407th Air Expeditionary Group

407th Air Expeditionary Group
Unit name	407th Air Expeditionary Group
Dates	1943–1945; 1958–1962; 2002–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air expeditionary operations
Command structure	United States Air Forces in Europe; United States Air Forces Central Command
Garrison	Ali Al Salem Air Base; Ramstein Air Base; RAF Mildenhall
Battles	North African Campaign; Italian Campaign (World War II); Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation Enduring Freedom
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

407th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force configured for expeditionary employment in support of United States Central Command and allied operations. The group traces its origins to a United States Army Air Forces bombardment group active in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations during World War II, later redesignated through Cold War interceptor service and reactivated in the post-9/11 expeditionary era. It has been stationed at multiple air bases and has supported combat, reconnaissance, and air-refueling missions alongside NATO and coalition partners.

History

The unit originated as a heavy bombardment formation organized under Second Air Force and assigned to North African Campaign operations, deploying to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations where it supported Operation Husky and operations against the Axis powers in Italy and the Balkans. During World War II, it operated from bases in Tunisia, Sicily, and mainland Italy, participating in strategic and tactical bombing against industrial targets, transportation hubs, and battlefield positions. Postwar demobilization led to inactivation, but the group was later reconstituted during the Cold War as an air defense and interceptor organization within Air Defense Command to protect the continental United States and allied airspace during tensions with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact states.

Reactived in the early 21st century for the Global War on Terrorism, the group provided expeditionary command-and-control, airlift, refueling, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, integrating assets from Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, and allied air forces such as the Royal Air Force and Italian Air Force. The group has operated under provisional status assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe and United States Air Forces Central Command, deploying personnel and aircraft to Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Lineage and Assignments

The group's lineage includes activation as a bombardment group under United States Army Air Forces command in 1943, assignment to Fifteenth Air Force, and later inactivation after V-E Day. During the Cold War, it was redesignated and assigned to Air Defense Command and later to numbered air forces responsible for continental air defense. In the 2000s it was converted to provisional status and assigned to United States Air Forces Central Command for expeditionary tasking, with temporary attachments to NATO and bilateral commands. The group has been subordinated to wings and expeditionary wings at various times, including alignment under 31st Fighter Wing, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, and theater-level expeditionary structures.

Stations

Throughout its history the unit has been stationed at multiple strategic locations. World War II stations included airfields in Tunis and islands of the Sicilian Campaign before moving to bases in southern Italy supporting operations over Yugoslavia and Central Europe. Cold War assignments placed it at continental air defense bases and NATO installations in United Kingdom and West Germany. In the expeditionary era, the group has operated from Ali Al Salem Air Base, Al Udeid Air Base, Kandahar Airfield, and forward operating locations in the Persian Gulf region, coordinating with hubs such as Ramstein Air Base and Al Dhafra Air Base.

Components and Aircraft

During World War II, the group flew heavy bombers such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator in strategic bombing missions, and later incorporated medium bomber and transport detachments. Cold War service saw transition to jet-powered interceptors including types fielded by Northrop and Convair contractors assigned to Air Defense Command units. In the 21st century the group has task-organized with airlift assets like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, tanker platforms such as the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, and intelligence platforms including variants of the Boeing RC-135 and unmanned systems like the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Temporary attachments have included fighter squadrons flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, and McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, as well as support from allied types like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Mirage 2000.

Operations and Campaigns

Operational history encompasses participation in major World War II campaigns such as the Italian Campaign (World War II), interdiction of Axis supply lines in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, and strikes supporting Operation Avalanche and subsequent Allied offensives. Cold War readiness included air defense patrols during crises such as the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and routine intercepts in coordination with North Atlantic Treaty Organization air policing. In the post-9/11 era, expeditionary operations supported Operation Enduring Freedom logistics and reconnaissance, Operation Iraqi Freedom counterinsurgency and air support, and coalition air-refueling and command-and-control tasks during multinational campaigns against non-state and state adversaries.

Decorations

The group and its subordinate units have received commendations including the Distinguished Unit Citation for valorous performance in World War II missions, multiple Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for sustained superior service during Cold War and expeditionary deployments, and theater awards from coalition partners recognizing contributions to multinational operations. Individual squadrons and personnel assigned to the group have been recognized with decorations such as the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Bronze Star Medal for actions during combat operations in both World War II and the Global War on Terrorism.

Commanders and Notable Personnel

Commanders and notable personnel who served with the group have included World War II bomber commanders who later held senior positions in the United States Air Force and NATO command structures, Cold War aviators credited with air-defense innovations, and modern expeditionary commanders experienced in joint and combined operations. Alumni have gone on to serve in leadership roles at Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, United States European Command, and as advisors to allied air forces including the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force.

Category:United States Air Force groups