweinfurt and Berlin. Following Victory in Europe Day, the unit returned to the United States and was inactivated on 29 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer. The group was redesignated the 305th Operations Group and activated on 1 December 1991 as part of the Objective Wing reorganization at McGuire Air Force Base, aligning under the newly formed 305th Air Mobility Wing. It was inactivated on 1 April 1994 but was reactivated once more on 1 October 2009, resuming its role in supporting Air Mobility Command's global reach.

Assignments

The group has been assigned to several higher headquarters throughout its history. Initially, it fell under the VIII Bomber Command of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. After reactivation in 1991, it was assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base. During this period, the wing and group were part of the Twenty-First Air Force within Air Mobility Command. Following its 2009 reactivation, the group remained a subordinate unit of the 305th Air Mobility Wing, which is now under the Eighteenth Air Force. The wing's assignment to United States Air Force Expeditionary Center further integrates the group's operations into the global mobility system.

Components

The group commands several operational and support squadrons. Its flying components include the 2d Air Refueling Squadron and the 32d Air Refueling Squadron, which operate the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, respectively. Additional operational squadrons have included the 514th Air Mobility Wing (Associate) and various aeromedical evacuation units. Support functions are provided by the 305th Operations Support Squadron, which handles flight planning, intelligence, and airfield management. Other subordinate units have included weather flights and standardization and evaluation sections integral to mission readiness.

Aircraft

Throughout its service, the group has operated multiple aircraft types. During World War II, it was equipped with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a cornerstone of the Eighth Air Force's heavy bomber fleet. In the post-war and modern eras, following its reactivation as an operations group, its primary aircraft have been aerial refueling tankers. These include the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a mainstay of Air Mobility Command for decades, and the newer Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. The group's squadrons have also operated variants of the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender during different assignment periods, supporting global mobility and United States Transportation Command taskings.

Operations and Decorations

The group has conducted extensive operations across multiple conflicts and peacetime missions. Its World War II combat operations included deep-penetration bombing raids against industrial targets in Germany, France, and the Low Countries, facing fierce opposition from the Luftwaffe. In the modern era, the group has supported every major contingency, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing critical aerial refueling and airlift. It has also conducted humanitarian missions, such as disaster relief following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The group's decorations include two Distinguished Unit Citations from World War II, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with multiple devices, and campaign streamers for participation in the Air Offensive, Europe and Normandy campaigns. Its squadrons have collectively earned numerous Meritorious Unit Awards and Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards. Category:Operations groups of the United States Air Force Category:United States Air Force groups