407th Air Expeditionary Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 407th Air Expeditionary Group


caption= 407th Air Expeditionary Group emblem
dates= 17 Apr 2003-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Air Expeditionary Group
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander= Colonel Peter Sands
garrison= Ali AB, Iraq
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 407th Air Expeditionary Group is an Air Expeditionary unit located at Ali AB, Iraq.

Mission407th AEG Fact Sheet

The mission of the 407th AEG is to provide airfield defense, aerial port operations and area airspace control in support of US Central Command and coalition requirements. The 407 AEG is the Senior Airfield Authority at Ali Base, responsible for the defense, control, operations and maintenance of the airfield, land and facilities whose proximity affects airfield operations.

History

The 407th AEG traces its history back to the 407th Bombardment Group (Dive) which was established March 23, 1943, at Drew Field, Florida. Its subordinate squadrons at that time included the 632d, 633d, 634th and 635th Bombardment (Dive) Squadrons. The air echelon was attached to Eleventh Air Force in Amchitka, Alaska, from July 19 to August 15, 1943, where it performed combat operations against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands.

The 407th was redesignated the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group on August 15, 1943. At that time, the 632d, 633d and 634th were redesignated the 515th, 516th and 517th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, respectively, and the 635th was disbanded. In 1943, the 407th flew the Douglas A-24 dive bomber, North American A-36 Invader dive bomber, and P-51 Mustang, and flew the P-47 Thunderbolt from 1943 to 1944. In October 1943 the group moved the Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida, and then to Galveston Army Air Field, Texas in November where it trained for combat, and functioned as a replacement unit until April 1, 1944, when it was disestablished.

The 407th Strategic Fighter Wing was established on March 23, 1953, and activated December 18, 1953, at Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana. Its subordinate squadrons at that time were the 407th Air Refueling Squadron, and the 515th, 516th, and 517th Strategic Fighter Squadrons flying the F-84 Thunderstreak. From December 1954 to July 1955, the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron was attached to the 407th.

From August to November 1954, the 407th deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan, where it provided air defense of northern Japan. From November 1954 to June 1957 the 407th provided long-range fighter support and refueling for bombers from its home base in Montana. The wing was inactivated in July 1957.

The 407th was redesignated the 407th Air Expeditionary Group and later activated at Tallil Air Base (now Ali Base) in April 2003.

Assignments

Major Command

*United States Central Air Forces (17 Apr 2003-Present)

Previous designations

*407th Air Expeditionary Group (17 Apr 2003-Present)
*407th Strategic Fighter Wing (???-???)

Bases stationed

*Ali AB, Iraq (17 Apr 2003-Present)

Aircraft flown

*C-130H (17 Apr 2003-Present)

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/tallil.htm Tallil/Ali AB, Iraq]