313th Expeditionary Operations Group
A provisional United States Air Force expeditionary unit that supported the 2011 international air campaign over Libya and carried a long lineage of wartime airlift operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 313th Expeditionary Operations Group was a provisional United States Air Force unit maintained for activation when operational requirements arose. Its final incarnation was activated at Morón Air Base, Spain, on 19 March 2011, during Operation Odyssey Dawn, the international effort to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. When command of the mission transitioned to NATO at the end of March, the operation became Operation Unified Protector. The group operated under the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing and provided the organizational framework for air operations supporting the campaign. It flew more than 2,200 sorties and transferred more than 110 million pounds of fuel to aircraft participating in the operation before being inactivated on 31 October 2011. The unit’s identity was rooted in a much older airlift lineage. It was constituted as the 313th Transport Group in January 1942 and activated at Daniel Field, Georgia, on 2 March of that year. After being redesignated the 313th Troop Carrier Group, it trained with Douglas C-47 Skytrains and related aircraft before deploying to North Africa in 1943. During the Second World War, it transported personnel, equipment, ammunition, fuel and other supplies, evacuated wounded personnel, and conducted combat parachute operations. Its missions included the invasion of Sicily, the invasion of mainland Italy, the Normandy landings, the airborne assault into the Netherlands, and the Rhine crossing. The group received Distinguished Unit Citations for its performance during the Sicily and Normandy operations. Following the war, the group served in the European occupation system and participated in the Berlin Airlift. Its aircraft and squadrons operated from locations in Austria, Italy, Germany and elsewhere, eventually flying C-54 Skymasters carrying food, medicine and coal into Berlin during the Soviet blockade. The group was inactivated in September 1949 after the airlift period and postwar force reductions. The 313th was reactivated in 1953 as a medium troop carrier group, inheriting personnel and equipment associated with a reserve unit and operating Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. It trained at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, and later Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee, before inactivation in June 1955. In 1978 it returned as the 313th Tactical Airlift Group at RAF Mildenhall, England. In that period it managed rotating Military Airlift Command C-130 Hercules forces and provided theater airlift, maintenance and aerial-port support throughout Europe. Its responsibilities expanded during the Gulf War, when reserve and Air National Guard aircraft and crews augmented the group. The group was inactivated in January 1993 after receiving four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. Although inactive as a standing organization after 1993, the lineage was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 313th Expeditionary Operations Group in 2002. This status allowed the Air Force to activate the group for a specific contingency without maintaining it continuously. Its 2011 deployment to Spain was therefore the culmination of a lineage spanning strategic transport, airborne assault, humanitarian and logistical airlift, theater support, and expeditionary operations. The unit is now defunct, having been inactivated after the conclusion of its Libya-related mission.
History
The organization’s lineage began with the 313th Transport Group, constituted on 28 January 1942 and activated on 2 March at Daniel Field, Georgia. Initially equipped with a limited headquarters and one transport squadron, it expanded during the summer of 1942 and moved to Bowman Field, Kentucky, for training. The group learned to operate Douglas C-47 Skytrains and C-53 Skytroopers, aircraft used for both routine transport and airborne operations. It was redesignated the 313th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942 and continued training under the Army Air Forces’ troop-carrier structure. The group deployed to North Africa in April 1943 and began combat transport missions from French Morocco. It moved personnel and supplies in support of the Allied advance through Algeria and Tunisia and evacuated wounded troops. In July it participated in Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. Despite difficult winds and navigational problems, it delivered paratroopers near Avola and later conducted a reinforcement drop near Farello Airfield. During the latter mission, the troop carriers came under intense fire from ships and anti-aircraft units that mistakenly identified them as hostile aircraft. The group nevertheless completed the operation and received a Distinguished Unit Citation. It subsequently supported Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy, dropping members of the 82nd Airborne Division south of Salerno in September 1943. In February 1944 it moved to RAF Folkingham in England and joined IX Troop Carrier Command in preparation for the invasion of continental Europe. On D-Day it dropped paratroopers near Picauville in Normandy and delivered reinforcements the next day, actions that earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation. In September it participated in Operation Market Garden, dropping troops near Arnhem and Nijmegen. In early 1945 it moved to Achiet Airfield in France and converted in part to Curtiss C-46 Commandos for Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine. On 24 March it delivered elements of the 17th Airborne Division near Wesel. After V-E Day, the group continued European transport missions, carrying personnel, fuel, ammunition, medical equipment and other supplies. It also evacuated wounded personnel and former prisoners of war. The wartime organization was inactivated in November 1945, but reactivated in September 1946 as part of the postwar occupation forces. It participated in the European Air Transport Service and later supported the Berlin Airlift. One squadron reinforced the airlift in 1948, and the group eventually operated C-54 Skymasters from RAF Fassberg, carrying food, medicine and coal into Berlin. It was inactivated in September 1949 after the blockade ended and postwar defense reductions took effect. The group returned to active service in February 1953 at Mitchel Air Force Base and operated C-119 Flying Boxcars. It moved to Sewart Air Force Base in October 1953 and trained with the aircraft until inactivation in June 1955. In September 1978 it was reactivated at RAF Mildenhall as the 313th Tactical Airlift Group. There it controlled rotating C-130 Hercules forces and coordinated maintenance and aerial-port functions supporting airlift throughout Europe. During the Gulf War, the organization was reinforced by Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units. It was inactivated in January 1993 after four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. In 2002 the lineage was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 313th Expeditionary Operations Group. The Air Force activated it at Morón Air Base on 19 March 2011 for Operation Odyssey Dawn. When the mission became NATO’s Operation Unified Protector, the group continued supporting the air campaign, flying over 2,200 sorties and transferring more than 110 million pounds of fuel. It was inactivated on 31 October 2011.
