449th Air Expeditionary Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 449th Air Expeditionary Group


caption= Emblem of the 449th Bomb Wing (SAC)
dates= 1943 - Current
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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current_commander=
garrison= Camp Lemonier, Djibouti
ceremonial_chief=
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patron=
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* World War II: European Campaign (1942-1945)
* Vietnam Service (1965-1973)
* Global War on Terrorism (Dates Undetermined): Campaigns Undetermined
anniversaries=The 449th Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) is a United States Air Force organization, assigned to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.

Mission

The unit's mission has not been disclosed, however it may be a logistics support group supporting United States Army Forces in the Horn of Africa region. Sibling organizations are the 294th Infantry Battalion; 1st Battalion, 3d Infantry Regiment and various Explosive Ordinance Disposal Teams.

It is believed that the unit's mission is support of humanitarian missions in the Horn of Africa

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of AEW units present in Southwest Asia and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable.

Units

The groups parent unit is possibly the 33d Air Operations Group. It may be assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa HQ Djibouti, US Africa Command, Air Component Coordination Element.

The 33d Air Operations Group is part of the 33d Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida.

History

Lineage

* Constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 Apr 1943: Activated on 1 May 1943.: Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) on 29 May 1945: Inactivated on 4 Aug 1946
* Established as 449th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 23 Mar 1953: Redesignated 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on 15 Nov 1962: Organized on 1 Feb 1963: Inactivated on 30 Sep 1977.
* Redesignated: 449th Air Expeditionary Group: Activated 2003 (Undetermined)

Assignments

* Fourth Air Force, 1 May - 12 Sep 1943
* Second Air Force, 12 Sep 1943 - Jan 1944
* Fifteenth Air Force, Jan 1944 - 16 May 1945: 47th Bombardment Wing: 11 Dec 1943-15 May 1945
* Continental Air Forces: Second Air Force, 29 May 1945 - 21 Mar 1946
* Strategic Air Command: 21 Mar - 4 Aug 1946; 15 Nov 1962: Second Air Force:: 40th Air Division, 1 Feb 1963-30 Sep 1977
* Air Combat Command: 9th Air Force/USCENTAF, (Undetermined)

tations

* Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 May 1943
* Alamogordo AAF, New Mexico, 5 Jul 1943
* Bruning AAF, Nebraska, 12 Sep-3 Dec 1943
* Grottaglie, Italy, c. 4 Jan 1944-16 May 1945
* Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota, 29 May 1945
* Dalhart AAF, Texas, 24 Jul 1945
* Grand Island AAF, Nebraska, 8 Sep 1945-4 Aug 1946.
* Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 Feb 1963-30 Sep 1977
*Camp Lemonier, Djibouti (2001-Present)

Components

Squadrons
* 716th Bombardment: 1943-1946, 1 Feb 1963-30 Sep 1977
* 717th Bombardment: 1943-1946
* 718th Bombardment: 1943-1946
* 719th (later 46th) Bombardment: 1943-1946
* 908th Air Refueling: 1 Jul 1963 - 30 Sep 1977

Aircraft & Missiles Operated

* B-24 Liberator, 1943 - 1945
* B-29 Superfortress, 1945 - 1946
* B-52 Stratofortress, 1963-1977
* KC-135 Stratotanker, 1963-1977
* HC-130 Hercules (Present)

History

World War II

Constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 Apr 1943. Activated on 1 May 1943. Prepared for combat with B-24's.

Moved to Italy, December 1943 - January 1944 and assigned to Fifteenth AF. Operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization, attacking such targets as oil refineries, communications centers, aircraft factories, and industrial areas in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece.

Received a DUC for a mission on 4 Apr 1944 when the group, flying without escort, raided marshalling yards in Bucharest; although heavily outnumbered by German fighters, the group succeeded not only in bombing the target but also in destroying many of the enemy interceptors. Received another DUC for action on g Jul 1944 when the group flew through heavy smoke and intense enemy fire to attack an oil refinery at Ploesti. Other operations of the group included bombing gun emplacements in southern France in preparation for the invasion in Aug 1944, and attacking troop concentrations, bridges, and viaducts in Apr 1945 to assist Allied forces in northern Italy.

Returned to the US in May 1945. Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Trained with B-17, B-25, and B-29 aircraft. Assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21 Mar 1946. Inactivated on 4 Aug 1946

Cold War

Replaced the 4239th Strategic Wing and assumed a mission of training for strategic bombardment on 1 Feb 1963. Added air refueling to the mission in Jul 1963. Supported SAC combat operations in Southeast Asia by furnishing KC-135 aircraft and crews, Nov 1965–Dec 1975, and B-52 crews, May 1968–Jun 1975. Responsible for phasing down Kincheloe AFB, Mich, for closure, Jul–Sep 1977

References

* 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.

External links

* [http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/ Combined Joint Task Force - Horn Of Africa]