13th Air Expeditionary Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA provisional United States Air Force group used to command air operations and exercises, principally under Thirteenth Air Force and in support of Antarctic operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 13th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization. Unlike a commercial brand, it is a military command construct that can be activated for particular operational requirements, exercises, or contingency missions and later inactivated when those requirements end. Its principal institutional connection is with Pacific Air Forces and Thirteenth Air Force. The group has also served as the air component of Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica, supporting the U.S. military's seasonal logistics and transportation mission in Antarctica. In that role, its commander has also served as the deputy commander of the joint task force. The organization's historical lineage reaches back to the 13th Bombardment Group, constituted in November 1940 and activated at Langley Field, Virginia, in January 1941. During the Second World War, the group operated with the 39th, 40th, and 41st Bombardment Squadrons, while the 3d Reconnaissance Squadron was initially attached. It flew Douglas B-18 Bolo and North American B-25 Mitchell aircraft. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group was assigned to antisubmarine patrol duties along the southeastern United States coast. The Army Air Forces undertook these patrols in part because the Navy did not yet possess enough suitable long-range aircraft, although Army crews and units were not initially specialized for the mission. The group moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts, in January 1942. The 3d Reconnaissance Squadron became the 393d Bombardment Squadron in April of that year. As the Army Air Forces reorganized its antisubmarine structure, the headquarters of bombardment groups including the 13th were inactivated in late 1942. The wartime group therefore did not continue as a conventional permanently manned combat organization. The lineage was later converted to provisional status and redesignated the 13th Air Expeditionary Group. Beginning in 2003, it was repeatedly activated for exercises and operational support across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Its assignments included Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, Exercise Cope Tiger in Thailand, Exercise Talisman Saber in Australia, and Pacific Airlift Rally in Indonesia. It was also activated for Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. Antarctic support mission, with airlift units among the associated components. The group's purpose is command and coordination rather than the operation of a single permanent aircraft fleet or a consumer-facing product portfolio. Depending on the mission, it may control or coordinate expeditionary aviation forces, airlift elements, exercises, and joint or multinational activities. Its recorded stations have included bases and airports in Guam, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, and the United States. Because provisional units are activated and inactivated according to operational need, the available historical record does not establish a continuously active present-day status.
History
The 13th Air Expeditionary Group derives its lineage from the 13th Bombardment Group, a United States Army Air Forces unit created during the expansion of American air power before the United States entered the Second World War. The group was constituted on 20 November 1940 and activated at Langley Field, Virginia, on 15 January 1941. Its initial operational components were the 39th, 40th, and 41st Bombardment Squadrons, with the 3d Reconnaissance Squadron attached. The group used Douglas B-18 Bolos and North American B-25 Mitchells and moved to Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, around June 1941. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the group was assigned to antisubmarine patrol work along the southeastern coast of the United States. The Army Air Forces took on this responsibility because naval forces lacked sufficient long-range patrol aircraft, even though the Army's aircrews and organizations had not originally been trained or configured specifically for antisubmarine warfare. The 13th Bombardment Group moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts, on 20 January 1942 as antisubmarine responsibilities and force structures were reorganized. The 3d Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to the group in February and redesignated the 393d Bombardment Squadron in April. In October 1942, the Army Air Forces consolidated its antisubmarine forces under the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command. The 25th Antisubmarine Wing was established the following month to direct Atlantic operations. With the new command structure in place, the headquarters of bombardment groups such as the 13th were no longer required in their previous form. The 13th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 30 November 1942. Its wartime components, including the three bombardment squadrons and the 393d Bombardment Squadron, were associated with the group until that date. The lineage was subsequently converted to provisional status and redesignated the 13th Air Expeditionary Group. Provisional Air Force units are not necessarily maintained as permanently active organizations. Instead, they may be activated by the appropriate major command for a defined mission, deployment, exercise, or contingency and inactivated after the requirement ends. The group was activated by Pacific Air Forces on 2 October 2003 and attached to Thirteenth Air Force for operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It was inactivated later that month. From 2004 onward, the group was repeatedly used in Pacific exercises. It operated from Clark Field in the Philippines for Balikatan 04 and from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for Cope Tiger 04. A further Cope Tiger activation took place in Thailand in early 2005. Later activations supported Cope Tiger 06 and Cope Tiger 07, Talisman Saber 07 in Australia, and Pacific Airlift Rally 07 in Indonesia. These assignments illustrate the group's role as a command framework for temporary air operations rather than as a fixed combat-wing headquarters. The group also supported Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military mission that provides air transport, logistics, and other support for American Antarctic activities. Expeditionary airlift elements associated with the group included the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. In later years, the group was used for additional Balikatan, Cope Tiger, and other Pacific activities, with recorded locations including the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Guam, and Antarctic-support staging arrangements. The group was also associated with Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica, where its commander held a dual role as the joint task force's deputy commander. The available lineage record documents activations through at least November 2015, including a period associated with Antarctic support. It does not establish that the unit has remained continuously active since then. The group's historical significance lies in the continuity of its lineage and in the Air Force's use of provisional expeditionary organizations to assemble and direct air capabilities for geographically dispersed exercises, joint missions, and specialized logistics operations.
