22nd Operations Group

The 22nd Operations Group is a United States Air Force operational unit based at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. It forms the flying component of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and operates within Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force. Its principal contemporary responsibility is to direct and execute global air-refueling and airlift activity, enabling the movement and sustained operation of United States, Department of Defense, United States Transportation Command, and allied aircraft around the world. The group supervises KC-135R Stratotanker operations through its air-refueling squadrons and coordinates the operational support functions required to generate, schedule, control, and sustain missions. These functions include airfield management, air traffic control, intelligence, weather, communications, mission planning, combat-crew scheduling, and tactical support. Its work supports strategic force projection, conventional mobility, special operations, tactical aviation, contingency deployments, and humanitarian assistance. The unit has a long lineage that predates its current air-refueling role. Established at Langley Field, Virginia, in 1940 as the 22nd Bombardment Group, it initially operated Douglas B-18 Bolo and North American B-25 Mitchell aircraft before transitioning to Martin B-26 Marauders. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group rapidly moved toward the Pacific and became one of the early Army Air Forces formations deployed to that theater. It fought primarily in the Southwest Pacific, later converting to Consolidated B-24 Liberators and conducting attacks against Japanese airfields, shipping, oil facilities, ports, railways, and industrial targets. The World War II group participated in operations across the Pacific, including campaigns connected with New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Netherlands East Indies, the western Pacific, the Philippines, Borneo, Formosa, and China. Its wartime service earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. In the immediate postwar period, the organization was re-formed and operated Boeing B-29 Superfortresses from Okinawa before returning to the United States and becoming associated with Strategic Air Command. During the Korean War, the 22nd Bombardment Group deployed B-29 aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, under Far East Air Forces Bomber Command. Between July and October 1950 it attacked transportation networks, industrial sites, bridges, airfields, troop concentrations, communications facilities, and port infrastructure. The group flew hundreds of sorties before returning to the United States. It was inactivated in 1952 as part of a reorganization that transferred operational functions directly to wings. The lineage was revived in 1991 when the unit was redesignated and activated as the 22nd Operations Group. It initially used KC-10 aircraft and subsequently became associated with KC-135 operations at McConnell. Since reactivation, its crews and aircraft have supported humanitarian and contingency missions, including operations connected with Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The group is therefore both a current air-mobility organization and the institutional successor to a highly decorated World War II and Korean War bomber formation.

The unit's lineage began with the establishment of the 22nd Bombardment Group at Langley Field, Virginia, on 1 February 1940. Its initial elements included the 2nd, 19th, and 33rd Bombardment Squadrons and the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, later redesignated the 408th Bombardment Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Ross F. Cole was the first group commander. The organization initially had Douglas B-18 Bolo aircraft and a small number of North American B-25 Mitchells, but it transitioned during 1941 to the Martin B-26 Marauder. The group intensified training in the months before the United States entered World War II. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, its aircraft moved rapidly toward the West Coast and the Pacific. Ground personnel traveled to Australia, while aircraft and air echelons staged through Hawaii before assembling in Queensland. In March 1942, the group became the first fully armed Army Air Forces group to fly to the Pacific theater as a formation. Its squadrons operated from locations around Townsville, Australia. The first combat mission took place on 5 April 1942 against Rabaul in New Britain. The group subsequently conducted bombing, maritime attack, reconnaissance, and interdiction missions throughout the Southwest Pacific. Several aircraft associated with the group also participated in the Battle of Midway, including an early Army air attack using torpedoes. In 1944, the organization converted from twin-engine medium bombers to four-engine B-24 Liberators and was redesignated the 22nd Bombardment Group, Heavy. Its targets included Japanese airfields, shipping, oil installations, ports, railways, and industrial facilities in areas including Borneo, Ceram, Halmahera, the Philippines, Formosa, and China. It supported operations related to the liberation of the Philippines and Australian ground forces on Borneo. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its World War II service. After Japan's surrender, the group moved through the Philippines and Okinawa. It was re-formed in 1946 as a very-heavy bombardment group and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses at Kadena Air Base. In 1948 it returned to the United States and became part of Strategic Air Command. The group deployed to Okinawa in July 1950 during the Korean War and came under the temporary control of Far East Air Forces Bomber Command. It flew its first Korean mission on 13 July 1950 and conducted attacks against marshalling yards, refineries, bridges, factories, troop concentrations, airfields, communications centers, and port facilities. By its return to the United States in late October or early November, it had flown 335 sorties and delivered more than 6,500 tons of bombs. The group was inactivated on 16 June 1952. The lineage remained inactive until a series of redesignations prepared it for a modern mobility role. It was redesignated the 22nd Air Refueling Group, Heavy, in 1985 and then redesignated the 22nd Operations Group on 29 August 1991. It was activated on 1 September 1991 as part of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing. The reactivated group initially operated KC-10 aircraft and supported airlift and humanitarian missions, including the movement of relief equipment and supplies to Somalia from 1992 to 1994. It also contributed to contingency operations in Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In the contemporary organization, the group is based at McConnell Air Force Base and directs the wing's KC-135R Stratotanker flying activity. Its air-refueling squadrons support global mobility, force projection, special operations, tactical aviation, and humanitarian missions. The 22nd Operations Support Squadron supplies the operational infrastructure needed for those missions, including scheduling, intelligence, communications, weather, airfield management, air traffic control, planning, and combat tactics.

