381st Training Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 381st Training Group


caption= Emblem of the 381st Training Group
dates= 1942–1945, 1962–1986, 1993-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Training
role=
size=
command_structure=Air Education and Training Command
current_commander=
garrison=Vandenberg AFB, California
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=


* World War II: European Campaign (1942–1945)
notable_commanders= Joseph J. Nazzaro
anniversaries=The United States Air Force 381st Training Group (381st TRG) at Vandenberg AFB, California provides training for the nation's space and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) operations and ICBM and Air Launched Missile (ALM) maintenance forces. This Air Education and Training Command (AETC) organization is a tenant unit located on an 80-acre site at Vandenberg AFB.

During the Cold War, the 381st Strategic Missile Wing maintained Titan II Intercontinental ballistic missiles for Strategic Air Command.

During World War II, the 381st Bomb Group (Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces. It served primarily in the European Theatre of World War II. The group tail code was a "Triangle L".

History

Lineage

* Constituted as the 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 October 1942
** Activated on 3 November 1942
** Inactivated 28 August 1945
* Reactivated and redesignated as the 381st Strategic Missile Wing on 1 March 1962
** Inactivated 8 August 1968
* Reactivated and redesignated as the 381st Training Group on 1 April 1994

Stations Assigned

* Gowen Field, ID 3 November 1942
* Ephrata AAF, WA c. 1 December 1942
* Pyote AAB, TX c. 3 January 1943
* Pueblo AAB, CO c. 5 April – c. 9 May 1943
* RAF Ridgewell, England June 1943-June 1945 167
* Sioux Falls AAF, SD July – 28 August 1945
* McConnell AFB, KS 1 March 1962 – 8 August 1986
* Vandenberg AFB, CA 1 April 1994 – Present

Weapons Systems

* Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
* Martin Titan II ICBM

Operational Units

World War II

During World War II, the 381st Bomb Group consisted of the following operational squadrons flying B-17 Flying Fortresss :

* 532d Bomb Squadron (VE)
* 533d Bomb Squadron (VP)
* 534th Bomb Squadron (GD)
* 535th Bomb Squadron (MS)

Cold War

* 532d Strategic Missile Squadron
* 533d Strategic Missile Squadron

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as the 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 October 1942. Activated on 3 November 1942. Used B-17's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to RAF Ridgewell England, May-June 1943, and assigned to Eighth Air Force. The 381st was assigned to the 1st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division.

The 381st Bomb Group operated chiefly against strategic objectives on the Continent. Specific targets included an aircraft assembly plant at Vélizy-Villacoublay, an airdrome at Amiens, locks at St Nazaire, an aircraft engine factory at Le Mans, nitrate works in Norway, aircraft plants in Brussels, industrial areas of Münster, U-boat yards at Kiel, marshalling yards at Offenberg, aircraft factories at Kassel, aircraft assembly plants at Leipzig, oil refineries at Gelsenkirchen, and ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt.

The Group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for performance on 8 October 1943 when shipyards at Bremen were bombed accurately in spite of persistent enemy fighter attacks and heavy flak, and received a second DUC for similar action on 11 January 1944 during a mission against aircraft factories in central Germany.

Aircraft from the 381st participated in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against enemy aircraft factories during [Big Week|Big Week, 20–25 February 1944, and the Group often supported ground troops and attacked targets of interdiction when not engaged in strategic bombardment.

The Group supported the Normandy invasion in June 1944 by bombing bridges and airfields near the beachhead. Attacked enemy positions in advance of ground forces at Saint-Lô in July 1944. Assisted the airborne assault on Holland in September. Struck airfields and communications near the battle zone during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945. Supported the Allied crossing of the Rhine in March 1945 and then operated against communications and transportation in the final push through Germany.

After V-E Day, the 381st Bomb Group returned to Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota in July 1945 and was deactivated on 28 August.

Cold War

During the Cold War, the United States Air Force, via the Strategic Air Command (SAC), established the 381st Strategic Missile Wing (381 SMW), based at McConnell AFB Kansas. The 381st maintained Titan II intercontinental ballistic missiles on alert from 1 March 1962 until being deactivated on 8 August 1986. The 381st placed it's first Titan II missile on alert in the fall of 1963. It became the host wing for McConnell AFB on 1 July 1973.

The wing ended Titan II operations and was inactivated on 8 August 1986. It was the second Titan II wing to be deactivated.

Post Cold War

On 1 April 1994, the 381st was reactivated and re-designated by Air Education and Training Command (AETC) as the 381st Training Group Provisional (381 TRG) under Second Air Force and located at Vandenberg AFB, CA. A non-flying unit, the group, which was activated on 30 September 1994, is responsible for the consolidation of all space and missile training for Air Force Space Command.

The 381 TRG provides qualification training for ICBM, space surveillance, missile warning, spacelift, and satellite command and control operators. It also performs initial and advanced maintenance training on ALM and ICBM's. It conducts training in joint space fundamentals and associated computer maintenance. The group also conducts qualification and orientation training for Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) staff and senior-level personnel, as well as instructor enhancement in support of operational units.

In July 1993, responsibility for missile training was transferred from Air Combat Command to AETC. In September 1994, responsibility for space training was transferred from AFSPC to AETC and consolidated with the missile training units into the 381st Training Group. In October 1996, the space training squadrons moved from Colorado Springs to Vandenberg to further complete the unit's consolidation.

The group consists of five squadrons. The 381st Training Support Squadron provides faculty training, interactive courseware, registrar services, facility management, and resource management and procurement. The four other squadrons are dedicated to student training. The 392nd Training Squadron (TRS) conducts Enlisted Space Operations Training, Undergraduate Space and Missile Training, and ICBM Initial Qualification Training (IQT). The 532 TRS provides courses for ICBM, ALM, and spacelift maintenance. The 533TRS conducts space surveillance and early warning training. Detachment 1, 533 TRS, located at Schriever AFB, CO, performs training for command, missile warning, air defense and space operations at Cheyenne Mountain. The 534TRS provides spacelift and satellite command and control IQT. All in all, the group has graduated more than 6000 students from more than 100 different courses.

The 381 TRG is linked to the Air Force global engagement vision and its supporting core competencies through its mission of providing the highest quality space and missile operations and maintenance training for the Air Force and other agencies.

ee also

* Eighth Air Force
* Strategic Air Command
* Air Education and Training Command
* 73d Air Division

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

External links

* [http://www.381st.org 381st Bomb Group Website]
* [http://www.381st.com Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association]
* [http://www.381stbg.org Original 381st Bomb Group Website]