- 2015
Later recorded Antarctic activation
[1]The lineage record lists the group as active around November 2015 in connection with Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica.
- 2007
Expansion of Pacific exercise activity
[1]The group supported Cope Tiger, Talisman Saber, and Pacific Airlift Rally activities in Thailand, Australia, and Indonesia.
- 2007
Antarctic support association
[1]The group was active for Operation Deep Freeze around late November, with expeditionary airlift squadrons among its associated components.
- 2003
Conversion to expeditionary status
[1]The lineage was redesignated the 13th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status; it was activated for Pacific Air Forces operations on 2 October.
- 1942
Move to Westover Field
[1]The group moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts, in January as antisubmarine operations were reorganized.
- 1942
Wartime group inactivated
[1]The 13th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 30 November after the Army Air Forces established a centralized antisubmarine command structure.
- 1941
Activation at Langley Field
[1]The group was activated in Virginia on 15 January with three bombardment squadrons and an attached reconnaissance squadron.
- 1941
Move to Orlando
[1]The group relocated to Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, around June and operated B-18 and B-25 aircraft.
- 1941
Antisubmarine patrol assignment
[1]After Pearl Harbor, the group began searching for German submarines off the southeastern United States coast.
- 1940
Lineage constituted
[1]The 13th Bombardment Group (Medium), the predecessor in the group's lineage, was constituted on 20 November 1940.
Products and positioning
A flexible, mission-specific Air Force command organization for controlling expeditionary air operations, exercises, and specialized support missions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica
Antarctica
The group served as the air component of the Antarctic support task force, with its commander also serving as deputy commander of the joint task force.
Outcome. The available lineage record lists the group as active around November 2015.
- 2012Exercise Cope Tiger 11
Thailand
The group was activated at Udon Thani for Cope Tiger 11.
Outcome. The activation ran from 7 March to 4 April 2012.
- 2012Exercise Balikatan 2012
Philippines
The group was subsequently activated at Clark Field for Balikatan 2012.
Outcome. The activation ran from 9 to 30 April 2012.
- 2010Exercise Balikatan Sagip 10
Philippines
The group was activated at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport for Balikatan Sagip 10.
Outcome. The activation ran from 1 to 24 February 2010.
- 2010Exercise Cope Tiger 10
Thailand
The group moved to Udon Thani to support Cope Tiger 10.
Outcome. The activation ran from 24 February to 16 March 2010.
- 2009Exercise Cope Tiger 09
Thailand
The group supported Cope Tiger 09 from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.
Outcome. The activation ended on 3 April 2009.
- 2008Exercise Balikatan 08
Philippines
The group was activated at Clark International Airport for Balikatan 08.
Outcome. The activation ran from 11 January to 31 March 2008.
- 2008Exercise Cope Tiger 08
Thailand
The group was activated at Udon Thani for Cope Tiger 08.
Outcome. The activation ran from 14 January to 13 February 2008.
- 2007Exercise Cope Tiger 07
Thailand
The group supported Cope Tiger 07 from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.
Outcome. The activation ended on 13 February 2007.
- 2007Exercise Talisman Saber 07
Australia
The group was activated at Brisbane Airport for Talisman Saber 07, a U.S.-Australian joint exercise.
Outcome. The activation took place in June 2007 and ended later that month.
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