• 1991

  Activation as the 22nd Operations Group

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated on 29 August and activated on 1 September as the flying operations group of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing.

• 1952

  Inactivation

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The bombardment group was inactivated on 16 June 1952 during a Strategic Air Command organizational restructuring.

• 1950

  Korean War deployment

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group deployed B-29 aircraft to Okinawa and flew 335 recorded sorties against targets in Korea and surrounding operational areas.

• 1944

  Conversion to B-24 Liberators

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and was redesignated the 22nd Bombardment Group, Heavy.

• 1942

  Pacific deployment and first combat mission

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group assembled in Australia and began combat operations against Japanese positions in the Southwest Pacific, including an attack on Rabaul.

• 1941

  Transition to B-26 Marauders

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group transitioned from early B-18 and B-25 aircraft to Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers while intensifying prewar training.

• 1940

  Establishment as a bombardment group

  [1]22nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 22nd Bombardment Group was established on 22 December 1939 and activated at Langley Field, Virginia, on 1 February 1940.

A global military air-mobility organization focused on extending aircraft range, sustaining deployed forces, and coordinating reliable air-refueling and operational-support missions for United States and allied operations.

• Air mobility service · 1991

  KC-135R Stratotanker air refueling

  The group's principal current capability is aerial refueling using Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. These missions extend the range and endurance of combat, transport, reconnaissance, and other aircraft, supporting worldwide deployments and sustained operations for United States and allied forces.

• Military operations support · 1991

  Operational support services

  The 22nd Operations Support Squadron provides the command-and-control and specialist functions needed to generate missions. Its responsibilities include airfield management, air traffic control, intelligence, weather, communications, scheduling, planning, and combat tactics.

• Historical military capability · 1940

  Historical bomber operations

  The group's historical operations included B-18, B-25, B-26, B-24, and B-29 bomber missions. During World War II and the Korean War, it conducted bombing, maritime attack, interdiction, reconnaissance, and close support against military and industrial targets.

• 1992Post-Cold War contingency and humanitarian support

  Somalia · Haiti · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Iraq · Serbia

  Following its 1991 reactivation, the group supported humanitarian airlift and air-refueling requirements in Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans, and the no-fly-zone operations over Iraq.

  Outcome. The group expanded its modern role from air-refueling operations into worldwide contingency and humanitarian support.

  Source
• 1950Korean War bomber operations

  Korean Peninsula · Japan

  The group operated B-29 Superfortresses from Kadena Air Base under Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, striking transportation networks, industrial facilities, military positions, airfields, and communications infrastructure.

  Outcome. It flew 335 sorties between July and October 1950 before returning to the United States.

  Source
• 1944Philippines and Borneo operations

  Philippines · Borneo · Formosa · China

  After converting to B-24 Liberators, the group attacked airfields, shipping, oil facilities, railways, and industrial targets while supporting operations leading to the liberation of the Philippines and Allied ground forces on Borneo.

  Outcome. The unit maintained offensive operations until the end of the war and moved to Okinawa in August 1945.

  Source
• 1942Southwest Pacific campaign

  Australia · New Guinea · Bismarck Archipelago · Western Pacific

  The 22nd Bombardment Group deployed to Australia and operated against Japanese bases, shipping, and installations across the Southwest Pacific using B-26 Marauders and later B-25 and B-24 aircraft.

  Outcome. The group continued operations through the Pacific war and received two Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

  Source

• 1991

  Reactivation as an operations groupStrategy

  Background

  The United States Air Force reorganized its wing-level operational structure after the Cold War and restored the historical lineage in a mobility role.

  Action taken

  The inactive 22nd Air Refueling Group designation was replaced by the 22nd Operations Group, which was activated as part of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing.

  Aftermath

  The group became responsible for modern air-refueling and airlift operations, first with KC-10 aircraft and later principally with KC-135R Stratotankers.

  Source

• 1950

  Deployment to Okinawa for the Korean WarStrategy

  Background

  Strategic Air Command was directed to reinforce Far East Air Forces after the outbreak of the Korean War.

  Action taken

  The group deployed its B-29 force to Kadena Air Base and operated under the provisional bomber command in the Far East.

  Aftermath

  The group conducted 335 sorties over approximately four months before returning to its United States base.

  Source

• 1944

  Conversion from medium bombers to heavy bombersGeneration change

  Background

  The Pacific war required longer-range and heavier attack capabilities against dispersed Japanese bases, shipping, and infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The group converted from B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder aircraft to four-engine B-24 Liberators and received the designation 22nd Bombardment Group, Heavy.

  Aftermath

  The conversion enabled sustained heavy-bomber operations across the Philippines, Borneo, Formosa, China, and other Pacific targets.

  Source

1. 122nd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org