- 2011
Libya operations and final inactivation
[1]The group supported Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector from Spain before being inactivated on 31 October.
- 2002
Conversion to provisional expeditionary status
[1]The lineage was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 313th Expeditionary Operations Group.
- 1993
Inactivation after European airlift mission
[1]The tactical airlift group was inactivated after receiving four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
- 1978
Reactivation as tactical airlift group
[1]The organization returned at RAF Mildenhall to manage rotating C-130 theater-airlift forces and associated support functions.
- 1948
Berlin Airlift participation
[1]The group and its squadrons supported the Berlin Airlift with C-54 aircraft carrying essential supplies.
- 1945
Operation Varsity
[1]The group delivered elements of the 17th Airborne Division during the Allied airborne crossing of the Rhine.
- 1944
Normandy airborne operations
[1]The group dropped paratroopers and reinforcements during Operation Overlord and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1943
Combat deployment to North Africa and Sicily
[1]The group began combat transport and airborne missions in the Mediterranean theater and participated in Operation Husky.
- 1942
Activation as 313th Transport Group
[1]The group was activated at Daniel Field, Georgia, on 2 March after being constituted earlier in the year.
Products and positioning
A provisional expeditionary air operations organization designed to be activated for contingency missions, with a historical role in troop transport, airborne assault, logistics and theater airlift.
Military airlift · 1942
Combat troop transport
The group transported airborne troops, ground personnel, equipment and supplies in multiple theaters. Its aircraft included the C-47, C-46, C-119 and C-130, reflecting changing airlift requirements from World War II through the Cold War.
Expeditionary operations · 1943
Airborne assault support
The organization conducted or supported parachute drops during the invasions of Sicily, Italy, Normandy and the Netherlands, as well as the Rhine crossing. These missions combined tactical navigation, troop delivery and resupply under combat conditions.
Airlift support · 1978
Theater airlift and logistics
During its European airlift era, the group coordinated aircraft, maintenance and aerial-port resources for the movement of cargo, fuel, medical material and personnel. Its support role included both routine theater logistics and major contingency operations.
Expeditionary operations · 2011
Expeditionary fuel and sortie support
In the 2011 Libya campaign, the group supported coalition and NATO flying operations, including the transfer of fuel to participating aircraft and the coordination of a high-volume operational sortie effort.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector
Libya · Spain · Mediterranean region
Activated at Morón Air Base, the group supported the no-fly-zone mission over Libya and then its NATO successor operation.
Outcome. The group flew more than 2,200 sorties, offloaded more than 110 million pounds of fuel, and was inactivated on 31 October 2011.
- 1948Berlin Airlift
Berlin · Germany
The group supported the sustained airlift into Berlin after the Soviet blockade restricted surface access to the city.
Outcome. Its aircraft carried food, medicine and coal until the airlift concluded in 1949.
- 1945Operation Varsity
Germany · Rhine River
After moving to France and preparing with Curtiss C-46 aircraft, the group delivered elements of the 17th Airborne Division near Wesel during the Rhine crossing.
Outcome. The operation supported the Allied advance into Germany.
- 1944Operation Overlord
Normandy · France
The group delivered paratroopers near Picauville on D-Day and supplied reinforcements during the Normandy invasion.
Outcome. Its performance earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1944Operation Market Garden
Netherlands
The group participated in the Allied airborne assault by dropping troops near Arnhem and Nijmegen.
Outcome. The group continued its wartime airborne and transport role in northwest Europe.
- 1943Operation Husky
Sicily · Mediterranean theater
The group delivered paratroopers and reinforcements during the Allied invasion of Sicily, including missions affected by strong winds and intense friendly and enemy fire.
Outcome. The group completed its assigned drops and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1943Operation Avalanche
Italy
The group dropped troops of the 82nd Airborne Division south of Salerno and flew a follow-up reinforcement mission.
Outcome. The unit supported the Allied invasion of mainland Italy.
Brand decisions
2011
Activation for Libya no-fly-zone operationsStrategyBackground
International forces established a mission to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians during the Libyan conflict.
Action taken
The group was activated at Morón Air Base on 19 March to organize and support expeditionary air operations.
Aftermath
It continued under the NATO-led Unified Protector framework and was inactivated after the mission ended.
2002
Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategyBackground
The Air Force retained the group’s lineage for possible future contingency use rather than operating it continuously as a permanent unit.
Action taken
The lineage was converted to provisional status and the organization was redesignated the 313th Expeditionary Operations Group.
Aftermath
The group was subsequently available for activation by the Air Force when operational circumstances required it.
Sources1 sources
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